Naturism in Malta: Between Stigma and Hope

Every summer, a friend of mine and I face the same dilemma when it comes time to renew this website that we maintain at our personal expense, costing around €300 each year. It makes us ask: is it really worth fighting for the cause of naturism?

Naturism in Malta remains controversial. Politicians will not touch it, and for the majority of people, nakedness is still considered obscene — especially in situations where children or teenagers might be present. The Maltese mindset struggles to separate nakedness from sexuality. What we see as a way of life that fosters self-respect, respect for others, and respect for the environment, is still widely treated as something laughable, indecent, or even dangerous.

A recent incident illustrates this point. Earlier this summer, a foreign resident chose to ride his motorbike naked in his own neighborhood. He was quickly reported, and the story appeared in the local media. Let's be clear: what he did was wrong - cavorting nude in a public setting. But the online comments posted on social media revealed how many people take the opportunity to project intolerant, abhorrent feelings against nudism, condemning it in whatever form as abusive and abnormal behavior.

Running the site has given us a few genuine connections and enquiries from foreigners visiting Malta. But for every serious query, we get a higher amount of anonymous curiosity-driven messages. Others ask about activities or meetups, but the reality is that no regular naturist community exists here. And frankly, no one is willing to put themselves in the spotlight and risk becoming the public face of naturism in Malta.

Still, there are moments that make us hopeful. Two weeks ago, I visited a remote location (which I will not name here in order not to tempt sensationalist journalists or curious newcomers). On that day, I counted some six naked couples, most of them Maltese, enjoying the place in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. A woman in her thirties had also come on her own with her dog. Not all were fully nude, but there was a sense of ease and familiarity, with people mingling naturally. For a moment, it felt like naturism in Malta could exist in a healthy, ordinary way.

But such moments are fragile. A week later, I returned to the same beach and it was empty due to the rough seas, save for one man pacing around nude that made me feel uncomfortable. That experience reminded me of the unpredictable and uneven reality of naturism in Malta: one day encouraging, the next day discouraging.

Despite the challenges, I believe it remains important to keep local naturists connected in whatever limited ways we can. The aim of this website is to ensure that those who are genuinely searching for naturist experiences can find one another. Perhaps one day Malta will catch up with other countries and declare an official naturist beach — if and when the political will exists.

For now, the future of naturism in Malta remains uncertain. Without connection, it risks fading away completely. So for now, we’ll keep the website going. Fingers crossed, always.