At a time when many foreign tourists choose Albania for their vacations and often have no issue going topless on the beach, for the majority of Albanians, this remains a line that should not be crossed. In Durrës, beachgoers express surprise — and often offense — at such behavior.

“There should be private beaches, specifically for this purpose. It’s shameful for us who are around them, even if they don’t seem to mind,” one citizen stated.

In Velipojë, some people are more tolerant.

“Why not? If we want to be European, this is normal for them. For our culture, it may not be,” another person commented.

For visitors from Kosovo, Albania’s conservative culture is one of the reasons they come.

“Velipojë’s beach stands out, even in dress and culture. No, no, this isn’t normal,” one Kosovar beachgoer said.

In Vlorë, the older generation remains more reserved.

“If we see them naked, we’ll tell them to cover up — it’s shameful for us. My generation can’t accept this,” another citizen expressed.

Meanwhile, sociologists say that tourism brings not only economic benefits but also elements of foreign culture.

“It’s inevitable that we’ll see cases where being half-naked is not taboo for them. But every nation has its own culture. As long as Albania does not have designated nude beaches, tourists should adapt to the host country. Our rules do not tolerate such public nudity. In our culture, nudity is associated with intimacy,” said a sociologist.

Albania does not have any official nudist beaches, and the law does not permit such public displays. Although there is no specific article addressing nudism, the Penal Code and local regulations may classify this as “indecent behavior in public,” punishable by administrative fines, and in more serious or repeated cases, by criminal proceedings for disturbing public order or morals.