Do Men Wear Speedos in Europe? A Country-by-Country Guide
Updated October 2026
The short version
- Yes, men wear Speedo-style swim briefs all over Europe, but how common they are depends on the country. Italy and France are brief country; Spain, Greece and Portugal are mixed.
- Many French public pools ban loose swim shorts. You'll need close-fitting swimwear, like a brief or a fitted swim boxer, and often a swim cap.
- Wherever you go, cover up when you leave the beach. Several resort towns now fine people for wearing swimwear in the streets.
So, do men wear Speedos in Europe? They do, and nobody on a Mediterranean beach will look twice. Still, "Europe" isn't one dress code. An Italian beach club, a Paris municipal pool and a Lisbon surf beach each run on different rules, some written down, most not. Here's what to expect, country by country, from someone who'd rather you packed the right thing the first time.
(Quick vocab note: "Speedo" is a brand. In this guide we use "Speedos" the way most Americans do, to mean any swim brief.)
| Country | Briefs on the beach | Know before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | Common, all ages | Some towns fine swimwear in the streets |
| France | Common | Many public pools ban loose swim shorts |
| Spain | Mixed, growing | Barcelona fines swimwear away from the seafront |
| Greece | Mixed | Fitted short trunks are just as common |
| Portugal | Less common, growing | Albufeira fines swimwear in the streets |
| Turkey | Fine at resorts | Cover up off the beach |
| Brazil | The norm in Rio | Long board shorts read as tourist |
| Mexico | Depends on the beach | Common in Puerto Vallarta, rarer in Cancún |
| Australia | Common, with history | Board shorts rule casual beach days |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
General beach norms and town rules as of 2026; local rules change. Sizing: swim brief size guide.
Do men wear Speedos in Italy?
Yes. From Rimini to the Amalfi Coast, you'll see dads, grandfathers and teenagers in swim briefs, and Italians treat it as a style choice rather than a statement. Younger Italian men lean toward short trunks more than their fathers did, but a brief is completely normal on an Italian beach.
The rule that catches Americans is off the sand. Sorrento banned walking around town shirtless or in swimwear in 2022, with fines from €25 to €500, and Venice fines swimwear in its inhabited areas and on the vaporetto. Bring a shirt and shorts for the walk back.
Do men wear Speedos in France?
Yes, especially at the pool. France has the most famous swimwear rule in Europe: many public pools don't allow loose swim shorts, board shorts or bermudas in the water.
There isn't a single national "Speedo law." Each pool sets its own internal rules, and the national minimum only requires clean swimwear and a shower before you swim. In practice, most municipal pools land in the same place. Swimwear has to be close-fitting and made for swimming, and shorts that you could wear around town are out. The reason is hygiene: shorts get worn all day and pick up dust, sweat and sand, and their pockets end up in the filters.
The good news is that a brief isn't your only option, because most pools also accept a fitted swim boxer or jammer. Many also require a swim cap, and some sell suits and caps from a vending machine in the lobby. On French beaches, the pool rule doesn't apply, so wear what you like.
Do men wear Speedos in Spain?
Sometimes. Boxer-style and surf-style trunks are still the most popular choice in Spain, and briefs come third. They're on their way back, though, and Spaniards even have their own generic word for them, turbo, after a Barcelona swimwear brand founded in 1959.
Barcelona is where to be careful. Since February 2026, the city has banned swimwear and going shirtless in public space, except on the beach, the seafront and the streets right next to it. Fines run from €120 to €300 if you ignore a warning.
Do men wear Speedos in Greece?
It's mixed. Short, fitted trunks are probably the most common sight on Greek islands, and briefs are everywhere too, especially on beaches full of European visitors. Greece is relaxed about swimwear, and a brief won't raise an eyebrow on Mykonos, Crete or the Cyclades. As in Italy, put a shirt on for the walk into town.
Do men wear Speedos in Portugal?
Less than you'd think. Portuguese newspaper Público wrote in 2025 that men's swim briefs had been "almost a mirage" in Portugal for years and are only now coming back. Expect mostly swim shorts on the beaches around Lisbon and in the Algarve, with briefs in the minority but no problem at all.
Off the beach, Albufeira's code of conduct, in force since June 2025, fines people for wearing only swimwear in public streets or on public transport. Fines run from €300 to €1,500, and the rule doesn't cover beaches, beach access areas or hotel grounds.
Beyond Europe: Turkey, Brazil, Mexico and Australia
These four come up in the same searches, so here's the quick version for each.
Do men wear Speedos in Turkey?
At resorts, yes. On the beaches and at the beach clubs of Antalya and Bodrum, briefs and board shorts are both normal. Cover up when you head into town, shops or restaurants, and dress more modestly away from the coast.
Do men wear Speedos in Brazil?
Absolutely. In Rio's South Zone (Ipanema, Leblon, Copacabana), the sunga is what local men wear. It's a Brazilian swim brief with slightly wider sides. Long board shorts are allowed, but they're the quickest way to mark yourself as a tourist. Do as the locals do and throw on a tank top to cross the avenue.
Do men wear Speedos in Mexico?
It depends where you go. In Puerto Vallarta, especially around the Zona Romántica, briefs are a common sight. In Cancún and other big resort areas, short trunks are more typical, though nobody will mind a brief.
Do men wear Speedos in Australia?
Yes, and they started it. Speedo was born in Sydney, beginning as a hosiery business in 1914 and taking the Speedo name in 1928. "Budgie smugglers," the Aussie slang for swim briefs, made it into the Oxford English Dictionary in 2016. Board shorts still rule a casual beach day, but briefs are a classic at the pool and with ocean swimmers, and they've been making a comeback.
What to pack if you're American
Pack one brief, one pair of short trunks and a shirt you can throw on over either. That covers the French pool rule, the Italian beach club, and the walk back into town in Sorrento, Barcelona or Albufeira.
- One swim brief. It's welcome at French pools that ban loose shorts, and it fits right in on Mediterranean beaches. If you're new to briefs, read how men's swim briefs should fit before you buy.
- A dark color if you're nervous. Black is the easy first brief. Red is for when you've stopped worrying about it.
- A swim cap, if a French public pool is on the itinerary.
- A cover-up. A linen shirt, a tank top or a pair of shorts that fit over your swimsuit.
- Know your styles. Sunga, square-cut, low-rise: our swim brief glossary explains each in one sentence.
If you want a brief that looks at home in Positano and still feels like you, the Mandate Swim Brief is a low-rise brief with a contoured pouch and a flat waistband, in red or black, sizes S to L, for $39.99. Check the swim brief size guide before your trip, so it fits right on day one.
FAQ
Do men wear Speedos in Europe?
Yes. Swim briefs are common across much of Europe, especially in Italy and France. In Spain, Greece and Portugal, they're mixed with short trunks, and nobody will look twice at either.
Are board shorts allowed in French swimming pools?
Usually not. Each French public pool sets its own rules, and most require close-fitting swimwear made for swimming. A swim brief or fitted swim boxer is fine, and loose shorts or bermudas are not.
Can I wear a Speedo on the beach in Italy?
Yes. Swim briefs are a normal sight on Italian beaches for men of all ages. Just cover up before you walk into town, because some places, like Sorrento, fine people for wearing swimwear in the streets.
What do men wear on the beach in Brazil?
Most men in Rio wear a sunga, a Brazilian swim brief with slightly wider sides. Board shorts are allowed, but long ones mark you as a tourist.
Can you get fined for wearing swimwear in town in Europe?
In some towns, yes. Sorrento, Venice, Barcelona and Albufeira all have rules against walking around in swimwear away from the beach, with fines that can reach hundreds of euros. Pack a shirt and shorts to cover up.