Dress code: the rules for travellers in 148 countries (2026 list)

🚫 Where dress rules bite

• Religious sites almost universally require covered shoulders and knees, for everyone.
• Several tourist cities fine beachwear worn away from the beach — walking to your hotel in a swimsuit can cost hundreds.
• Full face coverings are restricted in some countries and mandatory in others. Both directions carry penalties.
• Nudity and topless sunbathing are legal on specific beaches only, never by default.

🧭 The one thing to pack

• A light scarf solves nearly every dress-code problem: shoulders, head, knees, all in one.
• Slip-on shoes save time where you remove them at every temple.
• When in doubt, copy what local people your age are wearing in that exact neighbourhood.

Which countries are strict on dress code?

8 countries rate dress code as banned or a serious risk for travellers: Brunei, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan.

Which countries set limits on dress code?

54 countries allow it under conditions (age, place, quantity, permit): Algeria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Croatia, Djibouti, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Indonesia (Bali), Israel….

How do I check the rules for my destination before I fly?

Open LawsTravels: pick your destination, the topic “Dress code” shows the level, the thresholds and the penalties, offline. 3 topics are free on every country.