Dress code - Europe

Last Updated: Jan. 02, 2009

Tags: clothes, europe, travel and tour advice, what to pack

More Tour and Travel Advice for Europe

moulin rouge group dress code

Contrary to some literature, you do not need to dress up with dress pants and dresses to get into clubs and bars in Europe. Most of the time jeans and a t-shirt is more than enough with some bars and venues even allowing entry with shorts and flip flops.

General

For most occasions, comfortable, casual clothes are recommended for your European travel adevntures.

Going Out and Evening Wear

Although you don’t have to wear slacks and tie everywhere, you should definitely take at least one set of ‘going out’ clothes (slacks, shirt, tie, smart dress).

swarfoski crystal europe dress code

A nice dress, a pair of slacks, a button up shirt and even a tie are great for places like:

‘Church Dress’

Europe is filled with amazing buildings, architecture and churches. If you want to visit the inside of European churches, particularly in Italy, you need to dress respectfully, wearing what is generally referred to as ‘church dress’. As a general rule, you should have your shoulders, mid-section and knees covered. This rule applies to both males and females.

For ladies this means that mid-riff tops are not allowed, nor are ‘strappy’ tops that do not cover your shoulders, however, wrapping a thin shawl or a sarong around your shoulders is considered sufficient. Likewise, generally short shorts and skirts that do not cover your knees are not allowed but, again, a longer skirt, shorts or wrapping a sarong around your waist to cover your knees is acceptable.

Gentlemen likewise should wear long pants or shorts that cover their knees.

T-shirts, jeans and the like are perfectly acceptable, as are any other forms of clothing that simply cover your shoulders, mid-section and knees.

Rules regarding footwear do not apply and thongs, sandals and flip flops are perfectly fine, as are all other varieties of footwear.

Although you may find these entry requirements are not observed in some churches, the larger churches like St Marks in Venice, the Duomo of Florence and St Peters Basilica of the Vatican in Rome often strictly enforce this dress code, as does the Vatican Museums, home to the Sistine Chapel.

Beaches

While you may find yourself covering up in some places, European beaches are the prefect place to take it off, rest, relax soak up the sun do a little people watching and enjoy European beach culture at it’s best.

Add a Comment Comments (10)

  1. Like in pretty much every night club it’s warm, so you don’t have to wear your thickest clothing. I don’t know where you come from, but it isn’t that cold in Western Europe. I come from Germany and the temperature is hardly ever under 0°C, most of the time it’s warmer. A warm jacket and some semi-warm clothes (t-shirt with long sleeves or a thin sweater) will do. And if you’re freezing in a night club, just dance. ;)

    Default_avatarExplorer1115860 posted on Oct. 31, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  2. I don’t think I’ll have to worry about bare middles or shoulders in the middle of winter, but as far a clubs and night life go, isn’t it going to be a bit challeging hitting the town looking your best when your trying not to freeze your ass off? What would you suggest for Western Europe night life in the middle of winter.

    Default_avatarExplorer1115730 posted on Oct. 30, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  3. Every venue is different, generally though, no club is going to deny you entry because of your shoes (I have no idea why some places – like Vegas – do this) – it’s best to look as good as you can if you want to visit places like the Monte Carlo Casino, but even there I’ve sen them let people in with jeans, shirts and non-dress shoes. The Europeans, if they ever do decide to impose a dress code (very rare) usually just care that you look good rather than being worried about if your shoes are the ‘right’ type of material.

    mattyvcontikimattyvcontiki posted on Aug. 13, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  4. What’s the deal with shoes for night clubs in Europe? Do you have to wear leather shoes or can you wear tidy sneakers?

    Paulimus_PrimePaulimus_Prime posted on Aug. 13, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  5. Yeah, I have no idea why they print this…jeans are fine….t-shirts pretty much everywhere… Again it depends on the city, but you can even get into the Grand Casino in Monte Carlo with jeans and a nice shirt.

    mattyvcontikimattyvcontiki posted on Aug. 06, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  6. I’m a bit confused, in my Contiki vouchers pack it says jeans are not acceptable for European Nite clubs but here it says:

    “Most of the time jeans and a t-shirt is more than enough with some bars and venues even allowing entry with shorts and flip flops.”

    So which is it, are jeans acceptable or not?

    Paulimus_PrimePaulimus_Prime posted on Aug. 06, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  7. Thanks for all your great tips…wouldn’t have had a clue

    Bella AshleighBella Ashleigh posted on Jun. 14, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  8. You definately have to follow the “chruch dress” rules because some churches will not let you in if you are not dresses appropriately.

    Default_avatarExplorer1085743 posted on Jan. 12, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate

  9. I think you mean ‘some parts of Europe to walk around WITHOUT a shirt on.”

    As is the case in Nice, on the French Riviera, you can go topless on the beach, but on in the markets one block back from the water…..the beaches are so liberal yet the town so conservative.

    mattyvcontikimattyvcontiki posted on Oct. 24, 2007 Flag as Inappropriate

  10. Smart clothing is a must for your suitcase or you’ll stand out when everyone else looks hot and you do not. It is culturally insensitive and against the law in some parts of Europe to walk around with a shirt on. The same Church Dress rules apply when visiting Istanbul’s Blue Mosque & Prague’s Jewish Quarter

    Default_avatarDavo posted on Oct. 19, 2007 Flag as Inappropriate

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