Dress code - Europe

Last Updated: Aug. 29, 2008

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

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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).

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

Paris Cabaret Shows like the Nouvelle Eve and the Moulin Rouge.
Monaco – lifestyles of the rich and famous – it may pay off to look good here.
Italy – Just because the Italians generally look so good.
Space Electronic Disco and other nights out at bars or clubs.

‘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 (8)

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.

mattyvcontiki posted 16 days ago Flag as Inappropriate
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_Prime posted 17 days ago Flag as Inappropriate
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.

mattyvcontiki posted 23 days ago Flag as Inappropriate
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_Prime posted 24 days ago Flag as Inappropriate
Thanks for all your great tips…wouldn’t have had a clue

Bella Ashleigh posted on Jun. 14, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate
You definately have to follow the “chruch dress” rules because some churches will not let you in if you are not dresses appropriately.

Explorer1085743 posted on Jan. 12, 2008 Flag as Inappropriate
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.

mattyvcontiki posted on Oct. 24, 2007 Flag as Inappropriate
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

Davo posted on Oct. 19, 2007 Flag as Inappropriate