Choca... I go topless on my beach and at the pool every day and no ones offer me any drinks !

Seriously though, if one feels uncomfortable about it then of course do not do it. I would suggest, as I have said many times in the past, that regardless of where one is.... Egypt, Spain or Britain...., only go topless in the sanctity of your own sunshade and away from any families or other guests who may be offended regardless of their nationality, race or religion. I remember quite clearly my mother's anger and frustration on the beaches of Guernsey when I was a boy if girls nearby were topless, even if I and my brothers found it highly amusing ( the topless bit, not the anger bit ).

But leave out the religion bit... most Egyptian muslim women are not covered completely in black though of course they ( and Christian Egyptians ) would not go topless either. If one, as I also have said so many times before, argue against going topless on the basis of religion then one should argue against the consumption of alcohol, supporting of casinos, and any other such activity that is not suitable under Islam.

Having lived here for years I have seen local women covering up more and more here. Veiled women used to be a minority now unveiled women are the minority. This isn't as noticeable on the coastal areas though. That being said, the Red Sea area (notably Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada) is more permissive. I definitely wouldn't advise going topless anywhere else!

It's been discussed to death here and pointed out numerous times that Egypt is a Muslim country yet people still ask "is it ok to go topless??". Having lived here a long time let me tell you that by going topless local men (and women) generally won't respect you, they view this sort of behaviour as indecent and if you have a male companion with you he will be viewed even more disrespectfully. It casts a negative image on Western women in general (eg. it's associated with promiscuity and loose morals etc, not admiration). As for hotel staff, even though they are usually accustomed to guests' different habits you have to bear in mind most of the waiters etc come from poorer, traditional backgrounds. If there are signs specifically forbidding topless sunbathing you should respect that. I think a good rule of thumb is to respect the local customs of any country. That being said I think it's rather superficial to risk offending others just because you don't want tan lines.

Having lived here for years I have seen local women covering up more and more here. Veiled women used to be a minority now unveiled women are the minority. This isn't as noticeable on the coastal areas though. That being said, the Red Sea area (notably Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada) is more permissive. I definitely wouldn't advise going topless anywhere else!

It's been discussed to death here and pointed out numerous times that Egypt is a Muslim country yet people still ask "is it ok to go topless??". Having lived here a long time let me tell you that by going topless local men (and women) generally won't respect you, they view this sort of behaviour as indecent and if you have a male companion with you he will be viewed even more disrespectfully. It casts a negative image on Western women in general (eg. it's associated with promiscuity and loose morals etc, not admiration). As for hotel staff, even though they are usually accustomed to guests' different habits you have to bear in mind most of the waiters etc come from poorer, traditional backgrounds. If there are signs specifically forbidding topless sunbathing you should respect that. I think a good rule of thumb is to respect the local customs of any country. That being said I think it's rather superficial to risk offending others just because you don't want tan lines.

Very sensible post , and well worth reading if you have any doubts about customs in (westernised) muslim countries.when i say westernised i mean in comparison to countries like Saudi Arabia where Islam seems to play a more obvious part of peoples lives

Old hippie,

What a brilliant post, agree with everything you say. I do go topless by the pool, never by the kiddies' pool, which I am sure most sensible ladies like myself would not either. Us ladies, I'm sure don't walk round topless, go to the bar, swim (especially not water polo!!!!) or whatever without our tops. All we all like to do abroad is have a nice colour when we put on our glad rags with no white bits.

I must point out that I have seen a lot of women who wear bikini tops that where they get burnt is right on the rim of the bikini by their boobs (come on girls, you know what I'm talking about). Not making excuses, but everyone to their own. I prefer to be topless lying on my bed, reading or sleeping and not bothering anyone else.

I have been to the SBR several times and twice a year, i must confess i did go topless (2-3 years ago) only because of the tan lines, i hate to see lines. But since going back there numerous times i have noticed less and less on the beach, even more so less by the pool. In November there seemed to be a couple of ladies baring all (mainly with breast implants and yes i do notice the difference )but hardly any on the beach.

When i went to NYC last Feb 08 i invested in some bikinis that were strapless from bloomingdales, they are excellent and no lines. So no more baring all, can't be bothered anyway

Michelle x

ooh michelle you naughty girl ,never thought of you as a topless one hope you gave them a good dousing in olive oil to keep em supple
have a happy christmas ,

I know we have a laugh BF about the oil, but you would laugh if you saw me in Nov. I bought some oil and i forgot i was allergic to carrot oil. I came out in a itchy rash , worse on my chest. Had to go to doctors and he said that he had never seen such a severe allergy. Had to have an injection in the arm, calamine lotion and tablets. Rather upset as i was going very brown

I noticed at the Sheraton Miramar in El Gouna that the pool/beach rules included NO topless bathing. Lying down sunbathing I think is pretty acceptable, but when in Sharm at the CSR a few years back we saw people coming up from the beach to the beach bar toilets topless, not a pretty sight on most occasions!

I usually go topless if i'm just holidaying in my husbands company, but we went to Egypt in 2005 and I didn't see anybody sunbathing topless. I did wonder whether it was just in our hotel as it was a posh 5* hilton, but even on the beach they kept their tops on, so I did too. We went to namaii bay a few times, and the men did make hubby and I uncomfortable, we couldn't go anywhere without them letching over me and shouting things. The rep said it was probably because I had blonde hair, apparently they like blonde's . I'm brown and red now, so hopefully I'll be left alone this time. Each to their own I think, but I wouldn't go topless there.

I've been to Naama Bay a few times and believe me, they like ALL women, not just blondes

Best policy is to ignore all comments completely.

I agree...ignore all comments ... and keep your bikini tops on PLEASE!

for (me and) the sake of future British tourists I wouldn't like to be branded with the misplaced concept of being 'easy' due to such a minor issue, (In the UK that is) which in certain countries is not so easily shook off, I have had lots of experiences of this as a female traveller abroad.

I hate being letched over and Egyptian men... who, seem to be highly qualified in it, please suffer the strap marks! it is unacceptable to sunbathe or (eek) walk about topless in Egypt.

but some still do???

As i said earlier in a post, no need for straps now. Buy a strapless bikini