This Whole Shorts Debate

[phillytraveller]

Can someone give a straight answer whether its okay to wear shorts? I wear them all the time at home and feel comfortable in them. I know that I will look like a tourist and that really no matter what, will always come off as a tourist. But does it restrict what you can do as a man travelling (as opposed to women who need to be careful of cultural restrictions of women showing their legs)?

[madamtrashheap]

You can wear shorts in Europe, but as you would have read in other Posts on this topic, they are usually reserved for the beach and wearing them in cities will show you're a tourist - not that there's anything wrong with that! ;D

May 14, 2008 12:13:14 GMT -5 phillytraveller said:

But does it restrict what you can do as a man travelling (as opposed to women who need to be careful of cultural restrictions of women showing their legs)?

Yes they will restrict you for some cultural parts of your trip, even if you are a man. In churches, for example, particularly in Italy, Spain, some French ones, Austria and southern Germany, you will not be admitted if you are wearing shorts or a tank top as it is considered disrespectful. In Turkey you cannot enter a Mosque or any religious venue (incl. historical) unless you are respectively dressed, but you must remove your shoes.

The one place that you will definitely see this "no shorts" rule in full effect will be the Vatican. To go inside St Peter's Basilica or the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel is part of this) you'll need to cover your legs completely and shoulders must also be covered (a T-shirt is fine). Here's a Post on the topic pretravel.proboards1.com/index.cgi?board=Tips&action=display&thread=443 which should answer all of your questions and clear things up for you.

[crystal]

If you want to wear shorts Philly you wear your shorts. Obviously you don't want to offend anyone (i.e in the vatican ect) but I'm a great believer in clothes for comfort. You'll enjoy yourself more if you're comfy :-)

[bs1313]

I wore shorts both times I was in Europe, I didn't see a problem with it. But thats just me, if I am confortable then I don't care if all of Europe thinks I am a tourist.

[stylescriber]

It's okay to wear shorts, but if you are traveling somewhere in a Malaria-risk destinations, I suggest wear something longer than those pairs you love.

[tre]

I plan to take at least one pair of zip offs, so that way they are pants until I decide that they're shorts. I think this will work best.

Where are the malaria-risk areas of Europe?

[Mikul]

You may notice that some cities are more formal then others, as I learned while in Europe. I was in Salamanca, Spain with 40 students from school and I only saw two people wearing shorts during the two weeks we were there. One was my roommate and another was a blond looking teenager, probably a student studying abroad as well.

According to www.malariahotspots.co.uk/mapInteractive.asp "Malaria does not generally occur in Western or Eastern Europe."

Sorry, didn't realize how old that last post was.