June 19, 2025, 4:53 am | Read time: 4 minutes
If you’re traveling to France this summer, it’s important to familiarize yourself with a specific dress code. In our neighboring country, men are prohibited from swimming in pools wearing loose shorts or swim trunks. Instead, a law requires them to wear tight-fitting swim briefs. Here’s what you need to know about it.
When preparing for a vacation abroad, it’s advisable to find out about any local dress codes in advance. Most people are aware of this when traveling to predominantly Muslim countries, but Bali also has specific dress regulations for entering temples. In the Italian seaside resort of Lignano, a dress code has been in place for some time, prohibiting people from wearing swimwear in public places. However, being asked to wear less or tighter clothing at a vacation spot might be unusual for most. In France, this is indeed the case. Men are not allowed to wear loose shorts or baggy swim trunks. Instead, only tight swim briefs are permitted in public swimming pools.
Tight Swim Briefs for Men Are Law in France
The reason for this peculiar regulation in French public swimming pools is actually hygienic. It is believed that loose-fitting swim trunks are often worn as casual clothing outside the pool, allowing them to collect dust, dirt, or other contaminants that can enter the pool when swimming. Additionally, there is concern that fibers—especially from cotton shorts—can break off in the water and burden the filtration systems. Therefore, swimming in a T-shirt is generally not allowed either.
The regulation itself dates back to a law from 1903 and is still in effect today, despite some attempts to change it. The law applies to all public swimming pools, hotel pools, campsites with pools, and water parks. Only tight swim briefs like Speedos or Jammers are allowed. The latter fit snugly like cycling shorts but are slightly longer, making them a good alternative for those who find the classic Speedo too revealing.
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Wearing a Swim Cap Often Mandatory in France
There is another reason why the French are not fans of loose-fitting swimwear. The materials often absorb a lot of water, which then drips onto the floor around the pool when leaving the water—making the floor slippery and a potential hazard.
And it’s not just certain swim briefs that are mandated in France. Wearing a swim cap is also required in many swimming pools, for both women and men. For both regulations, even though there are places where the rules are more lenient, it’s best not to risk being unprepared. Otherwise, the planned pool visit might literally fall through—as it did for our colleague Adrian on his last vacation in France. But he has a clear opinion on the matter.