Public nudity is nudity in public spaces, environments, or events. Another common reference is nude in public (NIP). It can also refer to clothing-optional activities on public lands. It is less commonly referred to as public naturism or public nudism, free-range nakedness, or free-range nudity.
This is in contrast to nudity in areas that are not generally accessible to the general public without prior permission, including nudity at home, in privately held offices or studios, in fitness facilities (such as swimming pools, saunas, or gymnasia) and nudity in privately held areas such as nudist or naturist clubs or resorts. Cultural and legal acceptance of public nudity varies regionally. For nudity in public areas, there are in many countries areas such as nude beaches, officially designated or tolerated. People who unexpectedly encounter nudity in a public place outside these areas tend to be taken by surprise. Some opponents, including law enforcement, claim that it is indecent exposure when nudity occurrs in lewd (or otherwise sexualized) contexts. In particular, opponents sometimes protest that it is inappropriate for children to encounter public nudity.
In recent times, however, it appears that public nudity is on the increase with outdoor sporting activities such as Naked Hiking, the World Naked Bike Ride, Bay to Breakers, Solstice Cyclists, and modern art movements as seen in the work of Spencer Tunick and others.