Shorts in churches?

Most churches have no requirements (or at least no one enforcing them). From my experiences, cathedrals in the south (Spain and Italy), as well as Sacre Coeur in Paris require more modesty.

Thanks Caitlin!!

All churches, cathedrals, etc., have a dress code of modesty - covered shoulders, covered knees. The fact that no one is standing at the front door enforcing the standards does not mean you are free to violate the policy. It is strictly a matter of respect and decorum regardless of the country. It is not a Disneyland reproduction or the beach for your entertainment. It is church most likely being currently used by the local residents for religious purposes. Be considerate. Dress appropriate. Remember, you are a guest. And please turn the flash on your camera off.

Like Frank said, all churches have a modesty requirement for dress. With the exception of St. Peter's (where they WILL check if shoulders or knees are covered), most will not be very militant. Many churches in Italy may remind you that they would like you to dress with respect. Remember, you're visiting different cultures, with different customs and values. Rather than viewing a church as a tourist attraction, understand that it is a sacred space, and you'll understand how to dress. A pair of pants thrown into your carry on (or zip off pants) is very little added weight, and it might give us North American travellers a better reputation over there...
Have a great trip!

I'm just gonna keep saying it (for the ladies, anyway): CAPRIS and a lightweight scarf (which can be worn over your shoulders if wearing a shirt that exposes them or your cleavage) It really solves the church problem. For men...well, kakhis or even linen pants aren't really that much hotter than shorts. Jeans are, I'd avoid them in summer. Depending where you are, you might be grateful for the extra coverage anyway. June can be surprisingly chilly in some parts of Europe.

This topic is like the Schengen Treaty or the urban myths about Europeans not wearing shorts or running shoes...it never goes away, and everyone loves talking about it. I understand showing a certain level of respect, but seriously, we're not talking about showing up in hot pants or a Speedo. When was the last time you saw a man in short shorts anyway...1983? Shorts nowadays are long...at the knee or even below. They could easily be pulled down one tenth of an inch to cover the knee if necessary in Rome. I wouldn't go out of my way to bring extra clothing for churches if your shorts are at or slightly below the knee (or can be pulled below the knee) and your shirt is a normal, more modest shirt. And if your shorts are not that long, you may need a wardrobe makeover anyway...shorts have been long for years. Happy travels!

Not answering your question, but related...You didn't say where you were going but I've experienced freezing cold Junes as well as scorching Junes in France. It can change from one day to the next. One year I had to search for a store with a wool sweater in stock and two years ago I bought a jacket at a church jumbo sale because just my sweater wasn't warm enough. Then a week later, a heat wave started.

I was in Bilbao in 1988 - long before the Guggenheim Museum opened there. While walking in a park on my day off, a bunch of schoolboys laughed at me, and the only explanation could be that they were not used to seeing 50-year old men wearing shorts. So be careful when you talk about US norms as if they apply to the world. Let me add that when I went to the World Trade Center Memorial site, I saw tourists in ragged shorts, vulgar-motto tee shirts, and short-shorts. (I don't feel mopey or unresolved-mourning about that location.) But it seemed thoughtless of them. Couldn't it be that people of faith care what you wear into their place of worship? The next question is whether you care, or if, "It's all about YOU."

My husband wore the lightweight, zip-off nylon pants from REI to make sure he was appropriately dressed. I wore a skirt that could be folded up after our visit and replaced with shorts. Have a great trip.

I'm not sure what a wardrobe faux pas from 24 years ago in Spain has to do with U.S. norms applying to the rest of the world in 2012, but if someone takes offense to a U.S. tourist wearing, say, a pair of cargo shorts that are below the knee and a golf shirt while visiting the Kölner Dom with a tour group on a warm June day, who cares? Sorry, but that's not disrespectful or selfish in my opinion. One can't tour these great cathedrals during services anyway...tourist times fall outside of worship times. And take a look around the next time you're in Europe on a warm summer day...all of those people wearing shorts aren't from Indiana. And why should tourists in New York who were just visiting Times Square return to their hotels and change into church clothes before going down to the WTC memorial just because another tourist in their 70s thinks they should be wearing something different? As long as they weren't acting like a-holes and were respectful, why should anyone else care what they're wearing? Would you expect tourists at Arlington to change into church clothes before experiencing the changing of the guard there? If you don't like someone else's style, don't adopt it. Cheers!

Count me as someone that believes visitors to someone else's church should dress and act respectfully. Cultural attitudes towards churches do vary by region, country and religion, but I still use a minimum standard of respect. I always remove my hat inside. I don't wear skimpy clothes. But then again, I don't wear skimpy clothes anyway. I talk quietly (or not at all if signs are posted). I turn off my camera flash (or no photos if signs are posted). Does everyone obey these rules? No and they tend to cheapen the experience. And they are not all Americans but why should someone else's disrespect be our guide? Most churches have some kind of activity throughout the day. Small masses or services. Worshipers at various chapels. People that actually come to the church to pray in the pews. Why should they be bothered and their experience cheapened by tourists?

Have never seen a German church say anything to anybody about their clothing except in Catholic churches, that guys need to remove their hats. The behaviour I find the oddest are those tourists who take photos of themselves standing in front of things like Crucifixtion sculptures, saying "cheese"! or giving a "V" sign. What the heck is that all about? Group photos in front of a guy being tortured. Cool. For cameras, not only is the flash disturbing, but that cute little "bing" or chime after every photo needs to be turned off. Have watched tourists in churches with wonderful accustics walk through the church clapping their hands or making Whooop Whooop noises to hear how it sounds. Walking into confessional booths, touching everything in the church, like the altars or wall paintings. Astounding! Having those naked knees and shoulders is pretty mild compared to these types of behaviours. As to those knees and shoulders, I have never figured out what exactly is disrespectful about them. Other than the fact that knees are just plain goofy looking. Would rather see these than listen to those tourists wearing nylon pants that go "swish, swish" with every step. Now, those ought to be banned period. Everywhere, not just in churches. Most annoying sound ever.

Think all the anti-shorts comments just boil down to simple respect for following another culture's rules. Truth be told, Jesus hung out with a hooker and while he may not care, the Catholic church & other religious factions say cover up. If I took on that "Screw you, I'm gonna wear what I'm comfy in" attitude in certain Middle Eastern countries and pranced around with my head uncovered in shorts & a tube top, some people may find that really offensive - as offensive as I find forcing a woman to wear a full burkha covering every solid inch of her. But that's my culture & that's their culture. In Australia the aboriginals consider Uluru sacred & feel it should not be climbed, yet every day hundreds of yahoos ignore that and do what they want to do. I went & looked at it from the ground. It's about showing respect which is something a lot of people just don't get.

If you will be entering churches in Italy, be prepared for the ladies to cover up the shoulders and almost everything down to the knees. Since many churches in Italy are also tourist attractions, they do have people checking you out at the entrances. No shorts permitted.

FYI, the vast majority of French don't care either. In fact the church buildings belong to the State, like monuments, not the Church. Once in a while, you'll run across some people praying, but they aren't concerned with how people are dressed.