Some countries write dress codes for women into law. Many more just have strong opinions about your shoulders.
This guide covers both: the places where the rules are legal and enforced, and the places women visit all the time with nothing more than a scarf in their bag. If you’re here because you’re nervous about a trip, skip to the second half. It’s the useful part.
Table of Contents
Where Is Hijab Legally Required for Women?
Right now, two countries require women to cover their hair by law: Iran and Afghanistan. Indonesia’s Aceh province also enforces Sharia-based dress rules.
Saudi Arabia used to be on this list. Since 2019, foreign women haven’t had to wear an abaya or a headscarf there, though modest clothing is still expected.
In most other countries, covering up is about custom and respect, not the law.
1. Iran
Iran has the strictest dress code for travelers on this list, and it applies to you too. Women must cover their hair, wear long sleeves and long pants, and wear a loose top or coat that reaches the knee. Some religious sites will hand you a chador at the door.
For Iranian women, breaking the rules can mean fines, arrests and jail time. Tourists usually get a warning and a request to fix their scarf, but this is not the place to test the limits.
The bigger issue right now: the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Ireland all currently advise against any travel to Iran because of the ongoing conflict. So treat this section as context, not a travel plan.
2. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is the country most people assume is the strictest, and it used to be. Since 2019, foreign women don’t have to wear an abaya or a headscarf.
What you do need: clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, and nothing tight or see-through. Public decency rules come with fines, though tourists usually get a polite word first. Riyadh and Jeddah feel more relaxed than smaller towns. Bring a scarf anyway for mosques and conservative areas.
3. Afghanistan
Afghanistan has the most extreme rules for women anywhere. Under the Taliban, women must cover their entire body and face in public. A 2024 law went further and banned women’s voices from being heard in public.
The punishments for Afghan women are severe, and most governments advise against all travel there. This one is a skip.
4. North Korea
North Korea’s dress code is about politics, not religion. Skirts should hit the knee or lower, and jeans are off-limits because they’re seen as a symbol of the West.
Locals who break the rules can face public shaming or worse. Tourists just get told to change. Either way, it’s mostly closed to Western visitors, and the US has banned its citizens from traveling there since 2017.
5. Indonesia (Aceh Province Only)
Aceh is the one corner of Indonesia that enforces Sharia law, including dress rules. Visitors are expected to cover their shoulders and knees, and a headscarf is a good idea in public.
The rest of Indonesia is far more relaxed. In Bali, the only real rule is a sarong and sash to enter temples, and they’re usually handed out at the gate. Our Bali and Gili Islands trip is mostly swimsuits, sunsets and temples, with a sarong in your bag. Here’s what to pack for Bali.
Modest Dress, Zero Drama: Where Women Travel All the Time
Here’s what those scary lists leave out. Most of the “conservative” countries women worry about are places thousands of women visit every year, solo and in groups, without any trouble. The dress code is a scarf, loose layers and a little common sense.
These are the ones we know best, because we take women there.
Egypt
There’s no law about what you wear. In Cairo and Luxor, loose pants or a midi skirt and tops that cover your shoulders will keep the stares down. You’ll need a scarf to go into mosques. On a Nile cruise or at the pool, swimsuits are normal.
Our Egypt trip | What to pack for Egypt | Solo female travel in Egypt
Morocco
Cover your shoulders and knees in the medinas and you’ll blend in fine. Layers matter more than anything, because the desert gets cold at night. Most mosques are closed to non-Muslims, so your scarf is mostly for sun and sand.
Our Morocco trip | What to pack for Morocco
Turkey
Istanbul dresses like any European city. To go into mosques like the Blue Mosque, you’ll need your hair, shoulders and legs covered, and they’ll lend you a wrap at the door if you forget.
Our Turkey trip | What to pack for Turkey
Uzbekistan
Relaxed in Tashkent, a little more traditional in Bukhara and Samarkand. Cover your shoulders and knees at mosques and mausoleums and pack a light scarf. This is ikat country, so leave the all-beige wardrobe at home.
Our Uzbekistan trip | How to prepare for Uzbekistan | Uzbekistan packing list
Kyrgyzstan
Here the weather sets the dress code, not the culture. Think hiking layers, a warm jacket for nights in a yurt, and something that covers your knees for village visits.
Our Kyrgyzstan trip | Is Kyrgyzstan safe for women? | Kyrgyzstan packing list
India
Covering your shoulders and knees goes a long way, especially at temples. You’ll want a scarf to cover your head at gurdwaras and mosques. Goa and Mumbai are more relaxed. On our Holi trip, wear white clothes you’re happy to ruin.
Our Holi trip | The Deep End of India | What to pack for India
Nepal and Bhutan
Nepal is easygoing. Bhutan is more formal: to enter dzongs and temples, you’ll need long sleeves, a long skirt or pants, and no hat.
Our Nepal and Bhutan trip | Nepal and Bhutan packing list
Would you rather someone else figured out the rules? On every SoFe trip, our local guides tell you exactly what to wear and where before you pack. That’s one less thing to Google at 2am. If you’re on the fence about group travel, here’s an honest take on whether women-only tours are worth it.
Tips for Dressing in Conservative Countries
- Pack one big scarf. It covers your hair at a mosque, your shoulders at a temple and your face in a dust storm.
- Loose beats long. Wide-leg pants and flowy tops are cooler than tight jeans and get far less attention.
- Check religious sites separately. Even relaxed countries have stricter rules inside temples and mosques.
- Watch the local women. Within a day you’ll know what’s normal. Match it.
- Check government travel advice before you book. Not after.
FAQ
Which countries require women to wear a hijab?
Iran and Afghanistan, by law. Indonesia’s Aceh province also enforces Sharia-based dress rules. Saudi Arabia no longer requires foreign women to cover their hair.
Do I need to cover my hair in Egypt?
No. You’ll only need a scarf to go into mosques. Loose clothes that cover your shoulders and knees are the norm in cities. See our Egypt trip.
Do I need to wear a headscarf in Morocco?
No. Covering your shoulders and knees is plenty in most places. See our Morocco trip.
Do I need to cover my hair in Turkey?
Only inside mosques. Everywhere else, dress like you would in any European city. See our Turkey trip.
What happens if I break a dress code as a tourist?
Usually a warning or being asked to cover up, or you won’t be let into a religious site. In Iran, fines are possible. Apologizing and fixing it fast solves most situations.
What should I pack for a conservative country?
A big scarf, wide-leg pants, a midi or maxi skirt, and light long-sleeve tops. Here’s our full packing list.
Different Isn’t Dangerous
Most of the places on this page aren’t scary. They’re just different, and different is the whole point of going.
We run small trips for up to 14 women to Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, Uzbekistan, India and more, with local guides who’ll tell you what to wear before you ever open your suitcase.
See all our upcoming trips
