Greece Among Europe’s Top Destinations for Safe, High‑Quality Bathing Waters

[χρόνος ανάγνωσης 1 λεπτό και 14 δευτ.]

Europe continues to maintain consistently high standards in bathing water quality, according to the latest annual report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Commission for 2025. The data confirms that the vast majority of bathing sites across the continent remain safe, with Greece once again ranking among the top‑performing countries in the European Union.

Overall, 85% of Europe’s bathing waters are classified as “excellent”, while 96% meet the EU’s minimum quality standards. Only 1.5% are rated as “poor,” a figure that remains exceptionally low and stable compared with the previous year.

Greece stands at the top of the European rankings, alongside Austria, Bulgaria and Cyprus, with more than 95% of its bathing waters rated as “excellent.” With one of the longest coastlines in Europe and tourism as a central pillar of its economy, Greece consistently achieves high performance, demonstrating the effectiveness of its monitoring systems and the value of sustained investment in environmental protection.

The report also highlights that coastal waters in the EU generally show better quality than inland waters (rivers and lakes). In 2025, 88% of coastal bathing sites were rated as excellent, compared with 78% of inland sites.

Greece, where the vast majority of bathing areas are located along the coast, benefits strongly from this trend, further strengthening its profile as a safe and high‑quality destination.

The assessment is accompanied by an interactive EEA map, enabling citizens to identify the safest bathing areas in each country. The analysis focuses on monitoring bacteria that can potentially cause serious illness, offering a scientifically robust tool for anyone planning their summer activities.

At a time when climate change, urbanisation and pressures on water ecosystems are increasing, the report’s findings indicate that European —and particularly Greek— water protection policies remain effective.

The stability of the indicators and the consistently high quality of bathing waters confirm that Greece continues to invest in an environment that is safe, clean and competitive, both for residents and for the millions of visitors who choose the country each year.