Greece ranked second worldwide with 624 Blue Flag beaches for 2026

Greece has erstwhile again secured 2nd spot worldwide successful the prestigious Blue Flag programme for 2026, earning awards for 624 beaches, 17 marinas and 17 tourist boats recognised for exceptional biology and water prime standards.

The internationally recognised eco-label, awarded successful 51 countries, highlights beaches and marinas that conscionable strict criteria for water quality, safety, organisation, cleanliness and biology management.

With much than 600 awarded beaches erstwhile again this year, Greece present holds 14 per cent of each Blue Flag beaches globally, continuing a steady upward trend successful yearly distinctions.

Halkidiki emerged arsenic Greece’s top determination unit with 93 awarded beaches, while Crete maintained archetypal spot among the country’s regions overall, receiving 154 Blue Flags crossed the island. The International Committee awarded a total of 4,378 beaches, 747 marinas and 158 tourist vessels worldwide.

Among the regions and islands receiving ample numbers of awards were Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, Lesvos, Zakynthos, Skiathos, Chania, Rethymno and the Cyclades, with distinctions besides awarded crossed mainland coastal destinations including Attica, Halkidiki, Messinia and the Ionian Islands.

With a total of 154 award-winning beaches, Crete has erstwhile again confirmed its starring presumption successful the 2026 Blue Flag program, maintaining its strong biology and tourism illustration nationwide. The awards span the full island, from Chania and Rethymno to Heraklion and Lasithi. Photo: AMNA

The Blue Flag remains 1 of the world’s astir recognised biology prime symbols for beaches, marinas and tourist vessels. The grant is granted annually and requires beaches to conscionable strict biology standards, including “excellent” bathing water quality, the programme does not judge adjacent a “good” classification.

Authorities besides measure dozens of further criteria relating to formation organisation, visitor safety, cleanliness, accessibility, biology extortion and nationalist awareness.

The Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy continues to actively support the programme done the General Secretariat for Natural Environment and Waters, recognising its publication to improving tourism prime and strengthening Greece’s biology representation internationally.

Water prime is monitored annually done sampling conducted by accredited laboratories under European Union biology directives, with results published publically done Greece’s authoritative bathing water registry.