Greece ranks second globally with 624 beaches, 17 marinas and 17 tourist boats that received the international Blue Flag quality award for 2026.

With 624 awarded beaches, Greece once again holds 2nd place worldwide among 51 countries. It is worth noting that Greece continues to show a steady upward trend, with the number of awarded sites increasing every year, once again surpassing 600. Greece now accounts for 14% of all awarded beaches among the 51 countries participating in the program.

The prefecture of Halkidiki ranked first in Greece with 93 awarded beaches, while the Region of Crete maintained first place overall with 154 Blue Flags for beaches. The International Committee awarded 4,378 beaches, 747 marinas and 158 tourist boats worldwide.

Greece’s beaches with Blue Flags

Regional Unit of Andros [1]

Municipality of Andros:

Delavogia / Aneroussa Beach

Regional Unit of Syros [7]

Municipality of Syros-Ermoupoli:

Agathopes
Azolimnos
Vari
Galissas
Kini
Megalos Gialos
Finikas

Regional Unit of Kea-Kythnos [4]

Municipality of Kea:

Gialiskari
Koundouros
Otzias
Poisses

Regional Unit of Paros [4]

Municipality of Paros:

Livadia
Logaras
Marpissa/Golden Beach
Pounta

Regional Unit of Evros [3]

Municipality of Alexandroupoli:

• Delfini
• Alexandroupoli Municipal Beach
• Kyani Akti

Regional Unit of Rodopi [4]

Municipality of Maroneia-Sapes:

• Kryoneri

Municipality of Komotini:

• Arogi
• Mesi
• Fanari/Ioulia

Regional Unit of Xanthi [5]

Municipality of Avdira:

• Avdira/Porto Molo
• Lefkippos
• Mandra
• Myrodato

Municipality of Topeiros:

• Maggana

Regional Unit of Kavala [9]

Municipality of Nestos:

• Ammoglossa Keramoti/Paralia Beach

Municipality of Kavala:

• Batis
• Perigiali
• Tosca Beach

Municipality of Pangaio:

• Ammolofoi
• Nea Iraklitsa
• Nea Peramos
• Ofrynio/Touzla
• Sarakina

Regional Unit of Thassos [5]

Municipality of Thassos:

• Thassos Town/Limanaki
• Makryammos
• Pefkari 2/Alexandra Beach
• Prinos Dasylio 2/Ilio Mare Beach
• Golden Beach Camping

Regional Unit of Thessaloniki [13]

Municipality of Volvi:

• Asprovalta
• Nea Vrasna
• Vrasna Beach
• Porto Fino
• Serraiki Akti
• Stavros East
• Stavros West
• Stavros Central

Municipality of Thermaikos:

• Agia Triada/PIKPA
• Michaniona-Tourbali
• Neoi Epivates
• Perea-Kochyli
• Perea-Memory Square

Regional Unit of Halkidiki [93]

Municipality of Aristotle:

• Mount Athos Ierissos
• Agios Pavlos/Alexandros Palace Hotel
• Alykes
• Ierissos/Municipal 1
• Ierissos/Municipal 2
• Ierissos/Municipal 3
• Kampos
• Kampoudi 1/Akti Ouranoupoli
• Kampoudi 2/Theoxenia
• Kampoudi 3/Akrathos
• Komitsa
• Nea Roda 2
• Olympiada
• Ouranoupoli 2/Eagles Palace
• Ouranoupoli 3/Aristoteles

Municipality of Sithonia:

• Armenistis
• Elaion
• Elia 2/Anthemus
• Elia/Acrotel
• Kalogrias
• Lagomandra/Lagomandra Beach Hotel
• Livrohio 1
• Makria Lagkada/Porfi Beach
• Marmaras
• Nikiti 2
• Paradisos
• Platanitsi
• Porto Carras 1/Kochi
• Porto Carras 2/Sithonia Meliton
• Salonikiou
• Sarti 1
• Styladario/Poseidon Hotel Sea Resort
• Sykia
• Toroni

Municipality of Polygyros:

• Gerakini
• Gerakini/Ikos Olivia
• Kalyves
• Metamorfosi
• Sargkani/Blue Dolphin
• Psakoudia East
• Psakoudia West

Municipality of Kassandra:

• Sani Dunes
• Athytos/Afitis Hotel
• Athytos/Varkes
• Elani
• Kallithea-Municipal Refreshment Area
• Kallithea/Ammon Zeus
• Kanistro/Miraggio
• Nea Skioni Community Beach
• Kryopigi 2/Alexander The Great Beach Hotel
• Kryopigi 4/Kassandra Palace
• Kryopigi Municipal Refreshment Area
• Loutra Agias Paraskevis
• Mendi Kalandra
• Mola Kalyva
• Paliouri Kanistro
• Pefkochori Yalla-Flegra
• Pefkochori-Fyki Beach
• Polychrono 3
• Polychrono-Cocones Beach
• Polychrono/Azur Hotel
• Possidi/Possidi Holidays Resort
• Possidi Pohonda
• Possidi Center
• Possidi-Aigeopelagitika
• Possidi/Cocus
• Sani 2/Sani Beach
• Sani 3/Sani Club
• Sani Asterias
• Siviri Center
• Fourka
• Hanioti 1
• Hanioti 3/Domes Noruz Kassandra

Municipality of Nea Propontida:

• Vergia
• Geoponika-Mykoniatika
• Dionysiou
• Elaionas/Ikos Oceania
• Mouries
• Nea Irakleia
• Nea Irakleia-Sahara
• Nea Kallikrateia
• Nea Moudania
• Nea Plagia
• Nea Potidaia Propontidas
• Nea Potidaia/Portes Beach
• Nea Potidaia-East of Toroneos Canal
• Portaria
• Portes/Portes Lithos
• Roa/Pomegranate Wellness Spa & Potidea Palace
• Sozopoli Center
• Sozopoli/Nautilos
• Triglia
• Flogita

Regional Unit of Pieria [15]

Municipality of Katerini:

• Kallithea
• Kallithea/Mediterranean Village
• Korinos
• Olympic Beach
• Paralia
• Peristasi

Municipality of Dio-Olympos:

• Variko
• Leptokarya
• Leptokarya 2
• Litochoro
• Neos Panteleimonas-Skotina
• Neos Panteleimonas-Skotina 2
• Neoi Poroi
• Plaka
• Platamonas

Regional Unit of Larissa [3]

Municipality of Tempi:

• Nea Mesangala 1 – Karavia Area
• Nea Mesangala 2 – Manikas Area
• Nea Mesangala 3 – Ammolofοι Area

Regional Unit of Magnesia [22]

Municipality of Volos:

• Agria/Valis Resort
• Alykes
• Amaryllidos
• Amfanon
• Anavros
• Thomas Soutrali Agria
• Karnagio
• Kritharia
• Nea Anchialos
• Plakes
• Platanidia
• Chrysi Akti Panagias

Municipality of Almyros:

• Almyros
• Amaliapoli
• Achilleio
• Lefki Pteleou
• Loutro Pteleou
• Nies Sourpis

Municipality of South Pelion:

• Ambovos
• Kala Nera
• Kallifteri
• Koropi/Boufa

Regional Unit of Sporades [18]

Municipality of Skiathos:

• Agia Eleni
• Agia Paraskevi-Platanias
• Ambelakia/Elivi
• Aselinos
• Achladies
• Vasilias
• Vromolimnos
• Gournes Elia
• Kanapitsa
• Koukounaries
• Maratha/Skiathos Palace Hotel
• Megali Ammos
• Megali Banana/Elivi
• Mikri Banana/Elivi
• Tzaneria
• Troulos

Municipality of Skopelos:

• Andrina/Adrina Beach
• Andrina/Adrina Resort

Regional Unit of Attica [17]

Municipality of Marathon:

• Brexiza

Municipality of Spata-Artemida:

• Diastavrosi
• Limni

Municipality of Markopoulo Mesogaias:

• Avlaki

Municipality of Lavreotiki:

• Sounio/Grecotel Cape Sounio

Municipality of Saronikos:

• Lagonisi 1-Grand Beach/Grand Resort Lagonissi
• Lagonisi 2-Mediterraneo/Grand Resort Lagonissi
• Lagonisi 3-Kochylia/Grand Resort Lagonissi
• Mavro Lithari/EverEden Beach

Municipality of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni:

• Astir Beach Vouliagmenis
• Voula A
• Vouliagmeni

Municipality of Glyfada:

• Glyfada
• Glyfada A
• Glyfada B

Municipality of Megara:

• Kinetta/Kinetta Beach Resort & Spa

Municipality of Aegina:

• Agia Marina

The marinas with Blue Flags

Halkidiki [3]

Municipality of Sithonia:

• Porto Carras Marina

Municipality of Kassandra:

• Sani Marina
• Miraggio Marina

Evia [1]

Municipality of Skyros:

• Linaria Tourist Shelter

Attica [4]

Municipality of Lavreotiki:

• Olympic Marine

Municipality of Alimos:

• New Alimos Marina

Municipality of Palaio Faliro:

• Flisvos Marina

Municipality of Piraeus:

• D-Marin Zea Marina

Aetolia-Acarnania [1]

Municipality of Aktio-Vonitsa:

• Cleopatra Marina

Preveza [1]

Municipality of Preveza:

• Preveza Marina

Corfu [2]

Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands:

• Gouvia Marina
• Benitses Marina

Lefkada [1]

Municipality of Lefkada:

• Lefkada Marina

Lasithi [1]

Municipality of Agios Nikolaos:

• Agios Nikolaos Marina

Rhodes [1]

Municipality of Rhodes:

• Rhodes Marina

Kos [1]

Municipality of Kos:

• Kos Marina

Kalymnos [1]

Municipality of Leros:

• Leros Marina

The Blue Flag program and its criteria

The Blue Flag is the most recognizable and widespread international eco-label for beaches, marinas and tourist boats. It has been awarded since 1987, provided the strict criteria of the program are met.

A necessary condition for a beach to receive a Blue Flag is “excellent” water quality. No other classification — not even “good” — is accepted by the program. The award lasts for one year.

In addition, all other criteria must also be met: 33 criteria for beaches, 38 for marinas and 51 for tourist boats. These concern:

• cleanliness
• organization
• information
• swimmer and visitor safety
• protection of natural coastal environments
• environmental awareness

The Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy actively supports the Blue Flag program through the General Secretariat for Natural Environment and Waters, recognizing its contribution to improving service quality on beaches and marinas and promoting Greece’s environmental image internationally.

The Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature has signed a cooperation protocol with the Ministry of Tourism, formally sealing their shared goals in improving the quality of Greece’s tourism product. The implementation of the criteria of the organization’s two international sustainability management and awareness programs related to tourism — Blue Flag and Green Key — ensures high-quality services through sustainable practices and full respect for the environment.

The Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (KEDE) also supports the program and encourages local authorities to comply with its criteria.

Monitoring bathing water quality

Bathing water quality is monitored annually by the Water Directorates of the Decentralized Administrations and the General Secretariat for Natural Environment and Waters of the Ministry of Environment and Energy through water sampling carried out by laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation System (ESYD).

The Ministry also created the “Bathing Water Profiles Registry,” which systematically monitors beaches that:

• attract large numbers of bathers
• have ecological and aesthetic importance
• face significant environmental pressures

The sampling results are combined with the condition of the beach in order to officially classify water quality at national level in accordance with existing legislation.

The monitoring program follows the requirements of EU Directive 2006/7/EC on the management of bathing water quality, which was incorporated into Greek legislation through Joint Ministerial Decision H.P. 8600/416/E103/23.2.2009.

The annual report is published on the website:
www.bathingwaterprofiles.gr

Program criteria

A. Sea and beach cleanliness

• “Excellent” bathing water quality confirmed through sample testing according to EU and national legislation
• No discharge of untreated industrial or urban wastewater
• Adequate garbage bins and recycling bins emptied regularly
• Continuous cleaning of the beach from litter, cigarette butts, etc.

B. Beach organization

• Continuous public information regarding water quality through posting official microbiological analysis results
• Emergency plans for accidental marine pollution incidents with immediate public notification
• Prohibition of vehicle and motorcycle traffic on the beach
• Prohibition of free camping
• Adequate sanitary facilities with controlled sewage systems

C. Visitor safety

• Presence of trained and certified lifeguards in accordance with Ministry of Shipping regulations, or direct access to emergency communication, rescue equipment and first aid
• Accessibility and services for people with disabilities or reduced mobility

D. Nature protection and environmental awareness

• Printed information and behavioral guidelines for beaches and environmentally sensitive coastal areas
• Activities organized by beach management demonstrating commitment to environmental protection
• Environmental education initiatives for beach visitors