Beach holidays: "Blue Flags 2023"

With 617 award-winning beaches, Greece is again ranked 2nd in the world out of 52 countries.

With its award-winning beaches, Greece ranks second in the world, according to the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPP), which is the national operator of the international Blue Flag program in our country.

For the first time, awards exceed 600, and of the 52 countries participating in the program, Greece owns 15% of the awarded beaches. The Prefecture of Halkidiki emerged first in Greece with 94 flags. The International Commission has awarded a total of 4212 beaches, 710 marinas and 120 tourist boats worldwide. The Blue Flag is the world’s most recognizable and widespread environmental symbol of quality. It has been awarded since 1987 to beaches and marinas that meet strict conditions. A prerequisite for awarding the coast with the “Blue Flag” is the quality of its water “Excellent”. No other quality rating, even “Good”, is accepted by the program. The award is valid for one year.

In addition, the rest of the 33 coastal criteria (38 for marinas and 51 for boats) must be observed, which relate to cleanliness, organization, information, safety of bathers and visitors, protection of the natural resources of the coast and coastal space, environmental consciousness.

Major foreign travel agencies pay special attention to the Blue Flag when choosing the destinations they recommend to their clients, as a guarantee of the high quality of services offered on the coast, as well as the protection of the environment and public health. This is known and appreciated by all beach managers, municipalities, hotels and campsites who voluntarily participate in the program.

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