Planning to hit the water on your European beach vacation? Check out Europe’s 10 best and worst countries for bathing water quality.
A beach vacation without a dip in the water is no fun. Clean salt water or fresh water refreshes your mental and physical well-being including improving your cardio and overall health.
Magnesium in seawater helps moisturize and improve skin appearance. Vitamins, mineral salts and trace elements in natural waters can help boost the immune system.
In Europe, taking a dip in the city river is popular especially on a hot summer day. Not only does it invigorate the body and soul, but it also reduces the stress of commuting in congested traffic said Benjamin David who swims to work daily.
Related: Swim to Work on the Isar: Alternative Urban Commuting
The European River Swimming Day organized by Big Jump encourages people to swim in rivers on the same day and hour in all European rivers. The project aims to reconciliate people with their rivers. The next big pan-European Big Jump events will take place at 3:00 p.m. (French time) on July 14, 2024.
Top 10 Cleanest Countries to Swim in Europe
According to the European Environment Agency, of the 22,081 bathing waters assessed in 2023, 85% were of excellent quality.
Water quality in coastal waters is generally better than inland waters. For a map showing bathing water locations and their quality, click here.
When it comes to having the best bathing water quality for swimming, Cyprus tops the European Union (EU) list, according to the European Environment Agency 2023 bathing water quality report updated on June 13, 2024.
Bathing water quality is rated based on two microbiological parameters (Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci) as defined in the Bathing Water Directive rather than general water quality. This report highlights places where swimmers can find safe bathing sites in Europe this summer.
Below are the top 10 European countries with excellent bathing water (coastal and inland) quality among 27 EU Member States and two non-EU nations: Albania and Switzerland.
- Cyprus
- Austria
- Croatia
- Greece
- Bulgaria
- Denmark
- Malta
- Germany
- Italy
- Lithuania
Top 4 Destinations: Lakes, Bays and Beaches
Cyprus was awarded an excellent score of 97.6 per cent for 123 of the bathing waters assessed. All surveyed were coastal waters. Apart from clean turquoise waters along beautiful beaches, Cyprus also boast a vibrant food and wine culture.
Taking second spot with an excellent score of 96.9 per cent, Austria’s most beautiful bathing lakes are “so clean you can see all the way to the ground”. Top nine lakes for a summer dip. Among them are Lake Achensee in Tirol, a natural lake craved by glaciers some 20,000 years ago; Lake Attersee in Upper Austria and Lake Neusiedler See in Burgenland.
Trailing closely behind is Croatia with an excellent score of 96.7 per cent. The Balkan nation tops the list for having the cleanest coastal bathing waters among all EU Member States. Aside from medieval charm, the Dalmatian coast and its nearby islands are also a magnet for beach lovers.
Greece took fourth spot with a 95.8 per cent excellent score. The country has always been a popular holiday destination. Whether it’s sand, pebble or rocky beaches, Greece’s islands cater to virtually every taste. The country has the longest coastline of any Mediterranean nation.
Top 10 Countries in Europe with Filthy Bathing Water Quality
- Albania
- Poland
- Hungary
- Estonia
- Belgium
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Latvia
Published: July 04, 2018 | Updated: June 18, 2024
