Blue Flag | beach guide

Blue Flag beaches

The Greek Islands beaches have always featured in Blue Flag awards ever since they were adopted Europe-wide in 1987. The Blue Flag award is an international symbol of quality and probably one of the best-known environmental symbols in the world.

In 2011 a total of 387 Blue Flags were awarded to Greek beaches in the Greek Islands and on the Greek mainland, a significant drop on the 2010 figure of of 412 beaches. In 2011 a total of nine Greek marinas picked up a Blue Flag accolade - exactly the same as in 2010.

The 2011/12 awards put Greece second in the international league table of 41 countries for the number of safe, clean beaches that are found around its shoreline by the Foundation for Environmental Education.

The awards are issued annually, usually in June, to beaches and marinas of participating FEE member countries in Europe, Canada and North Africa. In November, Blue Flags are awarded to beaches in the Caribbean, New Zealand, South Africa and other southern hemisphere countries.

In 2011 the FEE awarded Blue Flag status to a total of 3,012 beaches and to 638 marinas worldwide. This compares with 244 beaches and 208 marinas from 10 countries that were awarded the Blue Flag in 1987 when the scheme - started in France - was expanded to cover much of Europe.

How to pick up a Blue Flag beach award

To gain a Blue Flag, beaches must meet a total of 32 criteria relating to cleanliness, organization, information and visitor safety as well as providing plans to help protect the coastal environment and the coastal areas.

The quality of bathing water is tested with random checks and microbiological analysis. Beach inspectors not only check for inustrial and municipal discharge but they will even make sure that litter bins are emptied frequently and that beaches are cleared of litter and cigarette ends.

First aid equipment must be available on the beach and trained lifeguards must also be on duty. Provision should also be made for people with disabilities. Beaches with the Blue Flag accolade are able to fly the distinctive blue and white flag.

Greek Blue Flag beaches 2011-2012

This is not a definitive list of Blue Flag beaches on the Greek islands as many of the less popular holiday islands are not included and only Halkidiki on mainland Greece is included.
Please note also that some beaches may have more than one Blue Flag. Long beaches, such as Faliraki on Rhodes, will have several flags - one for each separate beach section. Some resorts may have more than one beach and all may have flags. but only the beach resort is included here.
A definitive list of Blue Flag beaches for Greece and the Greek islands (in Greek) can be found here at www.eepf.gr/blueflag/awards2011 or (in English) at www.blueflag.org/