Assos, a postcard-perfect village on the Greek island of Kefalonia. Greece ranks among the top countries in Europe for the cleanest coastal waters, making this idyllic beach a safe and stunning spot for a swim.<\/p>\n
getty<\/p>\n
Looking for the best places to swim in Europe? As the 2025 summer travel season heats up, a new report reveals exactly where you\u2019ll find the cleanest swimming water in Europe, from the shores of Croatia to the lakes of Austria.<\/p>\n
Each year, the European Environment Agency (EEA), in cooperation with the European Commission, releases this detailed report<\/a> assessing bathing water quality across 22,127 sites in all EU member states, plus Albania and Switzerland.<\/p>\n The countries are then ranked based on the cleanliness of their swimming waters using data gathered in rigorous annual assessments that monitor bacterial contaminants such as Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s results are in\u2014and some countries have pulled ahead with near-perfect scores. Compare the latest report to last year\u2019s rankings<\/a>.<\/p>\n For travelers plotting out their next escape, the new rankings offer a useful tool for choosing where to take a dip\u2014whether you\u2019re seeking saltwater waves in the Mediterranean or the serene stillness of a mountain lake. And for countries at the top of the list, it\u2019s a powerful marker of public health, environmental leadership and tourism appeal.<\/p>\n What Makes A \u201cClean\u201d Swimming Spot?<\/p>\n So how is the water evaluated? Each year, national and local authorities test thousands of beaches, rivers, lakes and swimming holes for bacterial contamination. Bacteria can enter bathing waters through sewage discharge or agricultural runoff and can pose serious risks to public health.<\/p>\n The testing is part of the EU Bathing Water Directive, a policy adopted in 2006 that has helped drive major improvements in water quality across Europe.<\/p>\n Sites are rated in one of four categories: excellent, good, sufficient or poor, based on four years\u2019 worth of monitoring data. An excellent rating indicates that the water meets the highest standards of cleanliness and safety, making it ideal for swimming and other recreational activities.<\/p>\n A new report ranks the cleanest swimming waters in Europe.<\/p>\n getty<\/p>\n The good news: In the latest report, 85% of European waters have earned an excellent rating\u2014meaning they meet the most stringent standards for cleanliness and safety. Only 1.5% of sites were rated poor. And 96% met at least the minimum requirement of sufficient.<\/p>\n Still, not all waters are created equal\u2014and the new report makes clear that coastal sites are generally cleaner than inland ones. While 89% of Europe\u2019s coastal sites received the top excellent grade, only 78% of inland sites achieved the same.<\/p>\n And just don\u2019t assume you can do whatever you want once you hit the beach. From flip-flop fines to smoking bans to selfie crackdowns, many countries are tightening the rules on tourist behavior<\/a>.<\/p>\n Europe\u2019s Cleanest Coastal Waters<\/p>\n If you\u2019re dreaming of postcard-perfect beaches and superb swimming, Slovenia and Lithuania tied for first place, as they lead the pack when it comes to coastal water quality. The two countries both achieved a flawless score, with 100% of tested coastal sites earning an excellent rating.<\/p>\n A caveat, though: Slovenia only tested 21 sites and Lithuania just 16. Still, these top marks reflect rigorous environmental oversight and a strong track record of clean, safe waters. And Slovenia isn\u2019t just a great spot for a swim. It was recently in the spotlight for launching a digital nomad visa<\/a>, making it even more appealing for travelers who want to stay longer.<\/p>\n An aerial view of the ancient city of Mesembria (modern-day Nessebar) on Bulgaria\u2019s Black Sea coast. Bulgaria ranks among the top countries in Europe for clean coastal waters, making it a standout destination for beach lovers in 2025.<\/p>\n getty<\/p>\n Rounding out the coastal top five are Bulgaria (97.8%), Croatia (97.1%) and Greece (97.0%), all of which tested hundreds of sites and maintained impressively high standards across the board. These destinations offer not just warm seas and sunshine but also peace of mind for travelers seeking clean swimming conditions.<\/p>\n Europe\u2019s Cleanest Inland Waters<\/p>\n While coastal waters tend to get the spotlight, Europe\u2019s lakes and rivers are also appealing to swimmers\u2014especially in landlocked countries or mountainous regions. This year, Bulgaria, Greece and Romania tied for the top spot with 100% all their inland waters rating excellent. But again, a caveat: Each country only had a small number of inland sites, ranging from one to four locations.<\/p>\n For travelers looking for a more comprehensive picture, Austria (95.8% excellence) and Finland (93.8%) stand out, with a larger number of inland site samples. Austria had a total of 260 bodies of inland water rated, while Finland had 225. That makes them two of the best bets in Europe for a freshwater swim.<\/p>\n Europe\u2019s Cleanest Waters Overall<\/p>\n When you combine both inland and coastal sites, one country stands above the rest: Cyprus. With 99.2% of its 123 bodies of water rated as excellent, the island is the undisputed winner in overall water quality. That consistency across all swimming areas\u2014from popular beach resorts to quieter bays.<\/p>\n Close behind are Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia and Austria, each offering a mix of coastal and inland waters with top-tier cleanliness. While some of these countries have smaller site counts (like Bulgaria), others (like Croatia) tested nearly a thousand locations.<\/p>\n Where Improvement Is Needed<\/p>\n At the lower end of the list, some countries are struggling to maintain clean bathing waters. Albania ranks at the bottom for the second year in a row, with just 16.0% of its sites classified as excellent\u2014a sharp drop from 41.2% last year. Poland, Estonia and Hungary also landed near the bottom of the rankings, each with fewer than 60% of their sites reaching excellent status.<\/p>\n Even so, many of these countries have made strides over the past decade, thanks to better monitoring, increased public awareness, and EU-supported infrastructure improvements. The data is publicly available, and pressure is mounting to bring lower-performing regions up to standard.<\/p>\n Read on to see all the rankings.<\/p>\n The charming town of Piran in Slovenia\u2014which ranked at the top of the list for the cleanest coastal waters in Europe.<\/p>\n getty Dreaming of a beach holiday? These countries have the highest percentage of coastal sites rated \u201cexcellent\u201d for water quality.<\/p>\n 1. Slovenia (21 bodies of water) \u2013 100% (tie)<\/p>\n 1. Lithuania (16 bodies of water) \u2013 100% (tie)<\/p>\n 3. Cyprus (123 bodies of water) \u2013 99.2%<\/p>\n 4. Bulgaria (92 bodies of water) \u2013 97.8%<\/p>\n 5. Croatia (894 bodies of water) \u2013 97.1%<\/p>\n 6. Greece (1728 bodies of water) \u2013 97.0%<\/p>\n 7. Denmark (924 bodies of water) \u2013 92.6%<\/p>\n 8. Malta (87 bodies of water) \u2013 92% (tie)<\/p>\n 8. Spain (2021 bodies of water) \u2013 92% (tie)<\/p>\n 10. Italy (4853 bodies of water) \u2013 90.6%<\/p>\n 11. Portugal (512 bodies of water) \u2013 90.2%<\/p>\n 12. Germany (362 bodies of water) \u2013 88.4%<\/p>\n 13. Romania (49 bodies of water) \u2013 83.7%<\/p>\n 14. Latvia (33 bodies of water) \u2013 81.8%<\/p>\n 15. Ireland (141 bodies of water) \u2013 80.9%<\/p>\n 16. The Netherlands (92 bodies of water) \u2013 79.3%<\/p>\n 17. France (2079 bodies of water) \u2013 76.4%<\/p>\n 18. Sweden (265 bodies of water) \u2013 69.1%<\/p>\n 19. Belgium (41 bodies of water) \u2013 68.3%<\/p>\n 20. Finland (78 bodies of water) \u2013 61.5%<\/p>\n 21. Poland (189 bodies of water) \u2013 60.3%<\/p>\n 22. Estonia (30 bodies of water) \u2013 36.7%<\/p>\n 23. Albania (113 bodies of water) \u2013 15.9%<\/p>\n Crystal-clear Gosau Lake in Upper Austria\u2014one of the many pristine inland swimming spots that helped Austria land in the top five for cleanest waters in Europe.<\/p>\n getty Prefer lakes and rivers? These nations top the charts for inland water quality.<\/p>\n 1. Bulgaria (4 bodies of water) \u2013 100% (tie)<\/p>\n 1. Greece (1 body of water) \u2013 100% (tie)<\/p>\n 1. Romania (1 body of water) \u2013 100% (tie)<\/p>\n 4. Austria (260 bodies of water) \u2013 95.8%<\/p>\n 5. Denmark (125 bodies of water) \u2013 95.2%<\/p>\n 6. Finland (225 bodies of water) \u2013 93.8%<\/p>\n 7. Germany (1929 bodies of water) \u2013 90.9%<\/p>\n 8. Italy (685 bodies of water) \u2013 88.3%<\/p>\n 9. Lithuania (105 bodies of water) \u2013 83.8%<\/p>\n 10. Switzerland (160 bodies of water) \u2013 83.1%<\/p>\n 11. Estonia (35 bodies of water) \u2013 82.9%<\/p>\n 12. Luxembourg (17 bodies of water) \u2013 82.4%<\/p>\n 13. Ireland (10 bodies of water) \u2013 80.0%<\/p>\n 14. Sweden (206 bodies of water) \u2013 79.1%<\/p>\n 15. Slovakia (35 bodies of water) \u2013 77.1%<\/p>\n 16. Czechia (153 bodies of water) \u2013 76.5%<\/p>\n 17. The Netherlands (660 bodies of water) \u2013 71.5%<\/p>\n 18. France (1286 bodies of water) \u2013 70.6%<\/p>\n 19. Belgium (89 bodies of water) \u2013 69.7%<\/p>\n 20. Latvia (26 bodies of water) \u2013 69.2%<\/p>\n 21. Hungary (288 bodies of water) \u2013 67%<\/p>\n 22. Portugal (161 bodies of water) \u2013 58.4%<\/p>\n 23. Slovenia (26 bodies of water) \u2013 57.7%<\/p>\n 24. Poland (575 bodies of water) \u2013 57.4%<\/p>\n 25. Croatia (42 bodies of water) \u2013 54.8%<\/p>\n 26. Spain (274 bodies of water) \u2013 54.7%<\/p>\n 27. Albania (6 bodies of water) \u2013 16.7%<\/p>\n Crystal-clear waters at Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa, Cyprus\u2014ranked #1 in Europe for overall swimming water quality.<\/p>\n getty This final ranking considers both coastal and inland sites to determine which countries truly offer the cleanest swimming waters across the board.<\/p>\n 1. Cyprus (123 bodies of water) \u2013 99.2%<\/p>\n 2. Bulgaria (94 bodies of water) \u2013 97.9%<\/p>\n 3. Greece (1729 bodies of water) \u2013 97%<\/p>\n 4. Austria (260 bodies of water) \u2013 95.8%<\/p>\n 5. Croatia (936 bodies of water) \u2013 95.2%<\/p>\n 6. Denmark (1049 bodies of water) \u2013 92.9%<\/p>\n 7. Malta (87 bodies of water) \u2013 92%<\/p>\n 8. Germany (2,291 bodies of water) \u2013 90.5%<\/p>\n 9. Italy (5,538 bodies of water) \u2013 90.3%<\/p>\n 10. Spain (2,295 bodies of water) \u2013 87.6%<\/p>\n 11. Lithuania (121 bodies of water) \u2013 86.0%<\/p>\n 12. Finland (303 bodies of water) \u2013 85.5%<\/p>\n 13. Romania (50 bodies of water) \u2013 84.0%<\/p>\n 14. Switzerland (160 bodies of water) \u2013 83.1%<\/p>\n 15. Portugal (673 bodies of water) \u2013 82.6%<\/p>\n 16. Luxembourg (17 bodies of water) \u2013 82.4%<\/p>\n 17. Ireland (151 bodies of water) \u2013 80.8%<\/p>\n 18. Latvia (59 bodies of water) \u2013 76.3%<\/p>\n 19. Slovenia (47 bodies of water) \u2013 76.6%<\/p>\n 20. Czechia (153 bodies of water) \u2013 76.5%<\/p>\n 21. France (3,365 bodies of water) \u2013 74.2%<\/p>\n 22. Sweden (471 bodies of water) \u2013 73.5%<\/p>\n 23. Netherlands (752 bodies of water) \u2013 72.5%<\/p>\n 24. Slovakia (35 bodies of water) \u2013 77.1%<\/p>\n 25. Belgium (130 bodies of water) \u2013 69.2%<\/p>\n 26. Hungary (288 bodies of water) \u2013 67.0%<\/p>\n 27. Estonia (65 bodies of water) \u2013 61.5%<\/p>\n 28. Poland (764 bodies of water) \u2013 58.1%<\/p>\n 29. Albania (119 bodies of water) \u2013 16.0%<\/p>\n MORE FROM FORBES:ForbesThe 20 Most Beautiful (And Undiscovered) Villages In Italy\u2014Winners Of A 2025 ContestBy Laura Begley Bloom<\/a>ForbesMove To Europe: 8 Secret Towns Where You Can Live Well (For Less)By Laura Begley Bloom<\/a>ForbesThe 100 Best Cities In The World To Visit In 2025, According To A New ReportBy Laura Begley Bloom<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Assos, a postcard-perfect village on the Greek island of Kefalonia. Greece ranks among the top countries in Europe…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":244611,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5174],"tags":[36682,94962,94967,94963,94964,94960,94966,94965,2000,299,94968,5187,94961],"class_list":{"0":"post-244610","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-eu","8":"tag-best-beaches-in-europe","9":"tag-best-european-beaches","10":"tag-best-places-to-swim-in-europe","11":"tag-best-swimming-in-europe","12":"tag-cleanest-lake-in-europe","13":"tag-cleanest-sea-in-europe","14":"tag-cleanest-swimming-water-in-europe","15":"tag-cleanest-water-in-europe","16":"tag-eu","17":"tag-europe","18":"tag-europe-beaches","19":"tag-european","20":"tag-water-quality-adriatic-sea"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114810586697211301","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244610","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=244610"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/244610\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/244611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=244610"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=244610"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=244610"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nRanked: Europe\u2019s Cleanest Coastal Waters<\/p>\n
\nRanked: Europe\u2019s Cleanest Inland Waters<\/p>\n
\nRanked: Europe\u2019s Cleanest Waters Overall<\/p>\n