Greece is awarded a total of 534 blue flags and ranks second in the world in the 2019 Blue Flag Quality Award List. 515 beaches, 15 marinas and 4 sustainable tourism boating operators are “pined” with the blue flag on the country’s map, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPF) reports, with 115 of the awarded beaches and 1 marina to be located on the island of Crete (the Lasithi and Hania regions). The Halkidiki peninsula, northern Greece, is proudly holding 89 Blue Flags, the highest number for a single regional unit, while the island of Rhodes welcomes summer with 39 awarded beaches.

The Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPF) is the organization implementing the Blue Flag program in Greece. The BLUE FLAG is a highly prestigious world distinction for water quality, environmental consciousness and initiative, environmental management, safety and services, awarded to beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators. 3.797 beaches, 695 marinas and 67 tourism boats in 47 countries were awarded the Blue Flag this year. Spain is once again featuring number 1 on the list, holding the record number of 669 awarded sites.

Find out more about Greece’s Blue Flags for 2019 here.