395 Greek beaches and nine marinas won the international quality Blue Flag award this year, putting Greece in third place worldwide among 50 countries, according to the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPF).
The announcement was made during a EEPF press conference in Katerini. EEPF is the national operator of the International Blue Flags program in Greece, in cooperation with the Pieria Hoteliers Association.
According to EEPF, the Blue Flag is the most recognizable and popular international symbol of quality in the world. Since 1987 the award has been given to beaches and marinas that meet the strict award criteria. The beaches not only need to have excellent quality bathing waters. They also need to meet 32 criteria, which refer to cleanliness, organization, information, swimmer and visitor safety, protection of the natural wealth of the beach and coastal area, as well as environmental awareness.
The founder and international coordinator of the program is the Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), with 63 member-countries from all continents. In Greece, FEE is represented by EEPF, the oldest environmental organization in the country, founded in 1951, which organizes active environmental interventions, actions and nature conservation projects.
Here is a list of Greece’s Blue Flag beaches:
EVROS[2]
Municip. Alexandroupolis
Alexandroupolis Municipal Beach, Kyani Akti
RODOPI [3]
Municipality Komotinis
Arogi, Fanari/Ioulia, Mesi
XANTHI [4]
Municipality Topirou
Mangana, Municipality Avdiron, Avdira/Porto Molo, Myrodato, Mandra
KAVALA [14]
Municipality Thassou
Makryammos, Chryssi Ammoudia 2, Pefkari 2
Prinos/Dasylio 2
Municipality Nestou
Ammoglossa/Keramoti 1
Municipality Kavalas
Batis, Toska, Kalamitsa, Perigialli
Municipality Pangeou
Ammolofoi, Nea Iraklitsa, Nea Peramos, Sarakina, Ofrynio/Touzla
SERRES [1]
Municipality Amfipolis
Kyani Akti
THESSALONIKI [12]
Municipality Volvis
Serraiki Akti, Asprovalta, Paralia Vrasnon, Nea Vrasna, Porto Fino, Stavros Kentriki, Stavros Anatoliki, Stavros Dytiki
Municipality Thermaikou
Agia Triada/PIKPA, Nei Epivates, Perea, Potamos
CHALKIDIKI [39]
Municipality Aristotelis
Ierissos/Dimotiki 1, Ierissos/Dimotiki 2, Ierissos/Dimotiki 3, Kampoudi 1, Kampoudi 2, Kampoudi 3, Ouranoupoli 1, Ouranoupoli 2, Ouranoupoli 3, Agios Pavlos, Porto Agio, Nea Roda 2, Stratoni, Kampos
Municipality Sithonias
Sarti 1, Sykia, Toroni, Nikiti 2, Platanitsi, Porto Carras 1, Porto Carras 2, Elia 2, Makria Lagada, Lagomandra, Marmaras C, Livrochio 1, Marmaras B, Armenistis
Municipality Kassandras
Kryopigi 2, Kryopigi 4, Fourka, Polichrono 3, Chanioti 1, Chanioti 3, Sani 2, Sani 3
Municipality Polygyrou
Metamorfosi
Municip. Neas Propontidas
Eleonas, Nea Potidea
PIERIA [5]
Municipality Katerinis
Olympiaki Akti, Paralia, Kallithea, Kallithea/Mediterranean Vilage, Korinos
LARISA [5]
Municip. Tempon
Nea Mesaggala 1, Nea Mesaggala 2, Nea Mesaggala 3
Municipality Agias
Agiokampos/Chrissi Akti, Stomio
MAGNISIA [16]
Municip. Notiou Piliou
Koropi/Boufa, Kala Nera, Kala Nera/Ther. Axiomatikon, Ambovos, Kalifteri
Municipality Volou
Agria/Barba Thomas, Anavros, Alykes, Amarylida, Amfanon, Chryssi Panagia, Platanidia, Nea Agchialos 2
Municipality Skiathou
Koukounaries, Maratha
Municipality Skopelou
Andrina
FTHIOTIDA [7]
Municipality Stylidas
Glyfa
Municip. Molou – Agiou Konstantinou
Kamena Vourla/Galini
Municipality Lokron
Skala Atalantis, Livanates 1/Kiani Akti, Livanates 2/Schinias, Souvala Arkitsas, Livrichio Arkitsas
FOKIDA [8]
Municip. Doridos
Eratini, Chiliadou, Sergoula, Monastiraki
Municip. Delfon
Maiami, Trokandero / Agali, Agioi Pantes, Kalafatis
VIOTIA [2]
Municipality Distomou – Arachovas – Antikyras
Agios Isidoros
Municip. Tanagras
Plaka Dilessiou
EVIA [4]
Municipality Chalkideon
Alykes Drosias, Lefkandi, Asteria Chalkidas
Municipality Eretrias
Eretria 3
ATTIKI [13]
Municipality Marathona
Schinias/Karavi, Brexiza
Municip. Markopoulou Mesogeas
Avlaki
Municipality Saronikou
Mavro Lithari/Eden Beach, Lagonissi 1 / Grand Beach, Lagonissi 2 / Mediterraneo, Lagonissi 3 / Kochylia
Municipality Varis – Voulas – Vouliagmenis
Varkiza, Asteras Vouliagmenis, Vouliagmeni, Voula A
Municipality Aiginas
Agia Marina
Municipality Kythiron
Kakia Lagada
KORINTHIA [11]
Municip. Loutrakiou – Agion Theodoron
Loutraki 1, Loutraki 2, Loutraki/Boutsi, Pefkakia
Municipality Velou – Vochas
Kokkoni, Vrahati
Municipality Sikyonion
Pefkias
Municipality Xylokastrou – Evrostinis
Xylokastro/Pefkias, Melissi, Sykia, Derveni
ARGOLIDA [3]
Municipality Ermionidas
Porto Cheli/Chinitsa
Municipality Nafplieon
Karathona, Tolo
LAKONIA [12]
Municipality Monemvasias
Neapoli, Archangelos, Plytra/Pachiammos, Tigania, Monemvasia, Pori, Megali Ammos
Municip. Anatolikis Manis
Skoutari, Mavrovouni 1, Mavrovouni 2, Vathi, Gytheio 2/Selinitsa
MESSINIA [5]
Municipality Kalamatas
Mikri Mandinia, Anatol. Kalamata 1 /Anastasi
Municipality Messinis
Bouka
Municipality Trifilias
Ai Lagoudis, Kalo Nero
ILIA [8]
Municipality Pyrgou
Skafidia
Municipality Ilidas
Kourouta
Municip. Piniou
Arkoudi, Vartholomio, Glyfa
Municipality Andravidas – Kyllinis
Kastro/Chryssi Akti 2, Loutra Kyllinis 1, Loutra Kyllinis 2
ACHAIA [5]
Municip. Dytikis Achaias
Kalogria, Lakkopetra
Municip. Egialias
Alyki, Digeliotika, Pounda
ETOLOAKARNANIA [1]
Municipality Nafpaktou
Psani
PREVEZA [5]
Municipality Prevezas
Kyani, Monolithi, Tsoukes
Municipality Pargas
Loutsa, Valtos
THESPROTIA [2]
Municip. Igoumenitsas
Drepano, Mega Ammos
CORFU/KERKYRA [7]
Municipality Kerkyras
Kommeno, Kontokali, Alykes Potamou, Dasia, Almyros, Canal d’Amour, Dafnila
LEFKADA [7]
Municipality Lefkadas
Agios Giannis, Lefkada/Gyra, Agios Nikitas-Pefkoulia, Kathisma 1, Porto Katsiki, Nidri, Mikros Gialos / Poros
KEFALONIA [12]
Municipality Kefalonias
Petani, Platys Gialos, Makrys Gialos, Avythos, Lourdas, Ammes, Skala, Aragia Porou, Myrtos, Xi, Agia Varvara / Katelios, Antisamos
ZAKYNTHOS [7]
Municipality Zakynthou
Alykanas 1, Alykes 1, Amboula Psarou, Tsilivi, Bouka, Amboula Tragaki, Katragaki
CHANIA [29]
Municip. Kandanou Selinou
Voulismeni, Grammeno, Pachia Ammos, Chalikia, Sougia
Municipality Kissamou
Falasarna / Pachia Ammos 1, Falasarna / Pachia Ammos 2, Kasteli / Mavros Molos-Plaka
Municipality Platania
Platanias, Platanias /Limanaki, Kolymvari, Rapaniana
Municipality Chanion
Stalos, Ag. Apostoli 1, Ag. Apostoli 2, Chrissi Akti, Agia Marina, Kalamaki, Nea Chora, Marathi, Stavros, Agios Onoufrios, Kalathas
Municipality Apokoronou
Maistrali, Kalyves Xyda, Almyrida, Kyani, Kavros, Perastikos
RETHYMNO [16]
Municipality Rethymnis
Rethymno 1, Rethymno 2, Rethymno 3, Rethymno 4 / Myssiria, Platanias Β/Rethymno 6, Adelianos Kampos A, Pigianos Kampos, Skaleta
Municip. Mylopotamou
Panormo/Limni, Lianos Kavos Lavris, Bali Varkotopos, Bali Livadi
Municip. Agiou Vassiliou
Damnoni, Plakias, Rodakino, Agia Galini/Ystero Varkotopi
IRAKLIO [17]
Municipality Maleviziou
Ellinoperamata, Fodele, Ammoudara 1, Ammoudara 4, Ammoudara 5
Municipality Chersonissou
Limenas Chersonissou 5, Agios Georgios 1, Agios Georgios 3, Anissaras, Agios Georgios 2/Panagia Rizi, Drapanos, Potamos, Potamos A, Kokkini Chani, Agia Pelagia / Menopetra, Kastri / Creta Maris
Municipality Festou
Matala
LASITHI [44]
Municip. Agiou Nikolaou
Spiliada, Poros 1, Poros 2, Elounda, Pigaidakia Eloundas, Schisma, Elounda 1, Driros, Chiona, Plaka, Chavania 2, Agios Nikolaos 1, Agios Nikolaos 2, Agios Nikolaos 3, Ammoudi, Kitroplateia, Ammos/Marina, Almyros, Ammos/Dimotiki, Pilos, Ammoudara, Voulisma, Agios Panteleimonas, Karavostasi, Chavania 1, Mirabello
Municipality Sitias
Sitia 1/Galliko, Sitia 2/Petra, Vai/Finikodasos, Kouremenos, Chiona, Kato Zakros, Vourlia, Limanaki, Analipsi, Makrygialos Langoufa
Municipality Ierapetras
Ierapetra 1 / Dimotiki, Ierapetra 2 / Dimotiki, Agia Fotia, Myrtos, Koutsounari/Agios Ioannis, Koutsounari 2, Katharades 1, Achlia Schinokapsalon
RODOS [23]
Municipality Rodou
Kiotari 3, Lardos 1, Lardos 3, Afantou 2, Kolymbia, Kolymbia A – Limanaki, Ammoudes/Faliraki, Kavourakia, Kallithea, Mandomata, Faliraki/Kastraki, Faliraki 1, Faliraki 2, Faliraki 3, Faliraki 4, Faliraki 5, Reni 1, Trianta B, Vagies / Ladiko, Faliraki /Kathara, Anatolika Enydriou, Galouni / Kokkinogia, Kremasti-Trianta
KOS [6]
Municipality Ko
Gourniatis, Troulos, Akro Chelonas, Pefkokefali/Agios Fokas, Lambi, Marmari
THIRA [3]
Municipality Thiras
Perissa, Kamari 1, Kamari 2
IOS [3]
Municipality Iiton
Ormos, Mylopotamos, Manganari
MILOS [1]
Municipality Milou
Provatas
SIFNOS [2]
Municipality Sifnou
Kamares, Platis Gialos
PAROS [5]
Municipality Parou
Logaras, Tserdakia, Pounta, Marpissa / Chrysi Akti, Livadia
NAXOS [3]
Municipality Naxou
Agia Anna, Agios Prokopios, Agios Georgios
SYROS [1]
Municip. Syrou-Ermoupolis
Galissas
MYKONOS [1]
Municipality Mykonou
Kalafatis
TINOS [1]
Municipality Tinou
Agios Fokas
ANDROS [1]
Municipality Androu
Delavogia
KEA [1]
Municipality Keas
Koundouros
SAMOS [2]
Municipality Samou
Potokaki 1, Glykoriza
CHIOS [4]
Municipality Chiou
Agia Fotini, Karfas, Dimotiki Plaz Chiou, Agia Paraskevi
LESVOS [8]
Municipality Lesvos
Tsamakia, Eftalou/Ag. Anargyri, Kagia, Anaxos, Agios Isidoros, Molyvos, Vatera, Kanoni Thermis
LIMNOS [4]
Municipality Limnou
Evgatis / Zematas, Agios Ioannis, Thanos, Platy
MARINAS
CHALKIDIKI [2]
Municipality Sithonias
Marina Porto Carras, Municipality Kassandras, Marina Sani
ATTIKI [2]
Municipality Lavreotikis
Οlympic Μarine, Municip. Paleou Falirou, Marina Flisvou
LEFKADA [1]
Municipality Lefkadas
Marina Lefkadas
CORFU/KERKYRA [1]
Municipality Kerkyras
Marina Gouvion
LASITHI [1]
Municipality Agiou Nikolaou
Marina Agiou Nikolaou
KOS [1]
Municipality Ko
Marina Ko
LEROS [1]
Municipality Lerou
Marina Lerou