Eleven Greek beaches lose their Blue Flag status, including one on Crete – and access to the improvised hiking trail from Falasarna to Balos is prohibited.
Removed from the Blue Flag: Crete Beach Loses Award Due to Poor Management
Key Takeaways
- Several coastal areas in Chania lost official awards because of management problems.
- Recently, access to some walking trails got restricted.
- All this shapes the visitor experience and hits local tourism, for better or worse.
Twelve beaches, including one in Crete, lost their Blue Flag status for 2025. The main reason? During the swimming season, they just didn’t organize things well enough to meet the award’s strict standards for safety and environmental quality.
One beach in Crete really stood out for not keeping up with management or services. It’s a tough break, but it does show how seriously the programme takes its standards.
This wasn’t just a Crete issue—beaches from all over got flagged. The international programme, which pushes for better environmental education and awareness, made the announcement.
If you want the details or the full list, you can check the official Blue Flag removal announcement.
The twelve beaches that lost their Blue Flag status
Twelve beaches are now off the national and international Blue Flag lists for 2025. Inspectors found that these spots either didn’t organize the bathing season properly or just fell short of the programme’s tough criteria.
Problems ranged from missing services for visitors to a lack of access for people with disabilities, and even safety measures for swimmers. Some beaches didn’t post clear info, either. Oddly enough, the water quality itself still passed with flying colors.
Here’s the list of affected beaches:
Beach |
Municipality |
Region |
|---|---|---|
Nauplia |
Argolis |
|
Kondyli |
Nauplia |
Argolis |
Karathona |
Nauplia |
Argolis |
Tolo |
Nauplia |
Argolis |
Lychnos |
Parga |
Preveza |
Georgioupoli/Fereniki |
Chania |
|
Vasilias |
Skiathos |
Sporaden |
Kanapitsa |
Skiathos |
Sporaden |
Aselinos |
Skiathos |
Sporaden |
Ampelakia/Elivi |
Skiathos |
Sporaden |
Fanari/Camping |
Komotini |
Rhodopi |
Gournes Elia |
Skiathos |
Sporaden |
Inspectors keep checking all the awarded beaches, sometimes without warning. More removals could happen if issues pop up again—so it’s a bit of a wait-and-see.
Restricted access to the unofficial Falasarna – Balos walking trail
The local council in Kissamos just banned access to the unofficial walking trail that links Falasarna and Balos. Turns out, a lot of the path is damaged, tough to cross, and honestly, kind of risky for hikers.
On July 28, 2025, the council approved the ban unanimously. They made the call after advice from the Kissamos Fire Service and Civil Protection officer Spyros Mavrodimitrakis.
Pretty soon, you’ll see signs at both trail entrances. These will clearly say the trail’s off-limits and point out the dangers along the way.
The council says they want to keep people safe from accidents, especially with the trail in such rough shape.
They also plan to put up info boards on the alternative trail between the municipal parking lot and Balos. The new signs will offer tips on staying safe and what to bring for the walk.
The Falasarna – Balos path, marked in orange on the official map, isn’t officially maintained. That lack of upkeep leaves the ground uneven and pretty hazardous.
If you want the official details, you can check the notice about the Falasarna – Balos trail ban.
