Greece ranks second in the world with excellent Blue Flag beaches – 153 of them in Crete alone.
Greece has received 623 Blue Flags
Greece picked up 623 Blue Flags for its beaches in 2025. That keeps the country firmly in second place worldwide in the Blue Flag programme, which now includes 52 countries.
Greece holds about 15% of all Blue Flags on the planet. Not bad, right?
The number of awarded sites here has been inching up in recent years. Crete leads the way with 153 Blue Flags, while Halkidiki follows with 93.
These flags are all about high standards—think water quality, safety, environmental education, and solid management. It’s not just a pretty label for the brochures.
This year, the Blue Flag programme recognized 4,302 beaches worldwide. On top of that, 736 marinas and 158 tourist boats made the list.
The big announcement came at the Glyfada Golf Gardens in Attica on May 15, 2025. Government folks and tourism reps showed up for the occasion.
Before the ceremony, there were educational workshops right on a Blue Flag beach in Glyfada. More than 100 local kids and teachers joined in for environmental activities and a lifeguard demo.
That hands-on vibe really shows the programme’s emphasis on community and safety. It’s refreshing to see real engagement, not just speeches.
The event also carved out time for a session on restoring coastal and marine habitats. Experts shared insights on protecting and improving coastal ecosystems, tying in with European environmental directives.
Key Data:
Item |
Number Awarded Globally |
Greece’s Share |
|---|---|---|
Blue Flag Beaches |
4,302 |
623 |
Marinas |
736 |
Not specified |
Tourist Boats |
158 |
Not specified |
Leading Greek Regions for Blue Flags:
- Crete: 153 Blue Flags
- Halkidiki: 93 Blue Flags
The Blue Flag programme in Greece is run by the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature. Their efforts really help keep coastal areas clean, safe, and welcoming for both locals and international visitors.
Crete leads with 153 Blue Flags
Greece has snagged the second spot worldwide in the Blue Flag programme, with 623 award-winning beaches, marinas, and tourist boats.
This total actually makes up over 15% of all Blue Flags granted globally. It says a lot about the country’s push to keep up high environmental and quality standards, even if there’s always more to do.
Crete really takes the cake as the top region in Greece, boasting the highest number of Blue Flags at 153.
That number beats out every other region in the country, which, honestly, isn’t all that surprising if you’ve ever been to the beaches here. Crete’s coastal quality and management seem to set the bar.
The regional breakdown of Blue Flags on Crete is as follows:
Regional Unit |
Number of Blue Flags |
Notable Beaches |
|---|---|---|
43 |
Agii Apostoli, Kalathas, Chrissi Akti, Stavros, Platanias, Georgioupoli, Kavros |
|
23 |
Adelianos Kampos, Pigianos Kampos, Rethymno, Plakias, Rodakino, Agia Galini |
|
36 |
Ammoudara, Matala, Anissaras, Lyttos Beach, Limenas Hersonissou |
|
51 |
Lots of these beaches in Rethymno and elsewhere on Crete are tied to hotel complexes, which helps out local tourism and environmental management, at least in theory.
The Blue Flag programme kicked off back in 1987. It’s become a pretty recognizable international symbol for environmental quality, even if the average beachgoer doesn’t notice the flag fluttering.
It goes to beaches, marinas, and boats that meet some pretty strict criteria—think water quality, safety, cleanliness, environmental management, and education.
Only waters rated as “Excellent Quality” can even qualify for the award. No exceptions for lower grades, which does keep the bar high.
Each beach is checked against 33 criteria. Marinas and tourist boats have to meet 38 conditions, so it’s not exactly a free pass.
These standards cover things like water quality, environmental education, safety, waste management, and infrastructure.
Complete list for Crete – the prefecture of Lasithi leads the way
Prefecture CHANIA (43)
Municipality of Kantanos-Sinou:
Grammeno
Pachia Ammos
Sougia
Chalikia
Municipality of Kissamos:
Kastelli/Mavros Molos-Plaka
Municipality of Platanias:
Kolymbari/Euphoria Resort
Platanias Limanaki/Porto Platanias Beach
Platanias/Minoa Palace Resort
Platanias/Geraniotis
Rapaniana/Cavo Spada
Municipality of Chania:
Ag. Apostoli 1
Ag. Apostoloi 2
Ag. Marina/Santa Marina
Ag. Marina/The noverian Antama organic beach resort
Ag. Marina/Almira Beach
Ag. Onoufrios
Vlites
Kalathas
Kalamaki
Kladissos/Domes Zeen Chania
Marathi
New Chora
Stalos
Stavros
Golden Beach
Municipality of Apokoronas:
Almyrida
Georgioupolis/Corissia Hotels
Georgioupolis/Corissia Princess
Georgioupolis/Fereniki Beach Hotels & Resorts
Kavros/Anemos Luxury Grand Resort
Kavros/Delfina Tropic Beach
Kavros/Eliros Mare
Kavros/Georgioupolis Resort
Kavros/La Mer Resort
Kavros/Mythos Palace
Kavros/Pepper sea club hotel
Kavros/Vantaris Palace
Kavros/Ventale Islande Breeze Resort
Xyda Villas
Kyani
Maistrali
Passing by/Mare Monte
Passerby/Pilot Beach
Prefecture RETHYMNON (23)
Municipality of Rethymnon:
Adelianos Kampos A/Aquila Rithymna Beach
Adelianos Kampos/Caramel Boutique
Pigiannos Kampos/Amira Luxury Resort
Pigiannos Kampos/Grecotel White Palace
Platanias B/Minos Mare Resort
Rethymno 1/Aquila Porto Rethymno
Rethymno 1/Ilios beach
Rethymno 1/Kriti beach
Rethymno 2/Pearl Beach
Rethymno 4-Missiria/Creta Palace
Rethymno/Ikones
Skaleta/Creta Star
Skaleta/Rethymno Mare
Municipality of Mylopotamos:
Lianos Kavos Lavris/Iberostar Creta Panorama
Lianos Kavos/Creta Marine
Bali Livadi/Mitsis Bali Paradise
Panormo Limni/Grecotel Club Marine Palace
Municipality of Agios Vasileiou:
Ag. Galini/Ustero Varkotopi
Ag. Pavlos
Plakias
Plakias/Alegria Beach Resort
Rodakino
Souda
Prefecture HERAKLION (36)
Municipality of Malevizi:
Amoudara 1/Agapi Beach
Amoudara 4/Candia Maris
Amoudara/Atlantica Akti Zeus
Amoudara/Dessole Dolphin Bay
Ammoudara/Enorme Teatro Beach
Ammoudara/Lifestyle Beach
Ellinoperamata/Apollonia Beach
Made/Athina Palace
Fodele/Fodele Beach Hotel
Municipality of Hersonissos:
Ag. Georgios 1/ Knossos Royal
Ag. Georgios 2-Panagia Rice /Annabelle Beach Resort
Ag. Georgios 3/Mitsis Cretan Village
Aghios Georgios 3/Mitsis Royal Mare
Ag. Dimitrios/Alexander Beach
Ag. Dimitrios/Cactus Beach Hotel
Agia Pelagia-Menopetra/Akrogiali Beach
Amnissos/Unique Blue Resort
Anissaras/Lyttos Beach
Anissaras/Mitsis Selection Laguna
Gouves 1/Amirandes
Drapanos/Nana Golden Beach, Nana Princess
Estavromenos/Arina Beach Hotel
Kastri/Creta Maris
Klontzani/Enorme Ammos Beach
Klontzani/Sirens Hotels
Kokkini Hani/Knossos Beach
Kokkini Hani/Mitsis Rinela
Kokkini Hani/Themis Beach
Limenas Hersonissos 1/AKASHA Beach Hotel & Golden Beach
Limenas Hersonissou 5/Silva Beach Hotel
Potamos A
Potamos/Cretan Malia Park
Sarandari
Municipality of Phaistos:
Good Ports
Red Tower
Matala
Prefecture LASITI (51)
Municipality of Agios Nikolaos:
Aghios Nikolaos 1/St. Nicolas Bay
Ag. Nicolas 2/Minos Palace
Ag. Nicolas 3/Minos Beach
Ag. Panteleimon
Almiros
Ammos / Marina
Ammos/Dimotic
Ammoudara
Ammoudi/Niko Seaside Resort & InterContinental Crete
Driros/Domes of Elounda
Elounda /Porto Elounda
Elounda 1/Elounda Blu
Elounda/Elounda Mare
Karavostasi
Kitroplatia
Mirabello/Wyndham Grand Crete Mirabello Bay
Elounda Wells/Elounda Village
Pelos/Istron Bay
Plaka/Phaea Blue
Poros 1/Elounda Bay Palace
Poros 2/Elounda Beach
Spilia/Kalimera Kriti
Schism
Havania 1/Candia Park Village
Havania 2
Chiona
Municipality of Sitia:
Analipsi
Vai/Phinikodas
Vourlia
Kato Zakros
Barbery
Lagoufa/Small Town Crete
Port
Makrigialos-Lagufa/Sunwing Makrigialos Beach
Sitia 1-Galliko/Sitia Beach
Sitia 1/Galliko
Chiona
Municipality of Ierapetra:
Agia Fotia
Gra Lygia
Ierapetra 1/Municipal
Ierapetra 2/Municipal
Ierapetra/Enorme Santanna Beach
Katharades/Numo Ierapetra
Katharades/Ostria Resort
Kaki Skala/Avra Palm
Community Beach Makrigialos
Koutsounari 2/Kakkos Bay
Koutsounari-Agios Ioannis/Mare Blue & Village
Koutsunari/Coriva Beach-Pelagos Seaside
Koutsunari/Robinson Ierapetra
Myrtos
