The gentle soundtrack of waves crashing, the soothing feeling of sand beneath your toes, and the calming hues of the clear blue waters—the best beaches in the world strike that ideal formula for the perfect summer vacation.
But before packing the sunscreen and coverup into that beach bag, there is another major factor to consider: just how environmentally-sound and clean are these beaches? Fortunately, the Blue Flag program has made it easy, awarding only the beaches that pass a strict set of standards to be certified their seal.
This year’s list of top 10 countries with the most Blue Flag-awarded beaches, includes eight European countries, plus Türkiye, which is in both Asia and Europe, and Mexico, the only nation from the Americas.
What is the Blue Flag?
The Blue Flag program, run by the Copenhagen-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), is one of the world’s most recognized voluntary awards for beaches, marinas, and tourism boats, awarded based on a series of stringent environmental, educational, water safety-related, safety-related, and access-related benchmarks that must be met and maintained by the operators. For travelers, seeing the accolade means going to a place where you can expect stunning beauty as well as a commitment to sustainability, top-notch amenities, and educating beachgoers about their environments. The program also contributes to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
How is a Blue Flag awarded?
To receive the prestigious certification, the sites must meet and maintain the criteria developed with experts in each category, which are regularly reviewed and updated to ensure the highest standards. Whether it’s a beach, marina, or tourism boat, the Blue Flag will only be awarded if it meets 33 criteria in six categories across education and information engagement; climate action; biodiversity management; pollution management and water quality; accessibility; and safety and services.
All of the Blue Flag sites are reviewed annually and the certification only lasts for one year. While National Operators oversee the sites within each country, it’s the International Jury—consisting of representatives from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and European Network for Accessible Tourism, among others—which does the inspections to make sure a uniform standard is met worldwide. The beaches in the northern hemisphere are reviewed in April, and the southern hemisphere in September.
As of June, 5,274 beaches, marinas, and boats across 52 countries have been certified. Here are the top 10 countries with the most Blue Flag beaches to help you plan your next trip.
