Greece has once again proven itself as a top global destination for pristine coastlines, ranking second worldwide in the 2026 Blue Flag awards, behind Spain.

Out of 51 participating countries worldwide, Greek beaches captured an impressive 624 blue flags, or 15% of the coveted awards, alongside 17 marinas and 17 tourist boats.

The northern region of Halkidiki emerged as the Greek prefecture champion, claiming 93 of these prestigious flags. The island of Crete is the overall winner in Greece with 154 blue flags.

The awards also highlighted the long-term dedication to environmental excellence found in many locations across the country. 18 Greek beaches were recognized for maintaining their Blue Flag status for 35 consecutive years.

Additionally, one marina celebrated 28 years of continuous awards, and one tourist boat was recognized for 9 consecutive blue flag years.

The Blue Flag program has been an international gold standard for environmental quality and water safety for 40 years now. Beaches, ports and tourist boats are assessed on criteria that include water quality, organization, safety, accessibility and environmental protection.

Visit the interactive Blue Flag map here (In Greek).