Spain still world leader in top quality beaches, data shows

Not only are Spain’s beaches stunningly beautiful, they are also among the cleanest and safest in the world.

With 579 blue flag beaches, Spain can once again boast to be the country in the world with the best, cleanest and safest beaches.

The Association for Environmental Education and the Consumer (ADEAC), which decides which beaches globally are up to blue-flag standard, has once again placed Spain top of the charts – a position it has held on to firmly since 1987…

The blue-flag criteria is stringent, and assesses a beach’s hygiene, sanitary conditions, safety, accessibility and the provision of lifeguards. Although Spain actually has seven fewer blue flag beaches this year when compared to 2016, the country is still far and away the best in the world when it comes to safe bathing.

By region, Valencia holds the most blue flags with 129, while Galicia in the north west has 113, Catalonia has 95 and Andalucía – home of the Costa del Sol – has an impressive 90 blue flag beaches.

Just up the coast from the Costa del Sol in the Murcia region, some 16 blue flags have been lost in the region since last year, the most nationally.

After Spain, Greece could boast the second-highest number of blue flag beaches, followed by France, Turkey, Italy and Portugal.

Spain also topped the charts for its marinas, which have a collective 100 blue flags, while its five blue flags for cruise ship ports means that Spain’s coastline is now dotted with the sight of 684 blue flags in total – a record number for any country.