Top 10 countries in Europe with the safest swimming waters

Valerie Charoux
Aug 21
2 min read

Updated: Aug 27

Travel & Tourism News Europe – Here are the Top 10 countries in Europe with the safest swimming waters, according to the European Environment Agency.

The average bathing water quality rating for swimming in the 27 EU countries is 85.4 that is ranked as excellent quality.

From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, most of Europe’s bathing waters are of excellent quality for swimming when assessed against the parameters (Escherichia coli [E. coli] and intestinal enterococci) required under the EU Bathing Water Directive (BWD). This has led to a drastic reduction in organic pollutants and pathogens that were previously released in untreated or partially treated urban wastewater.

Top 10 countries in Europe with the safest swimming waters:

1 – Cyprus

Cyprus is the No. 1 country in Europe with the safest swimming waters with a bathing water quality rating of 99.2%, ranking as excellent quality.

2 – Bulgaria

Bulgaria ranks 2^nd country in Europe with the safest swimming waters with a bathing water quality rating of 97.9%, ranking as excellent quality.

3 – Greece

Greece ranks 3^rd country in Europe with the safest swimming waters with a bathing water quality rating of 97.0%, ranking as excellent quality.

4 – Austria

Austria ranks 4^th country in Europe with the safest swimming waters with a bathing water quality rating of 95.8%, ranking as excellent quality.

5 – Croatia

Croatia ranks 5^th country in Europe with the safest swimming waters with a bathing water quality rating of 95.2%, ranking as excellent quality.

6 – Denmark

Denmark ranks 6^th country in Europe with the safest swimming waters with a bathing water quality rating of 92.9%, ranking as excellent quality.

7 – Malta

Malta ranks 7^th country in Europe with the safest swimming waters with a bathing water quality rating of 92.0%, ranking as excellent quality.

8 – Germany

Germany ranks 8^th country in Europe with the safest swimming waters with a bathing water quality rating of 90.5%, ranking as excellent quality.

9 – Italy

Italy ranks 9^th country in Europe with the safest swimming waters with a bathing water quality rating of 90.3%, ranking as excellent quality.

10 – Spain

Spain ranks 10^th country in Europe with the safest swimming waters with a bathing water quality rating of 87.6%, ranking as excellent quality.