In 2025, bathing water quality across Europe remained consistently high, with 85% of monitored sites classified as having “excellent” quality under the EU’s strictest standards. The findings come from the European Commission’s annual report on bathing water quality, which also shows that 96% of all monitored bathing locations in the EU met at least the minimum required standards, while only around 1.5% were rated as “poor.”
The overall situation was stable compared with the previous year. Among the countries with the highest proportion of excellent bathing waters were Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Greece, each recording 95% or more of sites in the top category. Bulgaria stood out with a 96.9% share of waters rated as excellent, according to the Commission’s data.
An interactive mapping tool developed by the European Environment Agency in cooperation with the European Commission highlights safe swimming locations across Europe. The assessment focuses on microbiological indicators, particularly bacteria that can pose risks to human health, in order to determine water safety for bathing.
The report attributes the sustained high quality to long-term EU environmental legislation. Officials point to the EU Bathing Water Directive and related policies as key drivers of improvement over time. These measures have strengthened monitoring systems, improved wastewater treatment infrastructure, and enhanced sewage collection and management across member states.
