Europe’s latest bathing-water assessment offers reassuring news for Greece and a stark warning for Albania.
According to data released by the European Environment Agency, Greece ranked second in Europe, with 97.1% of monitored bathing waters rated excellent, behind Cyprus, which achieved a perfect score. Bulgaria followed closely.
The findings are based on 22,289 samples collected in 2025 from coastal, lake and river bathing sites across the European Union, Albania and Switzerland.
Greece’s standing is notable because it monitors 1,734 bathing locations, far more than other countries near the top of the rankings.
At the other end of the table, Albania placed last. Only 16.8% of its monitored waters were classified as excellent, a result linked to urban wastewater management. The report identified poor conditions near several major coastal cities.
