Greek Beaches Awarded the Blue Flag for 2013

EVROS [2]
Municip. Alexandroupolis
Dimotiki Plaz Alexandroupolis
Kyani Akti

RODOPI [4]
Municipality Komotinis
Fanari/Camping
Arogi
Fanari/Dimotiki
Mesi

XANTHI [4]
Municipality Topirou
Mangana
Municipality Avdiron
Avdira/Porto Molo
Myrodato
Mandra

KAVALA [16]
Municipality Thassou
Makryammos
Chryssi Ammoudia 2
Pefkari 2
Thassos Poli/Limanaki
Prinos / Dasylio 2
Municipality Nestou
Ammoglossa/Keramoti 1
Ammoglossa/Keramoti 2
Municipality Kavalas
Batis
Toska
Kalamitsa
Perigialli
Municipality Pangeou
Ammolofoi
Nea Iraklitsa
Nea Peramos
Sarakina
Ofrynio/Touzla

THESSALONIKI [11]
Municipality Volvis
Serraiki
Asprovalta
Vrasna
Stavros Kentriki
Stavros Anatoliki
Stavros Dytiki
Municipality Thermaikou
Agia Triada/PIKPA
Nei Epivates
Perea
Potamos
Angelochori

CHALKIDIKI [35]
Municipality Aristotelis
Ierissos/Dimotiki 1
Ierissos/Dimotiki 2
Ierissos/Dimotiki 3
Kampoudi 1
Kampoudi 2
Kampoudi 3
Ouranoupoli 1
Ouranoupoli 2
Ouranoupoli 3
Agios Pavlos
Porto Agio
Nea Roda 2
Στρατώνι
Kampos
Municipality Sithonias
Sarti 1
Sykia
Toroni
Platanitsi
Porto Carras 1
Porto Carras 2
Elia 2
Makria Lagada
Lagomandra
Marmaras C
Livrochio 1
Marmaras B
Municipality Kassandras
Sani 2
Kryopigi 2
Kryopigi 4
Fourka
Polichrono 3
Chanioti 1
Chanioti 3
Municip. Neas Propontidas
Eleonas
Nea Potidea

PIERIA [5]
Municipality Katerinis
Olympiaki Akti
Peristasi
Paralia
Kallithea
Korinos

LARISA [7]
Municip. Tempon
Nea Mesaggala 1
Nea Mesaggala 2
Nea Mesaggala 3
Municipality Ayias
Velika/Spitaki
Agiokampos/Chrissi Akti
Sotiritsa
Stomio

MAGNISIA [15]
Municip. Notiou Piliou
Koropi/Boufa
Kala Nera/Ther. Axiomatikon
Municipality Volou
Agria/Barba Thomas
Anavros
Alykes
Pagasson/Volos
Amarylida
Amfanon
Pefkakia
Chryssi Panagia
Platanidia
Nea Agchialos 2
Municipality Skiathou
Koukounaries
Maratha
Municipality Skopelou
Andrina

FTHIOTIDA [10]
Municipality Stylidas
Glyfa
Municip. Molou
– Agiou Konstantinou
Kamena Vourla/Galini
Municipality Lokron
Skala Atalantis
Tragana
Livanates 1/Kiani Akti
Livanates 2/Schinias
Livrichio Arkitsas
Souvala Arkitsas
Lekouna
Vlychada

FOKIDA [8]
Municip. Doridos
Eratini
Chiliadou
Sergoula
Monastiraki
Municip. Delfon
Maiami
Trokandero / Agali
Agioi Pantes
Kalafatis

VIOTIA [2]
Municipality Distomou – Arachovas – An-tikyras
Agios Isidoros
Municip. Tanagras
Plaka Dilessiou

EVIA [3]
Municipality Chalkideon
Alykes Drosias
Lefkandi
Municipality Eretrias
Eretria 3

ATTIKI [13]
Municipality Marathona
Schinias/Karavi
Brexiza
Municip. Markopoulou Mesogeas
Avlaki
Municipality Saronikou
Mavro Lithari/Eden Beach
Anavyssos / Kendriki
Lagonissi 1 / Grand Beach
Lagonissi 2 / Mediterraneo
Lagonissi 3 / Kochylia
Municipality Varis – Voulas – Vouliag-menis
Varkiza
Asteras Vouliagmenis
Voula A
Municipality Aiginas
Agia Marina
Municipality Kythiron
Kakia Lagada

KORINTHIA [13]
Municip. Loutrakiou –
Agion Theodoron
Loutraki 1
Loutraki 2
Loutraki/Boutsi
Pefkakia
Municipality
Velou – Vochas
Kokkoni
Vrahati
Municipality Sikyonion
Pefkias
Municipality Xylokastrou – Evrostinis
Xylokastro/Pefkias
Xylokastro/Aristonafton
Kamari
Melissi
Sykia
Derveni

ARGOLIDA [3]
Municipality Ermionidas
Porto Cheli/Chinitsa
Municipality Nafplieon
Karathona
Tolo

ARKADIA [1]
Municip. Vorias Kynourias
Kallisto

LAKONIA [11]
Municipality Monemvasias
Neapoli
Archangelos
Plytra/Pachiammos
Tigania
Monemvasia
Pori
Municip. Anatolikis Manis
Skoutari
Mavrovouni 1
Mavrovouni 2
Gythio 2/ Selinitsa
Vathi

MESSINIA [5]
Municipality Kalamatas
Mikri Mandinia
Anatol. Kalamata 1 /Anastasi
Municipality Messinis
Bouka
Municipality Trifilias
Ai Lagoudis
Kalo Nero

ILIA [8]
Municipality Ilidas
Kourouta
Municip. Piniou
Arkoudi
Vartholomio
Glyfa
Municip. Andravidas – Kyllinis
Kastro/Chryssi Akti 2
Loutra Kyllinis 1
Loutra Kyllinis 2
Municip. Zacharos
Zacharo

ACHAIA [4]
Municip. Dytikis Achaias
Kalogria
Lakkopetra
Municip. Egialias
Alyki
Digeliotika

ETOLOAKARNANIA [2]
Municipality Nafpaktou
Psani
Grimbovo

PREVEZA [3]
Municipality Prevezas
Kyani
Monolithi
Municipality Pargas
Loutsa

CORFU/KERKYRA [35]
Municipality Kerkyras
Kommeno
Kontokali
Alykes Potamou
Barbati
Ypsos
Dasia
Kalamionas
Kerassia
Nisaki/Krouzeri
Gimari
Peritheia/Ag.Spyridonas
Almyros
Apraos Kalamaki
Roda
Canal d’Amour
Agios Stefanos
Arillas
Astrakeri
Sidari
Palaiokastritsa
Ermones
Glyfada
Kontogialos
Agios Mattheos
Ag. Ioannis Peristeron
Issos
Mesoggi
Moraitika
Chalikounas
Agios Georgios
Marathias
Benitses
Agios Gordios
Avlaki
Dafnila

LEFKADA [6]
Municipality Lefkadas
Agios Giannis
Lefkada/Gyra
Agios Nikitas-Pefkoulia
Kathisma 1
Porto Katsiki
Nidri

KEFALONIA [9]
Municipality Kefalonias
Petani
Platys Gialos
Makrys Gialos
Avythos
Lourdas
Ammes
Skala
Aragia Porou
Myrtos

ZAKYNTHOS [9]
Municipality Zakynthou
Alykanas 1
Alykanas 2
Alykes 1
Alykes 2
Amboula Psarou
Tsilivi
Bouka
Amboula Tragaki
Katragaki

CHANIA [20]
Municipality Kissamou
Falasarna
Municipality Platania
Platanias
Platanias /Limanaki
Kolymvari
Municipality Chanion
Stalos
Ag. Apostoli 1
Ag. Apostoli 2
Chrissi Akti
Agia Marina
Kalamaki
Nea Chora
Marathi
Stavros
Agios Onoufrios
Kalathas
Municipality Apokoronou
Maistrali
Kalyves Xyda
Kyani
Kavros
Perastikos

RETHYMNO [18]
Municipality Rethymnis
Rethymno 1
Rethymno 2
Rethymno 3
Rethymno 4 / Myssiria
Platanias Β/Rethymno 6
Perivolia
Adelianos Kampos A
Pigianos Kampos
Skaleta
Municip. Mylopotamou
Panormos/Limni
Lianos Kavos Lavris
Bali Varkotopos
Bali Livadi
Municip. Agiou Vassiliou
Damnoni
Plakias
Souda
Agia Galini /Istero Varkotopi
Rodakino

IRAKLIO [14]
Municipality Maleviziou
Ellinoperamata
Fodele
Ammoudara 1
Ammoudara 4
Ammoudara 5
Municipality Chersonissou
Limenas Chersonissou 5
Agios Georgios 1
Agios Georgios 3
Anissaras
Agios Georgios 2/Panagia Rizi
Drapanos
Potamos
Potamos A
Municipality Festou
Matala

LASITHI [36]
Municip. Agiou Nikolaou
Spiliada
Poros 1
Poros 2
Elounda
Pigaidakia Eloundas
Schisma
Elounda 1
Driros
Chiona
Plaka
Chavania 2
Agios Nikolaos 1
Agios Nikolaos 3
Ammoudi
Kitroplateia
Ammos/Marina
Almyros
Ammos/Dimotiki
Pilos
Ammoudara
Voulisma
Agios Panteleimonas
Karavostasi
Municipality Sitias
Sitia 1/Galliko
Vai/Finikodasos
Kouremenos
Chiona
Kato Zakros
Municipality Ierapetras
Makrygialos/Langoufa
Ierapetra 1 /Dimotiki
Ierapetra 2 /Dimotiki
Agia Fotia
Myrtos
Koutsounari /Agios Ioannis
Koutsounari 2
Katharades 1

RODOS [20]
Municipality Rodou
Kiotari 3
Lardos 1
Lardos 3
Afantou 2
Kolymbia
Kolymbia A – Limanaki
Ammoudes/Faliraki
Kavourakia
Kallithea
Mandomata
Faliraki/Kastraki
Faliraki/Traounou
Faliraki A
Faliraki 1
Faliraki 2
Faliraki 3
Faliraki 4
Faliraki 5
Reni 1
Trianta B

KOS [5]
Municipality Ko
Gourniatis
Troulos
Akro Chelonas
Pefkokefali/Agios Fokas
Lambi

THIRA [3]
Municipality Thiras
Perissa
Kamari 1
Kamari 2

IOS [3]
Municipality Iiton
Ormos
Mylopotamos
Manganari

SIFNOS [2]
Municipality Sifnou
Kamares
Platis Gialos

PAROS [3]
Municipality Parou
Logaras
Tserdakia
Pounta

NAXOS [3]
Municipality Naxou
Agia Anna
Agios Prokopios
Agios Georgios

MYKONOS [1]
Municipality Mykonou
Kalafatis

KEA [1]
Municipality Keas
Koundouros

SAMOS [4]
Municipality Samou
Pythagorio
Potokaki 1
Potokaki 2
Glykoriza

CHIOS [3]
Municipality Chios
Ormos Lo
Agia Fotini
Karfas

LESVOS [10]
Municipality Lesvos
Tsamakia
Kanoni Thermis
Eftalou/Ag. Anargyri
Kagia
Skala Eressou
Nyfida
Vatera
Anaxos
Petra
Agios Isidoros

LIMNOS [3]
Municipality Limnou
Evgatis/Zematas
Agios Ioannis
Thanos

393 Greek Beaches & 9 Marinas are awarded the Blue Flag for 2013

A map with all the beaches and marinas

Blue Flag

The «Blue Flag» is a program of environmental awareness and protection which is implemented every year, on a large-scale, in more than 40 countries in Europe and other parts of the world by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). It aims at making beaches better organized and safer for swimming, while at the same time protecting their natural environment, so that we may always enjoy them.

The Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN) is the operator of the program in Greece. It is the oldest conservation organization in the country and has been active in environmental education and the protection of nature since 1951. It is not easy for a beach to be awarded the «Blue Flag». It must meet 32 strict criteria, which have to do with the cleanliness of the sea and beach, its organization, the safety of its visitors, the protection of nature and environmental awareness. Even when a beach is awarded the «Blue Flag», it only keeps it that year and must prove that it deserves it for the following year. The inspectors of HSPN and FEE visit beaches throughout the bathing period and note any problems or shortcomings. Usually a short period of grace is given to correct them, but a beach may temporarily, or even permanently, lose its flag for serious deficiencies.

Cleanliness of sea and beach

Bathing water quality is verified by sample measurements carried out during the bathing season (1/6-31/10), according to the new European Directive 2006/7/EC.
Authority responsible for the implementation of the “Bathing Water Monitoring Program”.
No disposal of industrial and urban effluents close to the beach, without proper treatment.
Sufficient rubbish bins, which are emptied at regular intervals as well as routine cleaning of the beach from garbage, cigarette butts etc.
Beach organization and visitors’ safety.
Regular information to the public about bathing water quality.
Εmergency plans to cope with a pollution accident, with immediate notification                  to the public.
Prohibition of automobiles and motorcycles on the beach.
Prohibition of free camping.
Sufficient toilet facilities, with a controlled system of disposal.
Trained lifeguards on duty, or immediate access to lifesaving and first-aid equipment and   a telephone in case of an emergency.
Care for people with disabilities.
Care for the non-presence of unattended domestic animals.
Protection of nature and environmental awareness.
Printed information and code of conduct for the beach and surrounding areas with sensitive natural environment, flora or fauna. Beyond just simple information, the organization of activities which actively promote the natural environment of the beach    and the need to protect it.

What a visitor of the beach can do:
Enjoy this beach with the «Blue Flag», but also help us preserve it in good condition.          If the beach deserves the Blue Flag, please let us know. If you notice shortcomings, please contact the person responsible for the beach, whose name you should find on the Information Board near the «Blue Flag».
Some relevant photos would be very useful too. The managers of the beaches, the visitors and we at the HSPN, should strive together to make our Greek beaches ever better.
If his answer does not satisfy you, please contact the HSPN with whatever information you can give us.

Tel.:  +30210 3224944,  +30210 3314563
e-mail: blueflag@eepf.gr