The European continent boasts some of the cleanest and most refreshing bodies of water for swimming, according to the 2025 Bathing Water Report. The majority of Europe's beaches, lakes, and rivers meet the stringent EU quality standards, with only a small percentage of sites deemed 'poor'. Cyprus takes the top spot with 100% of its waters classified as 'excellent', followed closely by Greece, Bulgaria, and Austria. These countries have consistently high water quality, making them top choices for swimmers. However, it's worth noting that coastal waters generally fare better than inland waters, with 88% of coastal bathing waters classified as 'excellent' compared to 78% of inland waters. This disparity can be attributed to the unique characteristics of inland waters in central Europe, which are often small lakes, ponds, and low-flow rivers, making them more susceptible to short-term pollution events during heavy rainfall or drought. The report highlights the importance of water quality, emphasizing that exposure to polluted bathing water can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses and other health risks. The key indicators of water quality are E. coli and intestinal enterococci levels, which signal faecal contamination. While Cyprus leads the way, other countries like Lithuania and Slovenia also have excellent coastal water quality, but their inland waters bring down their overall scores. When it comes to lakes, rivers, and ponds, Austria and Finland take the lead with around 95% of their inland waters classified as 'excellent'. Denmark, Luxembourg, and Germany follow closely behind. On the other hand, Estonia, the Netherlands, and France have a higher percentage of 'poor' bathing waters, with 3% or more classified as such. Albania has the lowest percentage of excellent waters at 16.8%, while countries like Estonia, Poland, Hungary, and Belgium also struggle with water quality. Spain, Slovenia, Portugal, and Croatia have the lowest inland bathing water quality, with over 11% of their rivers and lakes classified as 'poor'. Rivers, in particular, remain a challenge, with only 47% of designated river bathing sites achieving 'excellent' quality. The report attributes this to rapid urbanisation and pollution from the Industrial Revolution, as well as short-term pollution events following heavy rainfall, agricultural runoff, and faecal inputs from wildlife and livestock. Despite these challenges, the EEA notes that many urban rivers have shown signs of recovery with the implementation of European water policies, and river bathing is now possible in several European cities. This report highlights the importance of maintaining and improving water quality across Europe, ensuring that swimmers can enjoy safe and healthy environments.
