During a summer vacation, there’s nothing quite like cooling off in crystal-clear, blue waters and Europe is a good place to be. Destinations offering beaches on the Mediterranean or the Atlantic tend to offer outstanding water quality for swimming. However, some European bathing spots offer the cleanest water for those traveling this summer.

European destinations on clean water for swimming

Spending a hot, sunny summer on a beach or surrounding a lake is a dream in most European destinations. However, to ensure that you won’t spend part of your hard-earned vacation sick, it is best to know just how clear that water is before diving in.

According to the European Environment Agency, most of the European Union’s bathing locations are safe for swimming. However, there is some variation, depending on the exact location and what kind of water you are diving into. For example, the water quality in the seas and oceans is generally better than that of lakes or rivers.

Back in 2023, around 89 percent of coastal European bathing waters were classified as excellent, compared to slightly under 79 percent of landlocked rivers or lakes.

Which destinations in Europe offer the best quality bathing water?

Back in 2023, 85 percent of Europe’s 22,081 bathing waters were considered of excellent quality. Meanwhile, destinations like Austria, Croatia, Cyprus and Greece led the way with 95 percent or higher of bathing waters rated excellent.

However, other destinations like Albania, Estonia, Belgium, Poland and Hungary fell short of the mark, offering 70 percent of their bathing waters meeting this standard.

Meanwhile, as required by the Bathing Water Directive (BWD) 96 percent of all EU waters overall met at least the minimum quality standard in the 2023 season.

Moreover, the new report reveals that, due to good policies. the quality of the EU’s bathing waters has improved. Management and treatment have cut down on pathogens and pollutants making even previously polluted areas safe for swimming.

Which EU destinations offer poor-quality water?

While many destinations have improved, in some EU countries, including Estonia, Ireland, Sweden and the Netherlands, three percent or more of their bathing sites offer poor-quality water. In the case of locations labeled poor, these are closed for the next season, meaning these are not safe places to swim and that steps have to be taken to improve them.

How do authorities rate bathing water and why does this matter for travelers’ health?

The European Union follows the Bathing Water Directive to manage bathing locations around the bloc. Authorities identify the areas and their normal bathing seasons, then put monitoring plans into place for coastal, rivers, lakes and transitional waters. It should be noted that this doesn’t cover spas or swimming pools.

Meanwhile, authorities run regular tests on bathing waters for bacteria like intestinal enterococci and E. coli, which indicate manure or sewage pollution. Swimming in this kind of water can pose health problems when swallowed, including stomach upsets. Moreover, this can lead to infections in the eyes, ears and respiratory tract, or other more serious diseases. Meanwhile, based on bacteria levels, authorities classify water quality as ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘sufficient,’ or ‘poor’.

Will travelers be able to swim in the Seine in Paris?

It was reported that Paris had launched a plan to prepare the River Seine for swimming by the 2024 Olympics. Plans were first made in 2015, and officials invested some €1.4 billion ($1.5 billion) in the project.

Ten years down the line from the original plans, Parisians will have access to swimming spots along the Seine in 2025. Particular locations on the Seine were quoted as Bercy, Bras de Grenelle and Bras Marie.

Reportedly, the structural work in Paris and the surrounding areas has been completed. Moreover, wastewater treatment plants have been upgraded with disinfection units. Looking forward to a Paris vacation in the summer of 2025 looks good for an enjoyable and cool dip in the Seine.