Spain World Champion Again: 642 Blue Flag Beaches

Spain cements its status as a global leader in beach quality and sustainable tourism with a total of 642 Blue Flag beaches – more than any other country in the world.

The latest report from the environmental education organization Adeac confirms that Spain once again leads the world in 2025 with the highest number of Blue Flag-certified beaches. With a total of 749 certifications – 642 for beaches and 107 for marinas – the country firmly holds its top spot.

Spain alone accounts for 15 percent of all Blue Flag beaches worldwide, and together with Portugal’s 444 certifications, the Iberian Peninsula boasts 1,193 recognitions, corresponding to 23 percent of the global total. An unparalleled achievement.

“These results are the outcome of close cooperation between municipalities, regions, the state, and civil society,” says José Palacios Aguilar, President of Adeac.

Leading Regions

Comunitat Valenciana, led by Alicante, once again tops the list with 143 Blue Flags – five more than last year – followed by:

• Andalusia: 138 flags (+8)
• Galicia: 108 flags (−6)
• Catalonia: 101 flags (+6)
• Canary Islands: 47 flags (−9)
• Balearic Islands: 32 flags (+1)
• Murcia: 29 flags (+2)

New Beaches Make Their Debut

Several beaches are celebrating their first Blue Flag this year:

• Andalusia: Puerto de Sotogrande (Cádiz), Los Monteros and Cenicero-Las Dunas (Málaga)
• Catalonia: Varador and Del Callao (Barcelona)
• Comunitat Valenciana: El Bol (Alicante), Malvarrosa (Valencia)
• Galicia: O Mende (Pontevedra)
• Murcia: Calblanque – one of the region’s hidden gems

Not Everyone Passed the Test

Of the 697 beaches that applied, 642 received the certification – a 91 percent success rate. Rejections were mainly due to poor water quality or violations of coastal regulations, such as illegal structures or overcrowding.

Interestingly, Adeac emphasizes that beach showers are not required – and are even discouraged due to unnecessary freshwater waste and potential hygiene risks.

Special Recognition for Extra Efforts

Several municipalities received additional honors:

• Environmental Education: Badalona and Gavá (Barcelona), Torreblanca (Castellón)
• Lifesaving Services: Fuengirola (Málaga), Palma (Mallorca)
• Accessibility: Chipiona and Málaga

World-Class Sustainable Tourism

Tourism Minister Rosario Sánchez Grau praised the “exceptional results” and highlighted the importance of the Blue Flag program in “protecting the environment, water quality, and sustainable management of natural resources.”

With this record-setting recognition, Spain reaffirms its position as one of the world’s most sustainable and well-maintained coastal destinations – to the delight of both locals and visitors.

Homes-abroad.com can help you find a holiday home near a Blue Flag beach.