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Excellent: 20Good: 45Sufficient: 26Poor: 28
⚠️ Rated Poor in Albania — think twice
A Poor classification means persistent contamination across recent seasons. Authorities must advise against bathing, or ban it, at these sites.
- Durres Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Durres Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Durres Poor
- Durres Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Durres Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Durres Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Kavaje Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Kavaje Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Kavaje Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Kavaje Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Kavaje Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Kavaje Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Kavaje Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Kavaje Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Kavaje Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Kavaje Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Pogradec Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Pogradec Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Pogradec Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Pogradec Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Sarande Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Sarande Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Sarande Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Shengjin Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Vlore Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Vlore Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Vlore Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Vlore Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
✅ The safest bets in Albania
Sites that have held the top rating five seasons in a row — not a one-year fluke.
- Dhermi Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Himare Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Livadhe Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Vlore Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Palase Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Lukove Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Jale Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Dhermi Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Lin Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Dhermi Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Himare Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Lukove Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
📍 Destinations in Albania
- Sarande
51 excellent of 68 within 35 km - Durres
0 excellent of 41 within 35 km - Tirana
0 excellent of 38 within 35 km - Vlore
5 excellent of 20 within 35 km
Common questions about swimming in Albania
Is it safe to swim in Albania?
Mostly yes. 17% of Albania's 119 officially monitored bathing sites hold the top "Excellent" class in the 2025 assessment, but 28 sites are rated Poor — bathing there is advised against or banned all season.
Which beaches in Albania should I avoid?
The 28 rated Poor: Durres, Durres, Durres, Durres, Durres, Durres and 22 more. Poor means the site failed the minimum standard across four seasons of sampling.
Where is the water cleanest in Albania?
18 sites have held the top rating five seasons running — a far better signal than a single good year. Around Sarande, Durres, Tirana you will find the densest clusters.
How often is water quality tested in Albania?
Through the whole bathing season. National sanitary authorities sample each official site for E. coli and intestinal enterococci, report to the European Environment Agency, and the published class reflects the last four seasons combined.
Ratings are the official season-long classification, computed from the last four seasons of sampling — not a live reading. After a storm any site can be temporarily worse; local advisories win.