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Excellent: 2082Good: 136Sufficient: 26Not classified: 44Poor: 3
⚠️ Rated Poor in Germany — think twice
A Poor classification means persistent contamination across recent seasons. Authorities must advise against bathing, or ban it, at these sites.
- Bad Wurzach Metzisweilerweiher Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Badesee Schiesstal Poor 🆕 New site — not enough seasons for a track record
- Riemer See Muenchen Nordufer Badestrand Poor 🆕 New site — not enough seasons for a track record
✅ The safest bets in Germany
Sites that have held the top rating five seasons in a row — not a one-year fluke.
- Grimnitzsee Joachimsthal Feriendorf Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Breitlingsee Malge Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Gruenewalder Lauch Gorden Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Briesener See Briesensee Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Koethener See Koethen Jugendherberge Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Motzener See Motzen Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Teupitzer See Teupitz Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Wolziger See Kolberg Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Ziestsee Bindow Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Scharmuetzelsee Diensdorf Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Springsee Limsdorf Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Storkower See Dahmsdorf Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
📈 Turned around
These were rated Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago and are Excellent today.
- Beetzsee Grillendamm Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Fischbach Campingplatz Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Werratalsee Ostufer Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Ostsee Born Grabenwiese Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Ostsee Rerik Seebruecke Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Ostsee Kuehlungsborn Oestlich Bootshafen Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Greifswalder Bodden Badestrand Wreechen Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Elbestrandbad Cuxhaven Altenbruch Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Kummerower See Verchen Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Barumer See Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
📍 Destinations in Germany
- Kiel
133 excellent of 142 within 35 km - Lake Constance
90 excellent of 93 within 35 km - Berlin
81 excellent of 81 within 35 km - Luebeck
70 excellent of 79 within 35 km - Munich
38 excellent of 43 within 35 km - Ruegen
39 excellent of 43 within 35 km - Rostock
38 excellent of 40 within 35 km - Usedom
29 excellent of 36 within 35 km - Hanover
29 excellent of 33 within 35 km - Hamburg
27 excellent of 31 within 35 km - Frankfurt
27 excellent of 31 within 35 km - Leipzig
20 excellent of 22 within 35 km - Sylt
21 excellent of 21 within 35 km - Cologne
16 excellent of 18 within 35 km - Stuttgart
8 excellent of 11 within 35 km - Dresden
3 excellent of 4 within 35 km
Common questions about swimming in Germany
Is it safe to swim in Germany?
Mostly yes. 93% of Germany's 2,291 officially monitored bathing sites hold the top "Excellent" class in the 2025 assessment, but 3 sites are rated Poor — bathing there is advised against or banned all season.
Which beaches in Germany should I avoid?
The 3 rated Poor: Bad Wurzach Metzisweilerweiher, Badesee Schiesstal, Riemer See Muenchen Nordufer Badestrand. Poor means the site failed the minimum standard across four seasons of sampling.
Where is the water cleanest in Germany?
1,860 sites have held the top rating five seasons running — a far better signal than a single good year. Around Kiel, Lake Constance, Berlin you will find the densest clusters.
How often is water quality tested in Germany?
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.