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Excellent: 1989Good: 205Sufficient: 39Not classified: 15Poor: 48
⚠️ Rated Poor in Spain — think twice
A Poor classification means persistent contamination across recent seasons. Authorities must advise against bathing, or ban it, at these sites.
- Arroyo Cimorro Navalacruz Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Garganta Rio Tajo Valdecaas de Tajo Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Laguna la Tomilla Ossa de Montiel Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Laguna Villafranca Villafranca de los Caballeros 03 Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Laguna Villafranca Villafranca de los Caballeros 04 Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Playa Cala Egos Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Playa D'albercuix( Port de Pollena) Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Playa D'albercuix( Port de Pollena) Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Playa de las Arenas Poor
- Playa de Motilla Poor
- Playa de Toa Poor 🆕 New site — not enough seasons for a track record
- Playa del Perello Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Playa del Rec del Mol Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Playa Dels Peixets Poor 🆕 New site — not enough seasons for a track record
- Playa Dicido Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Playa Mareny de Barraquetes Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Playa Santa Marina Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Playa Santa Marina Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Playa Sopazos Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Rio Aguascebas Villacarrillo Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Rio Alberche Aldea del Fresno Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Rio Anna Anna Poor 📉 Going the wrong way — used to be Excellent
- Rio Ara Fiscal 02 Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Rio Arrago Cadalso Poor
- Rio Arroyomolinos Zahara Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Rio Bullaque Porzuna Poor 🆕 New site — not enough seasons for a track record
- Rio Bullaque Robledo (el) Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Rio Bullaque Robledo (el) 02 Poor
- Rio Burbia Toral de los Vados Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
- Rio Furelos Melide Poor ⚠ Rated Poor within the last 3 seasons
…and 18 more. Full list across Europe →
✅ The safest bets in Spain
Sites that have held the top rating five seasons in a row — not a one-year fluke.
- Playa Chanteiro Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Playa Area Grande de Suevos Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Playa Retorta Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Playa Ribeira Grande Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Playa o Lago - Camariñas Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Playa Maniños Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Playa Esmelle Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Playa Pareixal (covas) Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Playa Miño Grande Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Playa Perbes - Andaho - Miño Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Playa San Francisco Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
- Playa o Fogareiro Excellent ✅ Excellent five seasons straight
📈 Turned around
These were rated Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago and are Excellent today.
- Playa Regueiro Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Playa Subigrexa Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Playa o Prado Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Playa a Ameixida Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Rio Eo Castro Caldelas Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Playa Salgueiron Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Playa Gandaro Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Playa Lao Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Playa a Vila Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
- Playa Navia Excellent 📈 Turned around — was Poor or Sufficient a few seasons ago, Excellent now
📍 Destinations in Spain
- Bueu
215 excellent of 232 within 35 km - Ponte Caldelas
172 excellent of 187 within 35 km - A Pobra do Caramiñal
174 excellent of 184 within 35 km - Oia
99 excellent of 107 within 35 km - San Pedro del Pinatar
83 excellent of 86 within 35 km - Mera
72 excellent of 81 within 35 km - els Poblets
62 excellent of 68 within 35 km - Muxía
64 excellent of 67 within 35 km - Pals
58 excellent of 62 within 35 km - Roses
56 excellent of 61 within 35 km - Blanes
59 excellent of 60 within 35 km - Malaga
58 excellent of 59 within 35 km - Tarragona
54 excellent of 58 within 35 km - Vilanova i la Geltrú
54 excellent of 54 within 35 km - Alicante
50 excellent of 53 within 35 km - Cervo
48 excellent of 53 within 35 km - Torrox
47 excellent of 50 within 35 km - Barcelona
45 excellent of 48 within 35 km - Valencia
34 excellent of 48 within 35 km - Ibiza
32 excellent of 48 within 35 km - Cadiz
47 excellent of 47 within 35 km - Borriana
47 excellent of 47 within 35 km - Palma de Mallorca
23 excellent of 44 within 35 km - Marbella
42 excellent of 44 within 35 km - San Sebastian
31 excellent of 42 within 35 km - Motril
39 excellent of 42 within 35 km - Manacor
34 excellent of 42 within 35 km - Ca'n Picafort
34 excellent of 42 within 35 km - Águilas
41 excellent of 42 within 35 km - Torreblanca
41 excellent of 42 within 35 km - Ortigueira
39 excellent of 41 within 35 km - Barreiros
36 excellent of 41 within 35 km - Mojácar
40 excellent of 40 within 35 km - Peníscola
38 excellent of 40 within 35 km - Las Palmas
38 excellent of 39 within 35 km - Almeria
39 excellent of 39 within 35 km - San Bartolomé de Tirajana
37 excellent of 38 within 35 km - Gijón
34 excellent of 38 within 35 km - Arrecife
36 excellent of 37 within 35 km - Algeciras
36 excellent of 37 within 35 km - Maruri-Jatabe
22 excellent of 36 within 35 km - Tenerife South
31 excellent of 32 within 35 km - Santander
26 excellent of 31 within 35 km - Santa Cruz de Tenerife
27 excellent of 31 within 35 km - Menorca
24 excellent of 30 within 35 km - La Oliva
25 excellent of 26 within 35 km - Coaña
21 excellent of 23 within 35 km - Ribadesella/Ribeseya
20 excellent of 22 within 35 km - Tuineje
15 excellent of 15 within 35 km - Alajeró
12 excellent of 12 within 35 km - Ossa de Montiel
7 excellent of 10 within 35 km - Melilla
9 excellent of 10 within 35 km - Breña Alta
9 excellent of 9 within 35 km
Common questions about swimming in Spain
Is it safe to swim in Spain?
Mostly yes. 87% of Spain's 2,296 officially monitored bathing sites hold the top "Excellent" class in the 2025 assessment, but 48 sites are rated Poor — bathing there is advised against or banned all season.
Which beaches in Spain should I avoid?
The 48 rated Poor: Arroyo Cimorro Navalacruz, Garganta Rio Tajo Valdecaas de Tajo, Laguna la Tomilla Ossa de Montiel, Laguna Villafranca Villafranca de los Caballeros 03, Laguna Villafranca Villafranca de los Caballeros 04, Playa Cala Egos and 42 more. Poor means the site failed the minimum standard across four seasons of sampling.
Where is the water cleanest in Spain?
1,819 sites have held the top rating five seasons running — a far better signal than a single good year. Around Bueu, Ponte Caldelas, A Pobra do Caramiñal you will find the densest clusters.
How often is water quality tested in Spain?
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.