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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
- Malaga
58 excellent of 59 within 35 km - Tarragona
54 excellent of 58 within 35 km - Alicante
50 excellent of 53 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 - 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 - Las Palmas
38 excellent of 39 within 35 km - Almeria
39 excellent of 39 within 35 km - Tenerife South
31 excellent of 32 within 35 km - Santander
26 excellent of 31 within 35 km - Menorca
24 excellent of 30 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 Malaga, Tarragona, Alicante 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.