Greece ranked second place in the world on the 2017 Blue Flag quality award list for beaches and marinas, among 47 countries, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPF) announced on Monday following two special events held at Glyfada beach and the Glyfada Golf Gardens.
Greece comes behind Spain for the highest number of awarded beaches with a total of 486 flags – 56 more than last year, ahead of France, Turkey, Italy and Portugal.
Most of the flags went to beaches in Halkidiki, northern Greece, Lasithi on Crete and the Cyclades islands.
The Blue Flag is an international annual award – now in its 30th year – which is conferred on beaches that pass certain criteria including water cleanliness, amenities, environmental information and management and safety.
112 Blue Flags for Crete
LASSITHI (42)
Agios Nikolaos
- Spiliada/Kalimera Kriti
- Poros 1/Elounda Bay Palace
- Poros 2/Elounda Beach
- Elounda/Elounda Mare
- Eloundaα/Porto Elounda
- Pigaidakia Elounda/Elounda Village
- Shisma
- Elounda 1/Elounda Blu
- Driros/Domes of Elounda
- Hiona
- Plaka/Blue Palace
- Havania 2
- Agios Nikolaos 1/Saint Nicolas Bay
- Agios Nikolaos 2/Minos Palace
- Agios Nikolaos 3/Minos Beach
- Ammoudi/Hermes Coral
- Kitroplatia
- Ammos/Μαρίνα
- Almiros
- Ammos/Public Beach
- Pilos/Istron Bay
- Ammoudara
- Voulisma
- Agioa Panteleimonas
- Karavostassi
- Havania 1/Candia Park Village
- Mirambello/Mirabello Beach & Village
Sitia
- Sitia 1/Galliko
- Vai/Finikodassos
- Kouremenos
- Hiona
- Kato Zakros
- Vourlia
- Analipsi
- Makrigailos -Lagoufa/Sunwing Makrigialos Beach
Ierapetra
- Ierapetra 2/Public Beach
- Agia Fotia
- Mirtos
- Koutsounari-Agios Ioannis/Sunshine Kreta & Sunshine Crete Village
- Koutsounari 2/Kakkos Bay
- Ahlia Shinokapsalon
CHANIA (34)
Kandanos-Selino
- Voulismeni
- Grammeno
- Pahia Ammos
- Chalikia
- Sougia
Kissamos
- Falassarna/Pahia Ammos 1
- Falassarna/Pahia Ammos 2
- Kastelli/Mavros Molos/Plaka
- Elafonissi
Platanias
- Geraniotis
- Limanaki/Porto Platanias Beach
- Kolimbari
- Rapaniana/Cavo Spada
Chania
- Stalos
- Agii Apostoli 1
- Agii Apostoli 2
- Chryssi Akti
- Agia Marina
- Kalamaki
- Marathi
- Stavros
- Agios Onoufrios
- Kalathas
- Nea Hora
Apokoronas
- Maistrali
- Kalyves/Xidas
- Almyrida
- Kiani
- Kavros/Mythos Palace
- Kavros/Eliros Mare
- Kavros/Anemos
- Kavros/Georgioupolis Resort
- Perastikos/Pilot Beach
- Perastikos/Mare Monte
HERAKLION (19)
Malevizi
- Ellinoperamata/Apollonia Beach
- Fodele/Fodele Beach Hotel
- Ammoudara 1/Agapi Beach
- Ammoudara 4/Candia Maris
- Ammoudara 5/Santa Marina
- ΑAmmoudara/Atlantica Akti Zeus
- Made/Athina Palace
Hersonissos
- Limenas Hersonissou 5/Silva Beach Hotel
- Agios Georgios 1/Aldemar Knossos Royal Village
- Agios Georgios 3/Aldemar Royal Mare & Cretan Village
- Anissaras/Lyttos Beach
- Agios Georgios 2 Panagia Rizi/AKS Annabelle Village
- Drapanos/Nana Beach
- Potamos/Cretan Malia Park
- Potamos A
- Kokkini Hani/Themis Beach
- Kokkini Hani/Knossos Beach
- Agia Pelagia – Menopetra/Akrogiali Beach
- Kastri/Creta Maris
RETHYMNO (17)
Rethymno
- Rethymno 1/Aquila Porto Rethymno
- Rethymno 1/Ilios Beach
- Rethymno 1/Kriti Beach
- Rethymno 2/Pearl Beach
- Rethymno 3/Steris Beach
- Rethymno 4/Missiria-Creta Palace
- Platanias B/Minos Mare Resort
- Adelianos Kambos/Aquila Rithymna Beach
- Pigianoa Kambos/Grecotel White Palace
- Skaleta/Creta Star
Milopotamos
- Panormo Limni/Grecotel Club Marine Palace
- Bali Livadi/Bali Paradise Beach
- Lianos Kavos Lavris/Iberostar Creta Panorama
Agios Vassilios
- Plakias
- Rodakino
- Agia Galini/Istero Varkotopi
- Souda
