Flag is “one of world’s most recognised eco-labels”
More than 400 Portuguese beaches have been awarded blue flags this year – six more than last, with beaches in the municipality of Sintra receiving the award for the first time, the Blue Flag Association for Environment and Education (ABAAE) has announced.
The iconic Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary awards for beaches, marinas, and sustainable tourism boats.
In order to qualify for a Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained.
Central to the ideals of the Blue Flag programme is the aim of connecting the public with their surroundings and encouraging them to learn more about their environment. As such, environmental education activities must be offered and promoted in addition to a permanent display of information relevant to the site in terms of biodiversity, ecosystems and environmental phenomena.
This year, the distinction of this ‘good quality’ was awarded to 404 beaches – of which 354 are coastal and 50 are inland – 18 marinas and 22 ecotourism boats, for a total of 444 awards given to Portugal by the 2025 international jury.
According to ABAAE president, José Archer, all Portuguese coastal municipalities have award-winning beaches this year.
The beaches of Sintra, which had not competed in the programme for 10 years, were also distinguished, allowing ‘the entire coast to be filled with blue flags, from north to south and in the autonomous regions’, said Archer.
Also, for the first time, the municipalities of Cuba and Alcanena entered their beaches, which were both award-winning.
The 404 beaches are distributed among 105 promoting entities.
The North, with five fewer in the overall count, and the Algarve, with one fewer, were the regions that lost blue flags in this year’s total compared to last year.
In total, the North has 75 award-winning coastal beaches (last year it had 79) and nine inland beaches (one less than in 2024).
The beaches of Árvore (Vila do Conde), Frente Azul, Seca and Silvalde (all in Espinho), Vila Praia de Âncora (Caminha) and the river beach of Merelim São Paio (Braga) no longer have blue flags in the North, albeit a new beach, Cavadinho (river), in Braga, has been added to the list.
The Algarve has 85 distinguished coastal beaches, having lost its blue flag at Batata beach (Lagos) compared to last year.
In the Centre region, a total of 33 coastal beaches (one more than in 2024) and 16 inland beaches have been awarded.
New to the list in the Centre are the river beaches of Ançã, Olhos de Fervença and Sete Fontes (Cantanhede) and Cornicovo (Penacova) and the coastal beaches of Barra do Sul (Aveiro) and Costa Nova Sul (Ílhavo).
The following beaches in the Centre region no longer have a blue flag: São Pedro da Maceda (Ovar) and the river beaches of Côja (Arganil), Louçainha (Penela), Mâmoa (Santa Maria da Feira) and Bogueira (Lousã).
In the Tejo river basin, 66 coastal beaches have been awarded flags (five more than last year) and 15 river beaches (one more).
According to the Blue Flag Association, the Olhos d’Água do Alviela river beach (Alcanena) has been awarded a blue flag for the first time and Alvares river beach (Góis) has recovered the status, having previously lost it.
In Sintra, the coastal beaches of Adraga, Grande, Maçãs and Magoito are now back flying blue flags, as is São Julião, in the district of Mafra.
The river beach of Sesmo, in the district of Castelo Branco, has lost its blue flag this year.
In the Alentejo, there are 31 coastal beaches awarded (two more: Monte Velho and Porto das Carretas/Albarquel, in Santiago do Cacém) and 10 inland beaches (one more: Albergaria dos Fusos in Cuba).
In the Azores, 46 coastal beaches have been awarded, one more than last year, with the beach of Calheta dos Lagadores, on Terceira Island, joining the list.
In Madeira, there are 18 coastal beaches with blue flags, with Prainha, in Caniçal, Machico, joining the list.
The official ceremony for raising the first blue flag on a coastal beach will take place this year in Santa Cruz da Graciosa, in the Azores, on June 3.
The first blue flag on a river beach will be raised at Quinta do Barco, in Sever do Vouga, on June 15.
The first marina to fly the blue flag will be Vilamoura, on June 20.
Twenty-three Blue Centres (information and environmental education facilities located near beaches) have also been recognised, distributed throughout all regions.
Portugal ranks 6th among the 51 countries participating in the Blue Flag Programme, taking into account the number of sites awarded.
The announcement by the Blue Flag Association was made today at the Vasco da Gama Aquarium in Dafundo, Oeiras, in the district of Lisbon.
LUSA
