Portugal · region
Bathing water quality in North (Norte), Portugal
North (Norte) has 120 official bathing waters in the EEA dataset for the 2025 season (74 coastal, 28 river, 10 lake and 8 transitional (lagoon/estuary)). 80% were classified Excellent — 2 points below the 82% across Portugal — and 3 were Poor. By sub-region, the Excellent share is highest in Área Metropolitana do Porto (86.4% of 66) and lowest in Terras de Trás-os-Montes (50% of 10). 77 sites have been Excellent in every season from 2015 to 2025.
Qualidade das águas balneares em Norte
Das 120 zonas balneares oficiais da UE em Norte, 80 % foram «excelente» em 2025; zonas classificadas como «má»: 3.
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120
official bathing waters
80%
Excellent in 2025
3
Poor in 2025
Not live: these are annual official classifications. Check the competent authority for today’s notices before swimming.
Map of official bathing waters in North (Norte)
Excellent 96Good 12Sufficient 4Poor 3Not classified 5
North (Norte) by sub-region
Sites are placed in the Eurostat NUTS 3 sub-regions that contain their reported coordinates.
| Sub-region | Sites | Excellent | Good | Sufficient | Poor | Not classified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Área Metropolitana do Porto | 66 | 57 (86.4%) | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Alto Minho | 20 | 14 (70%) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Cávado | 14 | 12 (85.7%) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Terras de Trás-os-Montes | 10 | 5 (50%) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ave | 4 | 3 (75%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Douro | 4 | 4 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alto Tâmega e Barroso | 1 | 1 (100%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tâmega e Sousa | 1 | 0 (0%) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Sea, lakes and rivers in North (Norte)
| Water type | Sites | Excellent | Good | Sufficient | Poor | Not classified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal | 74 | 68 (91.9%) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Transitional (lagoon/estuary) | 8 | 4 (50%) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Lake | 10 | 9 (90%) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| River | 28 | 15 (53.6%) | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Coastal waters are assessed against stricter bacterial limits than lakes and rivers but are diluted far more; see how the classes are calculated.
Most consistent Excellent sites
77 sites were Excellent in all eleven seasons. Ordered by the length of the unbroken Excellent run ending in 2025; the first 24 are shown and every site is in the full list below.
- ADAÚFE 11 seasons · Cávado
- AFIFE 11 seasons · Alto Minho
- AGUDA 11 seasons · Área Metropolitana do Porto
- AGUDELA 11 seasons · Área Metropolitana do Porto
- ALBUFEIRA DE QUEIMADELA 11 seasons · Ave
- ALBUFEIRA DO ERMAL 11 seasons · Ave
- ALQUEIRÃO 11 seasons · Cávado
- AMOROSA 11 seasons · Alto Minho
- APÚLIA 11 seasons · Cávado
- ARDA 11 seasons · Alto Minho
- ATERRO 11 seasons · Área Metropolitana do Porto
- BOA NOVA-SENHORA 11 seasons · Área Metropolitana do Porto
- CABEDELO 11 seasons · Alto Minho
- CABO DO MUNDO 11 seasons · Área Metropolitana do Porto
- CAMINHA 11 seasons · Alto Minho
- CANIDE NORTE 11 seasons · Área Metropolitana do Porto
- CANIDE SUL 11 seasons · Área Metropolitana do Porto
- CARREÇO 11 seasons · Alto Minho
- CASTELO DE NEIVA 11 seasons · Alto Minho
- CODIXEIRA 11 seasons · Área Metropolitana do Porto
- DUNAS MAR 11 seasons · Área Metropolitana do Porto
- ESPINHO-RUA 37 11 seasons · Área Metropolitana do Porto
- ESTELA-BARRANHA 11 seasons · Área Metropolitana do Porto
- FÃO-OFIR 11 seasons · Cávado
Rated Poor in 2025
For a Poor site the Bathing Water Directive requires management measures, including a bathing prohibition or advice against bathing, so check the authority before visiting.
- MATOSINHOS Poor in 2 of 11 classified seasons · Área Metropolitana do Porto
- PONTE DA BARCA Poor in 2 of 9 classified seasons · Alto Minho
- BITETOS Poor in 1 of 11 classified seasons · Tâmega e Sousa
Changes from 2024 to 2025
Declined (4)
- ARQUITETO ALBINO MENDO Excellent → Good
- BITETOS Sufficient → Poor
- ESPINHO-BAÍA Excellent → Good
- PONTE DA BARCA Sufficient → Poor
How North (Norte) rated since 2015
Counts for the sites in today’s 2025 inventory; the Excellent share is calculated over classified sites only.
| Season | Classified | Excellent | Excellent share | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 115 | 96 | 83.5% | 3 |
| 2024 | 114 | 94 | 82.5% | 1 |
| 2023 | 114 | 101 | 88.6% | 0 |
| 2022 | 111 | 100 | 90.1% | 0 |
| 2021 | 113 | 101 | 89.4% | 0 |
| 2020 | 108 | 101 | 93.5% | 1 |
| 2019 | 111 | 104 | 93.7% | 0 |
| 2018 | 111 | 104 | 93.7% | 1 |
| 2017 | 112 | 104 | 92.9% | 1 |
| 2016 | 110 | 97 | 88.2% | 0 |
| 2015 | 109 | 93 | 85.3% | 0 |
Places with the most bathing waters in North (Norte)
Each site is matched to its nearest named place (GeoNames, within 8 km in a straight line), so beaches of one resort or lake shore can be compared together. Select a place to show only its sites in the full list.
| Place | Sub-region | Sites | Excellent | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lavra | Área Metropolitana do Porto | 9 | 9 (100%) | 0 |
| Miramar | Área Metropolitana do Porto | 8 | 8 (100%) | 0 |
| Vila Praia de Âncora | Alto Minho | 7 | 6 (85.7%) | 0 |
| Leça da Palmeira | Área Metropolitana do Porto | 5 | 5 (100%) | 0 |
| Madalena | Área Metropolitana do Porto | 5 | 5 (100%) | 0 |
| Espinho | Área Metropolitana do Porto | 5 | 3 (60%) | 0 |
| Póvoa de Varzim | Área Metropolitana do Porto | 4 | 4 (100%) | 0 |
| Aguçadoura | Área Metropolitana do Porto | 3 | 3 (100%) | 0 |
| Canidelo | Área Metropolitana do Porto | 3 | 3 (100%) | 0 |
| Darque | Alto Minho | 3 | 2 (66.7%) | 0 |
| Nevogilde | Área Metropolitana do Porto | 3 | 2 (66.7%) | 0 |
| Viana do Castelo | Alto Minho | 3 | 2 (66.7%) | 0 |
| Vieira do Minho | Cávado | 3 | 2 (66.7%) | 0 |
| Mirandela | Terras de Trás-os-Montes | 3 | 1 (33.3%) | 0 |
| Amares | Cávado | 2 | 2 (100%) | 0 |
All 120 official bathing waters in North (Norte)
Grouped by sub-region, alphabetical within each group. Open a site for its 2015–2025 history, nearby alternatives, weather forecast and the national profile link.
Download all 120 sites as CSV (classes 2015–2025, coordinates, nearest place; EEA data, CC BY 4.0)
Área Metropolitana do Porto 66 sites · 86.4% Excellent · 1 Poor
- AGUDA · Miramar Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- AGUDELA · Lavra Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- ANGEIRAS NORTE · Lavra Excellent Excellent 9 seasons in a row
- ANGEIRAS SUL · Lavra Excellent Excellent 10 seasons in a row
- AREÍNHO · Arouca Excellent Excellent 5 seasons in a row
- ÁRVORE Good
- ATERRO · Leça da Palmeira Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- AZUL-CONCHINHA · Leça da Palmeira Excellent Excellent 5 seasons in a row
- BOA NOVA-SENHORA · Leça da Palmeira Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- BURGÃES-RIO CAIMA · Vale de Cambra Good
- CABO DO MUNDO · Santa Cruz do Bispo Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- CANIDE NORTE · Canidelo Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- CANIDE SUL · Madalena Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- CASTELO DO QUEIJO · Nevogilde Sufficient
- CODIXEIRA · Aguçadoura Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- DUNAS MAR · Miramar Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- ESPINHO-BAÍA Good Excellent → Good since 2024
- ESPINHO-RUA 37 Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- ESTELA-BARRANHA · Aguçadoura Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- FOZ · Foz do Douro Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- FRAGOSA · Aver-o-Mar Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- FRANCELOS · Miramar Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- FRANCEMAR · Miramar Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- FRENTE AZUL · Espinho Good
- FRENTE URBANA NORTE · Vila do Conde Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- FRENTE URBANA SUL · Vila do Conde Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- FUNTÃO · Lavra Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- FUZELHAS · Leça da Palmeira Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- GONDARÉM · Nevogilde Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- GRANJA · São Félix da Marinha Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- HOMEM DO LEME · Nevogilde Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- LABRUGE · Angeiras Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- LAGOA · Póvoa de Varzim Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- LAVADORES · Canidelo Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- LEÇA DA PALMEIRA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- LOMBA · Melres Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- MADALENA NORTE Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- MADALENA SUL Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- MAMOA · Milheirós de Poiares Good
- MAR E SOL · Miramar Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- MARBELO · Espinho Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- MARRECO · Lavra Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- MATOSINHOS Poor Poor in 2 of 11 classified seasons
- MEMÓRIA · Lavra Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- MINDELO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- MIRAMAR Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- PAÇO DO MATO · Macieira de Cambra Excellent Excellent 5 seasons in a row
- PAIMÓ · Aguçadoura Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- PARAMOS · Souto Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- PEDRAS BRANCAS · Lavra Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- PEDRAS DO CORGO · Lavra Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- PONTEMIEIRO · Macieira de Cambra Good
- QUEBRADA · Lavra Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- QUIÃO · Aver-o-Mar Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- S. FÉLIX DA MARINHA · São Félix da Marinha Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- SALGUEIROS · Canidelo Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- SÃOZINHA · Miramar Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- SECA · Espinho Excellent Good → Excellent since 2024
- SENHOR DA PEDRA · Miramar Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- SILVALDE Good
- VALADARES NORTE · Madalena Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- VALADARES SUL · Madalena Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- VILA CHÃ · Mindelo Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- ZONA URBANA NORTE · Póvoa de Varzim Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- ZONA URBANA SUL I · Póvoa de Varzim Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- ZONA URBANA SUL II · Póvoa de Varzim Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
Alto Minho 20 sites · 70% Excellent · 1 Poor
- AFIFE · Vila Praia de Âncora Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- AMOROSA · Darque Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- ARDA · Vila Praia de Âncora Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- AZENHAS - VILAR DE MOUROS · Vila Nova de Cerveira Excellent Excellent 9 seasons in a row
- CABEDELO · Viana do Castelo Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- CAMINHA · Vila Praia de Âncora Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- CARREÇO · Areosa Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- CASTELO DE NEIVA · Darque Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- FORTE DO CÃO · Vila Praia de Âncora Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- FOZ DO LIMA · Viana do Castelo Not classified
- ÍNSUA · Vila Praia de Âncora Excellent Excellent 5 seasons in a row
- LENTA · Vila Nova de Cerveira Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- MOLEDO · Vila Praia de Âncora Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- NORTE · Viana do Castelo Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- PAÇÔ · Areosa Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- PEDRAS RUIVAS Good
- PONTE DA BARCA Poor Poor in 2 of 9 classified seasons
- PONTILHÃO DA VALETA · Arcos de Valdevez Sufficient
- RODANHO · Darque Not classified
- VILA PRAIA DE ÂNCORA Sufficient
Cávado 14 sites · 85.7% Excellent
- ADAÚFE · Lago Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- ALQUEIRÃO · Vieira do Minho Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- APÚLIA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- CAVADINHO · Amares Excellent
- FÃO-OFIR · Apúlia e Fão Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- MARINHAS-CEPÃES Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- MERELIM S. PAIO Good
- NAVARRA · Lago Not classified
- PONTE DO BICO · Palmeira Excellent Excellent 4 seasons in a row
- PRADO FAIAL Excellent Excellent 6 seasons in a row
- RAMALHA · Apúlia Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- RIO DE MOINHOS · Marinhas Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- SUAVE MAR · Esposende Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- VERIM · Amares Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
Terras de Trás-os-Montes 10 sites · 50% Excellent
- ARQUITETO ALBINO MENDO · Mirandela Good Excellent → Good since 2024
- FRAGA DA PEGADA · Macedo de Cavaleiros Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- MARAVILHA · Mirandela Excellent Good → Excellent since 2024
- PONTE DA PEDRA Not classified
- PONTE DA RANCA · Vinhais Good
- PONTE FRADES Excellent Excellent 2 seasons in a row
- PONTE SOEIRA · Vinhais Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- QUINTAS Good
- RIBEIRA · Macedo de Cavaleiros Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- VALE JUNCAL · Mirandela Sufficient
Ave 4 sites · 75% Excellent
- ALBUFEIRA DE QUEIMADELA · Fafe Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- ALBUFEIRA DO ERMAL · Vieira do Minho Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
- CAVEZ · Ribeira de Pena Excellent Good → Excellent since 2024
- POMBAL · Vieira do Minho Not classified
Douro 4 sites · 100% Excellent
- ALBUFEIRA DO VILAR · Moimenta da Beira Excellent Excellent 3 seasons in a row
- CONGIDA · Freixo de Espada à Cinta Excellent Excellent 3 seasons in a row
- SEGÕES · Vila Nova de Paiva Excellent Excellent 9 seasons in a row
- VILA DA PONTE · Sernancelhe Excellent Excellent 3 seasons in a row
Alto Tâmega e Barroso 1 site · 100% Excellent
- RABAÇAL · Valpaços Excellent Excellent 3 seasons in a row
Tâmega e Sousa 1 site · 0% Excellent · 1 Poor
- BITETOS · Castelo de Paiva Poor Poor in 1 of 11 classified seasons
Compared with other regions in Portugal
| # | Region | Sites | Excellent | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Setúbal Peninsula | 31 | 96.8% | 0 |
| 2 | Azores | 88 | 96.6% | 0 |
| 3 | Oeste e Vale do Tejo | 59 | 93.2% | 0 |
| 4 | Algarve | 109 | 92.7% | 0 |
| 5 | Alentejo | 39 | 89.7% | 0 |
| 6 | Madeira | 61 | 83.6% | 2 |
| 7 | North (Norte) | 120 | 80% | 3 |
| 8 | Greater Lisbon | 33 | 66.7% | 0 |
| 9 | Centre (Centro) | 142 | 59.2% | 7 |
Regions with at least 15 official bathing waters. Size, water type and how densely sites are designated differ, so the table is context rather than a verdict.
Quick answers
- How many bathing waters in North (Norte) were rated Excellent in 2025?
- 96 of 120 (80%) in the official EEA 2025 classification; 12 were Good, 4 Sufficient and 3 Poor, and 5 had no class. That ranks North (Norte) 7 of 9 Portugal regions by Excellent share.
- Which sub-region of North (Norte) has the highest share of Excellent sites?
- Área Metropolitana do Porto: 86.4% of its 66 sites were Excellent in 2025. Cávado follows with 85.7%. Only sub-regions with at least five sites are compared; see the full table.
- Which beaches in North (Norte) have the best long-term record?
- 77 sites were Excellent in every season from 2015 to 2025, for example ADAÚFE, AFIFE, AGUDA. See the ranking.
- Which places in North (Norte) have the most official bathing waters?
- Lavra (9, 100% Excellent), Miramar (8, 100% Excellent), Vila Praia de Âncora (7, 85.7% Excellent). See the place table; places are the nearest named settlement to each site.
- Were any bathing waters in North (Norte) rated Poor?
- Yes, 3: MATOSINHOS, PONTE DA BARCA, BITETOS.
- Where do I check whether swimming is allowed today?
- On InfoÁgua (APA) (Portuguese Environment Agency (APA)). Temporary bans, pollution alerts and closures are published there and on signs at the water, not in the annual EEA class.
Portugal overview · All regions of Portugal · Bathing waters near Porto · Bathing season dates
Sources and method
Bathing-water records: European Environment Agency (EEA), data and coordinates reported by Portugal, licensed CC BY 4.0. Region and sub-region boundaries: Eurostat NUTS 2024 (© EuroGeographics for the administrative boundaries). Place names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). A site belongs to the area that contains its reported coordinates; a site up to 10 km off the generalised coastline is placed in the nearest area of Portugal. Counts, shares and rankings are calculated by BathingWaterFinder from the official records.