Portugal · coast

Algarve beaches: 2025 bathing-water quality

Algarve coast has 106 official bathing waters in the EEA dataset for the 2025 season (103 coastal and 3 transitional (lagoon/estuary)). 93.4% were classified Excellent — 11.4 points above the 82% across all of Portugal — and 0 were Poor. 95 sites have been Excellent in every season from 2015 to 2025. By area, the Excellent share is highest around Sagres (100% of 11) and lowest around Lagos (66.7% of 9).

Praia do Tonel between rocky cliffs, seen from the Sagres fortress, Algarve — Photo: Norbert Nagel, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

106

official bathing waters

93.4%

Excellent in 2025

Poor in 2025

Not live: these are annual official classifications. Check the competent authority for today’s notices before swimming.

Before you swim on the Algarve coast

Portuguese Environment Agency (APA)

Bathing season in Portugal: Set per bathing water by annual ordinance (2026 season opened 1 May). InfoÁgua replaced the bathing-water part of the former Infopraia service in 2025.

Annual EEA classes do not show temporary bans, short-term pollution or algae alerts; those are published by the competent authority. National information last checked 2026-11-01.

InfoÁgua (APA) →

About Algarve coast

The Algarve is Portugal’s southernmost region. Its coast combines the Atlantic west coast north of Cape St Vincent, the cliff-and-cove south coast and, in the east, the Ria Formosa lagoon system, whose bathing waters are reported as transitional waters.

How this page is defined: official EEA bathing waters reported by Portugal (coastal and transitional waters) whose coordinates fall inside a boundary drawn around Algarve coast. Coordinates are reported by the national authority.

Map of official bathing waters

Excellent 99Good 6Sufficient 1Poor 0

How to read this map: Each dot is one official bathing water, coloured by its 2025 rating; select a dot to open that site. Coloured areas are the regions; region names link to their pages. Sea and large lakes are blue, neighbouring countries grey. Positions: official EEA coordinates. Boundaries: Eurostat NUTS 2024, generalised (© EuroGeographics); lakes: Natural Earth. Outlines are simplified, so a few shoreline dots can sit just offshore.

Algarve coast by area

Each official site is grouped under the nearest of 9 reference towns, measured in a straight line from its reported coordinates. This is an orientation aid, not a municipal boundary.

2025 EEA classes by area (nearest reference town)
Area	Sites	Excellent	Good	Sufficient
Aljezur	8	7 (87.5%)	1	0
Sagres	11	11 (100%)	0	0
Lagos	9	6 (66.7%)	2	1
Portimão	15	13 (86.7%)	2	0
Albufeira	27	26 (96.3%)	1	0
Vilamoura / Quarteira	15	15 (100%)	0	0
Faro	7	7 (100%)	0	0
Tavira	7	7 (100%)	0	0
Monte Gordo	7	7 (100%)	0	0

Most consistent Excellent sites

95 sites were Excellent in all eleven seasons. Ordered by the length of the unbroken Excellent run ending in 2025; the first 24 are shown, the rest are in the area lists above.

ALAGOA-ALTURA 11 seasons · around Monte Gordo
ALEMÃES 11 seasons · around Albufeira
ALMÁDENA-CABANAS VELHAS 11 seasons · around Lagos
ALMARGEM 11 seasons · around Vilamoura / Quarteira
ALVOR-NASCENTE 11 seasons · around Portimão
ALVOR-POENTE 11 seasons · around Portimão
AMADO 11 seasons · around Aljezur
AMOREIRA-MAR 11 seasons · around Aljezur
ANCÃO 11 seasons · around Vilamoura / Quarteira
ARMAÇÃO DE PÊRA 11 seasons · around Albufeira
ARMONA-MAR 11 seasons · around Faro
ARMONA-RIA 11 seasons · around Faro
ARRIFANA 11 seasons · around Aljezur
ARRIFES 11 seasons · around Albufeira
AVEIROS 11 seasons · around Albufeira
BARCOS/ARMAÇÃO DE PÊRA NASCENTE 11 seasons · around Albufeira
BARRANCO DAS CANAS 11 seasons · around Portimão
BARRETA 11 seasons · around Faro
BARRIL 11 seasons · around Tavira
BELHARUCAS 11 seasons · around Albufeira
BELICHE 11 seasons · around Sagres
BOCA DO RIO 11 seasons · around Lagos
BORDEIRA 11 seasons · around Aljezur
BURGAU 11 seasons · around Lagos

Rated Poor in 2025

None of the 106 official bathing waters on the Algarve coast was classified Poor in 2025.

Changes from 2024 to 2025

Improved (0)

None.

Declined (2)

CAMILO Good → Sufficient
PESCADORES Excellent → Good

How Algarve coast 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	106	99	93.4%	0
2024	106	100	94.3%	0
2023	106	102	96.2%	0
2022	106	101	95.3%	2
2021	106	102	96.2%	1
2020	106	103	97.2%	0
2019	106	103	97.2%	0
2018	106	103	97.2%	0
2017	104	103	99%	0
2016	104	102	98.1%	0
2015	104	102	98.1%	0

All 106 official bathing waters on the Algarve coast

Grouped by area, alphabetical within each group. Open a site for its 2015–2025 history, nearby alternatives, weather forecast and the national profile link.

Around Aljezur 8 sites · 87.5% Excellent

AMADO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
AMOREIRA-MAR Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
AMOREIRA-RIO Good
ARRIFANA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
BORDEIRA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
MONTE CLÉRIGO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
VALE DOS HOMENS Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
VALE FIGUEIRAS Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row

Around Sagres 11 sites · 100% Excellent

BARRANCO Excellent Excellent 8 seasons in a row
BELICHE Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
CASTELEJO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
CORDOAMA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
FURNAS Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
INGRINA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
MARETA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
MARTINHAL Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
SALEMA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
TONEL Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
ZAVIAL Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row

Around Lagos 9 sites · 66.7% Excellent

ALMÁDENA-CABANAS VELHAS Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
BATATA Good
BOCA DO RIO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
BURGAU Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
CAMILO Sufficient Good → Sufficient since 2024
D. ANA Good
LUZ Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
MEIA PRAIA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
PORTO DE MÓS Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row

Around Portimão 15 sites · 86.7% Excellent

ALVOR-NASCENTE Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
ALVOR-POENTE Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
BARRANCO DAS CANAS Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
BENAGIL Good
CANEIROS Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
CAREANOS Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
CARVOEIRO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
FERRAGUDO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
MARINA DE PORTIMÃO Excellent Excellent 7 seasons in a row
MARINHA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
PINTADINHO Good
ROCHA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
TRÊS CASTELOS Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
VALE CENTEANES Excellent Excellent 10 seasons in a row
VAU Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row

Around Albufeira 27 sites · 96.3% Excellent

ALEMÃES Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
ARMAÇÃO DE PÊRA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
ARRIFES Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
AVEIROS Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
BARCOS/ARMAÇÃO DE PÊRA NASCENTE Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
BELHARUCAS Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
CASTELO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
COELHA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
COVA REDONDA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
EVARISTO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
GALÉ-LESTE Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
GALÉ-OESTE Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
INATEL-ALBUFEIRA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
MANUEL LOURENÇO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
MARIA LUÍSA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
OLHOS DE ÁGUA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
OURA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
OURA-LESTE Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
PENECO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
PESCADORES Good Excellent → Good since 2024
PRAIA GRANDE-NASCENTE Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
PRAIA GRANDE-POENTE Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
SALGADOS Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
SANTA EULÁLIA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
SÃO RAFAEL Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
SENHORA DA ROCHA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
VALE DO OLIVAL Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row

Around Vilamoura / Quarteira 15 sites · 100% Excellent

ALMARGEM Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
ANCÃO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
FALÉSIA AÇOTEIAS Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
FALÉSIA ALFAMAR Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
FORTE NOVO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
GARRÃO-NASCENTE Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
GARRÃO-POENTE Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
LOULÉ VELHO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
QUARTEIRA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
QUINTA DO LAGO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
ROCHA BAIXINHA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
ROCHA BAIXINHA-NASCENTE Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
ROCHA BAIXINHA-POENTE Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
VALE DO LOBO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
VILAMOURA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row

Around Faro 7 sites · 100% Excellent

ARMONA-MAR Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
ARMONA-RIA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
BARRETA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
CAVACOS Excellent Excellent 8 seasons in a row
CULATRA-MAR Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
FARO-MAR Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
ILHA DO FAROL-MAR Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row

Around Tavira 7 sites · 100% Excellent

BARRIL Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
CABANAS-MAR Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
FÁBRICA-MAR Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
FUSETA-MAR Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
FUSETA-RIA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
ILHA DE TAVIRA-MAR Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
TERRA ESTREITA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row

Around Monte Gordo 7 sites · 100% Excellent

ALAGOA-ALTURA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
CABEÇO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
LOTA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
MANTA ROTA Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
MONTE GORDO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
PRAIA VERDE Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row
SANTO ANTÓNIO Excellent Excellent 11 seasons in a row

Compared with other destinations

#	Destination	Country	Sites	Excellent	Poor
1	Corfu	Greece	66	100%	0
2	Lake Garda	Italy	128	99.2%	0
3	Crete	Greece	177	98.9%	0
4	Halkidiki	Greece	90	98.9%	0
5	Sardinia	Italy	664	96.8%	1
6	Istria (Croatia)	Croatia	217	95.9%	0
7	Costa Brava	Spain	86	94.2%	1
8	Algarve coast	Portugal	106	93.4%	0
9	Lake Balaton	Hungary	148	85.1%	0
10	Menorca	Spain	30	80%	0
11	Corsica	France	223	75.8%	20
12	Rhodes	Greece	52	75%	0
13	Mallorca	Spain	113	68.1%	3
14	Ibiza & Formentera	Spain	48	66.7%	0
15	French Riviera (Alpes-Maritimes)	France	151	63.6%	3

Destinations differ in size, water type and how densely sites are designated, so the table gives context rather than a quality verdict.

Quick answers

How many bathing waters on the Algarve coast were rated Excellent in 2025?: 99 of 106 (93.4%) in the official EEA 2025 classification; 6 were Good, 1 Sufficient and 0 Poor.
Which sites on the Algarve coast have the best long-term record?: 95 were Excellent in every season from 2015 to 2025, for example ALAGOA-ALTURA, ALEMÃES, ALMÁDENA-CABANAS VELHAS. See the full ranking.
Were any bathing waters on the Algarve coast rated Poor?: No. None was classified Poor in 2025.
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 beach, not in the annual EEA class. Each site page here also shows a weather forecast with heavy-rain context.

Portugal overview · All coastal bathing waters in Portugal · All destinations · How the classes are calculated

Source

European Environment Agency (EEA), bathing-water data and coordinates reported by Portugal, licensed CC BY 4.0. Areas, counts and rankings are calculated by BathingWaterFinder from those official records.