What to Wear Swimming in the Sea at Different Water Temperatures
Choosing what to wear for sea swimming is not simply a question of whether the water feels “cold”. The right clothing depends on water…
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From Mediterranean beaches to mountain lakes, start with the kind of water you're looking for.
Explore by country
- Italy 5,506 sites · 91% excellent
- France 3,311 sites · 76% excellent
- Spain 2,283 sites · 88% excellent
- Germany 2,262 sites · 92% excellent
- Greece 1,696 sites · 99% excellent
- Denmark 1,041 sites · 94% excellent
- Croatia 933 sites · 97% excellent
- Netherlands 744 sites · 73% excellent
- Portugal 655 sites · 85% excellent
- Poland 618 sites · 73% excellent
- Sweden 451 sites · 78% excellent
- Finland 301 sites · 87% excellent
- Hungary 263 sites · 74% excellent
- Austria 260 sites · 96% excellent
- Switzerland 186 sites · 84% excellent
- Ireland 149 sites · 82% excellent
- Czechia 147 sites · 83% excellent
- Belgium 130 sites · 71% excellent
- Cyprus 122 sites · 100% excellent
- Lithuania 121 sites · 88% excellent
- Albania 119 sites · 16% excellent
- Bulgaria 96 sites · 98% excellent
- Malta 87 sites · 92% excellent
- Estonia 63 sites · 65% excellent
- Latvia 56 sites · 80% excellent
- Romania 50 sites · 84% excellent
- Slovenia 47 sites · 77% excellent
- Slovakia 30 sites · 90% excellent
- Luxembourg 17 sites · 82% excellent
Europe Watch uses official European bathing-water classifications. A classification is not a live safety warning, so always check local signs and the national bathing-water service for short-term pollution alerts, especially after heavy rainfall.
REAL SWIMMING EXPERIENCES
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Swim stories from Europe
Real trips, favourite swimming spots and experiences from people exploring Europe's beaches, lakes and rivers.
Swimming in the sea is a different sport
A pool is a controlled laboratory: fixed temperature, still water, a wall every 25 metres and a black line to follow. The sea removes…
Read the experienceWhere swimmers are looking
Explore the standout records in Europe’s bathing-water data.
Cleanest on the longest record
- 1 1 KM a Nord Fiume Alaca Italy 35 excellent seasons
- 2 1 KM Nord Torrente Lavandaia Italy 35 excellent seasons
- 3 1 KM Nord Torrente Voda Italy 35 excellent seasons
- 4 1 KM Sud Angitola Italy 35 excellent seasons
- 5 1 KM Sud Fiume Gallipari Italy 35 excellent seasons
- 6 100 MT DX Rio Capo Dacqua Italy 35 excellent seasons
- 7 100 MT SX Idrovora Lavorazione Italy 35 excellent seasons
- 8 1000 MT Ntorre Uluzzo Italy 35 excellent seasons
- 9 1000 MT Storre Tiggiano Italy 35 excellent seasons
- 10 1000 MT Storre Uluzzo Italy 35 excellent seasons
Rated excellent in the most bathing seasons since 1990, and still excellent today. European Environment Agency records since 1990.
Longest-running failures
- 1 Nord Foce Sarno Italy 26 failed seasons
- 2 Ex Cartiera Italy 23 failed seasons
- 3 Nord Foce Musone Italy 22 failed seasons
- 4 Gallico Limoneto Italy 21 failed seasons
- 5 Stabilimento Balneare Italy 21 failed seasons
- 6 Sud Fiume Garigliano Italy 21 failed seasons
- 7 Villa Comunale Italy 21 failed seasons
- 8 100 MT a Nord Foce F Feltrino Italy 20 failed seasons
- 9 500 M N Tott Annunziata Italy 20 failed seasons
- 10 Circolo Nautico Italy 20 failed seasons
Currently rated poor, ranked by how many seasons they have failed. European Environment Agency records since 1990.