Gear up and enjoy the sun in all of Porto’s Blue Flag beaches

Toes in the water, sitting on the sand and enjoying all the benefits that going to the beach brings. The bathing season is open in Porto and all its beaches are flying the Blue Flag quality seal.

Yesterday, 15 June, the deputy Mayor of Porto City Hall, Filipe Araújo, and the chairman of the Águas do Porto Board of Directors, Frederico Fernandes, attended the official ceremony to mark the raising of the blue flags at the Praia do Molhe, a recognition by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).

The world-renowned eco-label Blue Flag, trusted by millions around the globe, certified four bathing sites in the city of Porto, as in the previous year; so the beaches of Foz, Gondarém, Homem do Leme and Castelo do Queijo hoist the ‘quality seal’. The first three have been granted the ‘seal of approval’ for the 14th consecutive year.

In order to qualify to this award by the European Blue Flag Programme (ABAE)/Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), there are criteria that must be met, such as the quality of the bathing waters, the beach sand, as well as the equipment and the support services. The beaches of Luz, Ingleses, Ourigo, Carneiro and Pastoras; Gondarém and Molhe; Homem do Leme and Castelo do Queijo were, once again, granted the Blue Flag, as all requirements have been met. The Blue Flag represents a commitment to both people and the environment.

In order to be awarded the “Golden Status Beach” the quality of the bathing water has to be ranked "excellent" in all previous four bathing seasons. In Porto, there is a “Golden Flag” flying at the beaches of Gondarém and at Homem do Leme.

In 2020, Porto was elected for the fourth time “the Bluest Municipality” by the European Blue Flag Programme (ABAE) and by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA).