Turkey is a country that has popularity with its amazing Aegean and Mediterranean sea. With its pure nature, friendly people, and delicious food, Turkey is one of the best places to visit in summer. The beaches in Turkey have excellent opportunities to have fun, but most importantly, they have a blue flag!!
The blue flag is the only criteria for a perfect vacation for some of us who know what it is. If you are the type of person that enjoys the coolness of the sea and lying down on the beach while being sure of the quality of the beach you spend your vacation on, you should look at the blue flag more closely. It is also an important issue to consider in sustainability because blue flag beaches support a sustainable and balanced environment.
What is the blue flag?
The blue flag is representative of safe and clear beaches. There are certain criteria that beaches must meet to get the flag in yearly time manners. These criteria include swimming water quality, environmental management, environmental education, and life safety.
It is an environmental award given by a non-profit, non-governmental organization called the Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE), which operates in 44 countries. It is given to beaches, marinas, and yachts that meet specific criteria, so in this way, these places prove that they support sustainable nature. To receive the blue flag, beaches must meet 33 standards, and marinas must meet 25 criteria.
How many blue flag beaches are there in Turkey?
Turkey is a very rich country in the manner of blue flag beaches. There is a total of 519 blue flag beaches! It is a high number, so Turkey is in 3rd place on the world’s blue flag list. If you are considering going on a vacation to Turkey, here are the top 3 cities with the most blue flag beaches in Turkey.
1-Antalya (total of 213 blue flag beaches)
2-Muğla (total of 106 blue flag beaches)
3-İzmir (total of 66 blue flag beaches)
There is a little surprising fact about Turkey’s blue flag beaches. Suppose you are planning to have a different vacation rather than going to hotels and beaches, for example, experiencing the East side of Turkey and being witnessed to eastern culture, food, or historical places. In that case, you can also find a blue flag beach on the east side of the country. The city called “Van” has a large lake called “Van Golu” and they also have a perfect beach that you can enjoy and break the theme of your historical vacation 🙂
The Blue Flag Beaches in Turkey
- Kaputas Beach, Antalya
- Kelebekler Vadisi Beach (Butterfly Valley), Mugla
- Ilica Beach, İzmir
- Aska Just in Beach, Antalya
- Voyage Bodrum Beach, Muğla
- Karaincir Beach, Muğla