Seven Lithuanian beaches awarded Blue Flag certification

Seven beaches in Lithuania have received the prestigious Blue Flag certification for cleanliness and safety, the Lithuanian Municipalities Association (LSA) announced on Saturday.

The international Blue Flag jury, part of the Copenhagen-based Foundation for Environmental Education, granted the two-year certification to Neringa Municipality’s Nida and Juodkrantė central beaches as well as Preila beach, Palanga City Municipality’s Birutė Park beach, and Vilnius City Municipality’s Balsys Lake, Žirmūnai, and Valakupiai I beaches.

To qualify, beaches must meet strict international standards for water quality, environmental education, safety, and accessibility. The Blue Flag programme’s national coordinators—representing the Lithuanian Green Movement, LSA, the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, the State Service for Protected Areas, the Hygiene Institute, the Lithuanian Lifeguard Association, and the Lithuanian Foresters’ Union—conduct annual evaluations and submit recommendations to the international jury.

Certified beaches will undergo regular inspections during the 2026 and 2027 seasons. National or international experts may revoke the flag temporarily or for the entire season if standards are not maintained, the LSA noted.

The Blue Flag programme, active in 50 countries, certifies over 4,000 beaches worldwide. Lithuania has participated since 2001.