Europe's 10 cleanest places to swim wild — with Austria No 1


Hayley Skirka
  • English
  • Arabic

If you’re planning a summer getaway where you can be at one with nature and satisfy your wild swimming fix, then Austria needs to be on your radar.

That’s because the mountainous landlocked country has the cleanest bathing water among European Union countries, according to a new study by the European Environment Agency.

Analysing the water from 21,859 bathing sites last year, the agency found Austria has the best natural swimming sites, with 97.7 per cent of its bodies of waters ranked as excellent quality.

In Malta, 84 of the 87 bathing sites are deemed excellent quality in a new study by the European Environment Agency. Photo: Ferenc Horvath / Unsplash
In Malta, 84 of the 87 bathing sites are deemed excellent quality in a new study by the European Environment Agency. Photo: Ferenc Horvath / Unsplash

Closely behind Austria is Malta, with the island destination recording excellent readings at more than 96 per cent of its bathing spots.

In five other countries — Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark and Germany — more than 90 per cent of natural bathing spots offer excellent quality water.

Having left the European Union, the UK's waters were not assessed by researchers.

The top 10 cleanest places in Europe for wild swimming

Which countries in Europe have the best natural bathing spots? Photo: Unsplash
Which countries in Europe have the best natural bathing spots? Photo: Unsplash
  1. Austria
  2. Malta
  3. Greece
  4. Croatia
  5. Cyprus
  6. Denmark
  7. Germany
  8. Bulgaria
  9. Lithuania
  10. Portugal

Mediterranean holiday hotspots Italy and Spain ranked 12 and 13 in the study while France, the world’s most-visited country, was listed at number 22.

Poland was the lowest-ranked country in the study. Only 44 per cent, or 299, of the Baltic nation's wild swimming spots were deemed excellent quality, and 16 were deemed poor quality.

In total, 332 bathing water sites had low quality water in 2021. Six countries recorded three per cent or more of poor quality swimming spots including Estonia, France, the Netherlands, Latvia, Slovakia and Sweden.

45 European swimming spots closed for poor quality water

Italy closed 31 bathing sites in 2021 for poor quality water. Photo: Cristina Gottardi / Unsplash
Italy closed 31 bathing sites in 2021 for poor quality water. Photo: Cristina Gottardi / Unsplash

European Union countries must close any spots deemed unsatisfactory for the coming bathing season and, if these places continue to rank poorly for five years in a row, must permanently restrict access to bathers.

In 2021, Italy closed 31 sites, France stopped people swimming at eight bodies of water, the Netherlands shut two locations and the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland and Sweden all closed one site.

If you’re wondering whether swimming by the sea or opting for a dip in a lake is better, go for the coastal site.

The study found that these are generally better quality than inland water with 88 per cent of coastal areas classified as excellent, compared to just over 78 per cent of inland sites.

This is typically down to higher self-purification capacities in coastal areas, compared to small lakes and ponds which are susceptible to short-term pollution from things like heavy summer rains or droughts.

5 of the most-popular Airbnb locations in Dubai

Bobby Grudziecki, chief operating officer of Frank Porter, identifies the five most popular areas in Dubai for those looking to make the most out of their properties and the rates owners can secure:

• Dubai Marina

The Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence are popular locations, says Mr Grudziecki, due to their closeness to the beach, restaurants and hotels.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh482 to Dh739 
Two bedroom: Dh627 to Dh960 
Three bedroom: Dh721 to Dh1,104

• Downtown

Within walking distance of the Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the famous fountains, this location combines business and leisure.  “Sure it’s for tourists,” says Mr Grudziecki. “Though Downtown [still caters to business people] because it’s close to Dubai International Financial Centre."

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh497 to Dh772
Two bedroom: Dh646 to Dh1,003
Three bedroom: Dh743 to Dh1,154

• City Walk

The rising star of the Dubai property market, this area is lined with pristine sidewalks, boutiques and cafes and close to the new entertainment venue Coca Cola Arena.  “Downtown and Marina are pretty much the same prices,” Mr Grudziecki says, “but City Walk is higher.”

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh524 to Dh809 
Two bedroom: Dh682 to Dh1,052 
Three bedroom: Dh784 to Dh1,210 

• Jumeirah Lake Towers

Dubai Marina’s little brother JLT resides on the other side of Sheikh Zayed road but is still close enough to beachside outlets and attractions. The big selling point for Airbnb renters, however, is that “it’s cheaper than Dubai Marina”, Mr Grudziecki says.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh422 to Dh629 
Two bedroom: Dh549 to Dh818 
Three bedroom: Dh631 to Dh941

• Palm Jumeirah

Palm Jumeirah's proximity to luxury resorts is attractive, especially for big families, says Mr Grudziecki, as Airbnb renters can secure competitive rates on one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.

Frank Porter’s average Airbnb rent:
One bedroom: Dh503 to Dh770 
Two bedroom: Dh654 to Dh1,002 
Three bedroom: Dh752 to Dh1,152 

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
THE BIO

Ms Al Ameri likes the variety of her job, and the daily environmental challenges she is presented with.

Regular contact with wildlife is the most appealing part of her role at the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.

She loves to explore new destinations and lives by her motto of being a voice in the world, and not an echo.

She is the youngest of three children, and has a brother and sister.

Her favourite book, Moby Dick by Herman Melville helped inspire her towards a career exploring  the natural world.

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Which honey takes your fancy?

Al Ghaf Honey

The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year

Sidr Honey

The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest

Samar Honey

The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments

Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

Other acts on the Jazz Garden bill

Sharrie Williams
The American singer is hugely respected in blues circles due to her passionate vocals and songwriting. Born and raised in Michigan, Williams began recording and touring as a teenage gospel singer. Her career took off with the blues band The Wiseguys. Such was the acclaim of their live shows that they toured throughout Europe and in Africa. As a solo artist, Williams has also collaborated with the likes of the late Dizzy Gillespie, Van Morrison and Mavis Staples.
Lin Rountree
An accomplished smooth jazz artist who blends his chilled approach with R‘n’B. Trained at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, Rountree formed his own band in 2004. He has also recorded with the likes of Kem, Dwele and Conya Doss. He comes to Dubai on the back of his new single Pass The Groove, from his forthcoming 2018 album Stronger Still, which may follow his five previous solo albums in cracking the top 10 of the US jazz charts.
Anita Williams
Dubai-based singer Anita Williams will open the night with a set of covers and swing, jazz and blues standards that made her an in-demand singer across the emirate. The Irish singer has been performing in Dubai since 2008 at venues such as MusicHall and Voda Bar. Her Jazz Garden appearance is career highlight as she will use the event to perform the original song Big Blue Eyes, the single from her debut solo album, due for release soon.

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Simran

Director Hansal Mehta

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey

Three stars

Updated: June 11, 2022, 6:20 AM