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Istanbul has designated 95 locations as official swimming areas for the summer season, with water quality checks and safety inspections set to run throughout the period from June 15 to Sept. 15, according to Istanbul Provincial Health Director Abdullah Emre Guner.
Guner said the work began on June 1 and would continue across the city’s approved swimming points, where authorities will check not only water quality but also safety systems, lifeguard needs, toilet facilities and social services.
The swimming areas were approved by the Provincial Swimming Water Commission, which operates under the coordination of the Istanbul Governor’s Office and the secretariat of the Provincial Health Directorate.
Guner said inspections will be carried out every 15 days, adding that the schedule can be tightened when needed. Water samples will be analyzed for microbiological and chemical quality at public health laboratories.
“Citizens will be able to follow the quality of swimming water and the status of swimming areas instantly at Swimming Water Tracking System,” Guner said, adding that the system shows whether a swimming area is open, restricted or banned.
He said the aim is to allow residents to cool off and swim without facing health or safety risks.
Guner underlined that people should only swim in approved locations, especially because some parts of the city may carry risks linked to currents, safety conditions or poor water quality.
“We ask our citizens not to enter the sea outside the areas permitted for swimming, especially in places banned by our governor,” he said.
He added that if test results show poor water quality, swimming is banned immediately, regardless of whether the season has officially started or ended.
Istanbul currently has three Blue Flag beaches, Guner said. Two are located in Arnavutkoy, while one is in Silivri.
The Blue Flag is an international environmental and safety label given to beaches that meet standards on water quality, environmental management, safety and services.
Guner also noted that Istanbul is home to three of Türkiye’s largest public health laboratories, all of which have international accreditation. These laboratories classify swimming water results as good, moderate or poor before publishing them for public access.
The approved swimming areas cover several parts of Istanbul, including the Princes’ Islands, Arnavutkoy, Bakirkoy, Beykoz, Beylikduzu, Buyukcekmece, Catalca, Eyupsultan, Kadikoy, Kucukcekmece, Sariyer, Silivri and Sile.
Among the listed areas are beaches and coastal points on Buyukada, Heybeliada, Burgazada, Kinaliada and Sedef Island, as well as popular swimming locations such as Florya Gunes Beach, Riva Beach, Caddebostan Beach, Kilyos Beach, Agva Public Beach and several beaches along the Sile coast.
Authorities advised residents to check the official swimming water platform before entering the sea, as the status of each area may change depending on inspection results.
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