Red flag
Swimming is prohibited. Do not enter the water, even if the sea appears manageable from the shore.
Do not swim
Practical Monaco · Beach safety
Beach Safety Flags in Monaco
A clear guide to the red, yellow-orange and green signals used at supervised bathing areas in the Principality, plus the checks to make before entering the Mediterranean.
The official signal system
Three flags, three different instructions
Monaco’s maritime rules specify triangular flags without symbols or wording. Always interpret the colour shown on the mast at the bathing area you are using.
Yellow-orange flag
Bathing is dangerous. Reconsider entering the water and follow every instruction given by safety staff.
Dangerous conditions
Green flag
No particular danger is indicated. Normal caution still applies, especially for children and less confident swimmers.
No particular danger
No flag is not a green flag
The official rule is explicit: when no flag is displayed, supervision has ceased. Make a fresh judgement about whether to enter the water and do not assume lifeguards are watching the bathing area.
A safer beach routine
Check the whole bathing area, not only the weather
Sunshine and a calm-looking surface are not substitutes for the on-site signal. Local hazards, temporary restrictions and changing sea conditions may not be obvious from a forecast.
Look at the mast
Check the displayed colour when you arrive and again if the wind, waves or activity on the beach changes.
Read posted notices
Supervised locations display information explaining the signals and indicating rescue equipment and the first-aid post.
Stay inside the boundary
In authorised bathing zones, swimmers must remain within the areas delimited by yellow buoys.
Where the rules apply
Supervision is specific to a place and a time
Monaco’s maritime ordinance identifies public beach and bathing areas that may be supervised during the summer season, including Larvotto, Portier and Pêcheurs. A signal at one location should not be treated as the status for the whole coastline.
Swimming is excluded from port waters, harbour entrances and marked access channels used by motorised watercraft. Respect buoys, barriers and temporary closure notices even when no hazard is visible.
For water testing and official live checks, use ViewMonaco’s guide to bathing water quality in Monaco. Water-quality results and safety flags answer different questions, so check both when relevant.
Plan with current information
Useful Monaco beach resources
Safety information is most useful when it is local and current. Use on-site instructions first, then consult these related resources for water quality and accessible planning.
Bathing water quality
Understand Monaco’s monitoring framework, official classifications and the live checks to make before swimming.
Accessible Monaco
Plan routes, transport and visits with accessibility in mind, including practical links for current local information.
One final check
Pair the beach flag with current water information
The flag tells you about immediate bathing safety at the supervised location. Official water-quality information adds a separate check before you swim.
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