How the European Pools Rating works
An independent, automatically generated 1–5 star rating for every pool and swim location. It is not a copy of a Google score — Google is just one of many signals, and every rating shows why it was given.
The five pillars
Each rating is a weighted average of five pillars: Safety & supervision (30%), Hygiene & sanitation (25%), Facilities & experience (20%), Child-friendliness (15%) and Accessibility & value (10%). Safety and hygiene carry the most weight.
How we score
For built-in pools we read facilities, the venue’s own website, the Google rating and — crucially — the text of Google reviews, for concrete signals on supervision, cleanliness, child-friendliness and value. Below a minimum of reliable evidence a pool stays “not yet rated”; thin evidence caps the score, and five stars needs strong evidence plus positive safety and hygiene.
Open water — safety first
Open-water locations are judged on official bathing-water quality and water-safety rules from national authorities, not on amenities. Flowing rivers and tidal water are capped low; unguarded coast is capped for rip-current risk; designated lakes score higher. A current official warning or swimming ban overrides the stars with a clear warning. Never swim alone; swim at supervised, designated locations.
Sources
Built-in pools: facilities data, the venue website and Google reviews. Open water: the EU Bathing Water classification, national bathing-water portals, and national lifeguard / drowning-prevention bodies. Each rating lists its own sources and a reliability label.
FAQ
Is this the same as the Google rating?
No. Google’s number is one input among several. We score five separate pillars and explain each rating, so a pool can score differently from its Google average.
Why is a pool “not yet rated”?
Because there isn’t enough reliable information yet to score it credibly. We would rather show no stars than an unreliable score.