Beach flags are a quick snapshot of what’s happening in the water, from waves and currents to weather, water quality and marine life. The reason for a yellow or red flag can vary, and conditions can change throughout the day.
Daily Beach Safety Flags
🟢 Green: swimming permitted
🟡 Yellow: medium hazard, swimming permitted with caution.
🔴 Red: swimming prohibited, do not enter the water
🟠 Orange: no lifeguard on duty. You may see it displayed alongside another flag (green, yellow or red)
⚪️ White with a 🪼 icon: jellyfish spotted nearby, normally flown alongside a colour flag so you know the general swimming conditions too.
Other Flags You Need To Know:
🟦 Blue Flag: not a daily safety signal, an annual award for water quality, environmental management and beach facilities
⬛⬜ Black and white checkered: water sports zone, reserved for windsurf, kayaks, SUPs etc, not for swimming
🟥⬜ Red with a white cross: first aid point ⛑️
🟥🟩 Split red and green: used to flag an exceptional or unusual hazard. If you see it, treat it like red and check with the lifeguard before going in the water
Accessibility Flags:
Have you spotted solid black shapes on some beach safety flags? These are ColorADD symbols, an accessibility system that helps colourblind visitors identify the flags without relying on colour alone.
🟨 = ⟋ Yellow: a diagonal bar
🟥 = ◤ Red: a triangle pointing left
🟩 = ⟋◢ Green: a diagonal bar + a triangle pointing right
For everything you need to know about jellyfish here, see our jellyfish in Mallorca guide. And for the best beaches to base your family day around, our best family beaches in Mallorca guide has you covered.
Sources: GOIB 112 beach safety guidance · ColorADD® beach guidance.
