Purpose　of　this　study　is　the　geophysical　validation　and　performance　assessment　of　standard　and　newly　re-tracked　altimeter　data　in　proximity　of　selected　coastlines.　Here　we　analyse　the　Mediterranean　Sea　coastal　regions　using　Topex/Poseidon　(T/P)　and　Envisat　altimeter　data.　Applying　analogous　selection　criteria　to　both　type　of　data.　we　conclude　that　Envisat　performs　better　in　the　coastal　regions　than　Topex/Poseidon.　At　sea-land　transitions　the　performance　is　better　than　at　land-sea　transitions.　The　correlation　between　satellite　and　in-situ　sea　level　anomalies　is　higher　for　Envisat　than　for　T/P.　Envisat　data　are　retracked　with　a　set　of　retracking　algorithms,　an　improvement　is　obtained　by　using　the　Beta-5　and　the　improved　retracker　methods.　©　2008　IEEE.