The Best Beaches in Malta

If you’ve picked Malta for your next summer vacation, you surely haven’t chosen it for its mountain trekking routes. This small archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Malta has everything from golden sandy shores to rocky waterfronts to secluded lagoons. No matter where you choose to lay your towel, you will thoroughly enjoy your time under the Maltese sun.

We have come up with a selection of the best beaches in Malta where you can get the perfect holiday tan. Here they are!

Golden Bay

Golden Bay is home to one of the best beaches in Malta. It is located on the Northwest coast of the island and boasts a generous stretch of golden, creamy sand. The area is renowned for giving one of the most beautiful sunset views on the island, so you will find tourists spending their entire day here to catch the moment of twilight.

Mellieha Bay

Mellieha Bay Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Malta. You will find it on the cover of most travel guides to the island, although we believe that few descriptions make it justice.

Also known as Ghadira Bay, this beach is the largest strip of golden sand on Malta. It is located in the northern part of the island, and you can easily access it from the nearby town of Mellieha. The sea here is calm and perfect for swimming and paddle boarding. Windy days create the ideal conditions for entertaining watersports like kite surfing, and water-skiing.

Paradise Bay

If you enjoy kayaking or snorkeling, you need to visit the Paradise Bay beach on the northernmost tip of Malta. Its calm, neon-blue waters are perfect for exploring, even for children. The sheltering presence of the surrounding white hills gives the area a unique charm that fully bolsters the name of Paradise.

You will have to go down a long flight of stairs before you reach the white, sandy beach, but all your efforts will be worthwhile.

Ramla l-Hamra

Even if it’s the second largest island in the Maltese archipelago, Gozo still offers some of the best beaches in Malta. One of them is Ramla l-Hamra, which means Red Beach in the local language. You will easily distinguish it from the crimson sands surrounded by vividly green hills and the statue of the Virgin Mary that stands in the middle of the bay since 1881. If you rent a property in Gozo, you can spend some time in the beach as well as other beaches on this list.

St. Thomas Bay

If you are looking for a smaller, less touristy beach on the island of Malta, you need to grab your towel and head to St. Thomas Bay. The locals call it Ir-Ramla, and you will find it near the fishing village of Marsaskala in the South Eastern Region of the island.

Here, in the shadow of a steep, rocky hill you can spend a full day of quiet and relaxation on a narrow strip of fine, yellow sand overlooking the azure waves of the Mediterranean.

St. George’s Bay

If you are staying anywhere in the Sliema-St. Julian's area and you don't have enough time to travel to a natural beach in Malta, you can go to St. George's Bay. Located just in front of the nightlife center of Paceville is this small strip of sand that is immensely popular among tourists. While you cannot hope to have too much space or quiet, you can still get a perfect tan in walking distance from your hotel.

Ghajn Tuffieha

You will find this lovely beach in Malta if you escalate the left side hill of the Golden Bay beach. Also known as Riviera, Ghajn Tuffieha is a narrow strip of sand in the gorgeous Gnejna Bay where you will find fewer tourists and a peaceful atmosphere at the base of the surrounding rugged coastline.

Ghar Lapsi

 

When venturing in the southeast of Malta, you need to make a stop at Ghar Lapsi. This small, secluded beach is just outside Siggiewi and only 1km away from the Blue Grotto. It features blue, crystal-clear waters surrounded by imposing, tawny cliffs where you can snorkel, dive and swim a full day without ever getting bored.

Armier Bay

You will find one of the best beaches in Malta at Armier Bay on the north coast of the island. It is a small, quiet beach that you can easily reach it from Mellieha. Most tourists know it for the rock diving spots that you can find all along the bay and the azure waters that offer perfect underwater photography opportunities.

St. Peter’s Pool

Malta is renowned for having some of the best natural pools in the world. One of the most popular ones is St. Peter’s Pool, which is located in the southwest part of the island near the gorgeous village of Marsaxlokk. The hot summer days attract plenty of locals and tourists that partake in rock diving, swimming, and snorkeling.

 

 

 

 

 

The Blue Lagoon

If you enjoy swimming in turquoise seas, you must not miss a trip to the Blue Lagoon. It is located on the small island of Comino between Malta and Gozo, and you can easily reach it by ferry boat from any of the two largest islands.

The Blue Lagoon displays a heavenly image of neon-blue waters surrounded by small rugged islands and spectacular reefs that are densely populated by exotic fish. While it is usually packed with tourists, this area still remains one of the best beaches in Malta and the perfect location for snorkeling, water skiing, and banana boating.

Anchor Bay

This beach is popular for the nearby amusement park of Popeye Village, and it is the ideal spot for a relaxing full-day trip. It features blue-green waters and a rocky terrain that still leaves space for you to lay a towel. If you like exploring underwater caves, then this is the place to come on your next holiday in Malta.

Balluta Bay

Balluta Bay is a small portion of sand in Sliema. It is more of a city beach where you can lay for a few hours to get a nice tan. In spite of the crowded streets that reign above it, people still enjoy coming here for a short swim. The Parish Church overlooking the bay gives the entire area a certain charm and elegance that few other beaches in Malta can display.

Dahlet Qorrot Bay

One of the less-traveled beaches in Malta is near the small village of Nadur on Gozo Island. The beach at Dahlet Qorrot Bay is small and isolated, which makes the perfect setting for a relaxing day away from the touristic frenzy of the city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dwejra Bay

The Azure Window in Gozo may not dominate the western coast of Gozo Island anymore, but the nearby beach of Dwejra Bay still attracts many visitors. The crystal-clear, shallow waters surrounded by swarthy, rocky hills are ideal for snorkeling and swimming even for children and inexperienced swimmers.

Gnejna Bay

This small beach is the last and farthest sandy shore of the Ghajn Tuffieha beaches that also include Golden Bay Beach. Here, you will find a narrow bank of golden sand at the base of a steep, grey hill which you will need to descend on the nearby flight of rock-carved steps. The area is perfect if you want to sunbathe away from the more touristy beaches in the area.

Hondoq ir-Rummien

In the Hondoq Bay of southeast Gozo and overlooking the tiny island of Comino you will find Hondoq ir-Rummien Beach. This place is mostly visited by locals, so you will have a great opportunity of meeting and befriending some of the people living in the area. The small patch of sand is perfect for tanning, while the nearby promontory keeps the shoreline calm and safe from big sea waves.

Mistra Bay

If you are staying in the St. Paul’s Bay area, you can enjoy a great day at the beach in the nearby Mistra Bay. This area served has a rich history and it has served as a living settlement ever since the times of the Phoenicians. The banks of golden sands are ideal for tanning and playing games with family and friends.

Fomm Ir-rih

Just outside the small village of Mgarr, you will find the beautiful, secluded beach of Fomm Ir-rih. The blue waters gather here at the sheltering shadows of the imposing rock-white hills. Besides being one of the best places for holiday selfies in Malta, this pebbly beach is a great location for divers and snorkelers.

Ta’ Fra Ben

This small, rocky beach is located at the northern tip of Qawra and underneath the famous watchtower overlooking the Mediterranean. While there is no sand in the area, it is still a great location for sunbathing if you are staying in the nearby areas of Bugibba and St. Paul’s Bay. From its shore, you can see the tiny St. Paul's Island where the local legends say that St. Paul shipwrecked almost 2,000 years ago.

 

 

Imgiebah Bay

Last, but not least, if you are an adventurous spirit that enjoys sunbathing on secluded beaches, you need to head to the Imgiebah Bay. The beach here is difficult to access due to the rocky terrain around it, so there will be very few tourists with whom to share the sand strip. You can find it on the northern coast of the island, close to Mellieha and beyond the imposing Selmun Palace.

In Malta, you will find plenty of long let properties for you to stay in.