Ask a local for the best beaches in Malta and you will get a debate rather than an answer. Sandy or rocky? Facilities or silence? Malta or Gozo? The honest answer is that the islands have a beach for every mood, and the trick is matching the beach to the day. Wind direction matters more than anything here, so check it in the morning and pick a sheltered coast.
Here are twelve beaches we rate, split into sandy, rocky and the ones you have to work a bit for.
Sandy beaches
1. Ramla Bay, Gozo. Red-orange sand, a wide bay and green hills behind it. Ramla is the best sandy beach on the islands and it is not close. Calypso’s Cave looks down from the cliff on the west side. Arrive before eleven in summer to find parking and a patch of sand.
2. Mellieħa Bay (Għadira), Malta. The longest sandy beach in Malta, shallow for a long way out and lined with sunbed operators and kiosks. It is the safest choice for families with small children. It also gets busy, and the road behind it is noisy.
3. Golden Bay, Malta. A broad sandy bay on the north-west coast with a hotel at one end and sunsets that justify the name. Facilities are good and the water is clean. Watch for the red flag on windy days, as the currents are real.
4. Għajn Tuffieħa, Malta. Golden Bay’s wilder neighbour, reached by a long flight of steps. Fewer facilities, fewer people and a better view. Bring water and shade.
5. San Blas Bay, Gozo. A small red-sand cove reached by a very steep road. You walk down and, in summer, pay a local with a jeep to bring you back up. The reward is a beach that feels private.
6. Paradise Bay, Malta. A small sandy cove near the Ċirkewwa ferry terminal, sheltered from most winds and with a kiosk. Handy if you have a couple of hours before a Gozo ferry.
Rocky beaches and swimming spots
7. St Peter’s Pool, Malta. A natural pool cut into flat limestone near Marsaxlokk. Crystal-clear water, ledges for jumping and no sand at all. There are no facilities, so bring everything, and skip it when the sea is rough.
8. Għar Lapsi, Malta. A sheltered inlet on the south coast with steps into deep, clear water. Popular with local families and divers. Two restaurants sit above the water.
9. Xlendi Bay, Gozo. A narrow fjord-like bay with a tiny beach and a wide rocky platform along the cliff, where most people actually swim. Restaurants line the waterfront, and the sunset walk to the tower is short and worth it.
10. Ħondoq ir-Rummien, Gozo. A small pebble-and-sand bay facing Comino, with some of the clearest water on the islands. Boats leave from here to the Blue Lagoon. Arrive early, parking is tight.
The ones worth the effort
11. Blue Lagoon, Comino. The most famous water in Malta, and rightly so. There is very little beach, so most people swim off the rocks or from boats. Our Blue Lagoon guide explains how to visit without the worst of the crowds.
12. Wied il-Għasri, Gozo. A slit in the cliffs on the north coast that opens into a tiny pebble beach at the end of a gorge. Steps lead down from the cliff top. When the sea is calm it is one of the most beautiful swims on the islands.
Tips from people who swim here every week
- Check the wind. A north-westerly ruins Golden Bay and makes Ramla dangerous, but leaves the south and east coasts flat. Pick the sheltered side.
- Go early or late. From July to September the sandy beaches fill by late morning. Early swims and evening swims are the local way.
- Jellyfish. They come and go with currents. Ask lifeguards or check the local jellyfish reports before you swim.
- Shade. Many rocky spots have none. Bring an umbrella and more water than you think you need.
- Gozo is quieter. If beaches are your priority, base yourself on Gozo. Our things to do in Gozo guide will help you plan the rest.
