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It’s no secret that Gozo offers some of the best beaches to visit. Unlike main island Malta, where beaches can get crowded pretty quickly in summer, beaches in Gozo rarely get too busy at this time of the year.
If you’re considering staying on the island of Gozo or planning a day trip to Malta’s sister island, here are a few personal suggestions for the best beaches around.
Quiet, few man-built structures and clean.
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Ramla l-Ħamra (aka Ramla Bay Beach) is the most popular and largest sandy beach in Gozo and for good reason. With almost red-coloured soft sand and surrounded by mostly undeveloped countryside, it’s an obvious favourite for both locals and tourists alike. It’s clean, there’s plenty of space for sunbathers (especially if you arrive early) and its shallow waters and easy access make for a very family-friendly beach.
To enjoy a panoramic view of what is one of the most beautiful Gozo beaches, I suggest you climb to one of the caves that can be found on both sides of Ramla Bay. Tal-Mixta Cave is a natural wonder located on the eastern side of the beach and can be reached by walking a steep rocky path. It is worth the effort, though, as the view from the cave is one of the most beautiful panoramas you can experience in Gozo. Alternatively, you can climb to the western side, near Calypso’s Cave. The latter is now closed for safety reasons, but you can still enjoy a panoramic view of Ramla Bay from there.
If you plan to visit Gozo, Ramla Beach should be at the top of your list.
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The small bay of Daħlet Qorrot is located in the northeast part of Gozo, near the villages of Nadur and Qala.
It’s a quaint, quiet place that rarely gets crowded, and its pebbly beach is a nice place for a quick morning swim with beautiful natural surroundings.
Having a shallow entry, Daħlet Qorrot beach is also a safe place to swim with kids, while the quayside offers an entry point to deeper waters, which are also easily accessible.
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Dwejra Bay is located near the little village of San Lawrenz, on the west coast of the small island of Gozo and is one of Malta’s most spectacular natural landmarks. On the rocky coastline, once the famous site of the breathtaking Azure Window (before its collapse in 2017), you can find interesting features like Fungus rock and the Blue Hole, which is a popular diving site as well.
The “Inland Sea” is a shallow inland lagoon with a small pebbled beach and is a peaceful little oasis visited by swimmers and snorkelers alike. The bay is directly linked to the sea via an 80-metre-long cave. This hidden gem is a good spot for snorkelling, and there are excellent diving sites among the underwater caves and around the site where the Azure Window collapsed into the sea. This is definitely one of my favourite Gozo beaches.
While being located in San Lawrenz, it is easily accessible given that Gozo Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing tours stop there, as well as public transport.
Last but not least, the Inland Sea is the departure point for short boat tours to Dwejra Bay. For a cost of €5 per person, the boat takes you through the tunnel leading to the open sea, then to caves, rock formations and dramatic cliffs, a bit like the Blue Grotto boat trips in Malta.
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Ħondoq ir-Rummien (Maltese for Pomegranate Moat) is located on the Southern coast of Gozo, near the village of Qala and is one of the well-known Gozo beaches among the local population. For good reason – it’s a beautiful little bay. Quiet, secluded and surrounded by nature, as with most beaches in Gozo island.
The bright azure-coloured water is super inviting to dive into. There’s a small sandy beach, although not much space for sunbathing. You can also enter the water via a ladder on the rocky part of the Ħondoq Bay, which is nevertheless great for swimming, snorkelling and beginner-level divers, with several small caves to explore at the water level.
Ħondoq Bay has a great view of Comino, and a local kiosk offers the convenience of getting refreshments. There are also watersports available, as well as the opportunity to take boat trips to Comino Island and the Blue Lagoon.
During summer nights, this is a popular location among Gozitans to fire up a barbeque and enjoy the fresh sea breeze after a hot summer’s day. Public transport won’t get you down to this beach, so unless you’re renting a car in Gozo, it might not be the easiest location to reach.
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Probably one of the best examples of Gozo’s natural beauty is Wied il-Għasri: A small, mostly pebbly beach in the North of Gozo that lies at the lower end of a valley.
Now, really and truly, it’s a small beach full of pebbles rather than sand, but it is one awesome place to go for a swim. And again, if you’re into snorkelling – grab that mask and snorkel and explore the underwater life here!
It’s not the most accessible of Gozo beaches. To get there, you’ll need to take a side road off Triq Is-Sagħtrija in the outskirts of the village of Żebbuġ. That side road is unpaved, and there’s a small parking area to park if you’re heading there by car. Then follow the signs to the small road and rocky steps that lead you down to the beach.
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San Blas Bay is a beautiful but rugged little beach on the North coast of Gozo. Although it’s not very difficult to reach, it’s not an easy beach to head home from because it’s at the bottom of a large hillside. So it’s not necessarily getting there that requires you to be in good shape physically; it’s the steep uphill walk that forms the biggest challenge, especially in the heat of summer months.
If you’re not afraid of breaking a sweat, definitely pluck up some courage and make your way down; it’s well worth it. Here is what to expect at San Blas Bay: clean, clear waters, secluded and only blemished by the small structure of a kiosk selling some drinks and snacks. Public transport (buses 303 – quickest – or 302) will take you to the top of the hill at San Blas, at the limits of the nearby village of Nadur. You’ll need a 15-minute walk down to the beach, following a steep, winding road.
One important tip before heading here: Make sure to check the weather conditions before making your way down. San Blas Bay is open and easily affected by wind, so if it’s even just a little windy, you’ll probably be disappointed having made your way down (and having to get back up to the road again). Been there, done that!
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This is another of the Gozo beaches that fits in the “more rugged” category. Tucked away underneath Fort Chambray (around the corner from Mġarr Harbour), this untouched small red-sandy beach takes a bit of effort to get to, but it’s a great place to enjoy the natural beauty of the sea in Gozo.
There’s only a small strip of sand, so it’s probably not the best place for sunbathing if there’s more than a handful of people around, but entry to the sea is pretty easy, even from the rocky part. It’s also a great spot for snorkellers wanting to take a peak underwater. Ix-Xatt l-Aħmar is home to some dive sites popular among divers, such as the MV Karwela wreck, the MV Hephaestus wreck and other hidden gems.
You’ll find mostly locals and more adventurous tourists (like yourself) making their way to this spot. You can reach the beach on foot from a path that starts near the entrance of Fort Chambray, but if you’re heading there by car, you’ll need to pass from the village of Għajnsielem. Here is my local tip: look for the road called Triq Santu Liju on Google Maps and follow it, heading South to get to the small parking areas by the seaside.
I advise you to walk to the west of the bay, where you will find old salt pans. If you’d like to venture out a little towards the East, you can also find a small rocky beach called Gorgun Beach. That part is easiest to reach from Mġarr Harbour itself, just off the road used by cars getting off the Gozo ferry.
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Mġarr ix-Xini is among the popular swimming spots for locals but is also known as a dive site and one of the best places in Gozo to go snorkelling at as well. The bay’s beauty has attracted filmmakers and was featured in Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s film “By the Sea”.
There’s a small strip of sand in the corner of the bay, and, like Wied il-Għasri, this little beach is located at the end of a long valley. With tall cliffs on both sides of this narrow bay, there’s much to discover underwater. Like most small inlets, this beach offers calm waters, even when the sea is rough at other beaches on Gozo.
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If you are looking for a preserved beach but don’t wish to venture into remote places, Gorgun Beach is a good fit. This small rocky beach is located only a 5-minute short walk from the ferry terminal and yet hidden away from the hustle and bustle of Mġarr Harbour.
This off-the-beaten-path small pebbled beach has no sand, but only rocks, so I recommend you wear swimming shoes to protect your feet. The water is really clear, and there is a rich sealife to admire that will delight snorkelers. Being very small and rocky, Gorgun Beach is not the right place for sunbathing, but you will find some shade in the afternoons, which is great in summer.
If you are coming by car to Gozo, here is my tip: you can park your vehicle at the small free car park located at the top of the bay, then walk your way down some steps on the right (wear sturdy shoes). The car park is also the departure point of the Gozo coastal walk, which links great hiking trails for the cooler months.
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Located in Marsalforn, a popular seaside town on the north coast of Gozo, this beach is a popular bay for swimming. Marsalforn Beach is sandy and easily accessible, making it a good spot for sunbathers and families. On each side of Marsalforn Bay, you will also find flat rocks providing a nice starting point for snorkelers and those wishing to swim straight into deeper water.
The beach of Marsalforn Bay has several facilities such as sunbeds and umbrellas available to rent, showers, public toilets in the area, lifeguards and even watersports. On the back, a promenade with several restaurants, cafes and ice cream parlours runs right around Marsalforn Bay, attracting locals and tourists alike during the high season.
Marsalforn Bay is also home to several diving centres, and you can try watersports in the bay.
Marsalforn Beach is set in an urban environment and may not be one of the most beautiful beaches on Gozo Island, but it has kept some of its traditional character thanks to some colourful fishing boats gathering on the eastern side.
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Edward is the Founder and Editor of Malta Uncovered and author of two guidebooks on Malta and Valletta.
As a tourist-turned-expat with Maltese roots, he knows the islands inside out and helps thousands of visitors enjoy a memorable trip every year.
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Excellent. As a 1st time visitor I found this web page very useful. With a party of 6 adults and 2 small kids it gave us all the information we needed to plan a few beach visits.