The Maltese islands are known for having some of the cleanest bathing waters in the European Union, with Malta’s beaches ranking highly year after year.
If you’re wondering about things to do in Malta you’re in the right place!
Here you’ll find a helpful guide to the best beaches that Malta has to offer, with info on what each beach is like, what the facilities are, how to get there, etc.
Take a catamaran boat tour with Sea Adventure Excursions that stops at beaches like Għajn Tuffieħa, the Blue Lagoon (and Crystal Lagoon) and Mellieħa Bay for swimming and snorkelling.
(TIP: Use coupon MALTA5 for a discount!)
Most beaches around the Maltese islands are recognised as having some of the cleanest bathing waters around the EU, with a 97% evaluation of excellent quality, placing Malta high on the list among EU states (Check out the 2021 EEA Report on European bathing water quality here).
A few beaches are also Blue Flag certified, which means that they adhere to standards for sustainable development, environmental management, safety and other services.
Although what makes a great beach varies from person to person, I’ve compiled a top 10 of the best beaches around Malta based on reviews from friends, families and Malta Uncovered followers.
I’ve done my best to outline the pros and cons with each beach, to help you pick your sunbathing and swimming spots on your next holiday to Malta.
Check out my two guidebooks full of local knowledge and my best recommendations for your trip, and up-to-date for 2024!
Malta & Gozo guide book
Valletta: An Insider’s Guide to Malta’s Capital
Take the hassle out of planning your trip to Malta and be an informed traveller!
Ta` Fra Ben Bay is named after its watchtower that overlooks the area. Although mostly rocky, the water is clean, the view is great, and it doesn’t tend to get very busy here. The bay is a little sheltered which means it’s rarely affected by the swell of the open sea, in summer at least. It’s also a great spot for snorkelling and scuba diving, with some interesting underwater life.
If you’re staying in the Buġibba / Qawra / St Paul’s Bay area, this is an obvious first bathing location to check out. Much more so than the perched artificial sandy beach that’s located along the coastline at Buġibba. Having said that, there are better sandy options around Malta!
Pros
Cons
Armier Bay is located in the far north of Malta, close to the tip of the tail (if you creatively picture the main island as having the shape of a fish). The bay has two beaches, one known as Armier for short, the other as Little Armier. (You guessed it, it’s the smaller of the two!) Neither of these places gets crazy busy in summer, although they’re quite popular among the Maltese, some of whom set up camp (tent and all) for the day with the family.
Both are considered to be rather remote and unless you’re hiring a car, you can expect a bit of a walk to get there from the nearest bus stop. Although several bus routes pass through the area on their way to Ċirkewwa (the Gozo ferry terminal), you must be pretty fanatical to take the challenge to walk to Armier in the scorching hot summer sun.
A refreshing swim will be a great reward, nevertheless. As far as the beaches themselves go, they’re family-friendly, relatively clean and safe, and amenities are available at both Armier and Little Armier. The shoreline is also pretty shallow, so a good location to swim with kids.
Pros
Cons
Get the best travel tips from Malta Uncovered delivered to you in bite-sized chunks by email. (Unsubscribe at any time!)
Ġnejna is a rare little gem of a beach on the West coast of Malta, which is sandy and fairly secluded and not very popular among tourists as a result. It’s good proof that being a little more adventurous and exploring your holiday location can pay off.
Being the “go-to” beach for the Maltese living in the nearby village of Mġarr, it’s a nice alternative to some of the other, busier beaches. A few kiosks and public conveniences sit on the edge of the beach and it’s considered to be a family-friendly beach with a fairly shallow shoreline, but not necessarily easy to reach if you’re not driving there yourself.
Pros
Cons
Paradise Bay is located near Ċirkewwa, in northern Malta, where the ferry to the neighbouring island of Gozo departs. The beach is set in a natural cove and is quite secluded and peaceful, surrounded by high sheer cliffs, with great views of its rugged landscape and the nearby islands of Gozo and Comino.
It’s a small sandy beach with crystal clear water that is considered to be family-friendly, with easy entry to shallow water that gradually becomes deeper. Paradise Bay generally attracts a younger crowd among locals, and sometimes parties are organised here on weekends. Part of the bay is very much suited to snorkelers, with some nice underwater features and several species of fish and other sea life around.
Pros
Cons
The Blue Lagoon Malta is a stunningly beautiful inlet on the tiny island of Comino. It is sheltered and has dazzlingly azure waters. Access to this fascinating inlet is by boat trip from Gozo or Malta. There are two small white sandy beaches, one on either side of the crystal clear water; the bottom of the inlet also consists of white sand.
The rest of the bay is rocky: here, visitors can sunbathe or jump into the refreshing water. Snorkelling and scuba diving are popular due to the clarity of the water as well as the presence of several caves. No boats are allowed in these parts, so it is a pretty peaceful setting, even when the Blue Lagoon itself is swarming with people.
You can easily get to the Blue Lagoon by taking a boat trip (full-day trips – Get 5% off with coupon MALTA5), taking the hop-on / hop-off ferry (from Buġibba, Sliema or Gozo) or booking a private boat tour (- highly recommended!).
It’s not higher up in my personal top 10 of beaches because 1) There’s no real beach and it’s more of a tour stop, and 2) It’s a tourist hotspot, meaning it’s swarming with people during the summer months. Nevertheless, it’s a must-visit place in Malta, but something you should plan a day trip for.
Pros
Cons
St. Peter’s Pool is a pool-shaped bay on the East/South coast of Malta, near the fisherman’s village of Marsaxlokk (well-known for its colourful fishing boats). There’s no beach as such, although there’s enough room to spread out your beach towel on the flat rocky surface around the bay.
Once mostly frequented by the locals, it’s now one of the most popular rock pools in Malta. Nevertheless, St. Peter’s Pool is still a beautiful alternative to some of the more touristy beaches around. Getting there can be a bit of a challenge in terms of navigation, but if you’re the type who likes to get out of their comfort zone, this is a hot tip.
Pros
Cons
Not very easy to reach but well worth the trouble getting there, Imġiebaħ Bay is a little gem that’s undisturbed by man. A small sandy beach is surrounded by the rocky shore, and although small in size, it rarely gets busy here. It’s located on the North coast of Malta, beyond Selmun Palace (near the village of Mellieħa and clearly designated from main roads). The minute you see Selmun Palace, there’s a left turn that takes you down a long, winding road.
Unless you’re a highly skilled and confident driver (especially in reverse), it’s highly recommended to park in the vicinity of Selmun Palace and make your way down to the beach on foot (25 min walk) since the road was never intended to be used by cars coming from opposite directions.
Pros
Cons
Mellieħa Bay (also referred to locally as Għadira Bay or Mellieħa Beach) is the largest sandy beach on Malta and one of the best beaches in Malta and the Mediterranean. It is by far one of the most popular places to swim, and with a surf that remains shallow for a good distance out and easy access, this spot is a firm favourite for families with children, who tend to set up camp for the day, mostly on weekends. There are also water sports available, such as water skiing, jet ski and banana boats.
Mellieħa Bay is located on the North coast of Malta (near the village of Mellieħa, seen below up on the hilltop) and is very easy to get to, with a number of bus routes stopping at the bay on their way to Ċirkewwa (where the ferries to Gozo berth).
Pros
Cons
Golden Bay is located on the Northwest coast of Malta, right next to Għajn Tuffieħa Bay (a nearby beach, next on the list) and is a popularly visited beach that was among the first to earn Blue Flag status.
Easily accessible and reachable with public transport, this beach offers plenty of amenities and is the perfect location for families to sunbathe. Although a large hotel takes up the North cliff, the rest of the surrounding area is largely unspoilt and makes for a great view. Golden Bay is also a popular location for barbeques, mostly on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Pros
Cons
Għajn Tuffieħa (also known as Riviera Beach) is my favourite beach in Malta, with some of the best scenery and sea you’ll encounter around the Maltese islands. To me, this bay is a perfect balance between being in raw nature and yet having facilities to enjoy a visit in comfort.
Yes, Għajn Tuffieħa Bay is very popular. Yes, it’s a favourite among tourists as well and can get busy, but the stunning beauty, its panoramic views and clean water are just amazing. This is a must-visit and well worth a bus ride from wherever it is you’re staying in Malta.
Pros
Cons
There’s no doubt that Pretty Bay, one of the few swimming spots on the South coast of Malta, at the town of Birżebbuġa, was once a great location for swimming. The construction of Malta’s Freeport in the 1980s kind of spoiled the location. The locals do swim there still but it’s not always well maintained, unfortunately.
Located in St. Julian’s, on the seaside of the Paceville nightlife area, St. George’s Bay is a small (semi-artificial – imported sand) sandy beach that serves mostly locals and tourists staying in the direct area. Although it has a Blue Flag status and is cleaned daily in summer, it can get crowded, and traces of the previous night’s drunken adventures in the area can often be found. There are better beaches in Malta to visit, so this would surely be a decent option out of convenience if you’re staying nearby and don’t want to ride the bus or drive elsewhere.
The Buġibba Perched Beach is a man-made beach that serves as a popular tourist area whose coast is mostly rocky by nature. Although convenient as a location perhaps, entry to the water isn’t particularly easy, and the real thing (natural sandy beaches) is worth taking a bus trip for. If you’ve already booked your accommodation, Buġibba is alright as a location, but there are better places to stay in Malta.
Blue Flag beaches meet strict requirements, including lifeguard presence, safety flag system (see below), supervisors and cleaners, emergency equipment, showers and public restrooms, etc.
Currently, these are the Blue Flag beaches in Malta: Mellieħa Bay, Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, Golden Bay, Buġibba Perched Beach, Ta’ Fra Ben (Qawra Point), St. George’s Bay (St. Julian’s), Fond Għadir (Sliema), Marsalforn Bay (Gozo), Ħondoq ir-Rummien (Gozo).
The flags at beaches in Malta indicate the sea conditions to inform bathers of safety concerns.
It’s vital to watch these flags because conditions like dangerous undercurrents may not be visible from above the water’s surface.
These are the flags that are flown and their meaning:
Although lifeguards of the Malta Red Cross are present in summer, they are not obliged to enter the water under double red flag conditions. So basically, if you ignore the double red flag status, you’re on your own.
Apart from flags being raised, the biggest giveaway is a beach without locals around. If the Maltese themselves aren’t swimming, it’s best to follow suit. When in Rome, right? In any case, swimming offseason (Nov-April generally) can be risky, and lifeguards are usually only around between mid-June and late September.
The nicest beach in Malta (in my humble opinion) is on the West coast of the main island and is called Għajn Tuffieħa Bay.
It’s a beach with red-coloured sand and a bay surrounded by (mostly) raw, untouched nature and crystal-clear water.
Gozo has several nice beaches that are usually a lot quieter than those in Malta (the main island), like Ramla Bay (aka Ramla Beach), the Inland Sea (Dwejra Bay – along Gozo’s South coast) and San Blas Bay.
You can find my recommendations here: The Best Beaches in Gozo.
Leave a comment below!
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.
Was this article helpful? Share it with your friends!
Get the most out of your visit to Malta with Malta Uncovered guidebooks – full of local knowledge and up-to-date for 2024!
Hello! I’m cruising with a group of 4 people that will be in Valletta on June 6 from 1330-2200.
I signed up for your emails with Malta travel tips before finding this article. I’m looking forward to seeing these emails, but also hoping you can give me some additional insight related to this article.
I love your idea of renting a car and going to a couple of beaches. I think your favorite beach, Għajn Tuffieħa, sounds perfect for us (even if I have to stop several times to catch my breath climbing up the stairs). When I enter Għajn Tuffieħa into google maps for driving directions, it shows several options. Which one of these options should I use for driving directions?
a) Għajn Tuffieħa, Mellieha, Malta (doesn’t look like it’s on the coast, but nearby Golden Bay is on the coast and has a beach umbrella icon)
b) Għajn Tuffieħa Malta (appears as Riviera Beach on the map)
c) Għajn Tuffieħa bay, Triq In-Nahhalija, Mgarr, Malta
d) Għajn Tuffieħa, Mgarr, Malta
e)Għajn Tuffieħa Tower, Mellieha, Malta
Can you recommend another beach to visit near Għajn Tuffieħa? Would Golden Beach be a good option?
Thanks for taking the time to share your local knowledge!!
Mark
Hi Mark, happy to hear I’ve inspired you and pretty confident you’ll enjoy that beach. 🙂
In terms of Google Maps and driving directions:
1) The parking area at the top of the bay is the easiest to set as your destination: https://goo.gl/maps/UPNMsf9iVmKroNZU9 (The beach itself is to the south, to the north you’ll find Golden Bay)
2) Assuming you’ll depart from the Valletta Waterfront cruise terminal, I’d recommend taking the middle route that Google Maps suggests (passing from Mrieħel and Attard). That’s usually the quickest route in terms of traffic
As for a nearby beach – Yes, Golden Bay would be a good option. It’s a 10-minute walk from the parking area of Għajn Tuffieħa, but given your limited time (and those stairs!) you’ll probably want to drive up to Golden Bay. Unless you luck into a parking spot close to the bay you’ll probably have to venture out a little, even if it won’t be full-on high season yet.
I hope that helps. Have a great trip!
Ed
Are Speedos ok for men on beaches there? Unlike here in the USA, where it’s frowned upon 🙁
Hi Patrick! Not many men wear them here but they’re not frowned upon
Is snorkeling gear available to rent at any of the beaches or should I plan on bringing my own?
Hi Meghan, I’m not aware of snorkelling gear rental at any of the beaches. Usually you’d have to go to one of the dive centres for that, so easiest thing to do is to bring your own mask and snorkel with you.
Hi Edward, am 57, my first ever holiday abroad (my first ever flight too). Read this article before we went to Golden Bay and Mellieħa bay and loved both, but Mellieħa was absolutely lovely, walked out for ages before it got anywhere near deep so great, as you said for the littluns, and I floated blissfully for ages once I did get out far enough. Couldn’t stay out of the water! Went to the Bridge bar in Valletta (fantastic atmosphere) and Bugibba (great restaurants on the waterfront there) of an evening. Love love love Malta and cried in the plane home (soppy but couldn’t help it) and have vowed to go back. I chose a hotel between both of these beaches based purely on your recommendations and you done me proud. Thank you!
That made my day! Thank you for sharing and happy to hear you had such a good experience in Malta!
Hi, thanks for your very informative website. I’m going to Malta for 6 nights in mid-May, and I would love to find a place that’s just rock and sea with some crashing waves to take good photos and video, so not really a beach, but some raw rocky coastline. You could say it was inspired by the music video for Walk on Water by Maltese singer Ira Losco – haha! Any recommendations please?
Hi there, sounds like a fun project and I hope the weather (wind/swell) cooperate since the better options are in the North and East of both Malta and Gozo. In Malta: Bugibba/Qawra, Sliema and various places along the coastline between Valletta and Marsaskala. In Gozo: Qbajjar is prob the nicest place.
Great article!
Found your blog – and the map! – very interesting. I have already booked for Bugibba (yes, I read yr comment!) for a week in June, and want to go snorkelling if possible. Sounds like I need to travel a bit, though. Will use Divers Code for the islands, and hope to use the buses to go west for your decent beaches, as well. Hope to cover some of the archaeology as well!
Sounds like you’ve got it all planned out well Richard. Have a great trip!
Would the sea be warm enough to swim in, in early November. I’ll will be going to Malta for 2 weeks. Thank you.
Hi there. It really depends on 1) Whether the weather still cooperates (since it’s around that time that the weather turns a little colder) and 2) What your threshold is for dealing with lower-than-summer temperatures. 😉 Don’t forget to ask the question whether it’s safe to swim as well. Locals will be able to tell you depending on the conditions.
Hi Edward,
Thanks for putting together this blog. Really informative! I planning to visit on the first week of May. Do you think I’ll be able to swim or will it be terribly cold? I am OK with a bit of chill but not so much if it’s freezing…
Regards,
Nicholas
Hi Nicholas, May usually marks the start of the swimming season in Malta, but whether it’ll be warm enough really depends. If I had to put money on it and assume your definition of “a bit of chill” is like mine then yes, you’ll probably be able to swim out at sea.
Hi thank you so much for your suggestions! I am going to Malta October 6-11… Should it still be ok to swim during that time? I am taking my 4 years old daughter and we are staying in Mellieha…
Hi Katya, yes usually it’s still fine to swim in early/mid-October and it’ll be a lot quieter as well. Great choice of location for beaching it!
Hi,
Leaving for Malta from South Africa on a business incentive. However, have a day or two extra to kill and found your blog super informative.
Have decided to hire a car and do a day-trip starting at Armier Bay and work my way down by visiting some of the beaches you have mentioned. Travelling from and to Corinthia Palace Hotel seems fairly easy?
Hi Stefan, sounds like you’re going to have a good time. Yes, the Corinthia Palace Hotel is located quite centrally in the village of Attard and the roads heading up North are pretty quiet. With a car it’s a good base to stay, without not so much (in fact I rarely recommend it to those who choose not to rent a car).
Having said that, on Sundays a lot of the locals head up to the beaches and back home so you’d encounter a fair bit of traffic on that day – I’d say late morning and late afternoon/early evening. If you were planning on doing that beach tour on a Sunday your best bet is taking the country roads past Manikata (and ideally floating around in the sea during peak traffic hours 😉 ).
I’d consider a drive up to Mdina and Rabat and a stop over in Mġarr – lovely little village close to Ġnejna Bay.
Hello Edward,
Thank you so much for the recommendation of the beaches.
I just made a reservation for the Delimara lighthouse near Peter’s pool. Now I’m wondering if this is a safe area for my ten year old to swim or do you know ny spots in the area where it is familyfriendly?
Thank you
Regards
Angelique
Hi Angelique, Peter’s Pool would do just fine, though you’re also not too far from St. Thomas bay near Marsascala and Pretty Bay at Birżebbuġa. The latter isn’t on my favourites list though I’ve been told they’ve really cleaned up the place and will be visiting myself soon to have a look for myself.
Hi, i just come across your blog, very informative.
Could you recommend the best beach (easy accessable due to recent surgery), not too touristy, close to restaurants, not interested in clubs etc.
Hi Jessica, the beaches I’d suggest are Armier and Gnejna primarily, in that order. Both easy to reach by bus (Armier – route 49, Gnejna – route 101) and you can walk right onto the beach having to descend/climb steps. The downside there is that there aren’t really restaurants nearby, only a lido and small kiosks. Mellieha Bay could also be a good option though since the beach is below road level there will be 10-20 steps at different entry points. Golden Bay as such is also easy to get onto from the road, however it’s a pretty step walk down/up to get down to the beach from the nearest bus stop. I hope that helps and I wish you a speedy recovery! Restaurants to mention: Munchie’s (Mellieha Bay, on the edge of the beach) and Agliolio (Golden Bay, part of the Radisson but easy to enter from down at the beach).
Which is the most popular beach for the volleyball players?
Hi Jim, you can usually find designated areas for beach volley on the larger beaches like Mellieħa Bay (also referred to as Għadira) and Golden Bay.
A few brief comments. The beach, in fact, shelves really quite steeply at Paradise Bay so one needs to take care with children amnd also weak swimmers. We really, as in really, enjoyed Little Armier Bay (also known as White Tower Bay). There is an hourly bus direct to Armier Bay. Getting to Little Armier without a car is something else, though. You have to actually cross the smaller of the two Armier Bays across the beach, then walk along a path around the headland that isn’t that easy to pick out and takes about 35 minutes from the bus stop to walk to. The reward is a 150-yard long lovely sandy beach that even in High Summer has around 35 people. There is a toilet block of two toilets and a small cafe also serving meals that has a very limited number of sun umbrellas to hire out. The sea is lovely here but trickier to get into or swim in as below the waterline there are frequent (blunt) rocks sticking out of the sand. The solitude is magnificent, though. After rougher seas the beach gets covered in grass-like seaweed along the shoreline until some is eventually cleared (usually in time for summer).
Thank you for your contribution Charles, all valid points!
I have to give you a big fat thank you for you great tips! I’ve used many of your tips when in Malta and have to say they are right on point! I went to many of these beaches and I agree 100% with your opinion. By the way thanks for advising me to stay in Mellieha. After reading your posts and talking to you, I cancelled my booking in Bugibba, and after visiting the area I cannot thank you enough! I did not like Bugibba at all and loved Mellieha! I also went to the trattoria in Mdina that you mention in another post and had a lovely meal. So thank you thank you thank you! I will definitely recommend your site to my friends and readers.
Take care,
Liliana
Hey Liliana, glad to hear you had a good time and my tips were helpful to you! Thank you for the comment, I might have to print and frame that one! 🙂
We were very pleased with your presentation of Malta. We would like to pay a visit to Malta someday. We would like information on where to stay, hotels, bed and breakfasts or guest houses.
Thank you James and Deborah, I’m glad to hear you like the site. You’ve come to the right place for the information you seek. Do let me know if you need more detail on anything – you can contact me here.