Home » Home » Best Malta Beaches » Ġnejna Bay
Nestled between clay slops and limestone cliffs, Ġnejna Beach is one of the more picturesque sandy beaches in Malta, boasting unique natural surroundings, and a quieter, more secluded setting than others close by.
Located in the Western part of the island, just a couple of kilometres away from the small, rural village of Mġarr, Ġnejna Bay is a popular beach amongst most locals, as well as tourists looking for a quieter place to enjoy the sun and sea. Being a fairly large, sandy beach, Ġnejna is mostly distinguished for being surrounded by clay slopes and limestone cliffs. In fact, the only access to the bay is via a steep, winding street descending through Ġnejna Valley; an area containing one of Malta’s few remaining perennial freshwater springs which runs through the valley towards the sea.
Ġnejna is not the most polished beach that Malta has to offer, but that’s merely because of its natural features rather than human interference.
The unusual clay slopes and cliffs around the area enclose an orange, sandy bay which is ideal for sunbathing. The sandy bank offers a gentle descent into crystal clear, azure sea which is ideal for snorkelling, especially when exploring the surrounding clay slopes and cliffs via the water. The beach is cleaned regularly and although more secluded than its neighbours, is still fairly well maintained, with some basic amenities being available such as a couple of mobile snack bars selling ice creams and burgers and umbrella and sun bed rentals. You can also find a few paddle boats and kayaks available for rent if you want to explore the surrounding area by sea. Public toilets are also available in the parking area near the beach.
If sandy beaches aren’t for you, there’s a a stretch of natural flat limestone rock on the right side of the beach, perfect for those who don’t like the feeling of sand between their toes. The northern-most, secluded part of the bay is a bit of a nudist’s hideaway, so even though this is an illegal practice in Malta it still occurs in that part. It’s not a place you’ll stumble upon though, it’s pretty remote and not easy to reach and it’s commonly known to be the only beach around where nudists go for a dip and the authorities tend to turn a blind eye.
Ġnejna Bay’s unique, atmospheric surroundings make it a beautiful beach to enjoy. It’s situated very close to Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, but is smaller and more low key as it is more difficult to access without a car, providing a less crowded alternative than the former. Domineering above the bay, on a tall, rocky outcrop, is the Ta` Lippija Tower (also known as the Ġnejna Tower) which was built in 1637 by Vincenzo Maculani upon orders from Grand Master Lascaris. This watch tower formed part of the intricate coastal defence network constructed by the Knights of St. John, and communicated directly with the nearby tower at Għajn Tuffieha as well as with the inland Nadur Tower by means of flags by day and bonfires by night, which would, in turn, raise an alarm in the old, walled city of Mdina when corsairs were sighted off the western coast of Malta.
If you’ve got access to a car, getting the Ġnejna Bay is very easy. Just drive to the village of Mġarr and follow the street signs. As I already mentioned, there’s only one road leading through to the bay from the village. Just drive towards the church in the village core and follow the signs. There is a good-sized parking area on the edge of the beach. It does get quite busy in summer, however, so if you don’t manage to park there, just find a spot along the road leading the the beach.
If you do park in the parking lot you’ll most often find a parking attendant supervising the area, who will expect a tip. This is not obligatory as he is a paid civil servant, so it’s up to you if you want to contribute. Most opt to spare 50 cents or a Euro or so, but this is totally optional.
There’s only one bus route that actually goes down to the bay (as opposed to others that will go as far as the village of Mġarr). However, route 101 only passes from Ċirkewwa (Gozo ferry point, way up North) through Mellieħa, then Ġnejna and vice versa.
That means that unless you’re staying in or near Mellieħa you’ll have to change buses at some point, which doesn’t make for a quick journey by public transport.
If you do decide to go to Ġnejna by bus, keep in mind that route 101 only passes once in the hour and the last bus from Ġnejna departs at 8pm. You can always take on the challenge of the 30-minute uphill walk though it’s not a challenge many will take on in the middle of summer. ?
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