Home » Malta travel guide » Best Malta Beaches » Golden Bay
Golden Bay is located next to Għajn Tuffieħa on the north-west coast of Malta, nearby the village of Manikata and known for its red sand and naturally formed dunes on its surrounding slopes. Golden Bay is a popularly visited beach, partly due to the proximity of the five star Radisson Golden Sands hotel.
Like Għajn Tuffieħa, Golden Bay is a sandy beach, but it tends to be more popular because it has a larger stretch of sand, is easier to access and has better facilities, including a few restaurants.
It’s very easy to reach by public transport and car, although parking can be a challenge on Sundays and public holidays. The beach is a popular location for sunbathing, swimming, watersports, and parties, especially in the evening when sunset admirers fire up their barbeques and enjoy a chilled out summer night at the beach.
During the summer months, a flag system is used to indicate whether the water is safe for swimming and lifeguards are on patrol. Just as is the case at Għajn Tuffieħa, Golden Bay is also known for its treacherous undercurrents during the winter months when the weather is less stable. Although few people would consider going for a swim during that time of the year, it’s not uncommon for a few adventurous (mostly foreign) people to get into trouble that way.
Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months, operated by the Malta Tourism Authority from 15th June until 15th September.
Important: All routes first stop at ‘Riviera’, which is the bus stop for Għajn Tuffieħa. If you intend to go to Golden Bay, don’t get off at that stuff but stay on board until the final stop “Għajn Tuffieħa Bus Terminus”. Counter-intuitive but correct, I promise.
For more info: Public transport in Malta
Driving yourself to get to Golden Bay is pretty easy since the bay’s in a quieter part of Malta. There are two parking areas close to the bay, one down near the edge of the beach and slightly uphill in front of the Radisson Golden Sands hotel. Both will fill up pretty quickly but if you follow the road in Northern direction there’s a large vacant pitch that’s used for parking as well. It’ll be a five-minute walk down to the beach so very doable.
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Golden Bay ranks #2 on my list of Top 10 Best beaches in Malta.
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