Beaches & Bays
Malta has beaches for everyone, from windsurfers to sunbathers. Choose from golden sand, red sand, rocks, blue lagoons and even inland seas. Some beaches and rocky shores are off the beaten track, but worth seeking out for their seclusion. Do not miss a boat trip to Comino's Blue Lagoon for the ultimate in azure water. On larger beaches, you will find cafes or snack bars open during the summer season. With Malta's climate, beach life lasts well into October. Enjoy water sports and activities like windsurfing, jet and water skiing, parakiting and fun rides. You can hire equipment from beach cafes or shops nearby.
The main coastal resorts and larger sandy beaches are in the northern part of Malta. Malta's most popular beaches are Mellieħa Bay, Għajn Tuffieħa and Golden Bay. For smaller, quieter beaches, try those at the tip of Malta, overlooking Gozo - Paradise Bay and Armier. In Gozo, the most beautiful beach is Ramla l-Ħamra, a large beach of unusual red sand nestling by countryside. Gozo and Comino offer plenty of out-of-the-way rocky inlets with clear waters and perfect snorkelling.
Discover our beaches and bays by using the intreractive map or the listing below.
Find out about the various Blue Flag Beaches and Beaches of Quality around the Maltese Islands here.
ARMIER BAY
Armier, limits of Mellieħa, Malta
The beach at Armier stretches round the shore of an open bay at the extreme northern fringe of Malta. The sandy bay faces the nearby islands of Comino and Gozo. Bars and small restaurants provide the necessary beach facilities but since the area is rural, there are no hotels or tourist establishments nearby. Although it is generally safe for swimming, Armier Beach can be subject to rough swells because it is exposed to north winds.
Armier is also popular for picnics and barbecues. If you barbecue, please ensure you leave the spot clean for bathers the next day and that you have free-standing barbecue equipment.
ANCHOR BAY
Anchor Bay, limits of Mellieħa, Malta
Anchor Bay is perhaps most known for Popeye Village, the set of the 1979 film starring Robin Williams as Popeye. After more than three decades, Popeye's Sweethaven village still occupies the craggy slopes of Anchor Bay, a relatively isolated cove just one kilometre west of Mellieha. The village film set is a tourist attraction and often used as an activity centre.
This tiny picturesque inlet is also used by fishermen who perch on the little quay left by the film set. A steep slope lead down to the bay. Although the waters here are generally calm, the bay is suitable only for good swimmers.
BALLUTA BAY
Balluta Tas-Sliema, Malta
Balluta Bay lies on a long stretch of rocky coastline that goes from from Qui-si-Sana in Sliema all the way to St. Julian's. This coastline is thronged with sunbathers during the peak summer months.
Steps and handrails placed every so often allow easy access to the water. There are plenty of flat rocks to spread a towel on. The sea here is deep, and generally clean, clear and safe to swim. It is also excellent for snorkelling. Some hotels along the front, especially at the St. Julian's end, provide beach concessions equipped with pools, water sports and lido areas for nightlife. The favourite beach areas are: the Tigné area, Qui si-Sana, Għar id-Dud, the Exiles and Fond Għadir. Some are well-known lidos or beach clubs with public access. In peak summer the Sliema beaches become a very sociable, lively place to be by mid-afternoon. The promenade is excellent for long, striding walks in winter, slow strolls on summer evenings and for watching the spectacular waves during freak autumn storms. You will find plenty of snack bars and restaurants on the coast road and kiosks near the shoreline.
BIRŻEBBUĠA
Birżebbuġa, Malta
Birzebbuga is a flourishing, but small, seaside resort not far from Marsaxlokk in south-east Malta. Its shoreline hugs St. George's although the sandy beach is known as Pretty Bay. It has been a popular bathing spot for Maltese holiday-makers for decades.
Sand was non-existent and bathers took to the water from the flat rocks or from specially built platforms on the shoreline. In more recent years, the bay was artificially filled with sand recovered from the sea during dredging works for the nearby Freeport. Pretty Bay is now considered a sandy beach. It lies right in the town centre so there are plenty of shops and restaurants along the coastline. Outside Pretty Bay, towards St. George's Bay, you'll find a rocky shore ideal for sun bathing and snorkelling. St. George's Bay is a lovely inlet used by local fishermen who moor their boats there. The bay is a good venue for water sports such as windsurfing. Next to the small chapel of St. George's are some prehistoric cart ruts.
