Beaches
The best beaches in Malta, Gozo and Comino
Malta has fewer sandy beaches than you might expect, but some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean. These are the beaches worth the bus ride, and how to enjoy them.
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On a hot afternoon in Sliema, office workers walk down to the flat limestone shelves along the seafront, lay a towel on the rock and climb down a ladder into the sea. No sand, no sunbeds. This is how much of Malta swims, and once you have tried it, a crowded beach feels like a compromise.
Malta is a small archipelago with three inhabited islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino. Much of the coast is cliff and rock, so the few sandy beaches fill up in summer. In return, the water is clear almost everywhere and nothing is far away. These are the places worth building a day around.
Short answer: which beaches in Malta are best?
Golden Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa on the north-west coast are the best sandy beaches on the main island. Ramla Bay on Gozo has reddish sand and fewer people, and the Blue Lagoon on Comino has the clearest water. For rock swimming, go to St Peter's Pool.
Best sandy beach: Golden Bay, Malta
Best for families: Mellieħa Bay, Malta
Best for clear water: Blue Lagoon, Comino
Best for peace and quiet: Ramla Bay, Gozo
Best rock swimming: St Peter's Pool, Malta
The north-west: Golden Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa
Golden Bay is Malta's best-known sandy beach, with beach bars, sunbeds and the sun setting straight into the sea. Buses run here from Valletta, and it is easy with children.
Next door, Għajn Tuffieħa is a cove of reddish sand below clay slopes. A long flight of steps leads down, which keeps the crowds a little smaller. Paradise Bay, at the northern tip, is smaller still and close to the Gozo ferry, so it works before or after a crossing.
Mellieħa Bay: the long family beach
Mellieħa Bay, also known as Għadira, is the largest sandy beach on Malta. The water stays shallow a long way out, which makes it popular with families and busy at summer weekends. Come early or go midweek.
Behind the beach lies a small wetland nature reserve, and the town of Mellieħa on the ridge above has restaurants overlooking the bay.
The Phoenicia
The lounge at The Phoenicia in Valletta.
Valletta and the south-east: rock pools and fishing boats
Valletta has no beach of its own, but across the harbour in Sliema and St Julian's you can swim from the rock platforms along the promenade.
On the south-east coast, St Peter's Pool near the fishing village of Marsaxlokk is a natural pool in the limestone, with deep, clear water. There is little shade and no facilities, so bring water and shoes. Pair it with the Sunday market and a fish lunch in Marsaxlokk.
The Phoenicia: garden and pool at the city gate
Stay at The Phoenicia and you have Valletta on one side and the bus terminus for the rest of the island on the other. The grand old hotel sits just outside the city walls, with a large garden and a pool looking over the harbour. A good base if you want beaches by day and dinner in the capital at night.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Phoenicia
Gozo: red sand and quiet
Gozo is greener and slower than Malta, and the ferry from Ċirkewwa takes under half an hour. Ramla Bay on the north side has orange-red sand, and above it is the cave linked to the myth of the nymph Calypso. With few buildings around, it feels a long way from anywhere.
Xlendi is a narrow inlet with a small village, where you swim off the rocks and eat fish on the quay afterwards. Bring a snorkel.
The Xara Palace
The terrace view at The Xara Palace in Mdina.
Comino: the Blue Lagoon
Between Malta and Gozo sits tiny Comino, where the Blue Lagoon is turquoise over white sand. It is the most photographed spot in Malta, and in summer the boats arrive one after another.
Since 2025 visitors have needed to book a free time slot online to limit numbers. Take an early boat or visit outside high summer, and you may have the lagoon almost to yourself.
The Xara Palace: silence inside the walls
For a calmer base than the coast, stay inside the walls of Mdina. The Xara Palace is a small palazzo hotel with a terrace looking out over the whole island, and the north-west beaches are a short drive away. In the evening, after the day visitors leave, the town is almost yours.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Xara Palace
When to go
June and September are best: warm water and space on the sand. July and August are hot and crowded.
The sea stays warm: swimming is good well into October.
Book the Blue Lagoon ahead: summer slots fill up.
Use buses and boats: parking at the popular beaches is difficult, and buses cover most of the island.
Frequently asked questions about Malta's beaches
Does Malta have sandy beaches?
Yes, but only a handful. Golden Bay, Għajn Tuffieħa and Mellieħa Bay on Malta and Ramla Bay on Gozo are the largest.
Do you need to book the Blue Lagoon in Malta?
Yes. Since 2025 you need to reserve a free time slot online before visiting the Blue Lagoon on Comino.
Which beach in Malta is best for children?
Mellieħa Bay has shallow water a long way out and is the island's best family beach.
Can you swim in Valletta?
There is no sandy beach in Valletta, but you can swim from the rocks in nearby Sliema and St Julian's.
When is the sea warm enough to swim in Malta?
From June to October the water is comfortable. May and November are possible but fresher.