About White Tower Bay
White Tower Bay is a small bay on the Aħrax peninsula at the northern tip of Malta, just west of Armier and below the White Tower, Torri l-Abjad. It is a quiet, local place: a short curve of sand with rock on either side, lines of boathouses along the shore and a view straight across the channel to Comino and Gozo.
Most visitors are Maltese families who have been coming for years, many of them from the boathouses and summer huts around Armier. Compared with Mellieħa Bay or Golden Bay there is little here in the way of facilities, which is exactly why people like it. On a calm day the water is clear and the setting, with the tower on the low hill above, is one of the most unspoilt on the north coast.
What White Tower Bay is like
The beach is a small strip of sand at the head of the bay, with flat and broken rock running out on both sides. The sand gives an easy, gently sloping way into the sea, while the rocks on the flanks have sharp edges underwater, so water shoes help if you swim from there. Behind the beach is low scrubby ground, part of the open countryside of the Aħrax, with very little development apart from the boathouses.
Sea daffodils, a protected plant, grow in the sand at the back of the beach and flower in late summer. Parts of the area are fenced off to protect them and the other coastal plants, so keep to open ground and do not pitch umbrellas inside any fenced areas.
When to go to White Tower Bay
The bay faces north-west, towards Gozo. It is sheltered in easterly, south-easterly, southerly, south-westerly and westerly winds, when the water is calm and very clear. Avoid it in north-westerly or northerly winds, which push swell straight in, and expect some chop in a north-easterly. Because the north-westerly is so common, it is worth checking the wind before driving up; Armier Bay and Little Armier, a kilometre or so east, face a different way and are often calmer.
July and August weekends bring families and boat owners, but even then it is rarely as crowded as the bigger sandy beaches. Weekdays and the shoulder months of June and September are very quiet.
Swimming and safety at White Tower Bay
Enter from the sand in the middle of the bay, where the bottom slopes gently. There are no lifeguards, and the bay is a long way from help, so be cautious, especially when the swell is up. Small boats come in and out to the boathouses, so look around before swimming out from the shore.
Fishing nets are sometimes set in and around the bay. If you snorkel, watch for nets and lines, and stay clear of any marker buoys.
The White Tower and things to do nearby
The White Tower, also called Aħrax Tower or Ta' Ħoslien Tower, was completed in 1658 as the sixth of the De Redin watchtowers, guarding the channel between Malta and Comino. A gun battery was added around it in 1715. After three years of restoration it reopened in 2021, and it now holds regular open days, when you can climb up for views over Comino and Gozo.
The Aħrax peninsula is good walking country, with paths along the cliffs to L-Aħrax Point and the Red Tower on the ridge to the south. Armier Bay and Little Armier, both sandy, are about a kilometre away, and Mellieħa Bay is a short drive. Divers head to L-Aħrax Point by boat for its caves, and the shore dives at Ċirkewwa are about 3.5 km away.
Food and facilities at White Tower Bay
Facilities are minimal. There are no public toilets, showers or sunbed hire, so bring shade, water and food with you. The nearest cafés and restaurants are at Armier Bay. Take your rubbish home, as there are few bins this far out.
Frequently asked questions
Is White Tower Bay sandy?
Mostly, yes. It's a small sandy beach with rocky ground on either side and the tower on the hill above.
How do I get to White Tower Bay by bus?
In summer take route 49 to Armier. Out of season, routes 41, 42, 101, 221 and 222 stop on the main road above the peninsula, followed by a walk.
Is there parking at White Tower Bay?
Yes, informal parking near the bay, but it can be tricky on summer weekends.
Can you visit the White Tower?
Yes, on its open days. The tower was restored and reopened in 2021, and it opens to the public on set days, usually once a month.
Is White Tower Bay good when the wind is north-westerly?
No. The bay faces north-west, so it catches the swell from Malta's most common wind. Armier Bay or Little Armier are often calmer on those days.
