Beach guide
Sandy beaches in Malta, Gozo and Comino
Most of Malta's coast is rock, so its sandy beaches are precious and busy in summer. The biggest are in the north-west of Malta (Mellieħa Bay, Golden Bay, Għajn Tuffieħa, Ġnejna and Paradise Bay), with smaller ones around the coast and on Gozo and Comino.
Sandy beaches are shallow and good for children, but the west-facing ones get rough quickly in a north-westerly. Here is every sandy beach we cover, with its sea conditions right now.
Sea conditions update every hour.
Every sandy beach
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1 Mellieħa Bay
Mellieħa Bay (Għadira): Malta's largest sandy beach, with shallow water for kids. Bus routes, parking, sunbeds and family tips.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
2 Golden Bay
Golden Bay (Ramla tal-Mixquqa): big sandy beach at Għajn Tuffieħa with west-facing sunsets. Buses, parking, smoking ban and safety tips.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
3 Ghajn Tuffieha (Riviera)
Għajn Tuffieħa (Riviera Bay): a sandy bay down roughly 200 steps, quieter than Golden Bay, with lifeguards in summer and great sunsets.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
4 Paradise Bay
Paradise Bay near Ċirkewwa: small sandy beach with a lido, steps down from a free car park that fills early, and views of Comino and the Gozo ferries.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
5 Ġnejna Bay
Ġnejna Bay, Mġarr: sandy bay with clay cliffs and boathouses, quieter than Golden Bay. Road, bus, parking and swimming tips.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
6 Armier Bay
Armier Bay, Mellieħa: sandy beach facing Comino with lidos, parking and the summer bus 49. Tips on wind, crowds and when parking fills.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
7 Little Armier Bay
Little Armier Bay, Mellieħa: small sandy cove facing Comino with shallow water and beach clubs. Road, bus 49, parking and tips.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
8 St. Georges Bay
St George's Bay, St Julian's: a small sandy beach by Paceville. Bus routes, nearby paid car parks, facilities and tips for beating summer crowds.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
9 Pretty Bay
Pretty Bay, Birżebbuġa: a shallow sandy beach in the south of Malta, easy for families, with promenade cafés and a view of the Freeport.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
10 Ramla Ħamra Bay
Ramla Bay (Ramla l-Ħamra), Gozo: the island's biggest red-sand beach, with Blue Flag status, lifeguards in summer, sunbed hire and buses from Mġarr.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
11 San Blas Bay
San Blas Bay, Nadur: a small red-sand beach in Gozo reached down a very steep road, with a summer kiosk and clear water for snorkelling.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
12 Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon, Comino: how the free booking pass works, ferries from Ċirkewwa and Mġarr, facilities and the best times to beat the crowds.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
13 Santa Maria Bay
Santa Maria Bay, Comino: a shallow sandy bay with no Blue Lagoon pass needed. Reach it by ferry from Ċirkewwa or Mġarr, and bring your own shade.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
14 Imġiebaħ Bay
Imġiebaħ (Selmun) Bay: quiet undeveloped sandy bay below Selmun, Mellieħa. Narrow road, short walk down, no facilities. What to know.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
15 Perched Beach
Perched Beach, Buġibba: a small man-made sandy beach on the seafront with a ramp, views of St Paul's Islands and bars and cafés a short walk away.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
16 Qarraba Bay
Qarraba Bay: a small, quiet cove between Għajn Tuffieħa and Ġnejna, reached only on foot down a steep path. No facilities, so bring water and shade.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
17 Ramla taż-Żewwieqa
Ramla taż-Żewwieqa: a small, quiet swimming spot at Mġarr Harbour, Gozo, a short walk from the ferry, with toilets and showers nearby.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
18 Rinella Bay
Rinella Bay, Kalkara: a small sandy beach close to Valletta with calm, shallow water, a kiosk nearby and bus 3 stopping at the bay.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
19 Slugs Bay
Slugs Bay, Mellieħa: a tiny sandy cove on the Marfa Ridge reached by a short, rough walk. No facilities, so bring water, shade and good shoes.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
20 St. Nicholas Bay
St Nicholas Bay (San Niklaw), Comino: a quiet sandy cove near Santa Marija Bay. Ferries, the Blue Lagoon pass, walking routes and what to bring.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
21 White Tower Bay
White Tower Bay, near Armier in Mellieħa: a quiet sandy bay below Torri l-Abjad. How to get there, parking, buses and what to expect.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
22 Xlendi Bay
Xlendi Bay, Gozo: a sheltered inlet with a small beach, rock swimming and good snorkelling. Buses 306 and 330, parking and local tips.
Sea today, parking and facilities -
23 Ħondoq ir-Rummien
Ħondoq ir-Rummien, Qala: small sandy cove facing Comino, popular for snorkelling. Road from Mġarr, bus 303, parking and kiosk info.
Sea today, parking and facilities
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest sandy beach in Malta?
Mellieħa Bay (Għadira) is Malta's largest sandy beach, with shallow water stretching far out. Golden Bay is the next biggest.
Are there sandy beaches near Sliema or St Julian's?
St George's Bay in St Julian's is the nearest sandy beach. Sliema's shore is rocky, with platforms and ladders into the sea.
Which sandy beach is calm today?
It changes with the wind. The list above shows each beach's conditions right now; in a north-westerly, Mellieħa Bay and Armier are usually the calmest sandy beaches.