Best beaches in Malta: Mellieha, Golden Bay and the Blue Lagoon on Comino

Mellieha Bay and the north of Malta

Mellieha Bay (Ghadira Bay) is the largest sandy beach in Malta. The bay sits below the town of Mellieha on the north coast, the slope is gentle, the water stays shallow far out and there is a wide stretch of free public sand alongside the sun-bed concessions. It is the strongest family default on the main island and the easiest place for kids to swim safely. The bus 41/42 from Valletta runs to Mellieha and the walk down to the beach is a few minutes. Parking is available but fills early in summer.

Just north of Mellieha, Paradise Bay and Armier Bay are the smaller sandy alternatives. Paradise Bay sits at the edge of the cliffs above the Comino ferry departure point at Cirkewwa and has a small but sheltered beach. Armier Bay is the local favorite with simpler facilities. The far north of Malta has the Gozo ferry terminal at Cirkewwa, which makes the Mellieha-Cirkewwa area a natural base for combining several beaches in a few days.

• Mellieha Bay (Ghadira): largest sandy beach in Malta, shallow water, family default.
• Paradise Bay: small sheltered sandy beach near Cirkewwa ferry to Gozo.
• Armier Bay: local favorite north of Mellieha, simpler facilities.
• Anchor Bay (Popeye Village): small beach next to the Popeye film set, photogenic.
• Mistra Bay: small rocky-and-sandy bay east of Mellieha, quieter alternative.

Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha: the red-sand west coast

Golden Bay (Ramla tal-Mixquqa) on the west coast of Malta is the dramatic red-sand bay with cliff headlands closing both sides. The slope is gentle, the sand is wide and the sunset light makes the cliffs glow. It has a hotel and full services and is reachable by bus 223 from Mellieha. Just south, Ghajn Tuffieha Bay is reached down a long staircase from the cliff above and is significantly quieter because of the access constraint; the same red sand and cliff scenery as Golden Bay without the resort crowd.

South of Ghajn Tuffieha, Gnejna Bay is the third red-sand bay on this stretch and is the most local-feeling. The water at all three bays is clear and the snorkeling along the rocky edges is good. The west coast is exposed to north-westerly wind and can develop swell on windy days; check the conditions before bringing small kids to Ghajn Tuffieha where the slope is slightly steeper and the access staircase is the harder part of the day.

Comino and the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon on Comino is the iconic Malta photo: turquoise shallow water between Comino and the small uninhabited Cominotto islet. It is reached by boat from Cirkewwa (Malta) or Mgarr (Gozo) and the regular ferry runs from June to September with very frequent crossings in July and August. Day-trip boats from the main Malta resorts also visit. The lagoon itself has no sand: visitors swim from the rocks and the boats. It gets very crowded between 11:00 and 16:00 in summer.

Arriving early (before 09:30) or staying late (after 17:00) is the difference between a magical visit and a stressed one. The Crystal Lagoon on the other side of Comino is less crowded and reached by walking across the small island; some boat tours include both. Comino has no shops, very limited shade and minimal facilities, so bring water, lunch and sunscreen. There are no overnight options on the island except one hotel which closes outside summer.

• Blue Lagoon (Comino): turquoise shallow water, rocks not sand, peak crowd 11:00-16:00.
• Crystal Lagoon (Comino): quieter alternative on the opposite side, walking access.
• Santa Maria Bay (Comino): small sandy beach on Comino's east side, less visited.
• Cominotto islet: small islet next to Comino, swimming distance from Blue Lagoon.
• Ferry from Cirkewwa or Mgarr: frequent in summer, last boats run early evening.

Gozo: Ramla Bay and the rocky swim spots

Gozo is the smaller second island, reached by ferry from Cirkewwa in 25 minutes. Ramla Bay (Ramla l-Hamra) is the largest sandy beach on Gozo and is famous for its distinctive red-orange sand and the views to the Calypso Cave above. The bay is on the north coast and has a calm slope; it is the family default on Gozo. San Blas Bay further east is a smaller red-sand cove reached by a steep walking path; the climb back is the workout part of the visit but the beach is quieter than Ramla.

Most of Gozo's swim spots are rocky bays rather than sandy beaches. Wied il-Ghasri is a narrow inlet between high cliffs reached by climbing down rocks; it is dramatic and small. Hondoq ir-Rummien on the east coast faces Comino and has a small sandy strip with rocky edges. Dwejra Bay on the west was famous for the Azure Window arch (collapsed in 2017) and still has the Inland Sea and a small swim spot. Xlendi Bay on the south is a narrow inlet with a small beach and a village around it, the easiest urban swim on Gozo.

• Ramla Bay (Gozo): largest sandy beach on Gozo, red-orange sand, family default.
• San Blas Bay (Gozo): small red-sand cove east of Ramla, steep walking access.
• Wied il-Ghasri (Gozo): dramatic narrow inlet, rocks not sand, climb down to swim.
• Hondoq ir-Rummien (Gozo): small beach facing Comino, mix of sand and rocks.
• Xlendi Bay (Gozo): village bay on south coast, easiest urban swim on Gozo.

Climate, swim season and the long usable summer

Malta has the longest beach season in the Mediterranean after the Canary Islands. May sits at 22 to 24 C air and 19 C water. June warms to 27 C air and 22 C water. July and August peak at 30 to 33 C with water at 24 to 26 C. September stays warm with water at 25 C and significantly lower crowds. October still works with water at 23 C and is often the cost-and-weather sweet spot. November water drops to 20 C but day swims are still realistic for resilient swimmers.

The northerly Tramontana and the southerly Sirocco rotate through the year. On Tramontana days, the north and west beaches (Mellieha, Golden Bay, Comino) become whipped-up and the south-east beaches calm down. On Sirocco days, the pattern flips. The Mediterranean here is generally calmer than the Aegean Meltemi belt; cancelled ferries to Comino are rare but possible on stormy days. Always have a south-coast backup if the wind shifts.

Buses, ferries and the practical day

Malta Public Transport covers all main beaches efficiently from Valletta. Bus 41 or 42 to Mellieha, bus 222 to Cirkewwa for the Comino and Gozo ferries, bus 223 to Golden Bay, bus 49 to Bugibba and St Paul's Bay for the eastern coast. A daily bus card or the Tallinja card makes the day work without a rental car. Buses run frequently in summer but get crowded; the first morning bus and the last evening bus are the smartest choices.

The Comino ferry runs from Cirkewwa (Malta) and Mgarr (Gozo) very frequently in summer. The Gozo ferry from Cirkewwa runs every 30 to 45 minutes and accepts cars; it is the way to bring a rental car to Gozo if you base in Malta. The fast catamaran from Valletta to Mgarr exists in summer but is less frequent. Comino has no permanent transport on the island itself; you arrive by boat and walk.

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