The Best Sandy Beaches

The islands of Malta and Gozo have a number of beaches perfect for sunbathing, snorkeling and swimming. The most popular tend to be sandy beaches, especially if you have children, but there are also places where you can go swimming off the rocks and can sometimes be even better than sandy beaches.

Mellieha Bay / Ghadira Bay, Mellieha.

This is Malta’s largest sandy beach. Ghadira Bay in Mellieha is very accessible, and has just a few steps and a ramped access down to the sand. There are some very good facilities for bathers including snack bars and cafes. It is very popular with families and there are many sun beds and umbrellas available for rent.

                                                                               Ghadira Bay

Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha Bay

These two very attractive beaches next to each other are located on the Western part of Malta. Ghajn Tuffieha (meaning “the Apple’s Eye”) and it’s much quieter than its neighbour. There are more facilities at Golden Bay, but both beaches are very popular especially as one of the largest hotels on the island, the 5 star Radisson Golden Sands is located on to the one side of Golden bay. Both the beaches are only minutes away from the town of Mgarr and both have sun beds and umbrellas for hire and there are also water sports available and are great for snorkeling.

                                             Golden Bay                                            Tuffieha Bay  

Gnejna Bay, near Mgarr

Gnejna is a very pretty bay on the Western part of Malta near the town of Mgarr. It is probably not quite as attractive as Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha. The shallow waters and sandy beach make it perfect for families. Gnejna does not have any direct bus links, having said that, the nearest stop is in Mgarr, which is only a five minute walk away. It’s very easy to find when in Mgarr, with plenty of signs showing you the way. 

                                                                                                       Gnejna Bay

Paradise Bay, Cirkewwa.

Paradise bay is well secluded and is set in a natural cove. It is located on the northern part of Malta close to Cirkewwa. This beach is excellent for snorkeling and is popular with a younger crowd where there are often parties on the weekends. Despite being relatively isolated, there plenty of facilities available.

                                                                                     Paradise Bay

Ramla Bay, Gozo

Ramla Bay is located at the bottom of a rich and fertile valley on the northern side of the island of Gozo. The village of Xaghra, located on one of the hills of Gozo, overlooks this valley. The terraced walls built by the farmers give the valley an appearance of a quilt when viewed from the high ridges surrounding this valley. The beach is quite wide and sandy. It is a particularly golden-reddish sand which makes this beach different from all other beaches in Gozo and Malta. Locals often refer to this beach as the "Ramla il-Hamra" - the Red Sandy Beach.

                                                                                           Ramla Bay