Best Beaches in Malta, Gozo & Comino

Which Malta Beach Is Right for You?

No single beach suits everyone. Malta, Gozo and Comino offer everything from large sandy bays and small coves to rocky swimming spots and busy seaside areas.

The best choice depends on the type of beach you want, where you are staying, how you are travelling and the kind of day you have in mind. Families may prefer shallow water and plenty of facilities, while others may prioritise scenery, quieter surroundings, watersports or somewhere easy to reach without a car.

We have spent full days at many of these beaches ourselves, so this guide focuses on the differences that actually matter when choosing where to swim.

Beaches across Malta Gozo and Comino

Quick Beach Chooser

Table of Contents

• Malta, Gozo & Comino Beach Map
• Best Beaches in Malta
• Best Beaches and Swimming Spots in Gozo
• Beaches and Swimming in Comino
• Find the Right Type of Beach
• Beach Facilities, Transport & Planning

Malta, Gozo & Comino Beach Map

Use the map to see where the beaches and swimming spots in this guide are located. Where you are staying and how you plan to travel can make a big difference when choosing between them.

Best Beaches in Malta

Malta has the widest choice of sandy beaches, rocky swimming spots and easy seaside options. Rather than ranking them, we have selected the beaches we think are most useful for visitors and explained who each one suits, its main advantage and any important drawback to know before going.

Mellieħa Bay — Best for Families, Shallow Water and Watersports

Mellieħa Bay, also known as Għadira Bay, is our strongest all-round recommendation for families. It is Malta's largest sandy beach; the water stays shallow for a long way, and there are plenty of facilities, places to eat, and watersports.

It is also one of the easier major beaches to reach by public transport. The main drawback is that it can become very busy, while Mellieħa village itself is uphill and separate from the beach area.

If practicality, sand and family-friendly swimming matter most, Mellieħa is difficult to beat.

Read our complete Mellieħa Bay guide.

Summer swimming at Mellieħa Bay

Golden Bay: Best for a Classic Sandy Beach Day

Golden Bay is one of Malta's easiest choices if you want sand, good facilities, straightforward access and a beautiful sunset without the steps required at neighbouring Għajn Tuffieħa.

It is also very popular. In our experience, Golden Bay can get busy on sunny weekends from spring onwards, not only in July and August.

Choose Golden Bay for convenience and a lively beach atmosphere. Choose Għajn Tuffieħa instead if you prefer natural scenery and a less developed setting.

Read our complete Golden Bay guide.

Għajn Tuffieħa: Best for Scenery and Sunsets

Għajn Tuffieħa is one of our favourite choices if you want a more natural setting, beautiful views and one of Malta's best sunset spots. It feels less developed than neighbouring Golden Bay while still offering the facilities most visitors need.

The main drawback is access. Reaching the beach involves a long flight of steps, which can be tiring in hot weather and may be unsuitable for visitors with limited mobility.

Choose Għajn Tuffieħa for scenery and atmosphere. Choose Golden Bay if easier access matters more.

Read our complete Għajn Tuffieħa Bay guide.

Panoramic view of Għajn Tuffieħa Bay

Paradise Bay: Best for a Small Scenic Cove

Paradise Bay is a small sandy cove in northern Malta with clear water, attractive views and a more enclosed feel than the larger beaches.

The main drawback is access. You need to descend around 100 steps to reach the beach, and because the bay is quite small, it can feel crowded when busy.

Choose Paradise Bay if you want a compact, scenic beach. Choose Mellieħa Bay if easier access, more space and family practicality matter more.

Read our complete Paradise Bay guide.

Gnejna Bay: Best for a Quieter Local Beach Day

Gnejna Bay is a good choice if you want a quieter sandy beach with a more local feel than Malta's best-known bays. It sits below Mġarr and feels more tucked away than Golden Bay or Mellieħa.

It still becomes busy in summer, especially at weekends, but during the week it can feel noticeably calmer.

Choose Gnejna if you value space, scenery and a less touristy atmosphere over the easiest public transport connections.

Read our complete Gnejna Bay guide.

Sunbeds beside Gnejna Bay shoreline

Armier Bay: Best for a Relaxed Northern Beach Day

Armier Bay is a good choice if you want sand, clear water and a more local atmosphere away from Malta's main tourist areas. The bay also offers attractive views of Comino and Gozo, with nearby places to eat and seasonal beach facilities.

It can still become busy with Maltese families during summer weekends, but weekdays are generally calmer. Its more remote location also makes it less convenient than Mellieħa or Golden Bay if you are relying entirely on public transport.

Read our complete Armier Bay guide.

St Peter’s Pool: Best for Rocky Swimming

St Peter’s Pool is a natural limestone swimming spot, not a sandy beach, popular for its clear water and distinctive rocky setting near Marsaxlokk.

There is no shallow sandy entry, so it suits confident swimmers more than families looking for an easy beach day. Access and facilities are also more limited than at Malta’s main sandy beaches.

Choose St Peter’s Pool if you specifically want rocky swimming and a different coastal experience.

Read our complete St Peter’s Pool guide.

Swimmers at rocky St Peter’s Pool

Convenient Beaches Near Popular Areas

Not every visitor needs to travel across Malta for a beach day. These options are particularly useful if you are staying nearby:

• Buġibba Perched Beach: A convenient sandy swimming beach if you are staying in Buġibba, Qawra or St Paul’s Bay, with restaurants and the promenade close by.
• St George’s Bay: A small sandy beach in St Julian’s, best for visitors who want swimming within walking distance of hotels, restaurants and Paceville.
• Pretty Bay: A practical sandy option in Birżebbuġa with good public transport connections. We would choose it mainly for convenience, rather than for its scenic beauty.

Best Beaches and Swimming Spots in Gozo

Gozo is particularly good if you want a quieter beach day, smaller swimming spots and a more relaxed setting. Ramla is the standout sandy beach, while places such as Ħondoq ir-Rummien, Dahlet Qorrot and Mġarr ix-Xini offer very different swimming experiences.

Ramla Bay: Our Favourite Beach in the Maltese Islands

If we had to choose just one beach across Malta and Gozo, Ramla Bay would be our personal favourite. Its wide reddish sand, surrounding countryside and open setting make it feel very different from Malta's more developed beaches.

It has good facilities and is reachable by public transport, but it becomes busy in summer. Visitors should also know that reaching nearby Mixta Cave involves a steep walk and should not be treated as part of an easy beach stroll.

Read our complete Ramla Bay guide.

Ramla Bay Gozo viewed from Mixta Cave

Quieter Beaches and Swimming Spots in Gozo

For a more peaceful beach day, especially compared with Ramla, we would consider:

• Ħondoq ir-Rummien: Clear water, attractive coastal views and a more local atmosphere near Qala.
• Dahlet Qorrot: A small bay near Nadur village, suited to visitors looking for somewhere quieter and less developed.
• Mġarr ix Xini: A narrow, sheltered inlet surrounded by steep countryside, better suited to a relaxed swimming stop than a traditional sandy beach day.

These places can still become busy in summer, but Gozo is generally our first choice when someone asks for a quieter swimming experience.

For more options, see our complete guide to Gozo beaches and swimming spots.

Xlendi and Marsalforn: Better as Swimming Bases

Xlendi Bay is one of Gozo’s most popular seaside areas, with swimming, restaurants and accommodation concentrated around the bay. We would choose it mainly for the combination of swimming and a lively waterfront setting, rather than for a dedicated beach day.

Marsalforn Bay offers a similar advantage, with swimming, restaurants, shops and accommodation all close together. It is particularly convenient for visitors staying in Marsalforn who want an easy swim without travelling elsewhere.

If the beach itself is your priority, Ramla is the stronger choice. If you want swimming combined with restaurants and a resort base, Xlendi or Marsalforn make more sense.

Xlendi Bay waterfront and swimming area

Beaches and Swimming in Comino

Comino is best known for the Blue Lagoon, but it also has small bays for visitors who want a quieter swim.

Blue Lagoon: Comino’s Most Famous Swimming Experience

The Blue Lagoon is one of Malta’s most recognisable swimming spots, known for its exceptionally clear turquoise water. It is a major day-trip destination rather than a traditional beach day, and it can get very busy.

Visitors who want to go ashore at the Blue Lagoon currently need a free timed landing pass with a QR code, which they should book in advance.

Read our complete Blue Lagoon guide.

Santa Marija Bay and St Nicholas Bay

Santa Marija Bay and St Nicholas Bay are smaller Comino alternatives for visitors interested in a more relaxed swim away from the main Blue Lagoon area. They do not offer the same iconic lagoon experience, but they show a quieter side of the island.

Find the Right Type of Beach

Still deciding what kind of beach suits you? These guides go into more detail:

• Best Sandy Beaches in Malta & Gozo: Compare the main sandy beaches for swimming, families, scenery and facilities.
• Best Rocky Beaches & Swimming Spots: For clear water, rocky coastlines and swimming away from traditional sandy beaches.
• Blue Flag Beaches: See Malta and Gozo beaches recognised under the Blue Flag programme.
• Dog Friendly Beaches: Check where you can take your dog and the rules to know before visiting.

Beach Facilities, Transport & Planning

A few practical points can make a big difference to your beach day:

• Facilities vary considerably. Some beaches have showers, toilets, sunbeds, restaurants and seasonal lifeguards, while smaller swimming spots may have very little. Check our Malta Beach Facilities & Swimming Zones guide before going.
• You do not always need a car. Mellieħa Bay, Golden Bay, Għajn Tuffieħa, Ramla Bay and Marsalforn are among the easier options by public transport. Route 44 currently serves Għajn Tuffieħa, while route 302 serves Ramla Bay.
• Check the sea conditions on the day. Wind and rough seas can make one coast much less suitable for swimming than another, particularly at exposed or rocky spots.
• Weekdays are usually calmer than summer weekends, even at popular beaches.
• Dogs are restricted at official bathing sites. They are not allowed on sandy beaches or in official bathing waters; rocky areas have different rules. See our Dog Friendly Beaches guide for the practical options.

Want to see more before choosing where to swim? Browse our photos of Malta’s beaches for a visual look at beaches and swimming spots around the islands.

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We are Albert and Benjamin Magro, two Malta locals who enjoy exploring the island and sharing practical advice with visitors. Our guides combine local knowledge with first-hand visits to Malta's towns, beaches, attractions and accommodation areas. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Facebook for more Malta tips, photos and videos.

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