Top 10 Best Beaches in Malta

Malta famously has more hours of sunshine per year than any other country in Europe.

So what better way to spend your time on the island,than laid out on a stretch of beach, with a cold drink to hand and the Mediterranean just a few steps away.

There are quite a few options, so I have taken an informal poll of websites, blogs and books, flavoured with my own preferences, and produced the following list of the Best Beaches in Malta:

Secluded Beach (not Gnejna Bay)

At the weekend I decided to go and check out Gnejna Bay, given that the sun was shining and I didn’t have much else on.  I have previously spent time sitting on the sands of the popular Golden By, and the slightly less popular (but certainly no less attractive) Ghajn Tuffieha, so reckoned it was worth making the extra effort to stop in on their neighbouring beach. 

Unfortunately, geography is not my strong point.  I didn’t make it as far as Gnejna, but came across a different beach altogether.  Well, I have to tell you, you would really need a desire for seclusion bordering on sociopathic hatred of your fellow man or woman to drag yourself to this place.  Not that it isn’t a perfectly nice strip of beach -because it is - it is just very, very tricky to access.  And by 'tricky' I mean that Tom Cruise in full on Mission Impossible mode would probably think twice about it.

Malta Beaches: Ghajn Tuffieha Bay

Is this the best beach in Malta?

Ghajn Tuffieha Beach, Malta

If by best you mean 'requires most steps to be climbed in order to get there', then clearly the answer is Yes.  But most people don't rate beaches in such a way.  Well if you're asking me,  I think it's certainly one of the best.  And those steps make a big difference.  For one thing, it dissuades people with babies and small children from making the descent, and also puts off those people in general who don't like the combination of beach and exercise.  When I was there the place was heaving with people who positively loved the combination of beach and exercise.  There were kids running relays up and down the steps, and two separate groups of young fit people running around the perimeter of the sand.  I felt that I had done my bit by simply walking down there, and with the prospect of having to walk back up again I didn't do a whole lot of moving about.

Malta Beaches: Golden Bay

Golden Bay is on the North West of the island, just adjacent to Ghan Tuffieha.  It's one of the most popular beaches with the summer tourist crowds, which makes it a good idea to get there nice and early.   Not too difficult to find, just get on the 223 (or 224 or 225) bus until the end of the line.

Twelve euros for two chairs and an umbrella, which you can carry yourself thanks very much.  There are a couple of nice and

Malta Beaches: Paradise Bay

You can imagine what this bay must have looked like a hundred years ago: a little piece of paradise indeed.

It is still a beautiful place of course, but in August this small patch of sand is overrun with sun-baked tourists. You get dropped off here by one of the buses which goes up to the Gozo/Comino ferries, just a couple of stops before the end of the line.

We got off at the stop coming back from the Gozo ferries, as a planned trip there was aborted due to the presence of thousands of other people with the same idea.  This necessitated a 1km walk to get to the beach.   I think it's fair to say that certain members of our party would have struggled during, (for example), Burke and Wills' 19th century expedition to the centre of Australia, given the amount of moaning this gentle stroll provoked.

Malta Beaches: St George's Bay (Paceville Beach)

If you have ever seen one of those nature documentaries where hundreds of seals or walruses end up crammed onto a beach somewhere, you will be able to form a mental image of George's Bay in summertime.   Only substitute seals for hungover 22 year olds.

Actually, seals is fine, that's a pretty accurate analogy.  This is the lazy option of beaches, the one where you wake up some time in the afternoon after a long days night in Paceville and stumble down to the nearest sandy area you can find.  Unfortunately, many, many other people have had exactly the same idea, which is why you are lying down on the only patch of sand large enough to fit your beach towel.  Meanwhile that family with the exuberant kids who keep kicking sand in your head and shrieking is doing nothing for your headache.  To make matters worse, you think you've spotted that girl/boy

Malta Beaches: Mellieha Bay

Big. Popular.  Up North.

That just about sums it up.  Mellieha is a popular tourist town, and the beach is the main draw.  It is one of the biggest sandy stretches on the island, and can be relied upon to get pretty busy over the summer months.  There are sun loungers for hire, and fast food and beers to be had from cabins on the beach, so what more do you need?  The water is pretty shallow, so you are unlikely to drown unless you are extremely short, or you have the persistence to trudge through the water for about 100 metres.  This is not exactly some idyllic deserted stretch of pristine beach-front, but the sun will most probably be shining and I'm sure you'll have a lovely time stretched out here, if that's your thing.

Comino and the Blue Lagoon

No trip to Malta would be complete... et cetera and so on.  And it is true.  As you can see from the photo below, you really should put aside a day to take the ferry up to Comino.  Better yet, take a boat trip from Sliema ferries and save yourself a lengthy bus trip followed by the non-rapid ferry crossing.  Crystal clear waters and not too deep, good for snorkeling or you can go explore some of the caves and tunnels the sea has carved out of the rock in Cominetto (the tiny island on the other side of the lagoon).

In fact there's only one problem with this little piece of paradise, and that is the presence of those pesky humans.  During the summer, the place is chock full of people, as the second picture demonstrates.  I was there in August and it was far from a deserted island.  So when you arrive, you will need to find yourself a little unoccupied space up on the rocky hill above the water on which to lay your towel - ideally not in a throughway so people aren't trampling all over your stuff as they negotiate the cliffs.  You can get a burger or hot dog from one of the busy concession stands and settle in, meanwhile trying to figure out exactly you're going to get down from here and into the water without breaking your neck or

stepping on somebody's head.  

Rocky Beaches - Sliema & St Julian's

Not sandy.

I have spent more time awkwardly arranged amongst the nooks and crannies of these rocky beaches than any others in Malta.  This is mainly due to their proximity and my laziness, but still qualifies me to speak on the subject with some authority.  The small rocky alcove near the Dubliner is a great spot for swimming, and a lot of the (older) locals come here on a regular basis during the long summer months.  Further along as you cross from St Julian's to Sliema there's a larger stone beach where it's easier to stretch out a bit and which doesn't get overcrowded.  Keep going and you come to the largest Sliema beach which stretches for quite a distance with plenty of room for lounging about, although swimming requires a bit more effort as you have to do some clambering in and out of the water and there's no specific roped off area for swimmers.

Your photos won't have that white sand backdrop to make the folks back home extra-jealous, but you won't come home with sand in every orifice and your tan will look just as good by the end of the week.