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Beaches in Malta & Gozo

All the boating information you need to know about Malta & Gozo

Beaches in Malta & Gozo

Mon 4 May 2026 by [email protected]

Malta’s beaches range from broad sandy bays in the north and west to dramatic rocky coves and cliff-foot swimming holes elsewhere on the islands. Many of the most beautiful beaches are only accessible by boat — one of the main reasons charters are so popular here.

The water is exceptionally clear (regularly cited among the cleanest in Europe) and visibility under the surface is excellent, which is why Malta is also a top Mediterranean dive destination. The big sandy beaches — Mellieğa Bay, Għajn Tuffieħa, Golden Bay, Paradise Bay — tend to get busy in peak season; the smaller rocky coves and offshore anchorages stay quiet even in August. Comino’s Blue Lagoon is the most famous swim spot in the country, and the most rewarding way to experience it is by chartering a boat for the day.

Below you’ll find an overview of the main beaches and swim spots around Malta and Gozo, with notes on access, character, and the kind of charter that suits each one. Click any entry for more detail.

Mgarr ix-Xini Gozo

Narrow sheltered inlet on Gozo's south coast with deep clear water and a small rock-side restaurant. Arguably the best lunch anchorage in the Maltese islands.

Mistra Bay

Undeveloped sheltered bay north of St Paul's Bay with low rocky shores and almost no land facilities. One of the more genuinely quiet anchorages on the north coast.

Paradise Bay

Small sandy beach near Cirkewwa ferry terminal. Easy boat stop on Comino or Gozo crossings with reasonable anchoring and good water clarity.

Pretty Bay Birzebbugia

Long sandy beach in Birzebbugia on the south coast with the freeport as a visual neighbour. Well sheltered from northwest winds with full facilities.

Qawra Point

Qawra Point

Rocky headland between St Paul's Bay and Salina Bay with deep-water swim access and excellent snorkelling visibility along the limestone shore.

Qbajjar Bay Gozo

Quieter rocky bay immediately west of Marsalforn on Gozo's north coast, lined by the famous salt pans cut into the rock platforms. Easy hop for a quieter anchor.

Qui-si-Sana Sliema

Stretch of Sliema seafront south of Exiles with rocky platforms and sand patches. Useful as urban context but not a sensible anchorage from a boat.

Ramla Bay Gozo (Ramla l-Hamra)

Gozo's signature beach with distinctive orange-red sand from local iron-rich clay. Wide, undeveloped and considerably wilder than its Maltese counterparts.

San Blas Bay Gozo

Smaller, more remote red-sand sister of Ramla Bay on Gozo's north coast. Steep approach from land keeps crowds away; one of the best swim stops in the islands.

San Niklaw Bay Comino

Sheltered bay on Comino's east side associated with the now closed-for-redevelopment Comino Hotel. Quieter than the lagoons with sand bottom and good holding.

Santa Marija Bay Comino

Small sandy bay on Comino's north side backed by a chapel. The only proper sandy beach on Comino aside from Blue Lagoon, with a fraction of the crowds.

Slugs Bay

Tiny rocky inlet near Marfa on Malta's north tip with clear water and an insider following. Too small for proper anchorage but excellent for a tender visit.