Best Beaches in Malta: Sandy Bays, Rocky Coves and Lidos

Malta's coastline is predominantly limestone rock, which is why its handful of sandy beaches attract large crowds — and why some of the island's best swimming is from flat rocks into crystal-clear water. The sea is warm enough to swim from June through October, warmest in August.

Sandy beaches — Malta

• Mellieħa Bay (Għadira) — Malta's largest sandy beach — long, shallow and family-friendly, with good facilities and bus connections.
• Golden Bay — Scenic red-sand bay backed by low cliffs, north of Mellieħa. Sheltered; popular in summer.
• Għajn Tuffieħa — Wilder red-sand bay adjacent to Golden Bay, reached by steps — fewer facilities, more dramatic.
• Paradise Bay — Secluded sandy bay near Ċirkewwa in the far north; popular with families.
• Pretty Bay (Birżebbuġa) — South-east option close to Freeport; calmer than the north beaches.

Rock lidos and natural swimming — Malta

The Sliema and St Julian's foreshore has a series of rock lidos with steps and ladders into deep, clear water — popular with locals year-round. St Peter's Pool near Marsaxlokk is a natural rock formation offering calm, intensely blue water with spectacular setting. The south-west coastline has dramatic clifftop scenery and several accessible swimming points.

Gozo beaches

• Ramla Bay — Gozo's best beach — distinctive red-orange sand, gentle slope, relatively uncrowded compared to the north Malta beaches.
• San Blas — Smaller and steeper than Ramla; reached by a rough track. More secluded.
• Wied il-Għasri — A narrow swimming gorge — dramatic limestone walls, very clear water, not a beach in the conventional sense.
• Xlendi and Marsalforn bays — Small resort bays with cafés, restaurants and rock swimming platforms.

Comino — the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon on Comino is the archipelago's most photographed swim: shallow turquoise water over white sand between Comino and the uninhabited islet of Cominotto. It is also the most crowded spot in the archipelago in July and August — arrive by the first boat or out of peak season to see it at its best. Day trips run from Sliema, St Julian's and Mellieħa.