10 of the best beaches in Malta, Gozo and Comino

22.11.2023 - 16:43 / lonelyplanet.com

The beaches of Malta tend to be dramatic, rocky and sea-sculpted, with fewer soft and sandy curves of Mediterranean coastline than you might expect.

Despite this, the Maltese make the most of every swimming spot. On these compact islands, water sports abound, and you're never far from the sea. With crystalline waters, historic wrecks and interesting underwater formations, Malta is also Europe’s best diving destination, but even snorkeling from the island nation's coastline offers a remarkable insight into an underwater world.

Whether you're keen on splashing around in the waves, spending an afternoon relaxing on the sand or enjoying a leisurely lunch of local seafood, here are the beaches to head to on Malta and its smaller sister islands of Gozo and Comino.

Best beach for soft sand

Malta and Gozo don’t offer many big sandy beaches, but there are a few gems. Golden Bay, on Malta’s northwestern coast, arguably the most beautiful, is a wide curve of orange-gold sand that shelves gently into the dark-blue Mediterranean. This is a place to lie down on the island's softest sand, mull over the watersports and boat trips on offer, or peruse the menus of nearby restaurants overlooking the bay.

Best beach for water sports

You’re never far from a watersports provider in Malta. For variety, Mellieħa Bay is one of the best beaches for messing about on the water, with windsurfing, kitesurfing, waterskiing, canoeing, banana boating and parasailing all on offer. This is Malta’s largest sandy beach and has a reliable northeasterly breeze that makes it ideal for wind-based water sports. Other top choices for water sports include Xlendi, Marsalforn and Golden Bay.

Best beach for swimming

Beating many strong contenders, Comino’s Blue Lagoon snags the title of Malta's top swimming spot. Ringed by rocks and framed by gleaming white sand, Comino's limpid and sheltered inland sea glows periwinkle bright, and it's a heavenly place to swim.

Planning tip: The Blue Lagoon is definitely not a secret, so in high season, you’ll be sharing the pool with a few hundred others. A better option is to skip the hordes by taking a boat trip here in the afternoon after many people have left for the day.

Best beach for peace and quiet

Fomm ir-Riħ – meaning ‘mouth of the wind’ – is Malta’s most remote beach. A steep and sometimes tricky path leads down to the beach from the small town of Baħrija on the northwestern Maltese coast. Such difficulty brings rewards, however, and if you’re looking for peace and quiet, gin-clear water, and magnificent coastal views, this is the beach for you.

Planning tip: The walk down takes around 20 minutes, but if the scramble doesn’t appeal, you can always approach by boat.

Best place for snorkeling

Snorkelers