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Tucked beneath Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, Malta is a hotspot in every way. Its sun-drenched shores and diverse history and culture have made it incredibly popular with travelers looking for an island getaway with lots to offer.

The beaches here tend to be rocky and sea-sculpted, with fewer soft and sandy curves of Mediterranean coastline than you might expect. But the locals have made the most of every little cove available and watersports are huge here – Malta is known as Europe's best diving destination but even the snorkeling in the incredibly clear waters dotted with historic wrecks is world-class. 

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

1. Golden Bay

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.

Planning tip: Golden Bay has easy access points, making it an ideal option if you're traveling with small kids and strollers.

2. Mellieħa Bay

Best beach for water sports

You’re never far from a watersports provider in Malta. 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 it 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.

Planning tip: The range of facilities and activities on offer make Mellieħa a popular beach for both visitors and locals. It's not the place to go if you're looking for a quiet corner in a tranquil spot.

3. Blue Lagoon

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, the island'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 most people have left for the day.

4. Fomm ir-Riħ

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 it 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.

5. Wied il-Għasri

Best place for snorkeling

Snorkelers take note: Malta is underwater heaven. On the Gozo coast, Wied il-Għasri is a coastal chasm that creates a narrow river of seawater, finishing in a tiny sand and shingle beach. Access to the beach is via a staircase hacked into the rock. Some of Malta’s finest snorkeling can be had by launching off into the channel, although it is best avoided in rough weather.

Detour: Other prime snorkeling spots include the rocky inlet of Mgarr ix-Xini and the natural sea pool of Għar Lapsi. If scuba is more your thing, there are plenty of diving centers; a popular spot for diving is the Blue Hole near Gozo's Dwejra Bay.

6. Għajn Tuffieħa

Best beach for sunbathing

Neighbor to popular Golden Bay, and sharing the same lovely outlook and soft, silky, butterscotch-colored sand, Għajn Tuffieħa is a quieter choice for sun-worshipping. Unlike Golden Bay, it's not backed by hotels, and the slightly longer walk to get there also helps to thin out the crowds. When all you want to do is lie in the sun and occasionally cool off in the sea, this is an ideal choice.

7. Ramla Bay

Best beach for families

Easily accessible by bus and car, the terracotta-colored sands of Gozo's Ramla Bay are backed by a restaurant that hires out umbrellas and sunbeds. The beach slopes gently into the water, the views up across the hills are delightful, and there’s a scramble up to Calypso’s Cave to consider if anyone’s getting bored. Ramla Bay is one of Malta’s best family beaches, although Golden Bay, Mellieħa Bay and Paradise Bay are also worthy contenders for the title.

8. MÄ¡arr ix-Xini

Best beach for lunch

Reached via a narrow, winding road, Gozo's Mġarr ix-Xini (Port of the Galleys) was once the island's main harbor for the Knights of St John, and the rocky bay's pebbled beach is now the location of possibly Malta's most laid-back beachside restaurant. Service at the 10-table Rew Rew can sometimes be a little too relaxed, but lunch plates overflowing with seafood – including excellent calamari – salad and homemade potato chips make the experience all worthwhile.

Planning tip: Try to visit on a weekday for a shot at securing a spot in the adjacent car park, or charter a boat around the coast from Xlendi or MÄ¡arr harbor.

9. St Peter’s Pool and Il-Kalanka Bay

Best natural swimming pools

Natural swimming pools, sea-sculpted from the coastal rock, are a scenic summer highlight in Malta. Located on the southeastern coast, St Peter’s Pool is one of the loveliest – a ladle-shaped scoop out of the rock that forms a sheltered lagoon for a swim, after which you can bask seal-like on the surrounding rocks.

Detour: Nearby, and usually much quieter, is the swimming hole at Il-Kalanka Bay. Note the platform for jumping into the water at Il-Kalanka is higher than at St Peter's, so extra care should be taken.

10. Għar Lapsi

Best place to leap into the sea

Worthy of special mention is Għar Lapsi, a rocky inlet that lies at the base of Malta's Dingli Cliffs. It's popular with snorkelers, divers, and especially children who like leaping into the sea from the rocks. Offering brilliant views of Għar Lapsi's rocky cove, Carmen's Bar & Restaurant is another top spot for a relaxed meal.