Summer might be midway through but there is still time to put Malta on the list of destinations to visit, especially if you’re in search of small central Mediterranean islands surrounded by swimmable rocky bays and beaches with some of the cleanest waters in Europe.
Paradise Bay Malta (photo by Andrea Scanu – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)
“Excellent” Rating
With 92 percent of swimming areas and bays in Malta and Gozo classified as excellent according to an annual report of the European Environment Agency in collaboration with the
European Commission, you’ll be hard-pressed not to stumble into a swimming hole that’s among the cleanest and clearest in Europe.
The report analysed roughly 22,000 swimming areas in European Union member states, as well as Albania and Switzerland, and placed Malta in its top echelon.
The classifications were based on the cleanliness of the water for swimming and information gathered through annual monitoring for the presence of different types of bacteria. A total of 87 swimming areas in Malta and Gozo were evaluated in 2023, of which 80 were classified as excellent, three as good, and four as sufficient – topping Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Greece, and North African bays in the final analysis.
Recently, European Best Destinations ranked Malta’s Ghan Tuffieha Bay as the most beautiful swimming bay in Europe.
Where to Swim?
One of the greatest charms of the Maltese Islands (Malta, Gozo, Comino) is their accessibility to the sea. I have lived in and travelled to countries where it can take hours to get to the nearest sandy bay and sea.
Malta, however, has a great number of sandy and rocky bays, and coastal stretches that are just a stone’s throw from the capital city of Valletta, or anywhere you’re staying on the islands. They are so numerous that you cannot avoid them unless you decide to.
Though there are numerous to choose from, here are some of my favourites, from popular sandy and rocky beaches to an inland sea that will blow your mind.
Malta’s Ghajn Tuffieha Bay is considered among the most beautiful in Europe (photo by Giorgio Galeotti, CC BY 3.0)
Malta
Ghajn Tuffieha Bay: Situated on Malta’s stunning Northwest coast, the beach is not for the faint of heart as it takes requires climbing down (and consequently up) roughly 100 steps. The work is worth the effort to arrive at Malta’s most beautiful beach, separated from its neighbours by steep slopes, which gives it a secret-beach feel.
Ghadira Bay: Malta’s largest and most visited beach, located on the outskirts of the village of Mellieħa, which is why it’s sometimes called Mellieha Bay. With 800-metres of sandy, restaurants, showers, and watersports outposts, kids and adults will enjoy a full day.
Armier Bay: Made up of two picturesque beaches on the island’s northernmost tip—Armier and Little Armier—the shimmering turquoise waters of here are often compared to those of Comino’s Blue Lagoon
Golden Bay has a hotel and several places to rent sunbeds and parasols (photo by Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0)
Golden Bay: With glorious reddish sands this is a delightful Malta swim spot and the location of the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa if you’d like to overnight.
Paradise Bay: Paradise Bay and Paradise Bay Hotel Beach are two sandy spots, open to visitors and hotel guests, at the northernmost tip of the island, near the departure point for Gozo ferry.
Comino
The tiny island of Comino is a wonder within itself as its not-so-hidden Blue Lagoon, a scene of a dreamy beauty made for postcards, photos, and all the clichés you can muster for the unbelievable blue hue of the water.
St Mary’s Bay: A 20-minute walk from the Blue Lagoon, more secluded, probably less crowded, and has equally clear water
Xlendi Bay in Gozo is backed by a bustling small town. (photo from MaltaInfoGuide.com)
Gozo
Malta’s little sister Gozo is known as ‘the island of three hills’, but it could easily be nicknamed ‘the island of beautiful beaches’ too, and its headliner is Ramla Bay a reddish, sandy beach that’s unlike any other on the island. Locals and visitors come for the swimming and snorkeling, not to mention the mythical connection between Ulysses and the goddess Calypso.
Xlendi Bay: Know for its dramatic cliffs, crystal-clear waters, and bustling small town, the bay has a sand and pebbly beach ideal for relaxation and swimming. One of Xlendi Bay’s unique attractions is its scenic hiking trails along the cliffs
As its name suggests, the Inland Dwejra Sea is a natural sea pool and one of Gozo’s most scenic swimming holes. Its 80-metre-long tunnel through the cliffs leads to the Mediterranean Sea.
Marlsaforn is one of the larger bays on the island and a seaside resort with hotels, cafes, gorgeous water and even a church dedicated to Saint Paul’s Shipwreck
Gozo’s Inland Dwejra Sea is a lagoon of seawater linked to the Mediterranean (photo by Simongozo – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)
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BeSeeingYou In: Malta and Gozo
Good to Know: Clean beaches and stunning scenery
WOW! Factor: Considered to be among the best bays in Europe
Tip: Bring sunscreen and consider public transportation where possible since parking can be problematic in busier months
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Author bio: Albert Fenech
salina46af@gmail.com
Find your travel muse at BeSeeingYou
Plan your trip at www.visitmalta.com
(Feature image by Flixtey – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)
