Malta and its surrounding islands make up one of the smallest countries in Europe – but what it lacks in size it certainly makes up for in personality. The Mediterranean archipelago is chock full of natural beauty, and is rightly proud of its 8,000 years of fascinating history. Home to Megalithic temples, medieval Arabic fortresses, ornate Baroque cathedrals and British red telephone boxes (Malta was colonised by the British empire from 1800 to 1964), the multitudinous influences left by invading civilisations give Malta its unique, sedimentary language and culture.
But aside from its diverse architecture and history-steeped capital, Valletta, Malta is also known for its sun, sea and sand options. Bang in the middle of the Med, with its nearest neighbours being Sicily and Tunisia, Malta is famously sun-drenched for more than 300 days of the year and is home to a wide variety of beaches that’ll satisfy any visitor, whether you love sandy or rocky shores, busy bays or secluded spots. Here’s our pick of the best beaches in Malta and Gozo to get you started.
Golden Bay
(Finn Partners)
Malta’s sandy beaches are scant, but the few that exist are are pretty magnificent. The most popular is Golden Bay on the northwest of the island. It’s one of the most family-friendly options as it’s comparatively easy to access, via a short flight of steps down from the car park, and has everything you could need for a full day out on the sand: handy cafes, sun loungers and umbrellas, plus a solid range of thrill-seeking activities, from paragliding to jetskiing. Stay for the sunset; it’s known to be one of the island’s most spectacular.
Ghajn Tuffieha
(Finn Partners)
Next to trusty Golden Bay, rugged neighbour Ghajn Tuffieha (aka Riviera Beach) is much less developed, with 250 metres of rolling red sand overlooked by wild local flora and not much else. Umbrellas are available and there are snacks to be had, but the lengthy old stretch of steps down to the beach makes it quieter than its busy neighbour. Hike up to the 17th-century Ghajn Mixkuka watchtower between the two beaches for consistently splendid sunset views.
St Peter’s Pool
(Daniel Malinowski)
The undisputed favourite with Gen Z tourists, St Peter’s Pool is photography heaven. A local secret until the invention of Instagram, the craggy cove now gets pretty packed and it’s easy to…
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