Do You Want To Go To The Seaside?

The tiny little island of Malta has a lot more on offer than what meets the eye. From its rich heritage, to beautiful architecture, to its white Mediterranean sands, Malta has a lot to explore.

On a weekend me and my house mates will normally dedicate a day to the beach and then one for exploration. Sometimes, the two of these will coincide and we can do both.

The beach is definitely one of my favourite places to visit as the sea is so inviting in Malta.

I have compiled a list of some of the best beaches to visit whilst in Malta, with the amenities nearby should you need any.

A lot of the beaches are found off the beaten track, which means you are either confined to the amenities that they provide on that beach or take your own products. Often, beaches exploit this opportunity of customers having no amenities nearby, therefore the price of their services and products is much greater than that of in a city or a supermarket. Granted there are overheads to take into account however, there is still a difference in price.

Above: (Not mentioned) The sunrise at St George's Bay

My list of beaches that one should visit whilst in Malta;

• Għajn Tuffieħa – This beach is simply stunning. This beach has some of the clearest waters I have ever come across and is definitely ranked in my top three favourite beaches in Malta. Għajn Tuffieħa is not the easiest beach to get to. There are buses that drop you nearby to the hike to get down towards the water. The some 100 stairs can be pretty tiresome on the way back up, so conserve some energy for this walk. But, it will definitely burn off any food that you may have consumed throughout your time there. There are sun beds and umbrellas available for one to hire and also a café / bar located on the beach front. The typical price range for a sandwich here is around €6, which isn’t too bad. However, I would recommend taking a cooler and making the sandwiches yourself at home so that it will eradicate this cost.

• Golden Bay – Golden Bay is located near to Għajn Tuffieħa and is also slightly bigger in side. Golden Bay is not as much of a hassle to get to, as the bus drops you at the top of the hill which leads down into the beach opening. On the walk down to the beach one will find vans that carry convenience store products, often at a lower price than the snack bar located on the beach front. Again, there are umbrellas to hire, with many opting for this option as there is little shade covering at this beach. The waters here are again beautiful, however, it seems that hard tourism has taken this beach as there is often litter hidden within the sand.

Above: The beach at Golden Bay

• Mellieha Beach – This beach probably ranks as my favourite beach in Malta in terms of all round quality. This beach is one of the larger beaches that you can find in Malta, meaning that you are not having to struggle to squeeze in between parties. There are numerous eateries to choose from across the wide beach front, which all have varying price ranges. One of the ‘cleaner’ places to eat is probablyMaxima Bar and Restaurant, which offer a range of food and beverages. This beach has beautiful white sand and crystal water that seems to get clearer and clearer each time I visit the beach. Due to its size, it never feels overcrowded or busy and there is always a space or bed available. There are many bus routes that can take you back home after a long day and unlike the other two beaches, there is not a strenuous hike to reach said bus stop.

• Paradise Bay – The clue is definitely in the name with this beach. Paradise bay is one of nature’s little hidden treasures. There is a long walk to reach the beach itself if one finds themselves on a bus route that does not take them up the long hill. The hill honestly looks like a deserted southern-American highway, with the blazing heat making those hazy lines often found in the movies. But, once you manage to navigate your way to the bay, it means that you are in for a treat. This small little gem has to be visited if you are in Malta. The water is absolutely gorgeous, incredibly clear and cool. There are even some little fishy friends to keep you company, as I experienced the first time I went there. The only downside is that this beach gets busy very quickly, due to it being a small area. However, if you set off early enough, you can grab a spot. There are also amenities at the beach such as a bar, café and restaurant, which offer a variety of local and international food. There really is something for everybody there.

Above: The walk down to Paradise Bay

• St Peter’s Pool - Another tricky little gem to find, but that is definitely worth the walk. The local bus route drops you around a 25-minute hike to the pool, therefore I would recommend getting a taxi if possible. This pool does not have amenities therefore you will need to take your own food and drink. However, this place is absolutely beautiful. If you’re a dare devil, you can jump off some of the edges of the pool and into the cool, clear waters below. Be careful of the jellyfish though! I have only seen a handful of jellyfish here, but St Peter’s Pool has been regarded as a hot spot for them in the past.

Above: The pool at St Peter's Pool

• Blue Lagoon - The Blue Lagoon is a beautiful inlet on the island of Comino which can be accessed by boat from either Gozo or Malta, with prices ranging from provider to provider. There are two white sand beaches, one on either side of the waters and the rest of the bay is pretty much all rocks. This is where (similarly to St Peter’s Pool) you can jump into the waters below or you can also snorkel, which is normally pretty popular at this bay as the water is so clear and there are also several caves that one can enter. It is typically a very busy tourist spot, so I would not recommend staying the full day here. I think that it is nice to have a little swim there and then continue with the rest of your day. There are amenities outside of the bay and more so into Comino, so I would also recommend taking your own lunches and food in order to save some money.

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