Located in the Mediterranean Sea 50 miles south of Italy and 176 miles east of Tunisia, Malta has three small islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino. Today staunchly catholic, Malta was once home to nearly every Mediterranean civilization and was given to Knights Hospitaller in 1530 following their withdrawal from Rhodes.

During World War II, Malta was heavily bombed by the Germans and Italians and became the only nation whose entire population was

awarded the George Cross. The George Cross is Great Britain’s highest civilian honour for bravery.

Malta joined the European Union in 2004 and adopted the common currency, the Euro, in 2008. Today heavily reliant on tourism, visitors to Malta will find a nation steeped in history and a warm, welcoming people. To help you find the best beaches in Malta, we thought we would discuss a view of the beautiful hotspots for your perusal with that in mind.

Golden Bay Beach

With stunning vistas of Għajn Tuffieħa just a short distance away, and warm, shallow waters, this is one of Malta’s best beaches on many different levels. Largely unspoilt surroundings overlook this beautiful sandy beach and on the doorstep is one of the best places to stay in Malta. The fabulous five-star Radisson Blu Resort & Spa is a lush experience with a pleasant character. Located along a small bay on the northwest coast, Golden Bay Beach is an expansive family-friendly beach with every amenity you would expect to find at a top-notch resort. The water at Golden Bay Beach is crystal clear, making it a perfect location to swim and snorkel. Golden Bay beach Malta is not one to be missed.

Ir-Ramla il-Hamra

Besides being an attractive beach, Ramla l-Hamra is also a historic area. The Romans built a villa richly decorated with marble and plaster. So refined was this structure that it boasted its superheated bath replenished with water from a nearby spring conducted to the villa. These Roman ruins now lie re-buried beneath the terracotta sand.

Located on the less developed island of Gozo Ir-Ramla il-Hamra is a large reddish-sand-coloured beach and the most extensive beach on the island of Gozo. Because of its sheltered location in Ramla Bay, it is ideal to go for a swim. Another plus for Ir-Ramla il-Hamra is the very gentle slope into the sea, making it a good beach for younger children. While amenities at the beach include public toilets and a snack bar, the beach does not have lifeguards.

Ghajn Tuffieha Bay

Only accessible by a staircase of 200 steps, the beach at Ghajn Tuffieha Bay appears to be slightly isolated despite its spectacular natural setting. Ghajn Tuffieha Bay will appeal to people looking for a less crowded beach, and yet despite the crowds of sun-worshippers, it still has the amenities of a busier beach, including lifeguards. One downside to Ghajn Tuffieha Bay is that it sometimes has strong currents. A red warning flag will indicate if it is unsafe to swim.

Mellieha Bay

Awarded a Blue Flag by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) for cleanliness, water quality, and amenities, Mellieha Bay is one of the best beaches in Malta. The family-friendly white-sand beach offers turquoise-coloured water and a gentle slope that allows you to walk out 50 meters and not have the water past your knees.

A large section of the beach is closed to boats and various watersports such as wind and kite surfing for added protection. During the summer, lifeguards are on duty to help make Mellieha Bay Beach safe for children.

Valletta Malta Beaches

Despite Valletta being located on a peninsula with the sea on either side, the Maltese capital has no beaches that it can claim as its own. While a few less populated areas are found where a handful of locals go for a dip, both sides of Valetta are working harbours, and therefore it’s not the most pristine place to swim. So while Valletta is a great base to stay for observing its charismatic history, when it comes to lounging on pretty beaches, you will need to travel. The good news is that Malta has incredible beauty spots around every corner. It’s easy to visualize a filmmakers paradise with its gorgeous lagoons and beaches on this incredible island.

Blue Lagoon

Located on the island of Comino, Blue Lagoon beach can easily be mistaken for any number of beaches in the Caribbean. Calm, tranquil, transparent waters appeal to the masses, along with the heavenly photography backdrop. By far one of the best beaches in Malta due to its striking blue-tinted waters alone. A word of warning, though, as the beach can get extremely busy during the peak summer months, especially at the weekend. Late May and early September are an ideal time to visit Blue Lagoon beach which you get to be either taking a ferry from Malta or Gozo.