Mellieha Bay
BUSES. From Valletta 43, 44, 45, 50, 452
Malta s largest and most popular sandy beach. It lies on the coast road leading to Cirkewwa and the Gozo ferry. There are no undercurrents here so the bay offers safe bathing and the shallow waters make it ideal for children.

Mellieha has all the facilities you need. The old village of Mellieha is perched on the hill above the bay, but you will find plenty of cafes, restaurants and a few small hotels on the coast road itself.

There are also kiosks on the fringes of the beach. There is a good choice of fun and sport activities from banana boat rides to pedallo hire.

Mellieha is large enough not to become too crowded except at weekends during the peak summer months. It is also popular with windsurfers and water skiers. The north-easterly wind here and the wide inlet provide excellent windsurfing conditions almost all year round.

Behind the bay, across the road, is Ghadira Nature Reserve. Ghadira is a brackish marshy area with shallow reedy ponds. It is home to a variety of small mammals and lizards and is a stop over for migratory birds.


Golden Bay
BUSES. From Valletta 47, 51, 52, From Sliema 652One of Malta s most popular sandy beaches. Despite this accolade, it is set among countryside and is relatively undeveloped.

It does have the facilities you need for the day: a café-restaurant, sun lounger and umbrella hire, and plenty of fun water sports from jet skiing and paragliding to banana boat rides. It has easy access making it suitable for the less mobile or those with small children.

The atmosphere here is both chic and family fun. As the second largest sandy beach, there is usually room for games. The spectacular sunsets here have made the beach a popular spot for evening barbecues. The beach is generally safe for swimming but it is prone to strong currents when the wind is to the north-west. A red flag indicates when bathing should be limited to the shallow waters only.

The Sliema Beaches
BUSES. From Valletta 62, 67, 68.
The Sliema and St Julian's coastline is thronged with sunbathers during the peak summer months. From Qui-si-Sana in Sliema to Balluta Bay in St Julian's, it is one long stretch of rocky shore. But popular none the less with sun bathers and swimmers.

Steps and handrails placed every so often allow easy access to the water. There are plenty of flat rocks to spread a towel on. The sea here is deep, but generally clean, clear and safe to swim. It is also excellent for snorkelling.

Some hotels along the front, especially at the St Julian's end, provide beach concessions equipped with pools, water sports and lido areas for nightlife. The favourite beach areas are: the Tigne' area, Qui si-Sana, Ghar id-Dud, the Exiles and Fond Ghadir. Some are well- known lidos or `beach clubs' though the entire coastline is public access.

The Sliema beaches become a very sociable, lively place to be by mid-afternoon in peak summer. The promenade is excellent for long, striding walks in winter, slow strolls on summer evenings and for watching the wave drama during freak autumn storms.

You will find plenty of snack bars and restaurants on the coast road and kiosks near the shoreline.


Delimara Point
BUSES. From Valletta 27.
Delimara Point is the headland to the East of Marsaxlokk Bay. It offers a pleasant view of Marsaxlokk Bay and the Freeport Terminal. At the tip of Delimara is one of Malta's most secluded and attractive rocky inlets.

The shoreline is accessible down a steep flight of steps. Flat rocks provide a good beach area with some shade. The inlet is not suitable for small children to swim in. Also on Delimara Point is another beauty spot and rocky inlet, Peter's Pool. Both beaches are relatively quiet, even in peak summer months.

Bugibba and Qawra
BUSES. From Valletta 49, 57, 58.
These are Malta's largest, seaside resort towns. The coastline promenade stretches from Salina Bay to St Paul's Bay taking in some of the Islands' best open sea views and a vista over to St Paul's Island.

The shore is rocky, but that has not prevented the resorts' appeal. The flat rocks provide places for sun bathing and there are access points every so often for swimmers.

The water is deep, but generally clean, clear and safe for bathing. The Qawra promontory to the north west has been developed into a distinct resort with hotels along the coastline and numerous holiday apartments just inland.

Salina Bay takes its name from the salt pans cut in inner segment of this sea inlet. The water on both verges of the bay is not deep but is quite suitable for swimming off the rocks. The bay is popular throughout the summer.