Discover Golden Bay in Malta, one of the most beautiful golden sand beaches in the archipelago.
Famous for its red sands and crystal clear water, Golden Bay is up there with one of the most popular beaches in Malta.
In this guide, I’ll detail everything you need to know about visiting this beach, including up-to-date information about how to get here, what to expect, and some quick tips to make the most of your visit!
Things to Know About Malta's Golden Bay
Golden Bay is one of Malta's most popular beaches. It's famous for its soft, red sands that emanate a golden glow during sunset in the summer months. Here's what you need to know.
- You'll find Golden Bay less than a 10-minute drive from Mellieha. You can also take the 225 bus to Għajn Tuffieħa Bus Terminus.
- The famous Malta catamaran boat trip also stops at Golden Bay
- Its high, rocky cliffs provide very good shelter from the winds and its long, deep bay is great for water sports like jet skiing and sea kayaking.
- Many tourists and locals visit Golden Bay as is one of the best beaches for swimming on the island. However, it can also get very busy in the summer season.
- This beach is rated as "Blue Flag", by the FEE flag rating system, meaning it has a high level of safety and plenty of amenities.
Directly above the beach is one of Malta's best resorts– the Radisson Blue Resort, which is a great option if you want to stay somewhere out of the main tourist areas in the Maltese Islands.
Where is Golden Bay?
Golden Bay is located just a short distance from the nearby Gnejna Bay and Ghajn Tuffiha Bay on the northwest coast of Malta. The closest town is the village of Maikata, just a short drive or bus from Mellieha Bay.
The beach is located in a section known as il-Majjistral Nature Park. Below I've pinned the exact location of Golden Bay to make it easier to find.
Location: Google Maps
How to Get to Golden Bay Beach
There are three main options for reaching Golden Bay from other popular areas of Malta like Mellieha Bay, Valletta, Sliema, or St. Julian's.
1. Golden Bay by Malta Catamaran Tour
By far, the most scenic way to experience the beauty of Malta's coast is to do so from the sea.
There is one catamaran sailing tour that you can book on GetYourGuide, stopping at some of the most iconic highlights including Comino and the Blue Lagoon, the Crystal Lagoon, Popeye Village, and of course, the golden sands of Golden Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa.
These trips depart from St. Paul's Bay and Bugibba and have nearly 2,000 5-star reviews!
Book: Malta Catamaran Trip
2. Golden Bay By Bus
The best and most convenient public transport option to Golden Bay is to take the Route 225 bus line to Għajn Tuffieħa Bus Terminus.
This bus will pass through Sliema, St Julians, Qawra, Buġibba, and St. Paul’s Bay. For those staying in Valletta, you can take the 250 or 42 bus to St. Paul's Bay, then jump on the 225 to Golden Bay.
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3. Self-Drive to Golden Bay
There's no doubt. Having your own rental car in Malta is going to give you the best and most flexible travel experience on the islands!
I recommend comparing prices on DiscoverCars to get a great deal across all of the dealerships on Malta and Gozo.
Once you've got your set of wheels, you'll want to drive to the pin above. Driving these roads is quite easy as it is a much quieter region compared to Valletta or Mellieha Bay.
You'll find a parking area near the beach (close to the Radisson Golden Sands hotel), as well as a second option just north of this.
My Experience at Golden Bay Malta & What to Expect
We visited Golden Bay during the summer months on a particularly hot day in Malta. As a result, the beach was absolutely packed– far from the secluded beaches, you'll find in the north or on Gozo.
However, it's undeniable that this beach really is beautiful. From the top near the bus stop and car park, you'll get great views of the beach and surrounding cliffs. There's a snack bar, ice cream bar, and small cafe just a short distance from here, which is great if you want to cool down as well.
On the beach, there were loads of tourists baking in the sun and swimming in the shallow waters of the bay. While the sand is very comfortable, there are tiny pebbles closer to the water's edge.
Water Sports at Golden Bay Beach
Golden Bay beach is one of the most popular beaches in Malta for water sports like jet skis and sea kayaking. There's a small water sports operator (Aquamarine Watersports) on the beach offering rentals and tours cheaply.
Horse Riding at Golden Bay
The main reason we visited Golden Bay was to go on the famous horse riding activity. We had a group booking and our guides led us to some of the high cliffs just north of Golden Bay, where we passed the beautiful rocky coast for breathtaking views of the beach and the Mediterranean Sea.
From here, we could also see the famous Għajn Tuffieħa tower dominating the headland just south of the bay.
This was one of Haylea's favorite experiences on Malta, and I would certainly recommend this company.
5 Tips for Visiting Golden Bay
As promised, below are five useful tips you'll want to consider when planning your visit to the red sands of Golden Bay Beach.
- Come early - this is a very popular beach. When we visited it was much too crowded for our liking.
- Hire a kayak - you can easily hire a sea kayak at Golden Bay. In good conditions, you'll want to kayak around the headland to Għajn Tuffieħa bay.
- Parking - if the parking lot is full, there is parking space pinned on Google maps as "Designated Street Parking"– just a 5-10 minute walk from the beach
- Check the weather - during westerly winds, this beach will not be so nice for swimming. Instead, you'll want to head to one of the coves on Malta's east coast.
- Don't swim during red flags - Malta uses a flag system to alert swimmers of dangerous conditions. Red means don't swim!
Where to Stay in Malta
There's a wide range of accommodation types, from 5-star resorts to traditional terraced boutique hotels scattered all over Malta's islands. However, I highly recommend staying in either Valletta, Sliema & St Julian's, Mellieħa Bay, and Gozo Island.
Below are the top four options based on location, reviews, and my personal experience.
To save you time, read my guide to where to stay in Malta, or this guide to Gozo's Best Boutique Hotels.
1. 1926 Hotel & Spa Sliema
This amazing 4-star luxury facility in Sliema offers Mediterranean Sea views & a rooftop infinity swimming pool. Easy access to the ferry terminal running to Gozo & Valletta.
2. Iniala Harbour House Valletta
Perched atop Valletta's stunning St Barbara Bastion, this incredible boutique experience offers stunning views of the Grand Harbour & the Three Cities from traditional Maltese balconies.
3. db Seabank Resort Mellieħa
Situated just feet from the white sandy shores of Malta's longest beach, this all-inclusive hotel offers five restaurants, a fitness center, a spa, multiple pools, & a bowling alley!
4. Quaint Boutique Hotel (Nadur) Gozo
A beautifully renovated boutique hotel beside the Nadur Parish Church. Find spacious balcony terraces overlooking the town square & offering a peaceful, traditional ambiance.
I hope this quick but detailed guide to Malta's Golden Bay Beach has inspired you to visit this awesome location.
Before you head out on your adventures, make sure to read or bookmark some of my other useful travel guides. Below are a few of my favorites with some hidden gems to discover as well!
- 70+ Things to do in Malta - my ultimate Maltese Travel Guide covering all the must-see attractions and hidden gems in the archipelago.
- 16 Things to do on Comino - my detailed guide to the island of Comino
- 40 Amazing Things to do on Gozo - I explored every corner of Malta's sister island of Gozo to form this comprehensive travel guide
- Best Beaches in Malta - a thorough beach guide covering the most popular spots and plenty of hidden gems
- Guide to Mellieha - a detailed travel guide covering the top 16 things to do in Mellieha
- 26 Things to do in Valletta - I cover my favorite things to do in Malta's capital
- Top Sunset Spoints in Malta - wind down your day at one of these epic sunset locations in Malta
- The Malta Blue Lagoon Guide - the most up-to-date resource on visiting Malta's most popular natural attraction, the Blue Lagoon!
- Accommodation resources: Looking for places to stay? Read my guide to finding where to stay in Malta. Or, for a unique stay, check out this list of great Boutique Hotels in Gozo and more Boutique Hotels in Valletta.
