The Most Spectacular Swimming Spots In Malta

Malta has been described as the ‘underrated gem of the Mediterranean’ and looking at these pictures of spectacular swimming spots, it’s easy to see why.

With some of the cleanest waters in the Mediterranean, spending your days lazily ticking off these beaches on your Malta bucket list is a holiday dream.

Be warned though – many of the beaches are the rocky kind often found in this part of the world, so try to put the Australian version of sandy beaches out of your mind. The upside? No pesky fine-grained sand in your bathers and beach bag!

Here are the best swimming spots to cool off in Malta.

1. Ramla Bay

Known locally as ‘the red sandy beach’, this is the island of Gozo’s most popular swimming spot. With Roman ruins in the background, this is a truly epic spot for a dip.

It’s a ‘blue flag’ beach – an international award given to beaches, harbours, marinas and boats which have proven to be clean and safe, and respectful to the environment.

Ramla Bay Malta — Ramla Bay is one of Gozo’s most popular swimming spot

2. The Blue Lagoon

Just a boat ride from the seaside resort of Sliema on Malta (the archipelago’s main island) is the small island of Comino. Here, you’ll find the Blue Lagoon – well worth a trip for its crystal-clear, turquoise waters.

You could just position yourself on the rocks beside the water and sunbake the day away, but with an abundance of sea life under the water, it’s worth grabbing some goggles and going for a snorkel.

An ice-cream boat is sure to be patrolling somewhere along the shore, so keep your eyes out for a sweet treat when you’re finished exploring the underwater realm.

The Blue Lagoon Malta — The Blue Lagoon is well worth a trip for its crystal-clear, turquoise waters

3. Paradise Bay

At the most northern point of Malta is where you will find this lovely small beach, set in natural rocky surrounds. A number of decks have been created for sunbeds and umbrellas, so you can soak up the sun in style. It’s a bit of a steep descent down, but it’s well worth it – from the top of the cliffs you get an unobstructed view of both Gozo and Comino Island.

4. Ta’ Fra Ben (Qawra Point)

Sure, the beach is a little rocky, but this is a beautiful, sheltered beach with spectacular views and crystalline waters. It also doesn’t get quite as busy as some of the others, so it’s a smart choice in the summer months.

The calm waters and easy entry into the water make this a great beach for families. It’s also a popular location for barbecues, with Malta’s beautiful north-eastern seascape as a backdrop.

Ta’ Fra Ben Malta — Head to Ta’ Fra Ben spectacular views and crystalline waters

5. Fomm-ir-Rih

This one is tricky to get to, but if you want to escape the crowds it can be well worth the trek. It’s accessed by a fairly rough pathway that takes about 20 minutes to traverse.

Malta’s most remote and inaccessible beach is near the small town of Baħrija on the northwestern Maltese coast. It’s a favourite with divers, snorkellers and people wanting a more rugged beach experience. Take a picnic lunch, as there are no food or drink stands at this secluded spot.

Fomm-ir-Rih Malta — Favoured by divers, snorkellers and rugged-beach goers

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6. GoldenBay

This is one of the few ‘sandy’ beaches, so if you have a vision of lying on a towel and soaking up the sun, this might be the spot for you. Set on Malta’s northwest coast, there are also some great restaurants and kiosks surrounding the beach, making it a great place to spend a whole day. A variety of watersports and boat trips are also offered at this beach. This is another ‘blue flag’ beach, so you can be assured of its cleanliness.

7. St Peter’s Pool

Set near the charming fishing village of Marsaxlokk, St Peter’s pool is considered one of the most beautiful natural pools in the world.

It’s a great day trip if you’re staying on another part of the island as you can combine a walk through Marsaxlokk (and a spectacular seafood meal) with a dip in the pool – though do note that it’s about a 35-minute walk from the village to St Peter’s Pool. It’s worth it, though. Jumping off the sand-bleached rocks into the light-green water is an absolute treat on a hot day.

St Peter's Pool Malta — St Peter’s pool is considered one of the most beautiful natural pools in the world

8. San Blas Bay

Another of Gozo’s great swimming spots, San Blas Bay is set in the secluded green countryside at the end of a pristine valley. The sand is the same reddish sand of Ramla Bay, which contrasts so beautifully with the azure sea.

It’s a bit quieter than Ramla, partly because the road has been closed off, so it’s a bit of a trek down to the water via a slightly steep path. This is a superb place for snorkelling around the submerged boulders on the edge of the beach.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

The most spectacular swimming spots in Malta