Paradise Bay, Malta
The honest short answer
Published 9 April 2026. Last reviewed 18 May 2026. Conditions described are typical and never guaranteed.
Paradise Bay is the little sheltered cove right at the northern tip of Malta, tucked into the rocks beside the Cirkewwa ferry terminal where the boats leave for Gozo. It is small, a compact crescent of golden sand reached down a flight of steps, and that combination of size and stairway means it can feel busy fast. What it has that the big open beaches do not is shelter, and that is its real value.
Here is the local trick. When the Gregale or the Majjistral is blowing and Golden Bay and Mellieha turn choppy and onshore, Paradise Bay often stays calm and clear because of the way it is tucked in. So on a windy day, while the open beaches are churning, this is the cove to head for a flat, clear swim. The rocky edges of the bay are the other draw, with clear water and good snorkelling along the sides for anyone who brings a mask.
Above the sand a lido sets out sunbeds and umbrellas with kiosks for drinks and snacks, so you can turn a small cove into a comfortable full day, with the specifics of access and rates best checked on the day as they are seasonal. The water is the reason to come, calm and see through, ideal for an easy swim and a snorkel rather than watersports or a long sandy stroll.
The honest catch is simply the size. On a hot calm August day the cove and its steps fill early and it can feel packed, so come early or in a shoulder month for room to breathe. If it is full, the open beaches are a short drive south, and if those are blown out, Paradise Bay is exactly the sheltered backup you came for. Pair it with a Gozo crossing from the ferry next door for a fuller day out.
Clubs on and near the beach
Paradise Bay runs on the lido above the cove rather than a beach club on the sand. For a pool and lounge club day with a bigger scene you look to the named lidos in the Malta directory.
The day at Paradise Bay runs on the lido above the cove, which sets out sunbeds, umbrellas and kiosks for a longer day, with access and rates seasonal and best treated as to be confirmed before you travel. There is no party style beach club on the sand itself. For the larger pool clubs and lidos you look to the St Paul's Bay and St Julian's coast, all compared in the Malta directory.
Paradise Bay sits at the very northern tip of Malta beside the Cirkewwa ferry terminal, reached by car or the frequent buses that run up to the Gozo ferry, with parking near the terminal. From the clifftop it is a flight of steps down to the cove, so travel light and factor the climb back at the end of the day.
The lido and kiosks above the sand cover sunbeds, drinks and snacks, so you need little more than swim gear, a mask and sun cover. Because the cove is small and shaded only in patches, an early arrival on a hot day secures both space on the sand and a calmer swim before the crowd builds.
Reserve a day on the Malta coast
Tell us the day and the party, and we will match you to a beach club on the coast and pass your request straight to the team.
Is Paradise Bay in Malta worth visiting?
Yes, for a sheltered clear swim and good snorkelling, especially on a windy day when the open beaches are choppy. It is small, so it fills fast in summer and is best early or in a shoulder month, but as a calm water cove and a backup when the Gregale blows it earns its name.
Why is Paradise Bay good when other beaches are windy?
It is tucked into the rocks at the northern tip and sheltered from the winds that hit the open northern and western beaches, so when Golden Bay and Mellieha turn choppy the water here often stays calm and clear. That shelter is the main reason locals head here on a blowy day.
How do you get down to Paradise Bay?
From the clifftop and the car park near the Cirkewwa ferry it is a flight of steps down to the cove and back up at the end of the day, so travel light. The frequent buses to the Gozo ferry stop nearby, which makes it easy to reach without a car.
Is there snorkelling at Paradise Bay?
Yes, the rocky edges of the cove hold clear water and make for good snorkelling, so bring a mask. The sheltered calm water also helps visibility on most days, which is part of why the cove suits an easy swim and a snorkel rather than watersports.
Is there a beach club at Paradise Bay?
There is a lido above the cove that sets out sunbeds, umbrellas and kiosks for a longer day, rather than a party style beach club on the sand, and its access and rates are seasonal and best confirmed before you go. For larger pool clubs you head to the St Paul's Bay and St Julian's coast in our Malta directory.