Ballutta Bay & St. George's Bay, St. Julian's

The closest sandy beaches to Granny's Inn Hostel.

Ballutta bay is a popular recreation spot used for swimming, diving, and water sports, with a triangular piazza surrounded by cafés and shaded by Judas trees.

St George’s Bay is a popular beach bang in the middle of the main entertainment hub in Malta. This beach proves popular on summer nights as youngsters gather to socialize.

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Golden Bay Beach 

Golden Bay is a small sandy beach located northwest of the island. This beach got this name due to its golden sandy colour. This beach is one of the most popular between the tourists and it has bars, restaurants, and all the comforts to pass a full day on the beach. This bay is often a bit windy and for this is perfect for the windsurf out of season. Also, this bay has some water currents.

Għajn Tuffieħa Bay

Għajn Tuffieħa (meaning Apple’s Eye), probably the most beautiful beach on the entire island of Malta, it is located in the North West of the island and is very close to Golden Bay. This beach just like Golden Bay is also not very large, so space is very limited. Once you arrive here, you must do 180 stairs steps or go around a little road which will bring you to the other side of the bay. The sand here is very smooth and pleasant. To get into deep water, you must walk for about 30 meters. If you feel like walking, then going uphill, will take you to a place with great panorama and the view of Gnejna Bay. For those a little bit adventurous, once you’re here, you can slide down towards Gnejna Bay. Sunsets are very pretty from Ghajn Tuffieha. 

Blue Lagoon, Comino

Located in Comino, the small island between Malta and Gozo, and probably it is the most beautiful beach in Malta. It is certainly the most popular. The water is so clear, that even if swimming at a 6 metres depth, you can easily see the bottom, the fish and other marine life. It has a small sandy area which gets very crowded in the summer and large rocky area with caves, one of which has a sandy beach inside. At the Blue Lagoon, you will find kiosks with food and drinks. You can hire a banana boat, or a tour through the caves by boat. 

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Paradise Bay, Mellieha

Overlooking the Gozo channel the beach is quite tiny but due to the fact that it is not so easily accessible as other beaches and has good-sized parking, this beach is especially suggested for those who have a car. Around the beach, there are many snorkelling spots, so get your snorkels with you, but also here, you can rent a kayak. Many locals love visiting the beach to watch the sun setting here too. 

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Ghadira Bay, Mellieha

It is the longest sandy beach in Malta and is one of the most famous beaches on the island. It has very clear waters and magnificent sand. The water around the beach is without currents and the depth increases very gradually. This makes this beach very suitable for families.

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Visit the complete list of Beaches in Malta here.

Victorian-era baths, Font Għadir + Qui-Si-Sana Beach

You can choose between the open sea, a little shallow kids pool area (also suitable for dogs) and about 5-6 rock pools that have seawater flowing in and out of them. The beach starts in Sliema and ends in St Julian’s.

St. Peter’s Pool, Malta

One of the most beautiful and stunning natural swimming pools in Malta and is located close to Marsaxlokk at the tip of Delimara Point in the southwest of Malta.

The sea at St. Peters Pool is crystal clear with an amazing azure and light green colours and offers excellent snorkelling opportunities. The flat rocks around St Peter’s Pool provide perfect sunbathing areas and the high rocks offer some shade from the strong sun.

Ladders are available to access the sea and the more adventurous bathers have the option of diving into the waters from a few meters up.

Anchor Bay, Malta

Anchor Bay is a picturesque inlet with beautiful green-blue clear water that is surrounded by rocky slopes, situated one kilometre west of the village of Mellieha in northern Malta. Even though Anchor Bay is a pretty bay it is mostly popular for Popeye Village where the whole set of the 1979 film, starring Robin Williams as Popeye, still stands. Popeye Village film set is today a theme park and a tourist attraction often used as an activity centre. Anchor Bay is quite secluded and not a very popular swimming spot due to the bay’s rough nature. However, during the summer months, Popeye Village has a lido with sun-beds and umbrellas for rent as well as a trampoline and water park in the sea for easier access.

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Dwejra Bay, Gozo

Dwejra Bay has a dramatic and spectacular scenery that is good for bathing off the rugged rocks, and excellent for snorkelling.

The Inland Sea has shallow, calm and safe waters with a pebbly shore and seabed good for swimming and children. There are also good areas for swimming at Dwejra however it is rougher and the sea is significantly deeper and is not recommended for children and inexperienced swimmers. 

Mgarr ix-Xini, Gozo

It is a secluded spot popular for swimming and diving. In 1999 the former Gozo ferry MV Xlendi was purposely sunk to create an artificial reef and dive site. However, the ship rolled over while sinking and it ended up upside down.

The movie titled By the Sea, starring Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt was partially filmed here.

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​Wied l-Għasri, Gozo

The Ghasri Valley is a marvellous place for a country walks or bike ride, especially in winter and spring. It is very popular with divers who like to explore the surrounding underwater caves. The very narrow and secluded bay is also a haven for those who seek a quiet bathing area.

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City of Valletta 
Valletta, Malta’s capital and a World Heritage site, is nothing short of an open-air museum. It is a living experience of Baroque architecture, a monument donated by the Knights of St John nearly five centuries ago.

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The Three Cities

The Three Cities offer an intriguing insight into Malta and its history. Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua's harbour inlets have been in use since Phoenician times. As the first home to the Knights of St. John, the Three Cities' palaces, churches, forts and bastions are far older than Valletta's.

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Mdina + Rabat

Mdina is sitting on top of a hill overlooking large parts of Malta, it’s a small town, rich in history and surrounded by tall bastion fortifications. It’s filled with centuries-old buildings. Its main entrance features in the popular TV series Game of Thrones.

Rabat is known for its quiet character, the forested area of Buskett and attractions such as the Roman Domus and St Paul’s Catacombs.

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Dingli Cliffs + Blue grotto + Wied iż-Żurrieq

Dingli is the highest point in Malta (280 meters). Found on the west coast (sunset side) it provides spectacular views of the surrounding cliffs and the sea below. 

The Blue Grotto is a complex of seven caves found along the southern coast of the island, right across from the little islet of Filfla, and less than a kilometre west of Wied iż-Żurrieq.

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Tarxien Temples +  Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum

A complex of four megalithic temples make up The Tarxien Temples site, which is located in the heart of the village of Tarxien. Its location is around 400metres to the east of the Hypogeum.
The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is a unique gem dating as far back as 4000 BC. The site is an underground complex made up of several interconnecting chambers spread on three levels. The UNESCO World Heritage centre describes it as being of Outstanding Universal Value.

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The Victoria Lines

The Victoria Lines are a network of fortifications built by the British Armed Forces during the second half of the 19th century consisting of a number of different elements: forts, batteries, entrenchments, searchlight emplacements and howitzer positions, all connected by a continuous infantry line. They were strategically built on the edge of Malta’s Great Fault and span across the whole width of the island; some 12 kilometres from Fomm ir-Riħ in the west to Madliena in the east.

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St John’s Co-Cathedral & Museum, Valletta

Grand, 16th-century church offering a museum with baroque architecture, artwork & many artefacts. The painting depicting The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist by Caravaggio is the most famous work in the church. 

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National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta

A visit to this museum is an ideal way to learn about the prehistory of Malta. This museum, suitable for all ages, exhibits a wonderful collection of artefacts from Malta that date back to prehistoric times.

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The Inquisitor’s Palace, Birgu

The Inquisitor's Palace also known as the Sacred Palace is a palace in Birgu, Malta. It was the seat of the Maltese Inquisition from 1574 to 1798.

The building is one of the few surviving palaces of its kind in the world and the only one which is open to the public.

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Gozo Nature Museum, Victoria

The Gozo Nature Museum, formerly known as the Natural Science Museum, is a museum in Victoria, on the island of Gozo. It is housed in a group of houses within the Cittadella, the oldest part of the city. The Natural Science Museum shows collections "relating to the Island’s geology, minerals, marine life, insects, local habitats and ecosystems as well as national plants, human and animal evolution.

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The Grandmaster’s Palace (State Rooms), Valletta

The Grandmaster’s Palace was once the seat of power for the Order of the Knights of St. John, served as the Governor’s Palace during British rule and nowadays houses the Office of the President. Get a glimpse of one of the most impressive buildings in Valletta, built up and enriched over four-and-a-half centuries.

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The Malta Aviation Museum, Ta Qali

The museum is a very popular attraction for aviation enthusiasts and is located in the former Royal Air force Station in Ta’ Qali. The museum is home to many items of historical importance, focusing mainly on World War II and the important role Malta played between 1940 and 1943.

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The Old Prison, Citadel

The oldest surviving prison in Gozo still reverberates with the memories of its numerous inmates who left their mark on the aged walls of its cells and corridors. Presenting the largest known collection of historical graffiti in one single place on the Maltese Islands, this site provides a glimpse of the conditions in which inmates were kept at the time.

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Find the complete list of museums here.

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Oil Tanker Um El Faroud, Zurrieq

The Um El Faroud is a wreck with a tragic history: Nine Maltese dock workers were killed when a gas explosion on board ripped through the ship in 1995.

Three years after the accident, the ship was taken to its current location and scuttled to serve as a dive site. As a memorial to those who died in the accident, a brass plaque was placed on the wreck.

The ship is a huge vessel at 10,000 tonnes and well worth the dive, but the swimming distance is relatively lengthy, which means that the time on the wreck is reduced to around 10-15 minutes if diving on a single cylinder.

The ship offers multiple swim-throughs around the decks and the bridge and the wheelhouse is accessible as well. There is plenty of sea life around, including barracuda, sea bream and scorpionfish.

Patrol boat P29, Cirkewwa

Sitting upright at a depth of 33 metres just off the Ċirkewwa reef, the wreck of the P29 was scuttled on 14th August 2007 as a diving attraction. The 52-metre ship was built by Peenewerft shipyard as a minesweeper for the East German navy, later used by the Armed Forces of Malta as a patrol boat in border control operations.

Entry into the water is easy via a set of stairs carved into the natural alcove of Susie’s Pool, a shallow training area in Ċirkewwa where waist-deep water leads into a plateau 6 metres deep. The wreck lies at the edge of a drop in the Ċirkewwa reef, with the top at about 12 metres below the surface.

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Inland Sea tunnel+ Blue hole, Dwejra(Gozo)

The inland sea at San Lawrenz/Dwejra in Gozo is a small inland bay surrounded by tall cliffs and open sea access through a large cave. As you enter the 2 metre-deep water at the inland sea (easy to reach, convenient location) the first part of the dive takes you through an arch in the rock with clear blue water and colourful reef, inhabited by a variety of species of fish.

The Blue Hole is perhaps the most beautiful dive in Gozo. It provides access to all the other dive sites in Dwejra. Once you dive out of the inland sea you will get to the Blue Hole, which is a 15-metre deep sinkhole in the limestone where you can enter for a safety stop and then surface from the
Coral Gardens.

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The HMS Maori, Valletta 

The HMS Maori was a British WWII Destroyer, bombed and sunk on February 14th, 1942 in Valletta Grand Harbour.

The ship received a direct hit to the engine room, killing the one person who was on board at the time of the bombing. Since it was blocking the harbour, the Maori was towed out of the way. The towing broke up the wreck into two parts, one of which is diveable. Although it is partly buried in sand, the swim through is relatively straightforward.

At around 14 metres depth, the Maori is considered a relaxed and easy dive.

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Find the complete list of dive sites here.

1. Upper Barrakka Gardens - This is a public garden located in Valletta, Malta's capital city. It offers panoramic views of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities, making it a popular spot for tourists and locals alike.
    

2. San Anton Palace and Gardens - This palace is the official residence of the President of Malta, and its gardens are open to the public. It features a variety of plants and trees, as well as several ponds and fountains, making it a peaceful and scenic place to visit.
    

3. Buskett Gardens - This is a woodland area located in the western part of Malta. It is the only woodland area on the island and is a popular spot for picnicking and birdwatching.
    

4. Palazzo Parisio & Gardens - This 18th-century palace is now a luxury hotel, but it's gardens are open to the public. They feature a variety of exotic plants and trees, as well as several fountains and ponds.
    

5. The Blue Lagoon - This is a popular spot for swimming and snorkeling, located on the island of Comino. It is surrounded by crystal-clear waters and lush vegetation, making it a beautiful place to visit.
    

6. Red Tower Botanical Garden - This botanical garden is located in Marsaskala and features a variety of local and exotic plants, as well as a tower that offers panoramic views of the surrounding area.
    

7. Gardens of Ghar Dalam - This is a historical and natural site located in Birzebbugia, and features a cave that was inhabited by prehistoric animals. The gardens surrounding the cave are home to a variety of indigenous and exotic plants, making it a unique place to visit.
    

8. Il-Majjistral Nature & History Park - This park covers an area of over 1000 hectares and is located in Mġarr. It features a variety of landscapes, including cliffs, valleys, and beaches, as well as several historic sites, making it a great place for nature and history enthusiasts.

1. Tarxien Temples - This is one of the largest and most complex prehistoric temples in Malta. It is believed to have been built between 3150 and 2500 BC and features several carved figures and designs.

2. Mnajdra Temples - This is a series of three megalithic temples located on the southern coast of Malta. They are believed to have been built between 3600 and 3200 BC and offer stunning views of the sea and the surrounding landscape.
    

3. Ħaġar Qim Temples - This is another megalithic temple complex located on the southern coast of Malta. It is believed to have been built between 3600 and 3200 BC and features several large stone blocks, some of which are decorated with carvings.
    

4. Ggantija Temples - These temples are located on the island of Gozo and are believed to have been built between 3600 and 3200 BC. They are the oldest freestanding structures in the world and feature several large stone blocks that have been arranged in a circular pattern.
    

5. Skorba Temples - This temple complex is located in the northern part of Malta, and is believed to have been built between 3600 and 3200 BC. It features several large stone blocks, as well as several smaller structures that are thought to have been used for religious rituals.
    

6. Borg in-Nadur Temples - This temple complex is located in the southern part of Malta and is believed to have been built between 3600 and 3200 BC. It features several large stone blocks, as well as several smaller structures that are thought to have been used for religious rituals