Paradise Bay
Mellieħa · North-west · 35.984°N, 14.330°E
Paradise Bay is a small fine-sand cove tucked away at the northern tip of Malta, right next to the Ċirkewwa terminal where ferries depart for Gozo and Comino. Known for remarkably clear turquoise water and a backdrop of cliffs, it regularly ranks among the island’s most beautiful beaches. Its small size is both its charm and its weakness: in summer the beach fills up very quickly, and free space becomes scarce by mid-morning. The only way down is a stairway of around a hundred steps, which puts it out of reach for visitors with reduced mobility. Facilities include a bar-restaurant, a small shop, toilets and showers, along with sunbeds, parasols, canoes and paddleboards for hire.
Amenities at Paradise Bay
- Toilets
- Showers
- Parking
- Supervised beach
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Snack bar
- Sun loungers
- Umbrellas
- Kayak
- Snorkeling
- Diving
- Family beach
Activities available at Paradise Bay
Paradise Bay remains a fairly unspoiled beach with a limited range of activities. On the spot, canoes and paddleboards can be hired to explore the cove and the rocky corners nearby, for around €12 to €15 an hour.
For more ambitious outings, the real starting point is Ċirkewwa, a few minutes away, where the choice is much wider: this is where the Blue Lagoon cruises to Comino depart from, and where jet ski rental offers the best value for money. Thrill-seekers can also opt for a jet ski ride to the Blue Lagoon, while the nearby Marfa peninsula runs its own Blue Lagoon cruises.
Private Blue Lagoon cruise from Mellieħa (Ċirkewwa)
Jet ski rental to discover Coral Lagoon and Mellieħa Bay
Blue Lagoon jet ski tour from Mellieħa (Ċirkewwa)
Blue Lagoon cruise from Mellieħa (Marfa)
Where to stay near Paradise Bay
Accommodation is scarce in the immediate surroundings of Paradise Bay, which remains an isolated cove at the tip of the island. The closest option is the Paradise Bay Resort, the large complex overlooking the bay, about twenty minutes’ walk from the beach.
A little further along the Marfa peninsula, two other seaside resorts offer a similar setting, around thirty minutes’ walk away: the Riviera Spa Resort and the Ramla Bay Resort, both set right on the water facing Gozo. For a wider choice of restaurants and shops, the village of Mellieħa, a few kilometres away, makes a more convenient base.
Location of Paradise Bay
Paradise Bay lies at the northern tip of Malta, on the Marfa peninsula, just above the Ċirkewwa terminal where ferries leave for Gozo and Comino. The cove is framed by tall limestone cliffs and faces the channel separating Malta from its neighbouring islands, with an open view of Comino and its tower. Part of the municipality of Mellieħa, it sits a few kilometres north-west of the large beach at Mellieħa Bay. The shore is overlooked by the Paradise Bay Resort, whose massive outline above the bay is not to everyone’s taste.
Getting to Paradise Bay
By bus to Paradise Bay
Paradise Bay sits at the northern tip of Malta, right next to the Ċirkewwa ferry terminal. No bus stops directly on the sand: depending on the route, expect a 5 to 15-minute walk to reach the stairway leading down to the beach. From Mellieħa, route 101 is by far the quickest option. Direct buses run from Sliema and Valletta, but the journey takes close to an hour and a half; from the airport, a change is required.
* Summer fare Jun–Oct (€2.00 the rest of the year)
Calculate the current journey time on Malta Public Transport
By car to Paradise Bay
Paradise Bay is a fairly out-of-the-way beach at the northern tip of the island. It is ideal for travellers staying in the north of Malta (Mellieħa, Ċirkewwa, Marfa, St Paul’s Bay), but a long way from Sliema, St Julian’s, Valletta or the towns further south: the journey is long, whether by bus or by car.
If you have rented a car during your stay in Malta, the beach is easy to reach and has a large free car park just above the cove. In high season it fills up early; it then remains possible to park along the road leading down to it.
To avoid depending on bus timetables, a car with driver is the simplest option. Maltese taxis (white taxis) are not the recommended choice — a ride-hailing app is usually a better bet. The three most popular services in Malta are eCabs (a local provider), Uber and Bolt, all offering comparable service and prices. Given the distance, allow for a short wait for the return Trip.
Reviews of Paradise Bay
Paradise Bay owes its reputation to exceptionally clear water and a cliff-framed setting facing Comino, which often place it at the top of Malta’s most beautiful beaches. The sand is fine — a rarity on the island — and the rocks enclosing the bay make for very good snorkelling.
Its main weakness is its size: the beach is so small that it is saturated by mid-morning in high season, when rows of sunbeds eat into the free sand and service struggles to keep up with the crowds. Sunbed and parasol prices are high, and the imposing hotel complex overlooking the bay divides opinion. The hundred-step stairway puts off families carrying beach gear and rules out visitors with reduced mobility; depending on the winds, jellyfish drift close to the shore.
To make the most of it, it is best to arrive early in the morning or late in the day, and to favour May, June or September, when the crowds thin out and the bay recovers its calm.
Strengths
- Crystal-clear turquoise water, among the clearest in Malta, ideal for swimming and snorkelling
- Fine sand, a rarity on an island with a mostly rocky coastline
- Spectacular setting: a cove framed by cliffs, looking out over Comino and its tower
- A well-known spot for watching the sunset
- Well equipped for its size: bar-restaurant, shop, toilets, showers, sunbeds and parasols
- Large free car park just above the cove
Weaknesses
- Tiny beach, completely full by mid-morning in July and August
- Access via a stairway of around a hundred steps — tiring on the way back up and impossible with a wheelchair
- Expensive sunbeds and parasols: around €7 for a parasol and €10 per sunbed, up to €25–30 for two sunbeds with a parasol
- Jellyfish are common depending on the winds, especially early and late in the season
- Out-of-the-way location, far from the centre and south of the island
- The imposing hotel overlooking the bay spoils the view for some visitors
Frequently asked questions about Paradise Bay
Where is Paradise Bay and how do you get there?
Paradise Bay is at the northern tip of Malta, right next to the Ċirkewwa ferry terminal. A stairway of around a hundred steps leads down to the beach. From Mellieħa, bus route 101 is the quickest; from the centre or south of the island, a car or ride-hailing service (eCabs, Uber, Bolt) is more practical than the bus.
Is the beach accessible to people with reduced mobility?
No. The only way in is a stairway of around a hundred steps, with no ramp or step-free path, which makes it impossible with a wheelchair and difficult with a pushchair.
Is there an entry fee for the beach?
No, access is free, and part of the public sand can be used without hiring anything. Sunbeds and parasols, however, come at a price: expect around €7 for a parasol and €10 per sunbed, up to €25–30 for two sunbeds with a parasol.
Is there parking at Paradise Bay?
Yes, a large free car park sits just above the cove. In July and August it fills up early; it then remains possible to park along the road leading to the beach.
Is snorkelling possible at Paradise Bay?
Yes. The water is very clear and the rocks lining the bay shelter plenty of fish. Depending on the winds, jellyfish can however drift close to the shore, especially early and late in the season.
When is the best time to visit?
May, June and September offer the best conditions: pleasant sea and moderate crowds. At the height of summer the small beach is saturated by mid-morning; it is best to arrive early or late in the day.
What facilities are there?
A bar-restaurant, a shop, toilets and showers (for a fee), plus sunbeds, parasols, canoes and paddleboards for hire. A first-aid post operates during the season.