Riviera Beach
Mġarr · West · 35.930°N, 14.345°E
Riviera Beach, known in Maltese as Għajn Tuffieħa ("the eye of the apple"), is a golden-sand beach tucked at the foot of high cliffs on Malta's west coast, just south of Golden Bay. Wilder and more unspoilt than its famous neighbour, it has to be earned: its only access is a long stairway of around 180 steps, which keeps the crowds down and preserves its natural feel. Its amber sand, crystal-clear shallow water and sunsets rank among the finest on the island, so much so that many consider it the most beautiful beach on the main archipelago. Overlooked by the 17th-century Għajn Tuffieħa watchtower and flanked by clay slopes and hiking trails, it appeals to nature lovers, walkers and snorkelling enthusiasts. The flip side of its beauty: the stairway makes it hard to reach for people with reduced mobility, prams and young children, and it still fills up quickly in high season.
Riviera Beach is one of the 10 Blue Flag beaches in Malta. The Blue Flag is an internationally recognised eco-label awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to beaches that meet rigorous criteria in four areas: water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and services. It is one of the most trusted quality marks for a clean, safe and well-managed beach worldwide.
Amenities at Riviera Beach
- Toilets
- Showers
- Parking
- Supervised beach
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Snack bar
- Sun loungers
- Umbrellas
- Snorkeling
- Family beach
Activities available at Riviera Beach
Riviera Beach lends itself to gentle and water-based activities. Its clear shallow waters, and the rocks that enclose the bay, make it a lovely snorkelling spot. When the western swell picks up, it is also one of Malta's few surf spots: a Maltese surf school offers a surfing lesson and stand up paddle outings here. For a quieter interlude, seafront yoga classes are held at sunrise or sunset.
Where to stay near Riviera Beach
No hotel borders Riviera Beach, which has remained completely wild. The nearest accommodation is the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Golden Sands, which overlooks Golden Bay around ten minutes' walk to the north. For more choice, you can book in the centre of Mellieħa, around fifteen minutes away by car, such as the Maritim Antonine, the Solana or the Pergola, often more affordable and in a livelier area. Another option is St Paul's Bay, around twenty minutes away by car, with for example the Pebbles Resort.
Location of Riviera Beach
Riviera Beach, known in Maltese as Għajn Tuffieħa, opens onto Malta's west coast, in the municipality of Mġarr, about 300 metres south of Golden Bay. Like its neighbour, it is an out-of-the-way beach, isolated from the rest of the island: access is first via the car park at the top of the cliff, then down a long stairway of around 180 steps cut into the slope, the only way to reach the sand. This access, gruelling on the way back up and impassable in a wheelchair or with a pram, explains the bay's unspoilt character. It is framed by cliffs and clay slopes overlooked by the Għajn Tuffieħa watchtower, built in the 17th century by the Knights; trails extend along the coast towards the neighbouring bays of Qarraba and Ġnejna, and another reaches Golden Bay in around ten minutes' walk.
Getting to Riviera Beach
By bus to Riviera Beach
Riviera Beach shares the Għajn Tuffieħa bus terminus with Golden Bay, at the top of the cliff. From there it is a few minutes' walk to the top of the long stairway (around 180 steps) that leads down to the sand, with a strenuous climb back up on the return. Several direct lines serve the terminus depending on your starting point; in high season, the return buses fill up quickly at the end of the day.
* Summer fare Jun–Oct (€2.00 the rest of the year)
Calculate the current journey time on Malta Public Transport
By car to Riviera Beach
If you have opted for a car rental, it is by far the most convenient way to reach Riviera Beach. There is a free car park at the top of the cliff, just before the stairway; very popular, it fills up from mid-morning in high season, so arrive early. From there, all that remains is to walk down the roughly 180 steps to the sand.
Without a car, the most comfortable option is a ride-hailing service, which drops you as close as possible to the top of the stairway. Malta's white taxis are not recommended; opt instead for eCabs (a local service), Uber or Bolt, which have comparable fares. Allow around 30 minutes from the airport and 45 minutes from Sliema or St Julian's.
Whichever option you choose, the last few metres are always done on foot via the stairway: bring good shoes and water, and avoid carrying too much for the climb back up.
Reviews of Riviera Beach
Riviera Beach, or Għajn Tuffieħa, is something of a favourite among those in the know: many visitors simply rate it the most beautiful beach in Malta. Its amber sand, its clear shallow water and its setting of wild cliffs, crowned by a 17th-century watchtower, explain this affection, as do its sunsets, regularly counted among the finest on the island.
Its relative preservation comes down to its access: a long stairway, in the order of 180 to 200 steps, which you have to go down and then back up, putting off some visitors and making it quieter than Golden Bay, its immediate neighbour to the north. That same stairway, however, makes it inaccessible to people with reduced mobility, prams and young children. In high season it remains very popular: the car park fills up early, the beach grows busier in the afternoon and the water can turn murky. The sea also frequently carries in seaweed or litter, which can spoil the experience.
Swimming is in shallow water that is generally safe, but a rip current runs across the middle of the bay, where the lifeguards mark out a red-flag zone. To make the most of it, it is better to come early in the morning or late in the day, outside July and August, in good shoes and with something to create shade.
Strengths
- Amber golden sand and crystal-clear shallow water, often cited among Malta's most beautiful beaches
- Wilder, quieter and less crowded than neighbouring Golden Bay: the stairway keeps the crowds away
- Outstanding sunsets from the beach or the cliffs, one of the best spots on the island
- Unspoilt natural setting: cliffs, a 17th-century watchtower and hiking trails towards Qarraba and Ġnejna
- Marked and supervised snorkelling area around the rocks
- Awarded Blue Flag status in 2025 (under the name Għajn Tuffieħa), with lifeguards in season and a beach restaurant
Weaknesses
- Difficult access: a long stairway of around 180 steps, gruelling on the way back up, especially when loaded and in full heat
- Inaccessible to people with reduced mobility and prams, and difficult with young children (no facilities)
- A victim of its own success: very busy with the car park full early in high season, water that turns murky in the afternoon
- Little natural shade and limited facilities once you reach the bottom (a single food outlet)
- Rip current in the middle of the bay (a red-flag zone managed by the lifeguards), and plastic litter at times
Frequently asked questions about Riviera Beach
How many steps are there down to Riviera Beach?
The stairway has around 180 steps (some visitors say 200). The way down is easy, the climb back up far more strenuous, especially when loaded and in full heat. Bring good shoes and water.
Is Riviera Beach accessible to people with reduced mobility or prams?
No. The only access is via a long stairway, with no ramp or lift. The beach is therefore not advised for people with reduced mobility and wheelchair users, or for prams, and is difficult with very young children.
What is the difference with Golden Bay?
Riviera Beach is the neighbouring bay, about 300 metres to the south, wilder, quieter and for many more beautiful. In return, its stairway access is harder than that of Golden Bay, which is reachable on foot in around ten minutes.
Is there a car park at Riviera Beach?
Yes, a free car park at the top of the cliff, before the stairway. It is very popular but fills up from mid-morning in high season: arrive early.
What is the best time to come?
Early in the morning for the calm, the space and the parking, or at the end of the day for the sunset. Avoid the middle of the afternoon in July and August, when the beach is packed and the water murkier.
Is swimming dangerous at Riviera Beach?
The water is shallow and generally safe, but a rip current runs across the middle of the bay. Lifeguards are present in season and mark out a red-flag zone: always follow their instructions.
Does Riviera Beach have the Blue Flag?
Yes: under the name Għajn Tuffieħa, it appears on the list of Maltese beaches awarded Blue Flag status in 2025.