White Tower Bay
Mellieħa · North-west · 35.992°N, 14.365°E
White Tower Bay closes off the string of Marfa peninsula beaches to the north, after Armier Bay and Little Armier, at the foot of the small white tower (Torri l-Abjad) that gave it its name. It is the wildest and most secret of the three: a village of Maltese boathouses, a single kiosk-lido by the sand, no nightlife or entertainment, and turquoise water facing Comino and Gozo. Regularly cited among the island’s most underrated beaches, it is a favourite of families and regulars, and is one of the very few sandy beaches in Malta where dogs are allowed. More exposed to the wind than its neighbours, it is also a recognised kitesurfing spot. Its Achilles heel remains cleanliness, which comes and goes: depending on the days and the currents, the bay swings from limpid water to heaps of seaweed, and unpleasant smells sometimes drift in.
Amenities at White Tower Bay
- Toilets
- Showers
- Parking
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Snack bar
- Sun loungers
- Umbrellas
- Boat trips
- Snorkeling
- Diving
- Family beach
- Dog-friendly
Activities available at White Tower Bay
White Tower Bay is first and foremost a natural beach, with no club or organised water sports on the sand. Its hallmark is the wind: it is a recognised kitesurfing spot, prized in north and north-east winds, best left to intermediate riders once the water gets choppy.
For organised water activities, the rest of the peninsula is the place to turn: jet ski rental at Bluewaves Watersports, a jet ski trip to the Blue Lagoon from Marfa, or kayak rental at Little Armier, the neighbouring beach, to reach the Coral Lagoon.
Where to stay near White Tower Bay
At the point of the peninsula, White Tower Bay has nothing but its huts for neighbours: no hotel lines the beach. The nearest places to stay are two seaside resorts, a few minutes away by car on the Marfa coast.
The Riviera Spa Resort and the Ramla Bay Resort face Gozo, with pools and a private beach. Those who prefer a lively village with shops and restaurants will pick Mellieħa instead, a few kilometres to the south.
Location of White Tower Bay
White Tower Bay is the northernmost of the three beaches of the Marfa peninsula, after Armier Bay and Little Armier. It owes its name to the white tower of the Knights of St John (Torri l-Abjad), which overlooks the rocky area at the end of the bay and whose surroundings are fenced off to protect the flora. The beach looks out over the channel towards Comino and Gozo, and its hinterland of huts and boathouses keeps the feel of a fishing village. Its full Maltese name, Bajja tat-Torri l-Abjad, recalls the landmark watching over the point.
Getting to White Tower Bay
By bus to White Tower Bay
Like its neighbours, White Tower Bay relies on the Xilep stop and route 49. Sitting at the point of the peninsula, it is the furthest from the stop: allow a walk of several minutes. The bus runs about once an hour and takes a while from the centre of the island; from Mellieħa, the ride stays short. A car or scooter remains far more convenient.
* Summer fare Jun–Oct (€2.00 the rest of the year)
Calculate the current journey time on Malta Public Transport
By car to White Tower Bay
White Tower Bay is reached at the end of the Marfa peninsula road: without a car, access is awkward. There is a car park near the beach, but it is small and quickly full in summer; outside busy periods, parking is no trouble at all. The road to the point has been resurfaced in recent years, which has made the approach much easier.
With a rented car, White Tower Bay combines easily with Armier Bay and Little Armier, all three lined up on the same peninsula.
The bus serves the area about once an hour and leaves a fair walk to the point: not very practical. A car with driver is a safer bet, steering clear of the white taxis in favour of a ride-hailing app (eCabs, Uber or Bolt). On this isolated stretch of coast, it is wise to plan the return Trip ahead.
Reviews of White Tower Bay
White Tower Bay cultivates discretion. Nestled at the foot of the white tower, at the far north of the Marfa peninsula, it is held to be one of the island’s most beautiful and most underrated beaches: fine sand, turquoise water facing Comino, a single kiosk by the sea and not the slightest nightlife. Families find a safe, gently shelving bay, and it is one of the few sandy beaches where dogs are welcome. More exposed than its neighbours, it also draws kitesurfers when the north wind picks up.
The recurring complaint concerns cleanliness: the bay is swept by currents that, depending on the day, dump heaps of seaweed and litter, and smells from the surrounding village drift in on occasion. The run-down huts divide opinion too.
White Tower Bay takes a little earning, then, but rewards those who come on weekdays, out of season or early in the day with a calm that has become rare on the Maltese coast.
Strengths
- Wild, peaceful atmosphere with no entertainment or crowds, one of the island’s northern secrets
- Clear turquoise water, fine sand shelving gently, safe for children
- Unique setting at the foot of the white tower (Torri l-Abjad), views of Comino and Gozo
- One of the few sandy beaches in Malta to accept dogs
- Recognised kitesurfing spot, well oriented for north and north-east winds
- Lido-kiosk open late in the season, sunbeds and parasols at low prices
Weaknesses
- Very uneven cleanliness: seaweed, litter and occasional smells depending on days and currents
- A village of run-down boathouses that weighs on the mood for some visitors
- Wind-exposed beach, choppier water than Mellieħa Bay
- Poorly served by bus, with limited parking at the point (arrive early)
- Marked winter erosion: the beach shrinks considerably out of season
- Occasional jellyfish and fishing nets at the mouth of the bay
Frequently asked questions about White Tower Bay
Why is this beach called White Tower Bay?
It takes its name from the white tower (Torri l-Abjad), a watchtower of the Knights of St John overlooking the rocky end of the bay. Its full Maltese name is Bajja tat-Torri l-Abjad.
How do you get to White Tower Bay?
A car is by far the most practical: the road to the point has been resurfaced, but parking there is limited and quickly full in summer. By bus, route 49 stops at Xilep, quite a way from the beach, roughly once an hour.
Can you bring your dog?
Yes. White Tower Bay is one of the very few sandy beaches in Malta where dogs are allowed, which makes it a sought-after destination for pet owners.
Can you kitesurf there?
Yes, it is a recognised kitesurfing spot, above all in north and north-east winds. The water, more exposed than Mellieħa Bay, suits intermediate riders better once the wind strengthens.
Are the water and sand clean?
It depends a lot on the days and the currents: the bay swings from limpid water to heaps of seaweed and litter, and unpleasant smells sometimes drift in. The beach is at its best outside busy periods and in calm seas.
Is White Tower Bay suitable for children?
Yes, the entry shelves gently and the water is shallow and calm in windless weather. On strong-wind days, however, the water gets choppy.
What facilities are there?
A kiosk-lido serving as bar, restaurant and snack stand, toilets (often portable), paid showers, sunbed and parasol rental, and limited parking.
