Paradise Bay
Paradise Bay feels far more secluded from the sand than it looks from the map.
At Malta's far northern end, just south of the Ċirkewwa ferry terminal, a steep staircase drops from the parking area to a compact sandy cove enclosed by rugged limestone. The road and ferries are close, but the high ground around the beach screens much of that movement from view.
The beach is compact and enclosed, with pale sand at the head of the cove and rugged limestone rising immediately around it. That contrast gives Paradise Bay much of its character.
Beach profile
- Site
- Paradise Bay
- Coordinates
- 35.9819° N, 14.3325° E
- Type
- Sheltered sandy cove
- Coast
- North-west Malta
- Setting
- Cliffs & rocky headlands
- Facilities
- Seasonal beach facilities
- Access
- Parking then steep stairs
- Best for
- Swimming & snorkelling
A tiny beach at Malta's northern gateway
Paradise Bay sits where the Marfa Ridge falls towards the channel separating Malta from Comino and Gozo.
Sand below the cliffs
The bay occupies a small indentation in the northern coastline, with sand collected at the head of the cove and rock enclosing it on either side.
A changing northern coast
The surrounding headland became Malta's main gateway to Gozo, yet the cove remained visually separated from the ferry terminal by cliffs and folds in the coast.
A compact summer favourite
Paradise Bay is now one of northern Malta's best-known swimming spots, with seasonal facilities beside a public sandy beach.
The English name Paradise Bay is descriptive rather than an old Maltese placename. The beach is also mapped as Ir-Ramla taċ-Ċirkewwa - literally the sandy beach of Ċirkewwa - linking it directly with the surrounding northern headland.
Sand caught between limestone headlands
Paradise Bay is small because the land around it dominates the scene.
A beach inside a rugged northern coast
The Marfa Ridge forms Malta's northernmost landmass, with cliff edges, scree, rocky slopes and a sequence of shallow coves. Paradise Bay sits in one of the smallest of these indentations, where a sandy pocket has formed beneath the surrounding rock.
The rocky margins are also where snorkelling becomes more interesting, replacing the open sand with boulders, ledges and reef before the cove opens towards the channel.
The cliff-top approach
Parking and road access stay above the beach, so the first clear view of the cove comes as you begin descending the staircase.
A pocket of pale sand
The sandy strip is short and narrow, widening only slightly across the head of the cove before meeting rock at both ends.
The northern channel
The sandy centre gives an easy entry, while the rocky sides suit snorkelling before the cove opens towards Comino and Gozo.
What shapes the scene
The appeal comes from contrast: a soft sandy pocket inside a much rougher limestone coast.
A simple Paradise Bay visit
The main trick is timing: the cove is much more enjoyable before the small strip of sand fills up.
Start at the cliff-top
The road and parking area sit well above the beach.
- Approach from Mellieħa towards Ċirkewwa and turn off for Paradise Bay.
- Park above the cove and avoid blocking the access road.
- In peak summer, arrive early because both parking and sand fill quickly.
Take the stairs into the cove
The descent is short but steep and there is no step-free route.
- Pause on the way down for the clearest overview of the beach shape.
- Use the handrail where available and take care on wet or sandy steps.
- If mobility is limited, bear in mind that the climb back is more demanding than the descent.
Use the whole cove
Sand is best for entering; rock is best for exploring.
- Enter from the sandy centre of the beach.
- Once comfortable, snorkel along either rocky margin rather than remaining over featureless sand.
- Do not push beyond the cove unless conditions, visibility and your ability make it sensible.
Look beyond the beach
The northern channel is part of the experience.
- Look north towards Comino and Gozo beyond the cove.
- Watch the ferries crossing the channel from nearby Ċirkewwa.
- Before leaving, climb slowly back to the parking area, especially in the heat.
Around Paradise Bay
Five views from the sand to the cliffs above.
Paradise Bay in motion
Freediving, snorkelling and marine life beneath the surface.