The island of Malta might not be famous for golden sandy beaches, but there are a few of them. One of these beaches is at Golden Bay. What a surprising name! There are mostly cliffs along the island’s coastline and the beaches are usually small. Golden Bay Beach is close to the village of Manikata in the northwestern part of Malta.
Picnic at Golden Bay Beach
On our last day on Malta, we once more met up with Susann’s cousin and her partner. This time we went to the beach for a picnic and we were far from alone. A big part of Malta was enjoying the sunshine and many had gathered on the Golden Bay Beach. Apparently, they were not there for a swim. It was still a bit too early for that as it was only the beginning of March. Instead, people spent their time on the beach, sunbathing, playing volleyball or like us.
For Little A the visit started with a nap, that’s why we ended up under a tree. A spot that would turn up to be great as we could make sure that Little A didn’t need to spend time in the sun and the rest of us could decide on which side of the shadow to sit.
A Short Hike Along the Cliffs
I’m usually unable to spend more than 15 minutes on a beach. It’s not because of the sunshine or heat. It’s just that it eventually gets quite dull. So while the others enjoyed the sun I decided to check out the surroundings.
There is a lot to see on the cliffs south of the Golden Bay Beach. On the tip, there is the Għajn Tuffieħa Tower, a small watchtower dating back to 1637. The tower overlooks both the Golden Bay as well as the neighboring Għajn Tuffieħa Bay – which has another long sandy beach.
The cliffs also offer a great view and there are several hiking trails along the shore. The short part I walked offered great views and I can imagine that it would have gotten even better a bit further south.
Visiting Golden Bay?
Are you planning to visit Golden Bay? It’d be hardly surprising if you ended up here during your visit to Malta, either if it is a visit to the beach or if you are staying at the major hotel located here.
If you go, expect big crowds. If you consider the weather good enough for a day on the beach, you’re probably not the only one. A a big part of the Maltese population will probably be with you right there on the beach.
My recommendation is to at least make the small climb up to the Għajn Tuffieħa Tower – you can see the tower from the beach. The view will be worth it. Apparently, the sunset is lovely too.
The beach has a couple of places where you can grab food (quite crowded) and toilets. If you’re lucky you’ll find a free parking spot nearby. You can also go there by public transport.
This was one of my favorite parts of Malta when I was there. It’s so beautiful!
It really was a positive surprise for us 🙂