Malta and Gozo: beach reality check
Short answer: 8 beaches checked. In mid-July the sun leaves first at Il-Kalanka tal-Qali (18:45), Xlendi (18:45), San Blas (19:15); the latest sun is at Ir-Ramla l-Ħamra, Ir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa, Pretty Bay.
| Beach | Surface | Sun in July | Climb from parking | Water | Sea in Aug | Clubs mapped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa Mellieħa | Sand | 07:40–19:55 | — | shallow | 27 °C | — |
| Ir-Ramla l-Ħamra Nadur | Sand | 06:40–20:00 | — | gradual | 26 °C | — |
| Ir-Ramla taċ-Ċirkewwa Mellieħa | Sand | 08:05–19:20 | — | gradual | 27 °C | — |
| Ir-Ramla tal-Ġnejna Mġarr | Sand | 07:00–19:45 | — | gradual | 27 °C | — |
| Il-Kalanka tal-Qali Marsaxlokk | Rocks | 06:45–18:45 | — | deep fast | 27 °C | — |
| Pretty Bay Birżebbuġa | Sand | 06:10–19:50 | — | shallow | 27 °C | — |
| San Blas Nadur | Sand | 06:05–19:15 | — | deep fast | 26 °C | — |
| Xlendi Munxar | Pebbles | 07:05–18:45 | — | ? | 26 °C | — |
Plan it
Questions
Which beaches in Malta and Gozo lose the sun first?
8 beaches checked. In mid-July the sun leaves first at Il-Kalanka tal-Qali (18:45), Xlendi (18:45), San Blas (19:15); the latest sun is at Ir-Ramla l-Ħamra, Ir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa, Pretty Bay.
Which beaches in Malta and Gozo are sand?
Ir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa, Ir-Ramla l-Ħamra, Ir-Ramla taċ-Ċirkewwa, Ir-Ramla tal-Ġnejna, Pretty Bay, San Blas.
Sun and shade come from the sun's position and the skyline around each beach, measured every 4° of compass direction from a 30 m elevation model out to 6 km. The climb back up is the height difference between the beach and the nearest mapped car park or bus stop (about 0.17 m per step). Water depth comes from the EMODnet seabed model; surface, beach clubs, toilets and showers from OpenStreetMap; sea temperature is the 1991–2020 average from NOAA OISST and waves the 2015–2024 average from ERA5. Prices are not shown: they change every season and differ between clubs. Map data checked 7 Nov 2026; next check 1 Dec 2026 (monthly). Sea averages are refreshed every January. Sun and shade are calculated for any date you pick.