Where to Swim in Malta in September: The Best Beaches, Near and Far
September is when Malta’s beaches get their reward for surviving August. The sea is still close to its warmest point of the year, most of the summer crowds have gone home, and you can actually find a spot on the sand without arriving before nine in the morning. This guide covers the best beaches in Malta in September, starting with the ones you can walk to from Sliema and St Julian’s, then the sandy stretches worth the bus ride out west and north.
None of these need a car. Malta’s bus network reaches every beach on this list, and September’s milder heat makes the ride itself far more pleasant than it would be in July.
Walkable Beaches in Sliema
Sliema doesn’t have a sandy beach, but it has something arguably more useful for a short stay: rocky bathing spots you can reach on foot in a few minutes. Exiles, at the Tigné Point end of the promenade, is a flat limestone platform with ladders down into the water and a lido that stays open through September. Further along towards Il-Fortizza, the old tower gives its name to another cluster of sunbathing terraces cut into the rock, popular with locals doing laps before work. Bayview Hotel sits right on this stretch of seafront, so guests can walk out with a towel and be in the water inside ten minutes. Check rates at Bayview Hotel.
Just around the creek in Gzira, Blubay Apartments puts you within a short walk of the same Sliema seafront, which makes it a good option if you want self-catering space alongside easy beach access. See availability at Blubay Apartments.
St Julian’s and Paceville: Balluta Bay and St George’s Bay
Moving along the coast, Balluta Bay has a small public bathing area right in front of the church, shaded in the late afternoon and generally quieter than the beaches further into Paceville. St George’s Bay, a few minutes on, is Malta’s only proper sandy beach within walking distance of the St Julian’s hotel strip, and in September it loses the beach-club crowds that pack it in peak summer while keeping the same warm, sheltered water. Azur Hotel and Alavits Hotel both sit close enough to St George’s Bay and Balluta to make it a pre-breakfast or golden-hour swim rather than an outing. Book Azur Hotel or book Alavits Hotel if this stretch of coast is your priority.
Worth the Trip: Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha
For an actual sandy beach with room to stretch out, Golden Bay on the northwest coast is the one most people mean when they picture Malta’s coastline: a wide curve of pale sand backed by low cliffs, with sunbeds, a handful of beach bars, and gentle enough shallows for confident swimmers to wade in rather than jump. Its quieter neighbour, Ghajn Tuffieha, sits just over the headland and involves a set of steps down, which keeps it noticeably less crowded even in high season. Bus 225 runs directly from Sliema and St Julian’s to the Ghajn Tuffieha terminus, a journey of around 45 minutes, making this a realistic half-day trip rather than a full expedition.
Mellieha Bay, Malta’s Longest Sandy Beach
Mellieha Bay, in the island’s north, is the largest sandy beach in Malta and shallow enough for a long way out, which makes it the easiest option on this list if you’re travelling with children. It’s also where the September calm is most noticeable: the same beach that’s shoulder to shoulder in August has proper breathing room once the school term restarts across Europe. Bus 222 connects Sliema and St Julian’s to Mellieha directly, with the journey taking around 40 minutes each way.
Where to Stay for Malta’s September Beaches
Bayview Hotel is the most direct option if Sliema’s rocky bathing spots are the priority, sitting on the seafront itself within walking distance of Exiles and Il-Fortizza. Blubay Apartments in Gzira suits longer stays or families who want kitchen space alongside the same short walk to Sliema’s coast. For the St Julian’s side, Azur Hotel and Alavits Hotel put you close enough to Balluta Bay and St George’s Bay to treat a swim as part of the daily routine rather than a planned outing, and both sit near the same bus stops that run out to Golden Bay and Mellieha for the days you want sand instead of rock.
