Mellieha Bay holidays are the be-all and end-all of Malta beach breaks. The sands here are the island's best, and every-flavour daytrips are there to switch up the tanning time.
Best sands in the land
Rocky Malta might not be the first place that springs to mind for beach holidays, but Mellieha Bay’s sandy, sheltered inlet breaks the mould. Beyond the sand and seafront bars, Mellieha’s main town’s set at the top of the hill, which you can see from the waterfront. The countryside around it’s threaded with walking trails and historic sites, too, like the castle-esque Red Tower overlooking the bay. And for a taste of a city break, Valletta and St Julian’s are less than an hour’s drive down the road.
Movie village
Why does Malta have a cartoon-style village named after Popeye the Sailor? It’s a fair question, and one that has newcomers scratching their heads. The answer lies with Disney, who built a full-size fantasy village on the island in the 1980s for a live-action musical. Robin Williams played the title role, and the multi-coloured settlement’s since been turned into a family attraction. It’s set in the aptly named Anchor Bay, which is a couple of minutes’ drive away.