Eight of the 69 bays on this site are marked dog friendly.
That is a small number, and most of them are rock rather than sand.
The eight dog friendly bays
- Imġiebaħ Bay, Malta — sand, and the hardest to reach.
- Ramlet it-Torri, Malta — rock.
- Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, behind Splash and Fun, Malta.
- Tigné Point, under the bridge, Malta.
- Rinella Bay, Malta.
- Żonqor Point, Malta.
- Mġarr ix-Xini, Gozo — pebble.
- Xwejni Bay, Gozo — pebble and rock.
Six are in Malta and two in Gozo. Only Imġiebaħ and Mġarr ix-Xini have sand or pebble underfoot.
The rest are flat rock, which suits a dog better than hot sand anyway.
Żonqor, Rinella and Tigné are the easiest to reach without a car.
The heat matters more than the rules
Limestone and paving get hot enough to burn paws. There is almost no natural shade on either island.
From June to September, walk at dawn or after dark and carry water for the dog as well as yourself.
The back-of-the-hand test works. If you cannot hold your hand on the ground for five seconds, it is too hot to walk on.
Never leave an animal in a car. Interior temperatures here climb faster than most owners expect.
Sea water is not a substitute for fresh. Rinse the salt off and give the dog something to drink.
Outside the bathing season
On the main sandy bays, dogs are usually restricted during the bathing season and allowed outside it.
Winter and spring are much easier months to bring one. The beaches are empty and the ground is cool.
The rocky swimming spots away from the popular bays are the most relaxed option, and there are plenty of them.
Restrictions are set by local councils, so they differ from one bay to the next. Read the sign at the entrance.
Getting around with a dog
Buses take small dogs in a carrier. Larger dogs are at the driver’s discretion.
The Gozo ferry takes dogs, on the outer decks.
Most taxi apps let you flag that you are travelling with an animal.
Cafes with outdoor tables are generally fine about dogs. Indoors is usually not.
There is more on bringing an animal here in our page on Malta with dogs.
