Sixteen beaches are officially dog friendly: twelve in Malta and four in Gozo.
Everywhere else the rules are tighter than most owners expect, and they do not relax in winter.
The 16 official dog beaches
In Malta
- Imġiebaħ Bay, near Selmun: the only sandy beach where dogs are allowed
- Ramlet it-Torri, Mellieħa
- Ramlet il-Qortin, Mellieħa
- Daħlet ix-Xmajjar, Armier
- Ir-Ramla ta’ Wied Musa, Ċirkewwa
- Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, behind Splash and Fun
- Tigné Point, under the bridge
- Rinella Bay, Kalkara
- Żonqor Point, Marsaskala
- St Thomas Bay, the Munxar side
- Xatt is-Sajjieda, Marsaxlokk
- Wied Buni, Birżebbuġa, by the sailing club
In Gozo
- Ras il-Ħobż, on the road down to Mġarr ix-Xini
- Gorgun Bay, Mġarr
- Dwejra, San Lawrenz
- Qbajjar Bay, Żebbuġ
Żonqor, Rinella and Tigné are the easiest to reach without a car.
Where else dogs can go
No sandy beach. Apart from Imġiebaħ, dogs are banned from every sandy beach in Malta and Gozo, all year. That covers the sand and the water.
Rocky shore. Dogs can go on rocky beaches all year, on a leash, and you clean up after them. They cannot swim inside an official bathing area, and there are 87 of those.
Blue Flag beaches are closed to dogs in summer.
The fines and the reasons behind the rules are in the rules on dogs and Malta’s beaches.
The heat matters as much as 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.
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.
