Ghadira, located in Mellieha Bay is the biggest stretch of sand on the Maltese islands. Although Malta and Gozo do not have the big beaches other countries have, its beaches are very picturesque and the water is as beautiful and as clear as any found in the Carribean. "Ghadira", which means lake in Maltese, gets its name from a msall marsh located inland from the beach. This area has now been turned into a bird sanctuary.

Getting to Mellieha Bay is quite easy since it lies on the main road that leads to the ferry docks at Cirkewwa. Parking during the summer season can be tricky if you don't get to the beach early. People parallel park along all sides of the divided road. After you car sits in the hot sun for a few hours, it turns into an oven so if you can, bring an old blanket to protect it from the scorching sun.

Mellieha Bay forms part of a valley with the town of Mellieha located high on the hills on the East side and the "Rdum il-Hmar" on the West side. The beach occupies the whole south end where the land meets the sea. The sand is fine and whitish. It's a great beach for children since the water is quite shallow and one has to walk quite a bit away from the beach before reaching any depth. This is the most popular beach in Malta so expect to find large crowds in the height of the summer. The beach is usually dotted with colourful beach umbrellas. Lidos located along the beach rent umbrellas and beach chairs at reasonable prices.

One can also rent paddle boats and sea-doos from the Lidos. Refreshments are always available from the Lidos and some offer sit-down meals. A few good restaurants are located along the steep road that leads to the town of Mellieha.

The countryside around the valley can be quite pleasant for walks when the sun isn't high overhead. There are some very interesting sights in the vicinity, including "it-Torri L-Ahmar" (a reddish looking tower) built during the time of the Knights of Malta and a cave dwelling located in the face of a cliff on the way to the town of Mellieha. Other areas of interest close by include Anchor Bay, only a mile to the south of Mellieha Bay. One can still find the film set of the movie Popeye at this small but charming bay. It's open to the public and you can wonder around "Popeye Village." It's great for pictures, especially if you have little children.

During summer evenings, when the sun worshipers have left, many Maltese are using the beach for night barbecues. It's not unusual to see many flickering fires from atop the ridges on both sides of the bay as you drive to and from the ferry port to the West. It's quite a sight. If photography is your passion, then drive past the beach towards Marfa to the West and stop right at the top of the hill. The view from there is breathtaking. You can take in the whole valley including the beach and the bay as well as the town of Mellieha sitting on top of the high ridges on the eastern side of the valley.

If you want to vacation at Mellieha Bay, the Mellieha Bay hotel is located on the West side of the bay close to the water and a few minutes walk from the beach.

The town of Mellieha is also great for picture taking, especially the area around the church. The streets of Mellieha are quite narrow and tend to be hilly since the town is perched on the edge of the ridge overlooking the valley to the West.

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