Mellieha holidays

Q: What to do in Mellieħa?

Top things to do in Mellieħa : 1. Slay your beach goals on the sands of Mellieħa Bay. 2. Enter the film fantasy land of Popeye Village. 3. Learn to scuba dive – there are some fantastic dive sites around Malta. 4. Grab a snorkel and meet the local fish. 5. Visit St Agatha’s Tower (aka the Red Tower). 6. Explore the 2nd World War shelters. 7. Head down to Valletta, Malta’s capital, for a day. 8. Catch the ferry to Gozo. 9. Look out for Game of Thrones locations as you explore Malta – in Mdina, Valletta and more!

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Mellieha holidays on beautiful Mellieha Bay, Malta

Best hotels in Mellieha

Things to do Currency

Fancy staying in one of the most picturesque places in Malta? Of course you do. Book your holidays to Mellieħa! With the island’s longest beach and easy access to must-visit spots like Valletta city and pre-historic Ħagar Qim, we reckon Mellieħa is one of the best places to stay in Malta.

Overlooking the sheltered waters of Mellieħa Bay (also called Għadira Bay), the village is the perfect hideout for relaxing breaks, with a great choice of fantastic hotels for you and your crew. Head out and explore with lots to see and do in the area, or unwind in the tranquillity of this under-the-radar resort. You can even pop over to adorable little Comino Island for the day!

Top tip: for the ultimate seaside vacay, base yourself down near the Blue Flag beach at either Db Seabank Resort + Spa Mellieha Malta or Luna Holiday Complex Mellieha – you can thank us later!

Why you’ll love Mellieħa holidays
• Għadira Beach – It’s the longest stretch of sand in Malta (though still only 800 metres!) and great for families. So, if you’re craving sandy toes, Mellieħa’s the spot for you.
• Village vibes – Peaceful and picturesque, Mellieħa village has oodles of charm and bags of history.
• Mellieħa Bay – Home to Għadira Beach, superb dive sites, watersports and family fun. Plus the views across the bay from the village aren’t half bad!
• The Red Tower – Take a look inside the red-walled St. Agatha’s Tower, soak up the stunning views, and get some slick snaps of this striking 17th-century watchtower. You can also pay a visit to its sister, the White Tower, overlooking stunning Armier Bay.
• Popeye Village – One of Malta’s favourite and quirkiest attractions is only about 4 km from Mellieħa. Explore the old 1980 film set, now a quaint family theme park.
• Scuba diving – Mellieħa holidays put you close to Anchor Bay which is, you’ve guessed it, littered with old anchors… and also boasts the splendid Scorpion’s Cave. Also in easy reach of all Malta’s most popular dive sites.
• Ħagar Qim and Mnajdra – One of those you’ll-kick-yourself-if-you-miss-it kind of sites, these prehistoric temples are even older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids! An easy trip from Mellieħa.
• Countryside walks – Mellieħa backs onto the Selmun Peninsula, whose rural scenery is littered with farmhouses and ruins. As you wander to secluded beaches and dramatic cliffs, look out for the huge abandoned villa known as Selmun Palace.

12-27°C

With mild average temps in winter and hot sunny days in summer, Mellieħa’s a lovely year-round destination on the Med.
Live weather forecast for Malta >>>

3 hours 30 minsGetting to Mellieħa is a cinch! Fly to Malta International Airport (MLA), which is about 1 hour from Mellieħa and Mellieħa Bay.

Map of Mellieha

Mellieħa is best for...

Peace-seekers: If all you need is a sandy beach, a great hotel and a relaxing vibe, Mellieħa’s a cracking place to unwind. Plus it’s near Popeye Village for a family day out!
Sightseers: The Red Tower’s on the doorstep, the rest of Malta’s in super-easy reach, and the ferries to Gozo and Comino are only a few minutes’ drive away in Ċirkewwa.
Explorers: Discover Malta’s wild side in the Għadira salt marshes, follow nature-filled walking trails across the Selmun Peninsula, or dive into underwater caves.

Getting around Mellieha

On foot: This little town is great to explore on foot, with cute lanes to wander and local shops and cafes to dip in and out of. But take note, it’s on a hill, with lots of steps and slopes – including an uphill walk into town from the beach.
By car: Mellieħa’s one of those places where a hire car can come in very handy! There’s lots of parking at the beach, plus driving puts the whole of Malta at your feet. Valletta’s approx 45 minutes’ drive away, and you can get to Ħaġar Qim Temple in around 35 minutes.
By taxi: Book on Bolt or eCabs, or download the taxi firms’ own apps (e.g. the well-established Malta Taxi). You can also find a cab at the taxi stands at the airport, bus stations and bigger hotels.
By bus: Malta’s public bus service is a pretty handy option! Just be aware that out-of-the-way Mellieħa isn’t quite as well connected as the bigger resorts.

Fast facts for Mellieħa

Language: You’ll mainly hear both Maltese and English in Mellieħa (which is pronounced ‘muh-lee-huh’, by the way). Plus lots of signs are written in English, which is super helpful!

Currency: Mellieħa uses the Euro.

Local time: Mellieħa is 1 hour ahead of the UK, on Central European Time (CET).

Fly to: Malta International Airport, near Valletta – you’ll have a great choice of airlines and UK departure airports.

Flight time from UK & Northern Ireland: Direct flights take around 3 hours 30 mins from England and Scotland. Indirect flights are available from Northern Ireland and local airports.

Airport transfers: Approx 1 hour. Look out for your transfer options when you book – don’t forget to add them! Local taxis and public buses from the airport to Mellieħa are also available.

Tourist information: Visit Malta has all sorts of info to help you plan your Mellieħa holiday.

Travel advice: Check the FCDO Malta travel advice for everything you need to know before you go.

Tourist tax: You’ll be charged a tourist tax of €0.50 per adult per night when you check in at your hotel in Mellieħa. It’s capped at €5 per person.

Events in Mellieħa

Summer Night Market: A fun event held just once a year! With live music, great food and kids’ activities, the night market brings a fantastic atmosphere to Mellieħa’s main square in August.
Mellieħa Village Festa: From 30th August to 8th September, Mellieħa celebrates with church services, parades, concerts and fantastic fireworks. Then on the 9th, everyone heads to the beach!

Mellieħa safety and security

Best way to get your trip off to a great start? Read up on the current safety, security and health advice for visiting Malta before your holiday to Mellieha – plus the latest info on passports, visas and other entry requirements.

Mellieha weather

Soaking up the sun in the south of the Mediterranean Sea, Mellieħa holidays are just the ticket for warm-weather seekers.

• Summer weather in Mellieħa is hot and dry – that typical Med island climate we all know and love! It’s long too, already hotting up by June and lasting all through September. Average highs = 28°C June; 31°C July; 31°C August; 28°C September.

• Prefer your sunshine a tad cooler? Head to Mellieħa in October or November, Malta’s autumn months. It can still reach a balmy 24°C in October, with comfortable T-shirt weather a distinct possibility (21°C) in November.

• Winter can be damp but it’s mild (averaging 9-15°C even in January, the coldest month) and soon gives way to a beautiful Maltese spring.

• From March, temperatures start to rise quickly, reaching highs of around 23°C on average by the peak of May. It’s a great time for sightseeing!

Check out our Malta weather guide for more info on the best time to go to this Mediterranean gem.

More hotels in Mellieha

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Mellieha FAQs

Where is Mellieħa?

Mellieħa is a charming village on Mellieħa Bay on the north-eastern coast of Malta. It’s not far from the ferry port to the smaller Maltese islands of Gozo and Comino – perfect for day trips!

What to do in Mellieħa?

Top things to do in Mellieħa:

1. Slay your beach goals on the sands of Mellieħa Bay.

2. Enter the film fantasy land of Popeye Village.

3. Learn to scuba dive – there are some fantastic dive sites around Malta.

4. Grab a snorkel and meet the local fish.

5. Visit St Agatha’s Tower (aka the Red Tower).

6. Explore the 2nd World War shelters.

7. Head down to Valletta, Malta’s capital, for a day.

8. Catch the ferry to Gozo.

9. Look out for Game of Thrones locations as you explore Malta – in Mdina, Valletta and more!

Is Mellieħa Malta worth visiting?

Holidays to Mellieħa are perfect if you’re looking for a quieter base for exploring Malta, without missing out on handy tourist facilities. Not only are Mellieħa hotels in easy reach of the busier resorts of Bugibba and Qawra, the village also has a range of shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes of its own – plus the sandy Mellieħa Beach, which has been awarded a Blue Flag for cleanliness and safety.

How long is the transfer from the airport to Mellieħa Bay?

• Mellieħa village is around an hour’s drive from the airport.
• Just bear in mind that shared transfers can take longer than a private taxi as your hotel might not be the first stop on the route – worth considering when you’re choosing which transfers to add to your package.
• Also, some Mellieħa hotels are further around the bay or in other out-of-town locations. Like the adults-only Riviera Spa Resort on Marfa Bay (hint, this lovely spot is very close to the ferries to Gozo and Comino).

Is Mellieħa Malta lively?

Mellieħa has a more authentic local feel than other popular resorts in Malta – perfect for a laid-back break. If you want a livelier holiday with buzzing bar life and dancing till the early hours, try Bugibba or St Julian’s instead.

What is Mellieħa known for?

1. Malta’s best beach.

2. The Popeye Village film set / theme park.

3. Picturesque village scenery.

4. Rural setting on a beautiful bay.

5. Low-key nightlife centred around restaurants and pubs.

Where is Għadira Bay?

Għadira Bay is another name for Mellieħa Bay. Overlooked by Mellieħa village and some superb hotels, it’s home to Malta’s best beach. You’ll find it on this Mediterranean island’s north-eastern coast.