Ramla Bay

Ramla Bay, known locally as Ramla il-Ħamra or the Red Sandy Beach, sits below the villages of Xagħra and Nadur on Gozo's north coast. It is widely regarded as the island's finest beach, a broad sweep of soft reddish sand backed by protected sand dunes and green hillsides rather than hotels and apartments. The bay is a Natura 2000 site with an ecologically important dune habitat, and in recent years it has even seen turtle nesting, so parts of the beach may be roped off to protect it.

The water is clear and shallow for a good way out, which makes it popular for swimming and paddling, though lifeguards are on duty in the summer months because currents can pick up further from shore. There is no charge to visit. You will find public toilets, showers, changing facilities and small kiosks or a beach bar for snacks and drinks, and sunbeds and umbrellas can be hired. Natural shade is limited, so bringing an umbrella is sensible on a hot day.

Parking is informal, mostly along the road down to the beach, and it fills up quickly on summer weekends, so arriving early helps. A wooden boardwalk runs across part of the sand, which makes access easier with a buggy. Above the bay you can spot the viewing platform at Calypso's Cave, linked to Homer's Odyssey, though the cave itself has at times been closed for safety.