Ramla Bay Resort
Ramla Bay Resort is an independent seafront resort on the Marfa peninsula at the northern tip of Malta, looking out across the channel to the islands of Comino and Gozo. Families come for the quiet setting away from the busier central resorts, the four seasonal outdoor pools and two heated indoor ones, the diving and the boat trips to Comino and Gozo from the door. An adults-only section makes it work for couples as much as children.
On this page
Is it worth it?
The quick read before the detail: who this resort suits and the facts to weigh first.
Ramla Bay Resort is a mid-market resort in an unusually quiet spot, on the seafront at Malta's northern tip with open countryside behind it and Comino and Gozo across the water. It isn't all-inclusive, so you pay for meals and activities as you go, and it's calmer than the big Malta all-inclusives: there's no daily animation team or children's mini-disco, and the Kids' Club needs a parent alongside the whole time. The private beach is small, the resort's own "pocket of sand" for a paddle rather than a day of sandcastles, with the bigger sandy beaches a short drive away. What it does well is the setting and the outdoors: direct access to the sea, a PADI dive centre on site, walking routes straight from the door and boats to Comino and Gozo minutes away. An adults-only TERRA section means it works for couples too. You'll get the most from it if you want a scenic, low-key base and days out on and around the water, and the best months for young children are May to June and September to October.
Best for
You want a calm, scenic base at Malta's quiet northern tip, you're happy paying per meal rather than all-inclusive, and you like being close to the sea, walking routes and boats to Comino and Gozo.
Maybe not for
You want an all-inclusive package with a daily animation programme and a kids' club to drop children into, or a big sandy beach right at the resort itself.
Best ages
Babies upwards, with the Panoramic Suite giving a separate room to nap. Older, more active children get the most from the diving, walking and boat trips.
What stands out
The quiet seafront setting facing Comino and Gozo, a PADI dive centre on site and an adults-only TERRA section that makes it work for couples too.
What to check
That the Kids' Club needs a parent with the child at all times, and that a laundry service isn't currently offered if you need one.
Where is it?
On the Marfa peninsula at the northern tip of Malta, about 25 km and 30 to 45 minutes from Malta International Airport.
Quick facts for families
What the resort is like
Where it sits, how it's laid out and the practical bits, from parking to the adults-only section.
Ramla Bay Resort takes up 28,000 sq m of seafront on the Marfa peninsula, at the very northern tip of Malta, facing Comino and Gozo across the open channel. It's a standalone, independent resort rather than part of a chain, and its setting is the point: this is a quieter, less built-up corner of the island than the central resort towns of St Julian's and Sliema, with no through traffic and open countryside immediately behind. For the island as a whole, its beaches and when to go, see our Malta guide.
The site sets aside separate areas for families and for adults, and it runs right down to the water: there's direct waterfront access with no road to cross, and steps lead down to the sea from the main resort. If getting a pushchair around the whole site matters to you, ask the resort about slopes, steps and lifts before you book, as the Comfort Easy is the only step-free room. Within the resort is a distinct adults-only section called TERRA, for guests aged 18 and over, with grounded rooms and private outdoor spaces; TERRA guests use all the resort's dining, pools and seaside areas and then return to the adults-only part, so this is a resort for both families and adults rather than a separate hotel.
A few practical things worth knowing. There's no car park on the resort grounds, though there's free street parking nearby. Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out is at 11:00, with a late check-out available for a small hourly charge if there's space. The tap water is produced on site by seawater reverse osmosis, treated and safe to drink, and the resort holds GSTC sustainability certification, sourcing food locally and running LED lighting and smart energy management across the site.
On guest services, reception is staffed around the clock and Wi-Fi is complimentary across the whole site, not just in rooms. The lobby desk arranges car hire and books excursions, and reception holds ferry and bus timetable information if you're planning a day on Gozo or Comino. The on-site mini market covers snacks, gifts, toiletries, postcards and adaptors, and the resort describes itself as LGBTIQ+ welcoming.
Every restaurant and bar
Each place to eat and drink, which ones suit children and how the board and booking work.
Nothing here is all-inclusive, so meals are charged unless they come with your board. The base rate is bed and breakfast; Half Board adds a buffet dinner at Terramar, and the direct-booking SmartStay rate is Half Board plus selected drinks with the evening meal. Every restaurant has a children's menu, and the kitchens cater for particular diets: there are vegan options throughout (the resort is recommended by the world's first vegan-friendly hotel association), lactose-free alternatives, gluten-free on request and halal-certified chicken, beef and lamb, all easier if you tell them in advance.
Terramar is the main buffet restaurant and the one Half Board guests dine in. It serves Maltese, Mediterranean and international food with live cooking stations, and has panoramic sea views towards Gozo and Comino. Breakfast runs 07:00 to 10:30, lunch 12:30 to 15:00 and dinner 18:30 to 21:30, with an outdoor terrace in the summer months. One thing to hold in mind on Half Board: drinks aren't included with dinner here, and that includes water, unless your booking confirmation says otherwise.
Solaris is the resort's newer buffet restaurant, brighter and calmer in feel, open for breakfast 07:00 to 11:00 and dinner 18:30 to 21:30, with seating for 270 indoors and another 130 outside in season. It also has children's menus. It isn't a board venue, so Half Board dinners are served at Terramar rather than here.
Piatto Nero Ristorante is the Italian, cooked to order rather than buffet, open 12:00 to 22:00 for lunch and dinner with fresh pasta and artisan pizzas and the same views across to Gozo and Comino, seating 62 indoors and 42 more on the terrace in season. It's the one restaurant that needs booking, online or through reception, and its children's menu and cook-to-order format make it straightforward with fussier eaters.
Kofi & Kale is the all-day cafe and salad bar, in the Atrium Wing near the spa, open 10:00 to 19:00. It does sandwiches, salads, pastries, juices and alternative milks, which makes it a useful stop for lighter daytime food and toddler snacks without sitting down to a full meal. Karamella is a sweet corner and patisserie serving Maltese pastries and coffee, open year-round; check with reception for its hours and where to find it.
The bars
La Sosta Lobby Bar is the lobby bar, with a Belvedere terrace, cocktails and snacks served 10:00 to 06:00. It's listed as open 24 hours, though that may apply from May to October only, so check year-round hours when you book. The Brigantine Lounge Bar is a lounge bar with a terrace and sea views to Gozo and Comino, open 16:00 to midnight, with a full cocktail list, non-alcoholic options, bar snacks and live music on most evenings. The Waterline Pool Bar is the seasonal outdoor bar by the pools, open 10:00 to 22:00 from late April to October when the weather allows, and it's the main daytime stop for drinks and snacks on a pool day. Cantina Club is a club lounge with a stage and central bar, open daily from 17:00, hosting DJ or live-band nights and private events; it's also listed as the Cantina Wine Bar on the facilities page, and it's an adult-leaning evening space rather than a family one.
How board and booking work
You choose bed and breakfast, Half Board or SmartStay when you book the holiday, not on arrival. Terramar and Solaris are walk-in buffets, so no reservation is needed for those; Piatto Nero is the one to book ahead, online or through reception.
Rooms and suites
Every room type, which ones suit a family, and why there's no separate family-room category.
Rooms are sorted mainly by view and floor rather than by a run of set sizes. The table below is the full line-up; the guidance after it is which ones suit a family with a baby or toddler.
| Room | Floor | View | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort Easy | Ground or lower | Brighter outlook | Mobility-friendly, with a step-free walk-in rainfall shower; the one accessible room, as a double or twin |
| Comfort Room | Ground or lower | Limited or sheltered | Peaceful and private, with its own balcony or terrace, as a double or twin |
| Country View Superior | 2nd or 3rd | Countryside | A double-sized balcony or terrace and an en-suite shower |
| Country View Deluxe | Upper floors | Countryside, wider | As the Superior but higher, with broader views |
| Sea View Superior | 2nd or 3rd | Sea | A private corner balcony and ironing facilities |
| Sea View Deluxe | Upper floors | Sea, panoramic | As the Superior but higher, with wider sea views |
| Panoramic Suite | Upper | 180° sea | About 80 sq m, sleeping up to four, with a separate living room and two walk-in-shower bathrooms |
| Apartments | Various | Various | One-bedroom self-catering with a kitchenette; booked through the sales team, not the website |
The rooms are described as spacious, and the Panoramic Suite, at about 80 sq m, is the largest. The Comfort Easy and Comfort Room sit on the ground or lower floors and can be booked as a double or a twin; the Comfort Easy is the mobility-friendly one, with a step-free walk-in shower, and it's the only accessible room. The Country View and Sea View rooms move up the building, the Superior versions on the second or third floor and the Deluxe on the upper floors with wider views; the Sea View rooms face the water, the Country View rooms look inland over the countryside.
For a family, the strongest room is the Panoramic Suite. At around 80 sq m it has a main bedroom plus a separate living room with a sofa bed, two bathrooms with walk-in showers and a wrap-around balcony with a 180-degree sea view, and it sleeps up to four, so a baby or toddler can nap behind a closed door. There's no separate "family room" category at Ramla Bay, so the other family-friendly options are the Comfort, Country View and Sea View rooms taken as a twin, or the self-catering apartments, which are one-bedroom units with a kitchenette in a separate living room. The apartments are booked through the sales team rather than the main website.
Every room comes with a private balcony or terrace, air conditioning and heating, a satellite TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, a direct-dial phone, an in-room safe, a bathrobe and slippers, tea and coffee making, a hairdryer and an unstocked minibar. The Panoramic Suite is the exception on the minibar, stocked once on arrival as a one-off. Pool towels are available against a deposit.
Pools and water features
The outdoor pools and the two indoor ones, and which of them run in the cooler months.
There are four outdoor pools, all seawater and none heated, open seasonally from May to October when the weather allows. The adults-only infinity pool sits in an elevated position with wide open views, for guests who want quiet. There are two family pools for all ages, and a shallow children's splash pool, a safe spot for little ones to paddle.
Two more pools run indoors, heated and open all year, which is what makes an out-of-season trip work for swimming. The indoor family pool sits in its own area, separate from the spa, kept at 27 to 30°C in line with Maltese health and safety rules. The second, an indoor adults-only pool, is inside the Carisma Spa. There's an indoor jacuzzi in the spa too, and an outdoor jacuzzi framed to the Mediterranean horizon for sunset.
The beach and sea
The resort has direct access to the water, with no road to cross. Its own private sandy beach is small, and the resort itself calls it "tiny", a "pocket of sand" and intimate in size; it's seasonal, open May to October and subject to the weather and sea, and it suits a paddle and a barefoot moment rather than a full beach day with buckets and spades. The seaweed is cleared in late spring as part of the resort's sustainability work. It isn't a Blue Flag beach; the Blue Flag in this area belongs to Paradise Bay, a separate resort nearby.
Alongside the sand there's a designated rocky area with loungers set at the water's edge for swimming straight off the rocks, and this is open year-round rather than just in summer. Near it is Crystal Cove, a natural rock inlet with clear water, also open year-round. If a big sandy beach is what you're after, the proper ones are a short trip away by car: Mellieha Bay, Malta's largest sandy beach, is about 5 km and ten minutes off, Golden Bay is a short drive, and Paradise Bay is near the Cirkewwa ferry terminal.
Babies and toddlers
What the resort offers younger children, and the gaps worth knowing before you book.
The most important thing to understand about the childcare here is how the Kids' Club works. It exists, and there's an indoor children's area that families in reviews are warm about, but a parent or guardian has to stay with the child throughout every session, so it isn't somewhere you can leave them. Its age ranges, ratios, times and cost aren't published, so email ahead if you're counting on it. There's no babysitting or in-room childcare either, so plan on being with your children for the whole stay.
Water-wise, the youngest children have the shallow outdoor splash pool in summer and the heated indoor family pool the rest of the year. On food, every restaurant has a children's menu, the kitchens handle vegan, lactose-free, gluten-free and halal needs, and Kofi & Kale is handy for lighter daytime toddler food. For baby kit such as travel cots, sterilisers or bottle warmers, ask before you travel rather than assuming what's provided, and pack accordingly. A doctor is on call around the clock, and Mellieha, about 5 km away, has pharmacies and shops for anything you run short of. As with getting a pushchair around the wider site, it's worth a quick word with the resort about what suits a baby or toddler, and the room guidance above covers which rooms give a separate space to sleep.
On and around the waterThings to do
Much of what there is to do here is active and outdoors. In summer, from May to October, Bluewaves Watersports runs from the resort beach, with jet ski safaris, speedboat trips to Comino and the Blue Lagoon, private boat rides, paddleboats, kayaks and sofa rides, all paid for separately. Year-round there's OrangeShark H2O, a PADI 5-Star dive centre on the resort premises, taking everyone from first-timers to instructor training, with guided dives, daily snorkel training, excursions, equipment hire and multilingual instructors. The dive sites within a short boat ride take in the MV Imperial Eagle wreck, the beginner-friendly Cirkewwa Arch and P29 wreck, Lantern Point and the Santa Maria Caves off Comino, with Reqqa Point off Gozo for more experienced divers. Malta as a whole was named the world's best diving destination at the boot Düsseldorf Dive Awards in 2025, an award to the country rather than to the resort or its dive centre.
On land, walking routes start straight from the resort, no transport needed. The main one is the Marfa Ridge to Red Tower loop, about 7.5 to 8.5 km and two and a half to three and a half hours at a moderate grade, passing Armier Bay, the White Tower, Aħrax Point and the Red Tower; there are shorter coastal walks too, a connection into the Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park, and Mellieha itself is reachable on foot about 5 km away. There's a fitness centre, free but for adults aged 16 and over only, open year-round. Evening entertainment is live music on most nights at the Brigantine and DJ or live-band nights at Cantina Club from 17:00; there's no structured daily animation programme or children's mini-disco, which is a real difference from the big Malta all-inclusives if that's what your children expect.
Adults only, all yearCarisma Spa
The Carisma Spa is the resort's adults-only spa, open all year. It has an indoor adults-only pool, an indoor jacuzzi and an outdoor sea-view jacuzzi, a sauna, a steam room in the style of a Turkish Hammam, treatment rooms and relaxation facilities. Beauty treatments, massages and spa treatments are all bookable for an extra charge. The spa, the sauna, the steam room and the fitness centre are all adults-only areas.
The area and days out
The nearest village, the islands across the water and the day trips within reach.
The northern-tip location is quiet, so the nearest proper village is Mellieha, about 5 km and ten minutes away, with shops, banks and pharmacies, and Malta's largest sandy beach on its doorstep. The resort's real advantage, though, is how close it sits to the smaller islands. The Gozo ferry terminal at Cirkewwa is just 1.5 km away, with a 20-minute crossing to a quieter island of dramatic landscapes, salt pans and historic sites, and Comino and its Blue Lagoon are only minutes by boat from the same terminal.
Further afield, and easiest with a hire car or on a tour, Valletta, the UNESCO-listed capital, is about 20 km and 45 minutes, and Mdina, the fortified, car-free medieval "Silent City", makes an easy half-day. Other day trips around the island take in the Ḣal Saflieni Hypogeum, the megalithic temples of Ħaġar Qim on Malta and Ġgantija on Gozo, the sea caves of the Blue Grotto and the Dingli Cliffs, at 250 m the highest point on Malta, with the countryside village of Mġarr about 15 minutes away. Open-top bus tours run a northern route that passes near the resort, and in summer the village festas, with their patron-saint celebrations and fireworks, are worth timing a trip around; the resort concierge can point you to those, along with Maltese food walks and evening tours of Valletta and Mdina.
Loves and gripes
What guests rate and what frustrates them, drawn mainly from verified Booking.com reviews.
The evidence is almost all from Booking.com, where the resort scores 9.0 out of 10, rated Superb, from 1,136 verified reviews, with one Mumsnet editorial naming it the best family resort in Malta. Its own sub-scores are highest for staff at 9.4 and cleanliness at 9.4, then comfort at 9.3, facilities and value for money both at 9.0, location at 8.7 and free WiFi, the lowest of the seven, at 8.4. This is a Booking.com picture rather than a broad cross-platform one.
What families love
- The staff above everything, the highest-rated part of the stay and the most mentioned in reviews.
- The food quality and variety, with a buffet that changes daily.
- Spacious, spotlessly clean rooms, and the sea views from the upper floors.
- The peaceful, uncrowded setting.
- The family feel, with the indoor children's area picked out by families with young children.
- The spa, with massages guests call amazing and therapists they describe as well trained.
- The coffee at Kofi & Kale.
- Being allowed to use the pool after check-out when guests had hours to spare.
Common gripes
- The indoor pool feeling cold on entry for some, though the resort keeps it at 27 to 30°C and explains the body adjusts.
- The remote northern-tip location, the lowest sub-score, inconvenient for walking to restaurants or nightlife, though most reviewers count it a plus.
- Visible building work in some reviews, likely the 2025 to 2026 development and refurbishment rather than anything permanent.
A few one-off notes came from single reviewers rather than any consensus: one found the indoor children's area could do with cleaning and an attendant and felt a bit flat without a set programme, one found the air conditioning a little loud, and one arrived before the private beach had been set up for the season. At least one guest had visited three times in four months on top of an earlier stay, which is a loyalty signal for the right sort of family.
How it compares
The families who shortlist Ramla Bay are often also looking at the big Malta all-inclusives, like db Seabank in Mellieha Bay or AX ODYCY in the St Paul's Bay area, and it's a different kind of holiday. There's no all-inclusive option here, so you pay per meal and activity; it's mid-market and lower-key rather than budget, and it doesn't run the daily animation programme or children's mini-disco those resorts do. The adults-only TERRA section means it's built for couples as much as families. Its beach is small, where the proper sandy beaches, Mellieha Bay and Golden Bay, are a drive away, and its Kids' Club needs a parent alongside at all times, which limits it for parents wanting time to themselves. What sets it apart from the pack is the outdoors: it's the strongest Malta choice for an active family, with walking routes straight to the sea, PADI diving on the doorstep and Comino and Gozo minutes away by boat.
Getting there and when to go
The airport transfer, the buses and ferry, and the best months for young children.
You fly into Malta International Airport, about 25 km from the resort, a drive of 30 to 45 minutes. Transfers aren't laid on automatically. The resort can arrange one through its partner Drifter, but only if you ask and book it in advance, so sort it when you book the holiday rather than turning up expecting a car. A courtesy or shuttle bus may be available through resort partners as well, but that's something to ask about at reception on arrival, not to count on. If you'd rather use public transport, the bus stop is a five-minute walk, about 250 m, with routes 101, 221, 41, 42 and 222 running to Mellieha, St Paul's Bay, Mosta, Valletta, Sliema, Birkirkara and the airport. There's no car park at the resort, though there's free street parking nearby if you hire a car for days out, and the Gozo ferry at Cirkewwa is 1.5 km away.
The resort is open all year, and Malta has no winter shutdown, but the outdoor facilities, the pools, the beach, the watersports and the outdoor dining, run May to October. Indoors, the heated family pool, the spa, the year-round restaurants and the dive centre keep going through the winter, which suits a quieter off-season trip. For young children, the best months are May to June and September to October: warm without being brutal, a sea around 19 to 26°C, fewer crowds and everything outdoors open. July and August bring the peak heat, averaging 32°C with the chance of heat waves above 40°C, which can be hard going for babies and toddlers in the sun.
The weather month by monthWeather
Ramla Bay sits in the same Mediterranean climate as the rest of northern Malta, so the figures below, taken for the island's climate reference near Valletta, apply here directly. Summers are hot and almost rainless, July and August around 32°C with a sea climbing to 27°C, and the wet season falls in the cooler months from October to February. The outdoor pools and beach are seasonal, so out of season it's the heated indoor pool that keeps a swimming trip possible.
| Month | Daytime high | Overnight low | Rain | Wet days | Sea temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16° | 9.5° | 77 mm | 10 | 16° |
| February | 15.5° | 9° | 74 mm | 8 | 15° |
| March | 17.5° | 10° | 41 mm | 6 | 15° |
| April | 20° | 12.5° | 22 mm | 4 | 16° |
| May | 24.5° | 15.5° | 7 mm | 1 | 19° |
| June | 29° | 19.5° | 5 mm | 1 | 23° |
| July | 32° | 22° | 0 mm | 0 | 26° |
| August | 32° | 23° | 14 mm | 1 | 27° |
| September | 28.5° | 21° | 55 mm | 4 | 27° |
| October | 25° | 18° | 79 mm | 6 | 24° |
| November | 21° | 14.5° | 86 mm | 9 | 22° |
| December | 17.5° | 11° | 80 mm | 9 | 18° |
Typical monthly averages from weather-station records. Sea temperature is the open-water figure, so a sheltered bay can feel a degree or two warmer. Outdoor facilities are open May to October; the resort itself is open all year.
Questions
The things families ask most, the useful links and when this guide was last refreshed.
Is there an all-inclusive option?
No. It's bed and breakfast, Half Board or the direct-booking SmartStay rate. Half Board covers dinner at Terramar, but drinks aren't included with it, and that even means water unless your booking confirmation says otherwise. SmartStay is the one that adds selected drinks with the evening meal, so pick that if you'd rather not pay per drink at dinner.
Can we leave the children at the Kids’ Club for some time to ourselves?
No. The Kids' Club needs a parent or guardian to stay with the child at all times, and there's no babysitting service confirmed, so plan on being hands-on throughout. Its age ranges, times and cost aren't published, so email ahead to check all of that before you rely on it.
Can we still swim if we go out of season?
Yes. The four outdoor pools and the private beach are seasonal, open May to October, but the indoor family pool is heated and open all year, kept at 27 to 30°C. So a winter or early-spring trip still works for swimming, just indoors.
Is there a laundry service?
Not at the moment. The resort's own FAQ says a laundry service isn't currently available, so plan to use the facilities in Mellieha, about 5 km away, if you need washing done. It may change, so it's worth confirming when you book if it matters to you.
Do we need a plug adaptor?
No. Malta uses the same three-pin plugs as the UK, on 220 to 250 volts, so your chargers and steriliser will work as they do at home. The mini market on site sells adaptors if you've brought something with a different plug.
Can we bring the dog?
Yes, in a limited number of designated rooms, booked in advance, with a €100 deposit pre-authorisation taken on arrival. Dogs need to be on a lead in public areas and aren't allowed in the pools, the buffet restaurants, the spa or the fitness centre, so it suits a walking-based stay more than a poolside one.
Is there a doctor if a child gets ill?
Yes, there's a doctor on call around the clock. For anything you can treat yourself, Mellieha, about 5 km away, has pharmacies and shops.
Is there parking at the resort?
There's no car park on the resort grounds, but there's free street parking nearby. If you're hiring a car for days out, factor that in; for getting to the resort itself you don't need one.
How do we get there from the airport?
It's about 25 km, and 30 to 45 minutes by road. The resort can arrange a transfer through its partner Drifter, but only if you ask and book it in advance, so sort it when you book the holiday rather than turning up expecting one. The public bus stops a five-minute walk away if you'd rather use it.
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Useful links
- Ramla Bay Resort: the resort's own site for rooms, dining, the Kids' Club and family breaks.
- GOV.UK Malta travel advice: entry rules and safety updates before you travel.
- Malta with little ones: our guide to the wider island, its beaches and when to go.
Last updated 17 July 2026.
