Ramla Bay (Ir-Ramla l-Ħamra in Maltese, often written Ramla l-Hamra, "the red sandy beach") is the largest sandy beach on Gozo, according to Visit Malta, the official tourism website. Ramla beach lies between the villages of Xagħra and Nadur, and its sand is a reddish orange. Without a car, bus 302 runs there from Victoria once an hour and takes 25 minutes; a ticket costs €2 in winter.
The bay is a protected Natura 2000 site with rare sand dunes, and no hotel stands on it: just a few cafés set back from the beach. On the hill above, Calypso Cave has been closed to the public since 2012. Times and prices in this article were read on official websites on 19 October 2026: check them before you go.
- Where: on Gozo, between Xagħra and Nadur, below terraced hills.
- The beach: the largest sandy beach on the island, with reddish-orange sand, in a protected area.
- By bus: route 302 from Victoria (one bus an hour, 25 min), route 322 from Mġarr harbour (about one bus every 90 minutes).
- Bus fare: €2 a ticket in winter, from 18 October 2026 to 12 June 2027, and €2.50 in summer.
- Times: the first bus 302 reaches Ramla at 07:30, and the last one leaves at 19:30 on weekdays.
- On site: a few cafés and a small stall, a car park and public toilets.
- Calypso Cave: closed to the public since 2012, for safety reasons.
- Not to be confused with: the Ramla Bay Resort is a hotel in Marfa, Mellieħa, on the island of Malta, not on Gozo.
Getting to Ramla Bay: bus, car and parking
All ferries from Malta to Gozo arrive at Mġarr harbour: times and fares are in our guide how to get to Gozo from Malta. From the harbour, bus 322 goes straight to Ramla. You can also take bus 301 to Victoria, then bus 302.
By bus
| Route | From | How often | Time to Ramla |
|---|---|---|---|
| 302 | Victoria (stop "Victoria Bay 2"), via Xewkija and Nadur | one bus an hour, from 07:05 to 19:05 | 25 min |
| 322 | Mġarr harbour (stop "Vapur"), via Nadur | about one bus every 90 minutes | 10 to 12 min |
The 302 buses at 06:05, 20:05, 21:05 and 22:05 do not go as far as the Ramla stop. In the other direction, the 302 leaves Ramla every hour, from 07:30 to 19:30 on weekdays. The 322 carries on to Xagħra and Marsalforn. Times read on 19 October 2026 on the Malta Public Transport website: route 302 timetable · route 322 timetable.
You buy the ticket (€2 in winter, €2.50 in summer) on the bus, in cash or with a contactless bank card. It is valid for 2 hours, changes included, and children under 4 travel free.
By car
Visit Malta says the easiest way in is from Nadur or Xagħra, down a valley lined with bamboo. The road from Marsalforn, past Calypso Cave, is steep and rough, but a car can get through. Visit Malta lists a car park at the beach.
Ramla beach: red sand, dunes and cafés
The bay is surrounded by countryside, below steep terraced hills. Visit Malta describes the sand as a "deep, reddish-gold" colour and the water as clear and clean. There are no hotels or tourist buildings nearby.
Behind the sand, the dunes are protected: Ramla Bay is a Natura 2000 site, with a rare sand-dune habitat. Stay on the beach and on the paths, and do not walk on the dunes.
For food and drinks, there are a few cafés and a small stall set back from the beach (Visit Gozo). Visit Malta also lists public toilets, a car park, equipment hire and water sports.
The bay has its history too: Roman ruins lie buried under the sand, near the cafés. The Knights of Malta left a "fougasse" here, a primitive mortar fired from a shaft cut into the rock, to defend the bay in the 18th century (Visit Malta).
Swimming at Ramla Bay: lifeguards and flags
According to Visit Malta, the beach is managed by the Gaia Foundation, and this includes lifeguards. The page does not say on which dates or at what times they are there: ask on site.
What the flags mean, according to the Malta Tourism Authority:
- Green: calm water.
- Yellow: medium hazard.
- Red: high hazard.
- Double red: the water is closed to the public, and lifeguards may not risk their lives in rough seas.
- Purple: stinging animals in the water, such as jellyfish.
- Red over yellow: the edge of the lifeguarded area.
Visit Malta also warns that there are smooth boulders under the water a few metres out, in the middle of the beach. They are easy to get round, but watch where you put your feet.
Calypso Cave and Tal-Mixta: Ramla Bay from above
Calypso Cave, closed to the public
Calypso Cave is on the hill of Xagħra, above the bay. Legend says Gozo is Ogygia, the island in Homer's Odyssey where the nymph Calypso kept Odysseus for seven years. According to Newsbook (25 July 2025), the cave has been closed to the public since 2012 for safety reasons: the rock could collapse.
On 15 October 2026, Gozo Today reported that the tender for geological studies was published on 30 September and closes on 21 October. A second tender, to make the cave safe, is to follow. The article gives no reopening date.
Next to the cave, a viewpoint looks over Ramla Bay. Our Gozo jeep safari can stop there, as an option instead of the Ġgantija Temples, according to the tour page on the operator's website, read on 19 October 2026. The cave itself is still fenced off: do not go past the barriers.
Tal-Mixta, on the Nadur side
On the Nadur side, Tal-Mixta cave (Għar Mixta) gives "a picturesque panorama" of Ramla Bay, MaltaToday wrote on 17 August 2019. That summer, "private" signs had been put up on the path; the Gozo ministry replied that the area was not closed to the public. We found no more recent official information on access.
When to go to Ramla Bay
All year round: Visit Gozo recommends it in the cooler months too, thanks to Gozo's mild off-season climate. Visit Malta writes that even in peak summer there always seems to be space on the beach, and that in winter you can find yourself alone.
Without a car, the buses set the times: you can arrive from 07:30 with bus 302, and its last departure is at 19:30 on weekdays (timetable read on 19 October 2026). Before you swim, look at the flag and ask on site whether lifeguards are on duty.
Ramla Bay on a guided tour
If you would rather not drive or wait for the bus, a guided tour leaves from Malta and takes care of the crossing. Our Gozo jeep safari (full day, with a driver) can stop at the Calypso viewpoint above Ramla Bay, instead of the Ġgantija Temples: it is an optional stop, according to the tour page on the operator's website, read on 19 October 2026. This tour does not include a stop on the beach. For the other tours, check the itinerary on each tour page.
See our Gozo tours by jeep, quad, buggy or tuk-tuk. For the rest of the island, read our article things to do in Gozo, and our pages on Xlendi Bay and on Wied il-Għasri (Wied il Ghasri).
FAQ: Ramla Bay
Where is Ramla Bay?
On Gozo, between the villages of Xagħra and Nadur. It is the largest sandy beach on the island, according to Visit Malta.
How do I get to Ramla Bay by bus?
Take bus 302 from Victoria (one an hour, 25 minutes) or bus 322 from Mġarr harbour (about every 90 minutes, 10 to 12 minutes' ride). A ticket costs €2 in winter and €2.50 in summer.
Is there parking at Ramla Bay?
Yes, Visit Malta lists a car park. Come in from Nadur or Xagħra if you can: the road from Marsalforn is steep and rough.
Are there lifeguards at Ramla Bay?
According to Visit Malta, the beach management includes lifeguards, but the page gives no dates. Always look at the flag: double red means the water is closed.
Can you visit Calypso Cave?
No: it has been closed to the public since 2012, for safety reasons. In October 2026, the tender for geological studies had just been published, before any work to make the cave safe.
Where can I see Ramla Bay from above?
From the viewpoint next to Calypso Cave, on the Xagħra side, or from Tal-Mixta cave, on the Nadur side. Our Gozo jeep safari can stop at the Calypso viewpoint.
Can I eat at Ramla Bay?
Yes, there are a few cafés and a small stall set back from the beach. There are no hotels around the bay.
Is Ramla Bay worth a visit out of season?
Yes, according to Visit Gozo, which recommends it in the cooler months too. In winter, Visit Malta says, you can find yourself alone on the beach.