E-bike above a bay on the north coast of Malta with the headland beyond

Moderate

Coast Road to Ċirkewwa

Straight up the coast: sandy bays, salt pans and the Gozo ferry at the far end.

Distance: 29.4 km
Climbing: 371 m
Riding time: ≈ 2 h 20
Shape: One way

The ride

The classic north run and the natural first long ride. You follow the coast the whole way — St Julian's, Pembroke, the Roman salt pans at Salina, the resort strip at Buġibba — and then the road tips up towards Mellieħa. That climb is the one bit of the island that genuinely defeats people on unassisted bikes; on a pedal-assist e-bike you sail up it and get the reward, which is Għadira Bay and the long descent to Ċirkewwa. If you still have energy, the ferry to Gozo leaves from the end of this route every 45 minutes and takes bikes.

Terrain: Coastal main road with a dedicated cycle lane in places; one long drag up to Mellieħa. Suggested rental: full day.

Good to know: • Bikes travel free on the Gozo ferry. Turning this into a Gozo day is the single best upgrade to the route. • The Mellieħa climb is roughly 2km at 6%. Save battery for it — don't burn the charge on the flat coast road. • Refill water in Buġibba; there is little between there and Mellieħa.