South Coast & St Peter's Pool
The signature ride: harbour forts, fishing villages and Malta's bluest swimming hole.
32.9 km↑ 410 m≈ 2 h 40
Challenging
Golden Bay & Popeye Village
Across the island to the red-sand beaches of the north-west and a film set in a bay.
- Distance
- 30.1 km
- Climbing
- 530 m
- Riding time
- ≈ 2 h 35
- Shape
- One way
The ride
The north-west coast is the part of Malta that looks least like the rest of it: wide bays, red sand, headlands and almost no development. You cross the island through Mosta — stopping under the third-largest unsupported dome in Europe, which took a German bomb through it in 1942 that failed to explode — then over the ridge to Mġarr and down to Għajn Tuffieħa and Golden Bay. Further north, Anchor Bay holds the wooden village built for the 1980 Popeye film and never taken down. It is ridiculous and it is worth seeing.
Terrain: Inland rollers, a serious climb over the ridge, then coastal descent. Suggested rental: full day.
Good to know: • Għajn Tuffieħa is down a long staircase. Lock the bike at the top. • The ridge crossing before Mġarr is the hardest sustained climb on any of our routes. • Golden Bay faces west — this is the other great sunset route alongside Dingli.
Elevation
Long day with sustained climbing. Keep an eye on the battery.
Highlights along the way
- 1
Mosta Dome
The unexploded bomb
- 2
Mġarr
Over the ridge
- 3
Għajn Tuffieħa
Red sand bay
- 4
Golden Bay
Sunset beach
- 5
Popeye Village
Anchor Bay film set
- 6
Mellieħa
Ride the Golden Bay & Popeye Village on a Los Arditos e-bike
Collect at 31 St Ignatius Junction, Sliema — Every day 9:00–12:30 & 15:30–18:00. Helmet, lock and full battery included, from €20.
More routes from Sliema
North Tour
Our big loop: the Silent City, the Dingli Cliffs, Golden Bay and home along the north coast.
65.2 km↑ 876 m≈ 5 h 20
Valletta Harbour Loop
Two hours, one capital city, zero hills worth mentioning. The warm-up ride.
13.4 km↑ 131 m≈ 1 h