Is parking at Mellieha Bay free? Do I need a parking disc in Mellieha? Is Paradise Bay parking suitable for families with pushchairs? Does CDW cover damage on the unpaved road to Selmun Bay? Which rental car is best for Mellieha beaches? If you are renting a car in Malta, Mellieha is one of the easiest coastal bases for beach-hopping, with short drives to Għadira Bay, Paradise Bay, Armier Bay, Selmun Bay, and Għajn Tuffieħa. The most important practical point is parking: Malta uses white, blue, green, and yellow road markings, and local enforcement by LESA can lead to a fine, clamp, or tow if you park incorrectly. Malta’s parking system is based on painted curb colours, and the rules are enforced by Transport Malta, LESA, and local wardens. A rental car with “K” or “QZ” plates is not treated differently in law, but it often receives extra attention because it is easy to identify. In practice, the system is simple: white is generally free, blue is time-limited, green is residents only, and yellow means no parking. For blue bays, the parking disc is essential. Set the disc to your arrival time and place it clearly on the dashboard or windscreen where wardens can read it. The standard fine for a parking violation is often around €25, but rental companies commonly add an administrative fee of €30 or more, and some agreements also allow a card preauthorisation to be used against the excess/deductible. If the hire car includes CDW, SCDW, or FDW, the policy may still exclude parking fines, towing charges, and damage caused by neglect, so “insurance” does not automatically mean zero-cost protection. For airport pick-up at Malta International Airport (MLA) in Luqa, see our airport pickup guide — the Arrivals Lounge and Terminal are where most renters collect documents before moving to the car park. According to Malta’s airport procedures and rental desk practices, you should inspect the vehicle before departure, photograph every panel, and confirm whether the contract states CDW, SCDW, or zero excess. Għadira Bay, also called Mellieha Bay, is the main sandy beach in Northern Malta and is the easiest beach for first-time drivers to reach from Mellieha. The beach is about 1.5 km from the village centre and usually takes around three minutes by car via Triq il-Marfa. In summer 2024, the public car park and nearby road spaces were the most reliable options for free parking, but they still filled quickly on weekends. The best-known parking area is the large public car park at the southern end of the bay. Local counts commonly reference 324 car spaces, 5 motorcycle bays, and 11 camper-van spaces, with a short walk to the sand and access to restrooms. White-lined roadside parking also runs parallel to the beach along Triq il-Marfa, but these bays can be full by 10:00 AM during July and August. If you arrive late, Mellieha village is a practical fallback and the bus down the hill can be quicker than circling for parking. The route to Għadira Bay also passes the Għadira Nature Reserve, the salt pans, and views toward Marfa Ridge and the Gozo Channel, so the drive itself is part of the experience. Keep in mind that beach traffic can be heavy near public holidays, and illegal stopping on yellow lines in this area can bring immediate enforcement. Paradise Bay is one of the most photogenic beaches near Ċirkewwa and sits close to the ferry connection for Gozo and Comino. The beach is roughly 5 km from Mellieha and typically takes about ten minutes to reach by car, depending on traffic near Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal and the Gozo Channel area. Parking is usually available in a dusty cliff-top lot above the bay, and it is generally free. A parking attendant is often present, and a tip of around €1 is customary rather than mandatory. That arrangement is common in Malta’s informal beach car parks, but the official parking rule remains that payment is not required unless a sign or attendant indicates otherwise. Paradise Bay is best for drivers who do not mind stairs and who want a swim before boarding a ferry to Gozo or a boat trip toward Blue Lagoon. The main exception is access: pushchairs, heavy coolers, and passengers with limited mobility will find the descent and return climb difficult. From the bay, you can also see the northern coastal landscape that stretches toward Marfa Jetty, Ċirkewwa, and the Mediterranean horizon. Armier Bay is a local favourite about 4–5 km from Mellieha and usually takes 10–15 minutes to reach by car.