Map › Malta › Mellieħa, northern Malta › Armier Bay
Northern Region, Malta · Mellieħa - Armier, northern Malta · Mellieha
Armier Bay
also known as L-Armier, Il-Bajja tal-Armier
Nearby White Tower Bay 2 km · Mellieħa Bay 3 km · straight-line distance
On the clock
11:00 · 12:00
summer sea breeze may build around 11:00-12:00 and fade in the evening; winter frontal winds are synoptic
The marks are the clock times the record names, laid on a 24-hour day. The bar between the first and the last covers those hours; it is not a promise of wind.
The wind
locals call it Tramontana, Gregale, Maestrale/Libeccio, Xlokk and Mediterranean summer sea breeze
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
mixed
fills in: summer sea breeze may build around 11:00-12:00 and fade in the evening; winter frontal winds are synoptic
Typical strength
Monthly average wind speeds run about 6-13 kt; island-wide, winter Tramontana can reach 15-25 kt and Gregale 20-35+ kt during fronts.
Also on record
6-13 kt monthly averages; 10-18 kt is an older estimate and unconfirmed
The quiver, in words
Nothing is published for Armier itself. Indicative for a 75-85 kg twintip rider, derived from the bay's own wind ranges rather than from any local rider report: 12-14 m on the common 10-15 knot days, 9-10 m in a 15-25 knot Tramontana, 7-8 m when a Gregale front pushes past 30 knots.
Direction to shore
The bay opens to the north-east, looking across at Comino and Gozo. A Gregale out of the north-east comes straight in and the sea gets choppy; the winter Tramontana from N-NW arrives cross-on. Which angles the handful of riders here actually use is not documented.
Dominant direction
Monthly stats show mostly W-NW/NW directions, with NE/E episodes in spring; island-wide winter systems include N-NW Tramontana and NE Gregale.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan, riders' month72
- Feb, riders' month62
- Mar, riders' month81
- Apr, riders' month70
- May66
- Jun39
- Jul28
- Aug27
- Sep44
- Oct, riders' month35
- Nov, riders' month61
- Dec, riders' month69
per cent of the month at force 4 or more
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec.
- 15Jan17°
- 14Feb16°
- 15Mar16°
- 16Apr17°
- 14May19°
- 11Jun23°
- 10Jul27°
- 10Aug28°
- 11Sep27°
- 10Oct25°
- 14Nov23°
- 14Dec19°
avg knots per month · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Force 4+ | Knots | From | Air | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 72% | 14.7 kt | NW | 13.8°C | 17.4°C |
| Feb | 62% | 14.4 kt | WNW | 13.7°C | 16.2°C |
| Mar | 81% | 15.1 kt | WNW | 14.7°C | 16.2°C |
| Apr | 70% | 15.5 kt | WNW | 16.4°C | 17°C |
| May | 66% | 13.5 kt | WNW | 19.7°C | 18.9°C |
| Jun | 39% | 10.9 kt | NW | 24.6°C | 23.4°C |
| Jul | 28% | 9.8 kt | WNW | 27.9°C | 27.1°C |
| Aug | 27% | 10.1 kt | NW | 27.8°C | 27.7°C |
| Sep | 44% | 11.2 kt | NW | 25.7°C | 26.8°C |
| Oct | 35% | 10.1 kt | NW | 23.2°C | 25°C |
| Nov | 61% | 13.6 kt | WNW | 19.6°C | 22.7°C |
| Dec | 69% | 14.1 kt | NW | 16.4°C | 19.3°C |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from weather reanalysis on a 10–25 km grid (2022-2024), not a ground station: reliable for trade and synoptic winds, understates thermal sea breezes and valley winds. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
ERA5 reanalysis grid point (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical weather API — ECMWF ERA5/ERA5-Land reanalysis, not a ground station · 2022-2024
The water
Type
Mediterranean sea, small sandy bay with turquoise shallow water and some rocky entry patches
Standing depth
shallow, gently sloping near shore; exact standing distance for kiting is not documented
Tides
Mediterranean micro-tidal conditions; tidal range is usually small and rarely a planning factor
Temperature
26°C summer · 16°C winter
Wetsuit
shorty or 3 mm in high summer; full winter suit or thicker suit in winter; shoulder seasons depend on tolerance
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
No school names this spot
Nobody has been recorded teaching or running a boat here.
On your own
Room to launch: limited on the beach, especially July-August and weekends when sunbeds and swimmers fill the sand
Somewhere else
White Tower Bay, 2 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Launch
Small sandy beach at the northern end of Malta, with paid sunbeds and beach furniture through the season; the shoreline has rocky, sharp patches at the water entry in places.
Space
limited on the beach, especially July-August and weekends when sunbeds and swimmers fill the sand
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Ask locally before you rig: only Malta-wide seasonal restrictions are documented, and there is no Armier-specific permit process.
- Stay off the beach in July-August, when sunbeds and swimmers fill it and the summer restrictions apply.
- Bring water shoes for the walk in and out; sharp rocks are reported at the entry.
- Use the Mellieha/Ghadira wind forecasts as your guide, then look at the beach yourself, because the exact kite launch area is not documented.
- Nobody is watching this water. No lifeguard, no kite centre, no rescue boat: ride with someone, and know that the emergency number is 112.
- If you want a designated, supervised area rather than a check-it-yourself beach, Mellieha Bay has the marked watersports zone and the instructors.
Getting there
Airport
Malta International Airport (MLA)
Route
A car is the easy way across the Marfa peninsula to the free car park behind the beach. Bus route 49 stops at Armier/Xilep near the beach, and Airport Direct TD1 links the airport with Mellieha/Cirkewwa.
Transfer
45 min
Cost level
medium
Staying
No hotel sits on Armier Bay itself; stay in Mellieha or elsewhere in northern Malta and drive or bus in.
No-wind days
swimming and snorkeling at Armier or Little Armier · Comino and Blue Lagoon boat trips · Popeye Village and Anchor Bay · Gozo day trip via Cirkewwa ferry · Valletta, Mdina and Malta historical sightseeing
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kite at Armier Bay?
January-April and October-December are the best wind months, matching the island-wide October-to-April season when summer beaches are less crowded and less restricted.
Is Armier Bay suitable for beginners?
No source rates it specifically for beginners; the small beach, rocky entry patches and lack of a verified kite school or rescue make it best for intermediate riders bringing their own gear.
What is the wind like at Armier Bay?
Monthly averages run about 6-13 knots, with winter Tramontana reaching 15-25 knots and Gregale fronts up to 20-35+ knots.
Are there rules for kiting at Armier Bay?
As of 2026, kitesurfing is reported as not allowed on Maltese beaches during the June-September summer tourist season, with practical kiting confined to the rest of the year; no Armier-specific bylaw was found.
What are the hazards at Armier Bay?
Hazards include sharp or rocky seabed patches at the water entry, seaweed after northerly winds, possible jellyfish, and boats moored close to shore in high season.
Last updated: August 2026