10 official dog friendly bays

1. Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq behind the Splash and Fun park;
2. Marsaxlokk at Il-Magħluq behind Hunter’s tower Restaurant;
3. Sliema near the old Chalet;
4. L-Aħrax near the camping site;
5. Marsalforn, Qbajjar, opposite Horizon restaurant;
6. l-Imġiebaħ in Selmun;
7. Torri l-Abjad and the bays around the boathouses;
8. Rinella in Kalkara;
9. Żonqor Point in Marsascala;
10. tal-Fessej near Mgarr Ix Xini, Gozo, but not Mgarr Ix Xini itself.
    

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Although those are the official dog friendly bays, you can take your dog swimming anywhere as long as:

1. It is not a sandy beach, unless listed above or there is a sign allowing dogs;
2. It is not an official bathing zone*, unless listed above or there is a sign allowing dogs;
3. There isn't a local council sign banning dogs.

*Official bathing zones are not the same as swimming areas. A swimming area is summer only and marked by buoys. A bathing zone is year round, generally not marked and are typically larger than a swimming area.

View list of all official bathing zones.

The law

Management of bathing water quality [s.l.465.09]

Subsidiary legislation 465.09

Management of bathing water quality regulations 1st march, 2009*

Legal notice 125 of 2008, as amended by legal notice 237 of 2011.

19. (1) no animals may be taken into the sea at any time within those areas indicated by the superintendent as being bathing areas under the provisions of these regulations.

(2) domestic pets such as dogs are not to be taken on sandy beaches at any time, however these may be taken on rocky beaches and the owner of such pets should not cause any nuisance to other bathers and to clean any fouling made by their pets.

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