Marsaxlokk harbour
Luzzus and the Sunday fish market
Weekday mornings for the boats; Sunday for the market.
MarsaxlokkBoatsMarket
Marsaxlokk & southern Malta, Malta
Ideal: 1 dayBest: Apr–Jun · Sep–OctPrice: Moderate
In 60 seconds
Marsaxlokk & southern Malta in 60 seconds
Malta's south is where the island still fishes. Marsaxlokk's harbour is crowded with luzzus, the wooden boats painted blue, yellow and red with an eye on the bow to watch over the fishermen, and on Sunday mornings the quay turns into a fish market. Round the headland, St Peter's Pool is a flat rock shelf for swimming in clear water. Along the southern cliffs, boats leave Wied iż-Żurrieq for the Blue Grotto and its sea caves, and above them the temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra stand on open ground facing the islet of Filfla — Mnajdra built so that the sun shines through its doorway at the equinoxes. Combine with the Hypogeum in Paola if you have a ticket. A day by car or bus, ending with fish on the waterfront.
SeafoodArchaeologyVillages
Best for
- Coast
- Food
- History
Known for
- Luzzu boats
- Sunday fish market
- Blue Grotto
- Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra
Skip if
You dislike crowds — Sunday market mornings are packed; come on a weekday for the boats alone.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Marsaxlokk & southern Malta fits them. Choose interests
See
Must experience
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
Blue Grotto
Sea caves on the southern cliffs
Small boats run from Wied iż-Żurrieq when the sea is calm; morning light is best.
Wied iż-ŻurrieqBoat tripCoast
Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra
Megalithic temples over the sea
Two temples under protective canopies, linked by a path down towards the sea.
QrendiArchaeologyUNESCO
Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
Rock-cut underground temple and burial site
Visits are limited to small groups to protect it; book weeks ahead.
PaolaArchaeologyUNESCO
Orientation
Neighbourhoods
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Marsaxlokk
Fishing village round the bay
A waterfront of fish restaurants facing the boats.
Stay
Where to stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Valletta
ExpensiveA base for the south
Most visitors come for the day; buses run from Valletta.
Buses
Practical
Know before you go
- Getting in
- Buses from Valletta to Marsaxlokk and to the temples; a car links them easily.
- Blue Grotto boats
- Weather-dependent — they do not sail in rough seas.
- Hypogeum
- Tickets are released well in advance and sell out; book before you travel.
- Taste locally
- Grilled fish and lampuki in autumn on the waterfront, with Maltese bread and bigilla.
Plan this trip — useful links
Context
History in 5 minutes
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
- c. 3600–3200 BC
The temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra are built.
- 1980
The Hypogeum is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Further out
Nearby escapes
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Valletta & the Three Cities
The capital
Valletta & the Three Cities has its own guide.
30 min by busHistory
Mdina & Rabat
The silent city
Mdina & Rabat has its own guide.
25 min by carMedieval