Blue Grotto and Market in Marsaxlokk
The route built around exactly these two places, and the one most people book. Guided in five languages, which is the widest choice in our catalogue.
from €30 See availability
Malta's southern coast
Blue Grotto and Marsaxlokk Tours
The south of Malta holds the sea caves at the Blue Grotto, the fishing harbour of Marsaxlokk with its painted luzzu boats, and the prehistoric temples on the cliffs above. They sit close together and are usually visited on one half-day route. Below are the tours that go there, then what to see and how to plan your visit.
Southern Malta tours you can book today
A guided half day, an open-top bus route or a temples-focused visit. Prices are per adult and come from each tour's own page.
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus – South Route
An open-top bus that covers the south, including the Blue Grotto and Marsaxlokk, at your own pace. Useful if you want to decide where to stop on the day.
from €25 See availability
Prehistoric Temples Guided Tour
Focused on Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra and Għar Dalam. Choose it if the temples are your reason for coming south rather than the coast.
from €50 See availability
What to see in the south
The coast and the temples are within a few kilometres of each other. The boat trip into the caves is the one part that depends on the weather.
Sea caves and the boat trip
The Blue Grotto caves
Small boats leave from Wied iż-Żurrieq and run into the system of caves in the cliff face, where the water takes on strong blues in the right light. The boats are operated locally and run only when the sea allows, so the trip is never guaranteed on a given day.
Morning light is usually best. If the sea is rough, the boats do not sail and no tour can change that.
See the Blue Grotto tour
The fishing village
Marsaxlokk and its market
Marsaxlokk is a working fishing harbour, and the market along the waterfront is busiest on Sunday, when the fish stalls are the main event. On other days the stalls lean towards clothes and souvenirs, which is worth knowing before you plan the trip around it.
Go on Sunday for the fish market; go any other day for a quieter harbour.
Explore the guided tour
Painted hulls and the eye of Osiris
The luzzu boats
The harbour is filled with luzzus, the traditional Maltese fishing boats painted in blue, yellow and red with an eye on each side of the bow. They are the most photographed thing in the south and they are still in use, not a display.
The best light on the boats is early morning, before the coaches arrive.
View the bus route
Prehistoric Malta
Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra
On the cliffs above the Blue Grotto stand Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, megalithic temples older than the pyramids and part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing. Both are managed by Heritage Malta and sheltered under protective canopies, with a visitor centre at the entrance.
Admission is charged separately; do not assume a coastal tour includes entry.
See the temples tourPlanning your trip to the south
This is the part of Malta most affected by the weather and by the day of the week.
The boat depends on the sea
Blue Grotto boat trips are run by local operators and stop whenever the swell is too strong. A guided tour will still take you to the viewpoint above the caves, but nobody can promise the boat will sail. Treat the boat as a bonus rather than the reason for the trip.
Sunday changes Marsaxlokk
The fish market runs on Sunday morning and is the busiest the village gets. If you want the market, go then; if you want the harbour without crowds, choose another day.
Temples are a separate ticket
Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra and Għar Dalam charge their own admission. Our temples tour is built around them, while the coastal route passes nearby without necessarily going in. Check the itinerary before booking.
Little shade on the coast
The cliff paths and the temple approaches are exposed. Bring water, sun protection and shoes suitable for uneven ground, especially between June and September.
Blue Grotto and Marsaxlokk questions
Is the Blue Grotto boat trip included in the tour?
Not automatically. Our guided tour takes you to the site and the viewpoint; the boat is operated separately at Wied iż-Żurrieq and is paid there. It also runs only when the sea is calm enough, so treat it as weather dependent.
What is the best time to see the Blue Grotto?
Morning, when the light reaches into the caves and the water shows its strongest colour. Later in the day the effect fades. The same morning slot is also when the boats are most likely to be running.
Should I visit Marsaxlokk on a Sunday?
If you want the fish market, yes: that is when it takes place. It is also the busiest morning of the week. On other days the waterfront is calmer and the stalls sell mostly clothes and souvenirs.
Can you combine the Blue Grotto with the temples?
They are very close to each other, so geographically yes. Our coastal tour concentrates on the Blue Grotto and Marsaxlokk, while the temples tour concentrates on Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra and Għar Dalam. Pick the one whose priorities match yours rather than expecting one route to do both properly.
Is the south suitable for limited mobility?
Partly. Marsaxlokk's waterfront is flat and easy, while the Blue Grotto involves a slope down to the boats and the temple sites have uneven ground. Tell us your requirements before booking and we will say honestly what each route involves.
Keep exploring Malta
Other places to pair with a day in the south.