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Blue Grotto & Temples
Sea caves of glowing blue water on the south coast, beside the megalithic Ħaġar Qim temples.
Where to stay
Nobody bases themselves at the Blue Grotto. It is a cliff, a slipway and a handful of restaurants.
- Wied iż-Żurrieq — The tiny settlement at the boat slipway, with a few rooms and places to eat.
- Żurrieq or Qrendi — The villages inland, ordinary and inexpensive.
- Elsewhere — Almost everyone comes for a couple of hours from wherever they are staying.
What to see
A system of sea caves under the southern cliffs, where the light coming through the water throws colour onto the rock.
- The boat trip — Small open boats run from the slipway at Wied iż-Żurrieq through several caves, around twenty-five minutes. Morning only, because the light is right then and the afternoon sea is usually rougher.
- The viewpoint — On the road above, a few minutes before the slipway. Free, and the source of every photograph of the arch you have seen.
- Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra — Two megalithic temple complexes ten minutes away on the clifftop, among the oldest buildings on earth and now under protective canopies.
- The cliffs — The whole southern coast here is high and undeveloped, and the walk along the top is one of the better ones on Malta.
Getting there
- From Valletta — Around forty-five minutes by bus.
- From Sliema — An hour or more by bus, about forty minutes by car.
- Parking — At the viewpoint and near the slipway, and both fill in the middle of the day.
How long to stay
- Two hours — The boat and the viewpoint.
- Half a day — Adds Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, which is the sensible combination.
- A full day — Only with the clifftop walk included.
Worth knowing before you go
- The boats run in the morning. Turn up in the afternoon and there is a good chance nothing is going out.
- Trips are cancelled outright when the sea is up, which happens often in winter and on windy days.
- The viewpoint on the road is free and, for many people, the better photograph.
- Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra are ten minutes away and older than the pyramids. Skipping them to save an hour is a mistake.
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Blue Grotto & Temples: frequently asked questions
How do the Blue Grotto boat trips work?
Small open boats leave from the slipway at Wied iż-Żurrieq and take about twenty-five minutes through the caves. They run in the morning only, and are cancelled when the sea is rough.
What time should you visit the Blue Grotto?
Morning, between roughly nine and eleven. That is when the light in the caves is best and when the boats are running.
Do you have to take a boat to see the Blue Grotto?
No. The viewpoint on the road above is free and gives the classic view of the arch. The boat takes you inside the caves, which is a different experience.
What else is near the Blue Grotto?
Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, two megalithic temple complexes ten minutes away on the clifftop, which are among the oldest free-standing buildings anywhere.
How do you get to the Blue Grotto from Valletta?
About forty-five minutes by bus, or forty minutes by car from the Sliema side.
Are the Blue Grotto boats cancelled often?
In winter and on windy days, yes. The sea state decides, and there is no way to guarantee it in advance.