MaltaDays › Marsaxlokk
Marsaxlokk
A working fishing village of painted luzzu boats, famous for its Sunday market and seafood.
Where to stay
Marsaxlokk is a working fishing village in the southeast, and very few visitors sleep here.
- The village — A small number of guesthouses and apartments on and behind the waterfront. Quiet, local, and cheap.
- Marsaskala — Fifteen minutes along the coast, larger and with more choice.
- Elsewhere — Most people come for a morning from Sliema or Valletta, which is easily done.
What to see and do
The harbour is full of luzzus, the traditional wooden boats painted in bands of colour with the eye of Osiris on the bow, a habit inherited from the Phoenicians.
- The Sunday market — The big one, running along the waterfront. Fish in the morning, and a much wider mix of stalls than the name suggests.
- The weekday market — Smaller and mostly aimed at visitors, but the harbour itself is unchanged.
- Eating fish — The row of restaurants along the front is the reason many Maltese drive down on a Sunday. Book, or arrive early.
- St Peter's Pool — A natural rock swimming spot on the headland, about twenty minutes away. Flat rock, deep clear water, no facilities and no shade.
- Delimara Point — The headland beyond, with a lighthouse and the salt pans.
Getting there
- From Valletta — Around thirty-five minutes by bus.
- From Sliema — Roughly an hour by bus, or half that by car.
- To St Peter's Pool — No bus. A taxi, a car, or a hot twenty-five minute walk from the village.
How long to stay
- A morning — The market and the harbour, which is what most people do.
- Half a day — Adds lunch and St Peter's Pool.
- A night — Only worth it if you specifically want a quiet local village rather than a resort.
Worth knowing before you go
- Sunday morning is the market. It is also the busiest the village gets, so come before ten.
- St Peter's Pool has no shade, no facilities and no lifeguard, and the entry is off flat rock by ladder.
- The restaurants fill on Sunday afternoons with Maltese families. That is the recommendation and the warning at once.
- The power station chimneys are visible from the harbour. The village is not a postcard in every direction.
Plan your trip to Marsaxlokk
🏨 Hotels & staysPlaces to stay in MarsaxlokkCheck availability →🎟️ Tours & ticketsDay trips, guides and skip-the-lineSee tours →⛴️ FerriesGozo, Comino and harbour crossingsCheck times →🚗 Car hireCompare rental prices in MaltaSee offers →✈️ FlightsCompare fares to Malta (MLA)Find flights →
Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission on a booking, at no extra cost to you.
Marsaxlokk: frequently asked questions
When is the Marsaxlokk fish market?
The main market is on Sunday morning along the waterfront, with fish plus a much wider mix of stalls. A smaller market runs on other days and is aimed mostly at visitors.
Is Marsaxlokk worth visiting?
Yes, for a morning. It is a working fishing harbour full of painted luzzu boats, and the fish restaurants along the front are among the best on the island.
How do you get to St Peter's Pool?
There is no bus. It is about twenty minutes by car or taxi from Marsaxlokk, or a hot twenty-five minute walk. Take water, because there is no shade and no facilities.
What are the luzzu boats?
Traditional Maltese fishing boats, painted in bands of yellow, red, green and blue, with an eye on the bow inherited from Phoenician practice and meant to protect the crew.
How do you get to Marsaxlokk from Valletta?
Around thirty-five minutes by direct bus.
Can you swim in Marsaxlokk?
Not really in the harbour itself. St Peter's Pool on the nearby headland is the swimming spot, and it is rock rather than sand.