Blue Grotto, Malta

The Blue Grotto is one of the natural highlights of Malta — a series of sea caves and a great natural arch carved into the towering limestone cliffs of the island’s south coast, near the villages of Żurrieq and Qrendi. Its name comes from the extraordinary colour of the water inside the caves: on a bright, calm morning, sunlight reflecting off the white sandy seabed and the minerals in the rock turns the sea a vivid, almost luminous blue, shot through with shades of green and purple. Facing the caves, five kilometres out to sea, lies the tiny uninhabited islet of Filfla, a protected bird sanctuary that completes one of Malta’s most photographed coastal views.

What to See

There are two ways to enjoy the Blue Grotto. The first is from above: a viewpoint beside the coast road gives the classic photograph of the main arch rising from the sea against the cliffs — best in the morning light, and lovely at sunset too. The second, and the real experience, is to go out on the water. From the little harbour of Wied iż-Żurrieq, brightly painted traditional Maltese boats take small groups on a trip of around twenty minutes into and around the caves, gliding beneath the arch and into grottoes where the reflected light makes the water glow in brilliant blues and greens. The whole stretch of cliff is dramatic and unspoilt, good for coastal walks, and the harbour has cafés and a small diving scene, as the clear waters here are popular with snorkellers and divers.

How to Get There and Practical Information

The Blue Grotto is on the south coast of Malta, near Qrendi and Żurrieq, about a 30-minute drive from Valletta and reachable by public bus to the Blue Grotto stop, from where it is a short walk down to the Wied iż-Żurrieq harbour and the clifftop viewpoint. Admiring the arch from the land is free; the boat trips into the caves are ticketed and paid in cash at the harbour, with no need to book ahead, though they run only when the sea is calm enough and so can be cancelled in windy weather. Go early in the day, ideally before late morning, both for the best light inside the caves and to beat the crowds and the wind, which often picks up in the afternoon. Bring cash, sun protection and a camera.