Marsaxlokk, Malta's Colourful Fishing Village
Marsaxlokk (pronounced ‘Mar-sa-shlok’) is a charming traditional fishing village. It is located in the southeastern part of Malta only a 20 minute drive from the capital, Valletta. Known for its bold and colourful fishing boats, harbour front markets and excellent seafood restaurants, it’s a lovely place for a day trip.
Explore the beautiful nature along the coast of the Delimara peninsula and discover the white limestone bays and inlets at St Peter’s Pool, Kalanka Bay and Xrobb L-Għaġin Nature Park.
1. Marsaxlokk Harbour Walk
A walk along the Marsaxlokk harbour is the perfect way to see Malta’s traditional fishing boats, called Luzzu, which are still in use today. These boats are known for their bold colours, and along the harbour you’ll also see brightly painted doors, murals and benches to match. Look out for the fishing boats with the eyes of Osiris painted on the bow, which are said to be a symbol of protection and luck for the fishermen.
2. Marsaxlokk Markets
The bustling open markets run along the waterfront of the harbour and sell a variety of fresh produce, foods, crafts and souvenirs.
On Sundays the fish market sells directly to consumers and is popular with both locals and tourists. To get the best selection of fish, it’s recommended to get there early in the morning when the markets open, but if you’re just wanting to soak up the atmosphere and have a wander, there’s still plenty to see later on.
On the market stalls you can find Maltese pastries, including Cannoli and Pastizzi - a traditional Maltese savoury flaky pasty usually filled with curried mushy peas or ricotta. You can also find other typical items such as fig or prickly pear cactus jams, liqueurs and other treats.
3. Fish Restaurants in Marsaxlokk
The restaurants in Marsaxlokk are known for excellent seafood, serving fish bought fresh from the fishermen at the markets. A popular traditional Maltese dish to try is Lampuki, a fish also known as Dorado.
There are lots of al fresco dining options that line the waterfront and the Marsaxlokk Parish Church square. As the area around the Sunday markets gets very busy, the restaurants get booked up very quickly so it’s definitely worth reserving a table ahead.
4. St Peter's Pool
A visit to Marsaxlokk wouldn’t be complete without exploring the beautiful bays along the rugged coast of the southeastern tip of the island.
Less than a 10 minute drive from the centre of Marsaxlokk is St Peter’s Pool, a natural swimming cove on the Delimara peninsula. There are various short paths leading down from the cliffs surrounding the pool, giving beautiful views of the unique shape of the cove from above. You can sit out and relax on the limestone slabs, swim or snorkel in the crystal clear waters, or try out cliff jumping.
There aren’t any official facilities at St Peter’s Pool. Although it looked as though the nearby residents open up car parking on their land and sell drinks and snacks from a small kiosk during the peak season. As with a lot of places in Malta, make sure to bring cash.
During the winter months, it’s much quieter and a lovely place to have a wander and relax.
5. Il-Kalanka Bay
Il-Kalanka bay is an alternative spot to the busier St Peter’s Pool. It’s a 5-10 minute drive away or a 25 minute walk along the coast towards the tip of the Delimara peninsula. There is free public parking but no facilities so bring everything you need.
To the left of the bay there are steps leading down to the water. Or from the car park there is a lovely path through the grass along the right side of the bay. You can take this path to get views looking back down at the cove.
6. Xrobb L-Għaġin Nature Park
Xrobb L-Għaġin Nature Park is a beautiful nature reserve with walking trails and stunning views of the smooth white cliffs that line the Mediterranean.
The Tal Hofriet window, with its eroded arch through the middle, is a peninsula that juts out into the turquoise waters. If you’re short on time, the window can also be seen from the other side along the coastal road leading to St Peter’s Pool.
7. Map of Marsaxlokk
8. More To Do
During the summer months, you could easily spend a day in Marsaxlokk. After visiting the harbour and the markets, take a swim and spend time relaxing in the sun.
As we were there during the cooler months when it wasn’t warm enough to swim, we opted to go see the coastal nature spots in the morning first. We then went into the Marsaxlokk centre later on to catch the end of the markets and in time for lunch.
From Marsaxlokk, a popular option is to make the short trip across to the Southern side of the island to explore Blue Grotto and the Coast.
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