Blue Grotto & Dingli Cliffs

Blue Grotto (Il-Ħnejja)

The Blue Grotto is a system of several sea caves on the south coast, where the water glows in surreal shades of blue and turquoise. The effect is created by the refraction of sunlight on the white sandy bottom and the phosphorescent algae on the cave walls — best seen in the morning when the sun shines from the east. A boat trip through the grottoes lasts 25 minutes and costs 8€. The small boats depart from the Wied iż-Żurrieq jetty when the sea is calm enough (no trips in rough seas).

Tip: Best visited between 9 and 11 a.m. when the sunlight optimally falls into the caves. From the viewpoint above the grottoes, you have a spectacular view of the cliffs and the uninhabited island of Filfla in the sea.

Dingli Cliffs

The Dingli Cliffs are Malta's highest point — the vertical limestone cliffs rise 253 meters above the sea. A hiking trail along the cliff edge offers breathtaking panoramic views over the open Mediterranean Sea to Filfla. Especially at sunset, the atmosphere is magical: the cliffs glow golden, the sea turns silver, and the silence is almost tangible.

On the cliffs lies the small Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene (17th century) — picturesquely perched on the edge. In the vicinity, you will find the Clapham Junction Cart Ruts: mysterious parallel grooves in the rock that look like railway tracks and whose origin (Bronze Age? Romans?) is still debated today. Free access.

Wied iż-Żurrieq

The small valley and harbor Wied iż-Żurrieq is the starting point for the Blue Grotto boat tours, but it also has charm beyond that: a few fish restaurants by the water, a steep road down to the boat jetty, and spectacular cliffs. Combine the Blue Grotto visit with the nearby Ħaġar Qim temples — both are only 10 minutes apart.