Discovering Blue Grotto and Wied iz-Zurrieq

13 Jun

A small bird perched on the balcony edge at the Blue Grotto viewpoint, looking out towards the uninhabited Filfla Island. — Tiny bird watching towards a tiny island

Best time for photos at Blue Grotto

The most common mistake visitors make: They come to the Blue Grotto in the afternoon.

The sun position matters: The sun illuminates the caves and creates the famous blue water effect only in the morning (until 1:00 PM).

If you arrive later, the sun will be behind the cliffs and the grotto will lie in the shadow. The water will look dark blue/black instead of turquoise.

We took a bus to Qrendi this time and walked from here. This way we passed by the beautiful St. Matthew’s Chapel (Maltese: Il-Maqluba).

A man sitting on a rock in front of the historic St. Matthew's Chapel in the countryside of Qrendi, Malta. — St. Matthew’s Chapel in Qrendi

A traveler walking down the panoramic road leading to the Blue Grotto viewpoint with the Mediterranean Sea in the background. — Filfla Island at the horizon

Iconic Arch

The iconic Blue Grotto natural limestone arch seen from the viewpoint, framed by local aloe vera plants. — The iconic Blue Grotto arch formation from the viewing point

After 30 minutes we got to “Blue Grotto,” the famous arch rising out of the sea near the village Wied iz-Zurrieq.

Try to come in the morning between 9 and 11am. That is when the light shines right into the bay. And you’ll be able to see the entire spectrum from blue to green.

Boat Tour

From the viewing point we walked down to the village Wied iz-Żurrieq (approx. 10 minute walk downhill).

Once you get to the village it makes sense to do the traditional boat tour first as the sunlight hits all caves in the morning hours.

The tours leave from the small harbour in Wied iz-Żurrieq and take approx. 20 minutes. The “luzzu” are small fisher boats painted in blue, red and yellow.

Tours usually run every day, as long as the weather permits. Tickets are sold just were the boats are leaving from. You don’t need to book in advance.

View from inside a traditional Maltese luzzu boat as it enters a dark sea cave during a Blue Grotto tour. — Blue Grotto tour by boat

Crystal clear turquoise water reflecting vibrant colors inside the sea caves at the Blue Grotto. — Crystal water in the caves

Wied iz-Zurrieq

Children standing near the metal ladder leading into the clear waters of the Wied iż-Żurrieq swimming spot. — Swimming spot in Wied iz-Zurrieq

After doing the boat tour we went for a little swim just a few metres from where the boat had dropped us. The water is super clear and there was plenty of fish. Bring your snorkeling glasses!

Lunch

Traditional fishing boats pulled up along the concrete ramp at Wied iż-Żurrieq near the swimming zone. — Swimmers enjoying the sea in late autumn

There are a few cafes and restaurants in the village where you can grab a coffee or have lunch. We usually eat at Step In, the restaurant at the very end of the village.

Their fish variety is great and it is a nice place to sit and watch the boats come in and out.

We had this little bird (from the cover photo) sitting with us and it almost seemed he enjoyed the view as much as we did :-)

Filfla Island

A young boy riding a scooter along the Wied iż-Żurrieq waterfront promenade during a golden sunset. — Boy riding a scooter with Filfla Island in the background

We had a couple drinks in the village and managed to end our day with a sunset. The island that appears at the horizon is called “Filfla”.

The name has its roots in the Arabic word for “Peppercorn“ حب الفلفل 🌶️. The island is a nature reserve and not open to visitors. It’s only 60,000 square metres in size, but home to some birds and plants that don’t exist elsewhere.

The island has an interesting but sad history. It was used for bombardment practice by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force until 1971.

Author: Bjorn

Updated on: 8/9/2026

Bjorn Bhatia