Blue Grotto

Blue Grotto Malta, consists of a complex of sea caves on the southern coast of Malta: very close to Zurrieq and Qrendi Village and facing the small island of Fifla. The site got its name from a British soldier who compared it to Capri’s famous Grotta Azzura. The location of this fascinating natural grotto combines with sunlight and the surrounding chain of caves to reflect the phosphorescent colours of the submerged flora and the deep dark shade of blue of the sea. The Blue Grotto is, in fact, famous for the extraordinary sea reflections within the cave area. It is also extremely popular with scuba divers who come here to explore the numerous caves and to experience the clear, clean and deep waters.

Inside the Blue Grotto Malta, there is a massive arch which is approximately 30m high, and a system of six caves that were created by centuries of persistent action of the waves and the elements. Most notable amongst these caves are the Honeymoon Cave, the Cat’s Cave and the beautiful Reflection Cave. The sky reflects the white sandy seabed, giving off a bright cobalt colour while the caves mirror the orange, purple and green colours off the minerals in the rocks. This particular spectacle of colours can be seen daily from sunrise until around one in the afternoon. This, in addition to the white froth of the waves hitting the cliffs, presents exceptional photographic backgrounds.

The small natural inlet close by, is called Wied iz-Zurrieq. Many fishermen use this natural inlet as their harbour and set out fishing from here. There are, in fact, several boat houses in the area but several restaurants and bars have now flourished due to the area’s increasing popularity with tourists.

Getting to Blue Grotto

Some caves, including the Blue Grotto Malta, which is the biggest cave in the area, can be reached by boat from Wied iz-Zurrieq, from where superb views of Filfla and the surroundings can also be enjoyed.. The ‘frejgatini’ boats depart daily between 09:00 and 16:30, weather permitting, (apart from Christmas and New Year) and cruise for about 25 minutes before reaching the caves.

As the grotto is located in the southeast area of the island, the best time to visit is from early morning to around midday during the summer months, especially on clear, sunny days. This allows for the best position of the sun in relation to the caves, providing the ideal light for the colours of the water to shine through.