Blue Grotto, Malta

Malta's Blue Grotto is not a single cave but a cluster of sea caverns cut into the limestone cliffs of the island's southern coast, just beyond the small fishing inlet of Wied iż-Żurrieq. Maltese call the main cavern Taħt il-Ħnejja, "under the arch", after the monumental rock arch at its entrance, and the name says much about the place: the sea has carved a gateway tall enough to frame the sky, and behind it a chain of chambers that can only be entered from the water.

The attraction is colour. In sunshine, light passes through the clear water and bounces back onto the cave walls and ceilings, so the rock itself seems to glow in shades of blue. Deeper in, some caverns turn a much darker blue, and beneath the surface the rocks show patches of orange, red and yellow from algae and marine life. Opposite the caves lies Filfla, a small uninhabited islet protected as a bird sanctuary, which gives the seascape its lonely silhouette.

The coast here is also a favourite of divers and snorkellers, who come for the clear water and for the scuttled wreck of the Um El Faroud nearby. Film crews have used the setting too, including for the feature film Troy.

Getting there

The caves lie about 6 km from Qormi and only some 4 km from Malta International Airport (MLA), in the territory of Qrendi. Small boats leave from the harbour at Wied iż-Żurrieq and run only when the sea is calm. There is no access to the caves on foot.