The Blue Grotto is not one cave but a run of sea caves and arches on Malta's south coast, and the only way in is a small open boat from the fishing inlet of Wied iż-Żurrieq: about 20 to 25 minutes, €10 (about $11.40), no booking, pay at the booth. Whether the boats run is decided by the boatmen's own committee, and in a southerly wind nobody goes out, however blue the sky. The cave on land that stays open whatever the sea does is 7 km east: Għar Dalam, with the bones of dwarf elephants and hippos.
- TicketsBlue Grotto: no reservations – you buy at the booth in Wied iż-Żurrieq and wait until a boat fills.
- Price€10 (about $11.40) – Blue Grotto – boat trip, adult (boatmen's cooperative, cash at the jetty; per visitor reviews April 2026 and several 2026 guides)
- OpenBlue Grotto: boats run daily all year, but only in calm sea and never in a southerly wind.
- Best timeA calm morning without a southerly wind.
- ClaustrophobiaNot an issue: the boats pass through open arches and cave mouths and you stay in daylight.
Blue Grotto, Għar Dalam and the Comino caves, compared
Blue Grotto (Taħt il-Ħnejja), Wied iż-Żurrieq
A sea arch and chain of caves on the south coast facing the islet of Filfla; the boats follow the cliff and nose into several caves.
The boat service's own cave guide has eight stops: Cat's Cave, Reflection Cave, Window Cave, Blue Grotto, Circle Cave, Elephant Foot, Honeymoon Cave and Blue Window Cave. Which ones you enter depends on the water. No more than 25 boats a day.
Boat €10 (about $11.40) adult, €5 (about $5.70) child, cash; private boat €80 (about $91.20) (10/2026; the operator publishes no price list)
Blue Grotto viewpoint (Panorama)
The view down onto the great arch, right beside the road from Żurrieq to Wied iż-Żurrieq.
The only way to see the grotto when a southerly wind keeps the boats in. Panorama bus stop on routes 74 and 201.
free
Għar Dalam, Birżebbuġa
Malta's oldest prehistoric site: a 144 m cave of which you walk the first 50 m, plus a museum of Ice Age bones – dwarf elephants, hippos, deer and bears.
The oldest deposits are over 160,000 years old, and the top layer holds traces of Malta's first farmers. The rest of the cave stays closed, partly to protect an endemic cave woodlouse and a bat roost. Audio guide in ten languages.
Adults €6.50 (about $7.41), reduced €5 (about $5.70), ages 6–11 €4 (about $4.56), under 6 free (10/2026)
Comino sea caves (Santa Maria caves)
Caves and arches on the Comino coast that the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon boats call at; smaller boats enter some of them.
Since 2025 no more than 4,000 people may be ashore at the Blue Lagoon at once; the booking rule applies only there, not to the rest of Comino.
Boat tours from about $26–34 on GetYourGuide (10/2026); landing at the Blue Lagoon needs a free timed pass
Blue Grotto Malta tickets and prices
Blue Grotto: no reservations – you buy at the booth in Wied iż-Żurrieq and wait until a boat fills. Għar Dalam: tickets on site or in the Heritage Malta online store. If a Comino tour lets you step ashore at the Blue Lagoon, you need a free timed pass from bluelagooncomino.mt; cruising past the Comino caves without landing at the lagoon does not.
Official prices
- Blue Grotto – boat trip, adult (boatmen's cooperative, cash at the jetty; per visitor reviews April 2026 and several 2026 guides)€10 (about $11.40)
- Blue Grotto – boat trip, child (per 2026 guides)€5 (about $5.70)
- Blue Grotto – private boat (per visitor review April 2026)€80 (about $91.20)
- Blue Grotto – clifftop viewpointfree
- Għar Dalam – adult 18+ (combo ticket Għar Dalam + Borġ in-Nadur; Borġ in-Nadur currently closed)€6.50 (about $7.41)
- Għar Dalam – ages 12–17, seniors 60+, students and concessions€5 (about $5.70)
- Għar Dalam – ages 6–11€4 (about $4.56)
- Għar Dalam – ages 1–5, Heritage Malta members and pass holdersfree
- Blue Lagoon, Comino – timed landing pass (compulsory since 1 May 2025, in force summer 2026)free
As of 10/2026 · source and direct booking: bluegrottomalta.com.mt
When everything is sold out
Not in the usual sense – at the Blue Grotto you queue at the jetty. The cooperative caps the service at 25 boats a day in two shifts.
Tours to the Blue Grotto and Malta's caves
You cannot pre-book the boat itself: it is €10 (about $11.40) in cash at the jetty, and most coach packages leave it out and say so in the small print. A package is worth it if you have no car and want the Blue Grotto, the temples and Għar Dalam in one day. To get closer to the caves than the boatmen go, look at the guided SUP tour from Qrendi or a small-boat trip into the Comino sea caves.
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Malta: Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon & Sea Caves Boat Tour
Malta: Marsaxlokk, Blue Grotto, and Qrendi Guided Tour
Show all 10 offers
Prehistoric Temples of Malta Tour
Malta: Prehistoric Temples, Limestone Heritage & Blue Grotto
Malta: 5 hr Vintage Bus Tour - Mdina & Blue Grotto inc. food
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From Sliema: Blue Grotto Excursion & Sea Caves Boat Tour
Explore Malta’s Blue Grotto by SUP
Booked through GetYourGuide (affiliate link, advertising). Most offers can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours ahead. Prices as of 20 September 2026.
Blue Grotto Malta opening hours and best time
Blue Grotto: boats run daily all year, but only in calm sea and never in a southerly wind. The boat service publishes no fixed hours; 2026 travel guides give roughly 9:00 to 17:00/18:00 in summer and 9:30 to 15:30 in winter. The clifftop viewpoint is open at all times. Għar Dalam (Heritage Malta): 1 March to 31 October 2026 and 1 November 2026 to 3 January 2027, Tuesday to Sunday 9:00–17:00, closed Mondays; 4 January to 28 February 2027 also closed on Wednesdays. Last admission 30 minutes before closing; closed 1 January, Good Friday and 24, 25 and 31 December.
When it is quietest
A calm morning without a southerly wind. Several guides say the light reaches deepest into the caves before about 11:00 and the glow fades after that. In a southerly wind no boats run – look from the viewpoint and drive on to Għar Dalam, which opens whatever the sea is doing (except Mondays and holiday closures). Winter hours are shorter.
Who it suits
With children
The boat trip is short (20–25 minutes) and easy with children; guides give €5 (about $5.70) for a child. Għar Dalam: a short, lit walk (only the first 50 m), free up to age 5.
Minimum age
None published.
Wheelchair
Blue Grotto boat: not suitable – a steep ramp and steps lead down to the jetty, and you climb over the gunwale into a small boat. The viewpoint is on the road. Għar Dalam: partially accessible according to Heritage Malta, with accessible toilets and blue-badge parking.
Pushchair
Fine to the jetty, not in the boat. Bring a carrier.
Dogs
No rule published.
Claustrophobia
Not an issue: the boats pass through open arches and cave mouths and you stay in daylight. Għar Dalam is a short, wide passage.
What to wear
Non-slip shoes for the ramp; you can get splashed in the open boat. Sun protection – the only shade is inside the caves.
Photography
Allowed; several guides put the best light in the morning.
Blue Grotto Malta: getting there
By public transport
Route 74 from Valletta to Żurrieq stops at Panorama (viewpoint), Grotto and Wied (jetty), roughly hourly. Route 201 (Rabat – Airport) serves the same stops, also about hourly. Għar Dalam: Dalam stop, served among others by routes 80, 82 and 85.
By car
A handful of spaces at the jetty and along the road above, full early in summer; one guide warns that badly parked cars are regularly fined. Għar Dalam has parking at the museum.
From the nearest city
Wied iż-Żurrieq is on the south coast between Żurrieq and the Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra temples; Għar Dalam is about 7 km east in Birżebbuġa. The Comino caves are reached only on tour boats from Sliema, St Paul's Bay, Mellieħa (Ċirkewwa/Marfa) or Gozo.
Tips for your visit
- Check the wind forecast that morning: in a southerly wind no boat goes out, sunshine or not. If in doubt, ring the booth (+356 2164 0058).
- Bring euro cash – you pay at the booth on the jetty and there is no advance booking.
- Go before 11:00, when the sun reaches into the caves and the water glows hardest.
- Stop at the Panorama viewpoint on the road first, then walk down the ramp to the jetty – you get the arch from above and from below.
- By bus, take the 74 from Valletta, get off at Panorama and catch it back from Wied – it runs only about once an hour.
- A tour package only buys you the transport: in most listings the boat ride is still extra and paid in cash at the grotto.
- In rough sea, switch to Għar Dalam (closed Mondays).
- If your Comino tour lands at the Blue Lagoon, book the free pass first or you stay on board.
Blue Grotto Malta: what the internet gets wrong
Both out of date. Visitors paid €10 (about $11.40) per adult in April 2026, and Malta Public Transport shows no timetable for a route 38. The Blue Grotto is served by route 74 from Valletta and route 201 between Rabat and the airport, stops Panorama, Grotto and Wied.
The boat service's own cave guide lists eight stops – Cat's Cave, Reflection Cave, Window Cave, Blue Grotto, Circle Cave, Elephant Foot, Honeymoon Cave and Blue Window Cave. How many you actually enter depends on the sea on the day.
Heritage Malta, which runs the site, gives a 144 m cave of which only the first 50 m are open, and says the earliest deposits are over 160,000 years old.
by Wikipedia's own coordinates for both places it is roughly 2.6 km to the west-north-west. It has also been closed for swimming since Storm Harry in January 2026, which many swimming guides still do not mention.
What decides it is the wind direction, not the weather. The boat service writes that it does not work in a southerly wind, because that is what makes the sea at Wied iż-Żurrieq very rough – and the call is made by its committee on the day.
History in brief
- In the early 1950s British servicemen and their families started asking the fishermen of Wied iż-Żurrieq for a ride to the grotto; usually it was the fishermen's sons who took them (boat service).
- In 1958 the government made the trips licensable and issued eight licences; four more followed in 1962, and by 1964 there were 59 (boat service).
- Boats had to be passed by a surveyor, carried three to five passengers at the time, and had to have oars, a life jacket for each passenger, a lifebuoy and a fire extinguisher on board (boat service).
- In 1968 the licence holders formed the Blue Grotto Boat Service; since then no more than 25 boats work in a day, in two shifts (boat service).
- Għar Dalam was first investigated in 1865 by Arturo Issel and excavated by John H. Cooke in 1892; it has been open to visitors since March 1933 (en.wikipedia).
- The grotto has been a film location, including for 'Troy' (en.wikipedia).
- In January 2026 Storm Harry wrecked the bathing facilities at nearby Għar Lapsi, which has been closed for swimming since (divinginfo.mt, travel2malta).
Blue Grotto Malta: frequently asked questions
How much is the Blue Grotto boat trip in Malta?
€10 (about $11.40) for adults and €5 (about $5.70) for children in 2026, paid in cash at the booth on the jetty at Wied iż-Żurrieq. A private boat was €80 (about $91.20) in April 2026. The boatmen publish no price list online, so check the board on arrival.
Do I need to book the Blue Grotto boat in advance?
No. Tickets are sold only at the jetty and boats leave as they fill. What you can book ahead are coach packages – and in most of them the boat ride is still extra.
When do the Blue Grotto boats not run?
In rough sea, and above all in a southerly wind, which throws big waves into Wied iż-Żurrieq. The boatmen's committee decides on the day. A clear blue sky is no guarantee.
How long is the Blue Grotto boat trip?
About 20 to 25 minutes on the water. Allow an hour to an hour and a half with the viewpoint and any queue at the jetty.
What time is best for the Blue Grotto?
The morning, up to about 11:00, when the sun shines into the caves. In the afternoon or under cloud the water glows far less.
How do I get to the Blue Grotto by bus?
Route 74 from Valletta or route 201 (Rabat – Airport) to Panorama for the viewpoint or Wied for the jetty. Both run roughly hourly.
Can you swim at the Blue Grotto?
Not during the boat trip. People swim in the little cove by the jetty at Wied iż-Żurrieq. Għar Lapsi further west has been closed for swimming since Storm Harry in January 2026.
Is the Blue Grotto wheelchair accessible?
The boat trip is not: a steep ramp and steps lead down to the jetty and you climb over the side into a small boat. The viewpoint is on the road. Għar Dalam is partially accessible according to Heritage Malta.
What can I do if the Blue Grotto boats are not running?
Look from the clifftop viewpoint, then drive about 7 km east to Għar Dalam, the Ice Age cave and museum, open Tuesday to Sunday 9:00–17:00 whatever the sea is doing.
Is the Blue Grotto worth it?
For €10 and half an hour, yes – provided you come on a calm, sunny morning. Under cloud or late in the day you miss the thing it is famous for.
Blue Grotto Malta: nearby and similar
Capuchin Catacombs
1,252 mummies, a €5 ticket sold only at the door, and no photos.
The Blue Grotto
Three separate payments, five minutes inside, and a 9am verdict.
Underground Naples
Five operators, one name, and no ticket that covers them all.
Luray Caverns
$36, no time slot, 1.25 miles step-free – and the tour is self-guided, not guided.
Natural Bridge Caverns
Two guided caves at 70 °F, $28.25–$34.50 online and rising as the date nears – book early.
Lascaux
The real cave closed in 1963: what Lascaux IV and II show, and where to see original cave art nearby.
Sources
Show 30 sources – every figure on this page is sourced
- www.bluegrottomalta.com.mt/about-us – Boat service history: 8 licences in 1958, 4 more in 1962, 59 by 1964; Blue Grotto Boat Service formed 1968; no more than 25 boats a day in two shifts; no trips in a southerly wind; the committee decides
- www.bluegrottomalta.com.mt/caves-guide – The boat service's own cave guide: Cat's Cave, Reflection Cave, Window Cave, Blue Grotto, Circle Cave, Elephant Foot, Honeymoon Cave, Blue Window Cave
- www.bluegrottomalta.com.mt/contact-us – Boat service contacts and ticket booth (+356 2164 0058)
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Grotto_(Malta) – Location in Qrendi, opposite Filfla, coordinates, year-round trips weather permitting, films (Troy, Hell Boats)
- de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaue_Grotte_(Malta) – Entrance 40 m high, about 90 m long, six chambers (conflicting figures)
- www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1438795-d313274-Reviews-… – Visitor reviews April/May 2026: boat €10 per adult, private boat €80, walk down a ramp to the boats
- www.maltadvice.com/en/blue-grotto-malta/ – Boat €10/€5, cash only, on site only; roughly 9:00–18:00 in summer and 9:30–15:30 in winter; trips stopped without notice in rough sea; swimming in the cove by the jetty; ATM at the bar; lists 'seven caves' (see corrections)
- outdoorexplorersmalta.com/blue-grotto-malta/ – Boat €10/€5, cash; 20–25 minutes; best light before 10:00/13:00; 'seven caves' (see corrections)
- wanderinglinda.com/malta-blue-grotto/ – Updated 4 June 2026: about €10/€5, about 20 minutes, departures from about 9:00, no swimming during the boat tour; naming by a British soldier
- www.maltaroute.com/things-to-do/beaches-swimming/blue-grotto/ – Updated 08/2026: about €10/€5, about 25 minutes, best light before about 11:00; colour from sunlight bouncing off the pale seabed
- www.publictransport.com.mt/route/74/ – Route 74 Valletta – Żurrieq, stops Grotto, Panorama and Wied, roughly hourly
- www.publictransport.com.mt/route/201/ – Route 201 Rabat – Airport, stops Grotto, Panorama and Wied
- www.publictransport.com.mt/route/82/ – Dalam stop for Għar Dalam, also served by routes 80 and 85
- heritagemalta.mt/explore/ghar-dalam/ – Għar Dalam: 144 m long, first 50 m open; deposits over 160,000 years old; combo ticket prices; audio guide in 10 languages; partial accessibility; address
- heritagemalta.mt/opening-hours/ – Opening hours 1 Mar–31 Oct 2026, 1 Nov 2026–3 Jan 2027 and 4 Jan–28 Feb 2027 (timetable images); closures; last admission 30 min before closing; Borġ in-Nadur closed for road works; Hypogeum pre-booking
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C4%A7ar_Dalam – Għar Dalam: investigated 1865 (Arturo Issel), excavated 1892 (John H. Cooke), open to visitors since March 1933, coordinates
- mta.com.mt/news/new-visitor-booking-system-cominos-blue-lagoon/ – Blue Lagoon Comino: free timed landing pass since 1 May 2025, slots 08:00–13:00, 13:30–17:30, 18:00–22:00, max 4,000 at once (up to 12,000 in 2024)
- lovinmalta.com/news/local/blue-lagoon-limited-to-4000-visitors-… – 16 June 2026: Blue Lagoon booking back in force for summer 2026, free at bluelagooncomino.mt
- tvmnews.mt/en/news/mandatory-booking-only-applies-to-blue-lagoo… – Booking applies only to the Blue Lagoon, not to the rest of Comino
- travel2malta.com/ghar-lapsi/ – September 2026: Għar Lapsi closed for swimming since Storm Harry (January 2026), rebuilding, no official reopening date
- www.divinginfo.mt/storm-harry-wreaks-havoc-around-the-island-in… – 30 January 2026: at Għar Lapsi all swimming infrastructure within 50 m of the sea destroyed
- www.getyourguide.com/malta-l90/blue-grotto-sunday-market-at-mar… – GYG listing: 20-minute boat ride at extra cost, paid directly at the Blue Grotto
- www.thetripverdict.com/ghar-dalam-cave-museum-malta – Għar Dalam: visit 20–45 minutes; first Sunday free (unconfirmed); fossils '500,000 to 18,000 years ago' (see corrections)
- rima.mt/blue-grotto-boat-service-malta/ – Boat €8–10, cards 'accepted at most times' (conflicting), 20–25 minutes, 'seven caverns'
- themaltapost.com/posts/gar-lapsi-reopens-after-storm-harry-2-mi… – 13 March 2026: Għar Lapsi €2 million rebuild, ramp and slipways destroyed
- www.getyourguide.com/qrendi-l182907/explore-malta-s-blue-grotto… – Guided SUP tour to the Blue Grotto from Qrendi, 3 hours
- www.malta-spirit.com/destinations/blue-grotto/ – 'Around 8 € per adult', 'Route 38 from Valletta to Żurrieq', Sirocco cancellations (see corrections)
- www.publictransport.com.mt/route/38/ – Route 38: 'Timetable not available' – no service to the Blue Grotto
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C4%A7ar_Lapsi – 'about 1 km south-west of the Blue Grotto'; coordinates 35.8272, 14.4246 (see corrections)
- www.showcaves.com/english/mt/showcaves/Dalam.html – Għar Dalam: '80 m is accessible', lowest layers 'more than 500,000 years old' (see corrections)