I had no idea what to expect, other than blue water, when I told the taxi to drive to the Blue Grotto in Malta. I originally said to drop me off at the view point and I would walk down to the Blue Grotto but the driver didn’t think that was a good idea and I deferred to him once I saw how far down that walk would have been in the summer heat. He dropped me off at the end of the road and told me to continue walking down to the Blue Grotto dock.
The Blue Grotto Malta is similar to the Blue Grotto in Capri, Italy in so much as its cash only on small boats. The differences end there as the Capri tour takes you into one cave if the weather cooperates with sea levels and runs during the tourist season. The Malta Blue Grotto boat tour is available year round and visits multiple caves along the coastline of Malta. The blue waters also vary a bit between dark blue inside the cave and the blue turquoise waters of Malta that the sun captures. Either way both Blue Grottos are worth the visit and are unique in their own ways. I hope you get to visit both and do your own comparison.
Finding the Blue Grotto Boat Tour
I passed a few cafes setting up for the day and followed the signs around and down a steep paved hill to arrive at a small ticket booth. It was hard to get lost with all the signs.
As I walked down the sloping hill which has a railing if you need it, I was taken in by the seaside views.
Tickets for the Blue Grotto Boat Tour in Malta
It’s hard not to fall in love with the early morning views as the world is setting up for the day. At the ticket booth, I was surprised by the cost of 10 euros for the 25 minute boat tour. I paid the fee (cash only) and was given a paper ticket and told to continue walking down to the loading area.
Boarding the Boats at Blue Grotto
As it was quite early and the boats had just started their day (hours vary by summer & winter) there were a few people ahead of me and no wait per se. There was a man loading the small colorful fishing boats and asking folks how many in their party and also seemed to be sizing them up by weight. Each boat holds approximately 7 people and the seats are wooden boards. I was told to wait as a family had paid for their own boat (great option for €80) and then wait another group until he decided which boat I would be on. I was helped onto the boat and directed to the front seat which I had all to myself. It was worth the wait.
Malta Coastline Boat Tour of Caves and Blue Grotto
As we left the dock, we sailed past folks swimming and snorkeling in the immediate area. I’m not sure how I would feel with the number of boats passing by with emissions and gas smells but I had a front row seat to immense beauty of Malta. We turned left sailing along the coastline and the July sun was heating up quickly this fine morning. I wore a hat, applied sunscreen and wore sunglasses. I was sporting the bright orange lifesaver that we all had to wear.
The coastline is gorgeous but then we entered our first cave and wow!
The blue water and some purple colors were stunning. I was torn with capturing the photos and videos and sitting still to take it all in.
We entered and exited multiple caves on our journey and the boats were generally spaced out well so you didn’t have to share the cave with another boat of tourists. Our captain said he would wait so we could have the cave to ourselves which was a nice touch.
As we sailed back to the dock, I marveled in the beauty of Malta and while I want everyone to experience it, I don’t want it to change. The ultimate paradox of the tourist discovering a new land and wanting to tell everyone and no one.
Malta’s Blue Grotto is the best value of ten euros (2023 pricing). While tips are encouraged and appreciated, I noticed that no one on the boat tipped and when I did the boat captain was quite happy and thanked me. This is a very local experience in Malta with few crowds when compared with the Blue Lagoon which brings boats full of tourists wanting to swim all day in the blue waters. On Gozo, a similar experience to the Blue Grotto is the inland sea boat tour (also cash only).
Final Thoughts – Blue Grotto Malta
The blue grotto boat ride in Malta is a great tourist attraction and experience. It’s also budget friendly and if you are keen to rent an entire boat for your family and friends, it’s affordable to have the private boat (please remember to tip). Being on the water is such an important aspect of any Malta and Gozo visit so I’m glad I did this. As I walked up to the parking lot, I stopped to take in all the vistas as the seaviews always make me joyful and thankful that I can travel to experience new cultures and landscapes that make up the rich culture of the world. Finding a bit of shade, I opened my Bolt app to hail a car which arrived in ten minutes. Do note that you are in an area of the island that doesn’t have many taxis wandering so be aware of timing – you may choose a more expensive taxi that is waiting at the taxi stand if a Bolt car isn’t nearby. As we drove away, I looked out the window at the sea and a sense of calm enveloped me. That’s the Malta I’ve learned to love on multiple visits now and while I want to keep this secret place to myself, its time to share with everyone.