Marsaxlokk Market

Market

Market · Marsaxlokk, Malta 35.8410°N 14.5451°E

Why you should go

Ninety seconds on Marsaxlokk Market

Best time

Sunday morningThe fish market day

Season

Busiest Jul, AugVillage at capacity

Access

Bus from VallettaAbout 30 min ride

Guide

Not neededGo on your own

Bus from Valletta

How do you get to Marsaxlokk market from Valletta by bus?

Buses 81 and 85 run from the Valletta bus terminus to Marsaxlokk, with the ride taking around 30 to 35 minutes. On Sundays, when the big fish market is on, an additional direct TD10 service runs from Valletta as well.

Sunday parking

Is there parking at Marsaxlokk on a Sunday?

Only with difficulty. Parking near the harbour fills quickly on Sundays and is hard to find after about 9:30am, so park at the sports complex and walk in. On weekdays it is usually easy.

Weekdays

Is Marsaxlokk market open on weekdays?

Yes, as a smaller daily market on the promenade. Its stalls lean to clothes, souvenirs, ornaments and local food; the large fish market is the Sunday one.

Come on a Sunday, when the seafront of Malta's traditional fishing village in the south turns into one long fish market, laid out beside the brightly painted boats moored in the harbour.

What makes it special

Walk the quay and look at the bows of the luzzu fishing boats: many carry the Eye of Osiris, a protective symbol linked to Phoenician times. Photographing the boats in the harbour is part of any visit.

On Sundays the seafront is mainly given over to the fish stalls. The catch on the tables runs from seasonal mackerel to octopus, squid, prawns, shrimps and even sea snakes. On the other days of the week a smaller tourist market takes its place.

Beyond the fish, the stalls continue back into the village. Look for seasonal fruit and vegetables, jars of raw Maltese honey, lace and hot street food. The harbour itself and the seafood restaurants along the water are a reason to stay on after the stalls close.

Visiting

The bus from Valletta drops you on the main road, a 2-minute walk down to the harbourside where the market stands. On a Sunday morning allow extra time for the ride, since the market draws visitors from all over the island.

Start along the quay, where the fish stalls stand, and look over the day's catch. Then follow the produce, honey and food stalls back into the village streets.

Finish the morning with lunch at one of the restaurants along the harbour, which serve fresh seafood by the water.

Tips

Weekdays are light and relaxed, with a quiet lunch table on the harbour. On Sundays tour coaches arrive mid-morning, and in July and August the village runs at capacity.

For a pause from the stalls, step into the baroque parish church of Our Lady of Pompeii; five minutes inside covers the ceiling paintings.

St Peter's Pool, a natural swimming hole carved from the limestone cliffs, lies east along the coast for a swim afterwards. Every 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption, the boats are blessed on the waterfront to open the lampuki (dolphin fish) season.

Know before you goVisitors report that the Sunday market runs from about 7am to 1pm, with stalls setting up from 6:30, and that the fish section thins out by lunchtime.