St Peter's Pool

Natural perfection, complicated access

St Peter’s Pool is a natural swimming hole on Malta’s southeast coast: a section of flat limestone shoreline where the rock has been eroded into a series of smooth channels and pools, with a bay that’s partly sheltered by the cliff edge but open to the sea. The water colour — turquoise over white limestone, surrounded by honey-coloured rock — has made it one of the most photographed spots in Malta.

The honest assessment: it deserves the photographs, but it also deserves a more truthful description of how to get there.

The access situation: St Peter’s Pool is in the Delimara peninsula, southeast of Marsaxlokk. There are two realistic ways to reach it. You can walk 40 minutes from Marsaxlokk village along the coastal path (flat but long in summer heat), or you can drive to a small parking area at the end of a rough track near Delimara power station and walk the last 10-15 minutes. The parking area holds perhaps 15-20 cars. In July and August on weekends, it fills completely by 9 am.

If you arrive and the parking is full, your options are: park further away and walk more, or come by boat. The boat approach is actually the most enjoyable way to arrive.

The pool itself

When you arrive, St Peter’s Pool delivers. The flat limestone around the pool is natural and comfortable to lie on. The water entry is from smooth rock steps that the sea has worn into the cliff face. The swimming is in a partly enclosed bay — calm when the wind is from the north, more lively when the southerly wind is up.

The famous “jumping rock” is a limestone ledge above the pool that provides a jump of about 5-7 metres into deep water. It’s popular with local teenagers and fit visitors. The jump is real — check the depth before you go in and respect the conditions.

Water visibility is excellent: 15-20 metres on a good day. The sea floor is sandy and rocky in equal measure, with sea urchins on the lower rocks (reef shoes recommended).

Getting there by boat from Marsaxlokk

The most pleasant way to reach St Peter’s Pool is on a boat trip from Marsaxlokk. The boat takes you out of the harbour, around the Delimara headland, and delivers you directly to the pool. You swim, then come back.

From Marsaxlokk: St Peter’s Pool boat trip

Marsaxlokk: boat trip to St Peter’s Pool

The boat approach also lets you see the Delimara coast from the sea, which has impressive limestone cliff formations not visible from the land. Recommended if you’re visiting Marsaxlokk anyway.

A sunset boat option from Marsaskala (on the opposite side of the headland) is also available:

Malta: sunset boat tour to St Peter’s Pool

Getting there on foot from Marsaxlokk

The coastal walking path from Marsaxlokk to St Peter’s Pool is well-established and flat (no significant elevation gain). Distance is about 3.5 km one way, taking 35-45 minutes at a comfortable pace. The path follows the eastern shore of the Marsaxlokk Bay around to the Delimara headland.

Walk in the morning before the heat builds. Bring water — there is nothing at St Peter’s Pool (no café, no toilets, no facilities). The path is clear but not signposted for the final kilometre.

The full boat and coastal walk circuit — drive to Marsaxlokk, walk to the pool, swim, return by boat — is a good half-day.

When to visit

Weekdays in spring and autumn: ideal. April, May, September, and October offer warm swimming water (19-23°C), comfortable air temperature, and dramatically fewer visitors than summer.

Summer weekday mornings: bearable. Arrive before 9 am and you’ll have the pool to yourself for an hour.

Summer weekends: crowded. The parking area overflows by 9 am, the pool area has 50-100 people by midday, and the atmosphere is more party than swimming spot. Not recommended for those who want a peaceful experience.

How St Peter’s Pool connects to Marsaxlokk and south Malta

St Peter’s Pool works naturally as a morning swim before or after a Marsaxlokk visit. The two are 3.5 km apart, and combining them — market at Marsaxlokk (best on Sunday mornings, though crowded) or a regular harbour café lunch, then a swim at the pool — makes a good south Malta half-day.

On a 5-day Malta itinerary or longer, pairing St Peter’s Pool with Blue Grotto (30 km west along the coast) and Hagar Qim in a single southern circuit is possible with a car.

Practical notes

• No facilities at the pool (no toilets, no café, no shade)
• Bring water and sun protection — exposed limestone in full sun
• Reef shoes or water shoes recommended (sea urchins)
• No lifeguard — standard open water swimming caution applies
• The cliff jumping is popular but unsupervised — check depths carefully

Frequently asked questions about St Peter’s Pool

Is St Peter’s Pool easy to find?

The pool itself is not well-signposted. If driving, set navigation to “Delimara, Malta” and follow the track to its end near the power station. From there, follow the footpath west for 10-15 minutes. If coming from Marsaxlokk on foot, the coastal path is clear but the final section to the pool is unmarked — follow the sound of people in summer.

Is St Peter’s Pool safe for swimming?

Yes, in calm conditions. The pool is partly sheltered. In strong southerly wind, the bay gets swell that makes swimming uncomfortable and the rocks dangerous near the entry points. Check the sea conditions forecast before making a special trip.

Is there parking at St Peter’s Pool?

A small dirt area near Delimara holds roughly 15-20 cars and fills by 9 am on summer weekends. There is additional parking further back on the track, adding 15-20 minutes of walking each way. The boat trip from Marsaxlokk avoids the parking problem entirely.

Is cliff jumping allowed at St Peter’s Pool?

There’s no enforcement either way. Local tradition allows it and people jump regularly. The risk is yours — check the depth at the landing zone before jumping, never jump on a falling tide before establishing the water depth, and be aware that conditions change.

Is St Peter’s Pool sandy?

No — entirely rocky/limestone. Entry to the water is from smooth rocks and carved steps. It is comfortable to lie on the flat limestone with a towel, but there is no sand.

How deep is the water at St Peter’s Pool?

In the main swimming area, 3-5 metres over a sandy bottom. Deeper in the channel sections towards the open sea. Very shallow (less than 1 metre) in the innermost corners of the bay.