Car hire for Marsaxlokk

Marsaxlokk: the fish market and the luzzu boats

Marsaxlokk is a working fishing village on Malta's south-east coast, and it is best known for two things that go together: the traditional luzzu boats, the brightly painted wooden vessels with an eye of Osiris on the bow, and the market that fills the harbourfront. There is a market most days, but Sunday is the big one, when the famous fish market and stalls of food and crafts take over the whole waterfront. Go early: the freshest fish sells out and the tour coaches tend to arrive mid-morning, so a car lets you get down there before the crowds rather than waiting on a late bus. This is a genuinely different day out from the resort towns, and it is the single best reason to base yourself, or at least drive down, to this corner of the island.

Not to be confused with Marsaskala

One quick but important note before you set your sat-nav: Marsaxlokk is not the same place as Marsaskala. Both names begin with Marsa, the Maltese word for harbour, and both sit in the south-east, so they are very easy to mix up, but they are separate towns a short drive apart. The Sunday fish market and the luzzu boats are here in Marsaxlokk; Marsaskala is the quieter, largely residential bay with its long promenade. If you have booked accommodation in one, double-check you are driving to the right one, and if you are staying nearby you can easily see both in a day.

What a car opens up around Marsaxlokk

Bus links in the south-east can be slow and involve changes, so a hire car makes this end of the island far easier to explore at your own pace. From a Marsaxlokk base you can reach:

• St Peter's Pool: a natural rock swimming spot on the headland just east of the village, down a rough lane that is far simpler to reach with your own car than on foot or by bus.
• The Blue Grotto and the temples: the sea caves at Wied iż-Żurrieq and the megalithic temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra sit a short drive west along the south coast.
• The neighbouring south-east towns: Birżebbuġa and Pretty Bay are close along the coast, and Marsaskala is a short hop the other way.

Because Marsaxlokk is close to the airport, it also works well as a first or last stop of a trip. Pick the right car for your plans on our full fleet page, or compare options across the island on our Malta car hire guide.

Car hire prices in Malta by class

Wherever you stay, the price is the same all-in figure: VAT, the airport fee, collision damage waiver, third-party cover and unlimited mileage are included, and the car is collected at Malta International Airport, Park East, 08:00 to 02:00 every day.