Marsaxlokk

Marsaxlokk is a fishing village in Southern Region, Malta, where hundreds of traditional wooden boats painted in yellow, red, and blue crowd the harbor. These boats make up the main working fleet that supplies the island's fishing industry.

The settlement began in the 9th century BC when Phoenician traders established a protected harbor here on the Mediterranean. The sheltered cove made this location a natural stopping point for trading ships for many centuries.

On Sundays, local fishermen gather at the waterfront to sell fresh catches directly to buyers, keeping alive customs passed down through generations. This weekly routine shapes how the community remains connected to the sea and its fishing traditions.

The village has several seafood restaurants along the waterfront promenade serving catches brought in that same morning by local boats. Plan to visit early in the day or at sunset when the light falls beautifully on the water and harbor activity peaks.

The harbor is home to the largest fishing fleet on the Mediterranean island, with roughly seven out of every ten Maltese fishing boats based here. This concentration makes it the primary fishing port in the Mediterranean and reveals the outsized economic role this small village plays.