St Peter's Pool

St Peter's Pool (often signed simply as Peter's Pool) is a natural rock pool on the Delimara peninsula, the headland that closes off the eastern side of the bay at Marsaxlokk. The Malta Tourism Authority describes Delimara as having two secluded rocky inlets suitable for swimming, and this is the better known of the two. There is no beach here in the usual sense: you lie out on wide, flat shelves of pale limestone and drop straight into deep, very clear water.

That deep water is the appeal and the main thing to plan around. The pool is a natural rock inlet with no sand and an uneven entry; do not rely on lifeguard cover, so it suits confident swimmers. Younger children need close supervision at the edge, and you should judge the sea for yourself: on days with a strong south-easterly swell the inlet becomes rough and getting out over the rock is harder. Some visitors jump from the rocks; check the depth below before you do, and never jump where you cannot see the bottom clearly. Official travel advice warns of rockfalls here, so keep to the open rock shelf and respect any fencing or warning signs.

Before you go

• A natural rock pool: no sand and deep water from the edge; do not rely on lifeguard cover.
• Bring water, sun cover and something soft to lie on; there is little or no shade on the rock.
• Reached by narrow country roads across the Delimara peninsula, with a walk down to the water at the end.
• Calmest on still mornings; avoid it in a rough south-easterly sea.

Pair a swim with lunch in Marsaxlokk, whose fishing harbour and Sunday fish market are a short drive back along the peninsula; local fish dishes such as aljotta and lampuki pie are what to look for. The sandy alternative nearby is Pretty Bay in Birzebbuga, and the coastal walks of Xrobb l-Ghagin Nature Park lie on the far side of the peninsula. For more swimming options across the islands, see our guide to the best beaches in Malta.