The Tas-Silġ Walk, from Marsaskala to Marsaxlokk, features many outstanding attractions. Although, what you see on the Tas-Silġ Walk depends on which route you take! There are two route options – Route A and B. We’ll talk about both options in this guide. But, we’ll focus on a modified version of Route B, which prioritises exploring coastal scenery and natural beauty, rather than human-made attractions. Some of these stunning natural attractions include the Munxar Window on the Munxar Path, Ta Kalanka Sea Cave, St Peters Pool and Il-Kalanka.
In this guide, we’ll discuss all of these natural attractions and many others you’ll see on the modified version of Route B of the Tas-Silġ Walk.
Table of Contents
Tas-Silġ Walk (Marsaskala to Marsaxlokk) Overview
The Tas-Silġ Walk (Tas Silg Walk) should be high on your to-do list if you’re heading to Malta and interested in hiking. As mentioned, the Tas-Silġ Walk has two route options. Both options start in Marsaskala but take different routes south to Marsaxlokk. Route A is more of a historical and cultural route. It involves heading inland via roads, passing Marsaskala Parish Church, St Thomas Tower, Torri Mamo, Knisja San Gejtanu, Tas-Silġ Church and Marsaxlokk Parish Church.
Route B is a coastal walk, which takes in sublime sea cliffs, natural scenery and coastal landforms. If you’re a nature lover, like us, we recommend doing Route B of the Tas-Silġ Walk. Let’s look at the details of this route option below.
FYI – we only loosely followed the official Route B trail, modifying the hike to see more coastal scenery.

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Tas-Silġ Walk: Modified Route B Details and Map
- Type: One-way
- Distance: 11km
- Time: 3.5 hours
- Accumulated elevation gain: 230m
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trailhead: St. Thomas Bay Beach
- Map: Wikiloc
As mentioned, the coastal walk we’re discussing in this guide is a modified version of Route B of the Tas-Silġ Walk. For your reference, here’s a map of the official Route B trail. As you can see, it misses out on many different coastal sections, including some lovely bays and beaches. So, we highly recommend following our modified version of Route B for the best coastal walk experience.
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Tas-Silġ Walk Trail Description
In this trail description, we’ll break down our modified version of Route B of the Tas-Silġ Walk into sections to show you the highlights of the walk. Starting in Marsaskala, you’ll initially pass by St Thomas Bay Beach, before heading to the Munxar Path, where you’ll enjoy the Riħama Battery and Munxar Window. You’ll then enjoy a series of spectacular coastal landmarks, including Ta Kalanka Sea Cave, Ras il-Fniek, Il-Qali, St Peters Pool and Il-Kalanka. Before finishing in Marsaxlokk, you’ll pass Lighthouse Il-Kalanka, Fort Delimara and Tas-Silġ.
Read our Dwejra Lines, Dingli Cliffs to Blue Grotto and Xemxija Heritage Trail guides

Marsaskala
The modified Route B version of the Tas-Silġ Walk starts on the southern outskirts of the town of Marsaskala. By all accounts, Marsaskala is a lovely fishing village. Admittedly though, we didn’t explore the village. Having started the walk on the fringe of town, the first highlight for us was passing St Thomas Bay Beach.
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St Thomas Bay Beach
St Thomas Bay Beach is a gorgeous sandy beach in Marsaskala. You’ll enjoy calm blue water with far-sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea. After walking by the long stretch of St Thomas Bay Beach, you’ll begin your ascent along the sea cliffs. This section of the walk is known as the Munxar Path.
Munxar Path
The Munxar Path is a highlight of the modified Route B version, which you would miss if following the official route. In fact, the Munxar Path is probably the best part of the Tas-Silġ Walk. You’ll enjoy the immensely beautiful coastal landscape by taking the Munxar Path. Along this path, you’ll initially pass by Riħama Battery.

Riħama Battery
Riħama Battery is an artillery battery that faces opposite Marsaskala. It was built by the Order of Saint John between 1714 and 1716. At this time, a series of fortifications were built along the coastline of Malta. Honestly speaking, Beck and I admired Riħama Battery rather quickly as the Munxar Window really stole our attention.
Munxar Window
Perhaps, one of the major highlights of the Tas-Silġ Walk is the Munxar Window, which is an epic natural arch formed in the cliff walls. The Munxar Window is easily spotted from the Munxar Path. Following along the Munxar Path, you’ll enjoy splendid white sandstone cliffs around the bend of the headland. Certainly, the southeast corner of Malta is stunning. Once you’ve walked along the Munxar Path, you’ll continue south with an option to visit Ta Kalanka Sea Cave.


Ta Kalanka Sea Cave
Ta Kalanka Sea Cave is one of Malta’s hidden gems. It’s a lesser-known sea cave, featuring an overhanging rock at the bay of Il-Ħofra l-Kbira. Admittedly, Beck and I didn’t visit the Ta Kalanka Sea Cave. We don’t have a good reason for not visiting, other than we didn’t know about this sea cave at the time. Please feel free to visit this natural attraction as a return walk add-on during the hike. Otherwise, by following the route we took, you’ll soon enjoy great views of Ta Kalanka Sea Cave by following the edge of Il-Ħofra l-Kbira towards Ras il-Fniek.

Ras il-Fniek
As you follow around the bay of Il-Ħofra l-Kbira, you’ll notice plenty of boats and yachts anchored in the bay. Given the tranquillity and beauty of the bay, indeed, it’s a popular place to visit by boat. At the southern end of Il-Ħofra l-Kbira, you’ll arrive at Ras il-Fniek, which is a coastal point, featuring another natural arch. It’s difficult to see the arch from the coastal point, but the point itself is absolutely stunning. The layered limestone landforms resemble a stack of pancakes. Ras il-Fniek is a great coastal spot to explore.

Il-Qali
Once you’ve explored Ras il-Fniek, you’ll continue south, following the edge of another glorious bay called Il-Ħofra ż-Żgħira. Once you reach the southern end of this bay, you’ll arrive at Il-Qali (Il Qali), which is another coastal point. There, you’ll find many small ocean rock pools. Because the popular St Peters Pool is around the corner, not many people venture to Il-Qali. Most people will just simply visit St Peters Pool. So, you shouldn’t find too many people at Il-Qali. But, prepare yourself for the crowds at St Peters Pool, particularly during peak season.


St Peters Pool
St Peters Pool is a beautiful bay. It’s surrounded by a semi-circular flat rock platform, which makes it perfect for setting up a towel, lounging and sunbathing for the day. Indeed, this is one reason why St Peters Pool is a popular place to visit.
The rock platform also provides a short overhang over the water, making it safe for swimmers to jump from, plunging into the turquoise sea below. Given its crowdedness, Beck and I decided not to stop and swim. Not too far away, we were met by these astonishing sandstone rock formations along the coast. Personally, we think these incredible landforms are even more impressive than St Peters Pool!


Il-Kalanka
After leaving St Peters Pool and exploring the large sandstone formations, you’ll eventually need to turn right and briefly head inland. That’s because the next stretch of the coast lies on private property. Soon, you’ll turn left, following a road down the Delimara Peninsula towards Il-Kalanka, which is another gorgeous bay. Il-Kalanka is much quieter than St Peters Pool, making it a more idyllic and peaceful bay to visit and swim at.
Lighthouse Il-Kalanka (Delimara Lighthouse)
Near Il-Kalanka, you’ll find Lighthouse Il-Kalanka, also known as Delimara Lighthouse. It’s a black and white striped lighthouse that’s still in action today. Alongside this original lighthouse, which was built in the mid-19th century, there’s a less visually appealing modern rectangular tower, which opened in 1990.
Fort Delimara
Next to the lighthouse, you’ll find Fort Delimara. It’s a coastal fortification, which was built between 1876 and 1888 by the British Empire. Fort Delimara is just one of a series of coastal fortifications, built by the British to protect the island in case of warfare. Admittedly, the fort is hidden behind an embankment, which means it’s hard to see from the trail. That’s why Beck and I missed seeing this place. Hopefully, by reading this guide, you’ll know better than us! After scoping out the attractions of the Delimara Peninsula, you’ll head to Marsaxlokk with an optional visit to Tas-Silġ.
Tas-Silġ
After all, the name of the walk is named after Tas-Silġ, so it would make sense to visit before heading to Marsaxlokk. Tas-Silġ is a rounded hilltop, which provides great views towards Marsaxlokk. At Tas-Silġ, you’ll find a historical site with archaeological remains spanning 4,000 years, from the Neolithic Period to the ninth century AD.
Personally, Beck and I skipped visiting Tas-Silġ. In the heat of the moment (yes, it was literally very hot), we decided to head straight to Marsaxlokk, following the coastline from the Delimara Peninsula. I think the thought of cold drinks in Marsaxlokk spurred us on to speed hike to the town, bypassing Tas-Silġ.
Marsaxlokk
Similar to Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk is another beautiful fishing village. The marina is full of old colourful fishing boats, creating an inviting and charming coastal ambience. Arriving in Marsaxlokk signals the end of the Tas-Silġ Walk!

How to Get to Marsaskala
The easiest and quickest way to get to Marsaskala to do the Tas-Silġ Walk is to drive there yourself. We hired a manual car, picking it up from Malta International Airport for only €17/day ($17USD). It’s possible to get a cheaper manual car for around €13/day ($13USD) with Sicily By Car. But, they require an International Driver’s Permit and have a poorer reputation. Alternatively, for an automatic car, you’d be looking at around €22/day ($22USD) with a reputable company.
Car Hire
If you don’t have your own car, you should hire one using Discover Cars. Personally, we use Discover Cars and highly recommend them for finding your ideal car hire at an affordable price. Booking online is super easy and the free cancellation policy is great.
To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.
If you’re using public transport, you’ll ideally catch the 91, 92 or 93 bus directly from Valletta to Marsaxlokk. Head to Malta Public Transport to plan your trip.
How to Get Back to Marsaskala From Marsaxlokk
From Marsaxlokk, simply catch the 119 bus to return to Marsaskala. The journey takes around 25 minutes. The cost is €2 ($2USD) per person in summer and €1.50 ($1.50USD) per person in winter.
Things to Do After the Tas-Silġ Walk
After doing the Tas-Silġ Walk, there’s plenty to do in both Marsaskala and Marsaxlokk. Other than exploring the quaint fishing villages or relaxing and swimming at the town’s bays, there are plenty of other activities on offer.
Marsaskala is a popular destination for watersports. You could jet ski, rent a paddle board or kayak around the bay. Otherwise, Marsaxlokk is famous for its Sunday Market, which is well worth the visit!
Hiking Essentials For the Tas-Silġ Walk
These are our five hiking gear essentials for the Tas-Silġ Walk.
Osprey Skarab 30
The Osprey Skarab 30 is our go-to hiking backpack for day hikes. This well-designed unisex backpack is comfortable and spacious, so you’ll have plenty of space to pack everything without feeling the strain on your upper back.
Osprey Ultralight Raincover
A waterproof backpack cover is an absolute must when you’re adventuring outdoors. The Osprey Ultralight Raincover Medium is a high-quality waterproof cover that’ll keep your backpack bone dry.
GRAYL Reusable Water Bottle
The GRAYL GeoPress is the best water filter bottle that allows you to purify 710mL (12 ounces) of water. This bottle will make water safe to drink wherever you’re hiking.
BUFF Original Ecostretch
The BUFF Original Ecostretch is a great option when it comes to multifunctional headwear. We use the Ecostretch as a neck gaiter to keep the sun off our necks and it helps us keep warm in cooler climates.
Sony Cybershot RX100 VII
Capture epic photos and videos with the Sony Cybershot RX100 VII. This is hands-down the best compact camera. We love using this simple point-and-shoot camera when we’re hiking as it’s lightweight and durable.
To find out more about all of the gear that we use and recommend, read our guides about our favourite hiking gear, travel gear and camera gear. Otherwise, read our comprehensive travel packing checklist.
Bonus Tips For the Tas-Silġ Walk
- Be prepared for hot weather: it can obviously get very hot in Malta during the summer. Make sure to pack plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat for any coastal walk.
- St Peters Pool can get very busy: it’s best to do this walk nice and early to avoid the crowds at St Peters Pool. By starting early, you may also beat the heat.
- Do coastal walks on Malta’s islands: don’t just hike on the mainland. You’ll have to include a trip to Gozo and Comino as part of your Malta itinerary. Doing the Comino Walk is a great way to explore that island. Whilst, on Gozo, the Xlendi Walk and Modified Dwejra Walk are brilliant coastal walks. Read our Malta Hiking Guide to learn about the nine best hiking trails on the island.
Do you enjoy hiking in the Mediterranean? Make sure to also check out our Mallorca, Menorca and Cyprus hiking guides.
I downloaded the modified route A file. Large parts of the route are now private property and are not accessible. I gave up partway through. I don’t recommend anyone follows these routes.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for letting us know.
The issue around private property is definitely a challenge when hiking in Malta.
All the best,
Dan