Qawra attractions: plan a headland walk and an aquarium stop
Qawra's sights cluster around the Ta' Fra Ben headland and the St Paul's Bay seafront, so you can pair a morning in the Malta National Aquarium with a swim at Qawra Point on the same day. The aquarium, a compact starfish-shaped complex with 41 numbered tanks and a glass tunnel, is the one place worth booking ahead, especially for hot midday or wet mornings; allow 90 minutes to two hours.
Qawra Point is the free counterweight: a rocky Blue Flag spot at the tip of St Paul's Bay where ladders and flat rocks drop into a sheltered lagoon good for snorkelling. There is no sand and little room to lie out, so bring grippy shoes. The same footwear serves for Qawra Tower, a two-storey Lascaris watchtower at the end of the promenade that now operates as a restaurant; view it from outside in half an hour.
West along the seafront, Wignacourt Tower holds displays on Malta's coastal fortifications and sea views from the top, though its weekday hours are brief and weekends are not covered. Inland at Salina, the rock-cut catacombs sit beside the Church of the Annunciation, and most people pair them with the salt flats.
| Place | Time to allow | Cost | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malta National Aquarium | 90 minutes to 2 hours | adults €16.90, children €10.90 (indicative) | Ta' Fra Ben, Qawra, San Pawl il-Baħar |
| Qawra Point | 2-3 hours | free entry; loungers and umbrellas for hire | Qawra, St Paul's Bay |
| Qawra Tower | 20-30 minutes | Free | Qawra Point, St Paul's Bay |
| Wignacourt Tower, St Paul's Bay | 30-45 minutes | €2 reported by one visitor, not an official tariff | Triq San Franġisk, St Paul's Bay seafront |
| Salina Catacombs, Naxxar | 20-30 minutes | – | Triq il-Katakombi, Salina, Naxxar |
Qawra attraction guides
Malta National Aquarium: Tickets, Hours and What to See
A compact starfish-shaped complex on the Ta' Fra Ben headland, where 41 numbered tanks and a glass tunnel put Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific fish around you. Use it when heat or rain rules out the coast, and arrive before last entry.
90 minutes to 2 hours · adults €16.90, children €10.90 (indicative) · Book ahead · Best for hot midday or wet mornings
Qawra Point: Malta's Rocky Blue Flag Swimming Spot
A rocky swim spot at the tip of St Paul's Bay, where ladders and flat rocks drop into a sheltered lagoon good for snorkelling. There is no sand and little room to lie out, so bring grippy shoes.
2-3 hours · free entry; loungers and umbrellas for hire · Best for swimmers and snorkellers
Qawra Tower: Visiting the Watchtower on Qawra Point
This two-storey Lascaris watchtower sits on the flat rocks of Qawra Point at the end of the promenade. It now operates as a restaurant, so you view it from outside; budget half an hour and wear grippy shoes.
20-30 minutes · Free · Best for promenade walkers, coastal history fans
Wignacourt Tower, St Paul's Bay: Visiting Guide
A compact 1610 watchtower on the St Paul's Bay promenade, holding displays on Malta's coastal fortifications with sea views from the top. Its listed weekday hours are brief and weekends are not covered, so confirm before travelling.
30-45 minutes · €2 reported by one visitor, not an official tariff · Best for fortification history on a seafront walk
Salina Catacombs, Naxxar: Visiting Malta's Rock-Cut Burial Site
Early Christian tombs hewn from live rock beside the Church of the Annunciation in Salina, with no displays, staff or published timetable, so access is uncertain and should be confirmed with Heritage Malta before travelling. Most people pair it with the salt flats.
20-30 minutes · Best for short archaeological stop near Qawra
Free swims and promenade views in Qawra
Entry to Qawra Point costs nothing; loungers and umbrellas are available to hire if you want to stay longer than a quick dip. The rocky lagoon is best for swimmers and snorkellers, and grippy shoes make the ladders and flat rocks easier. Qawra Tower is also free to view from outside as you walk the promenade at Qawra Point; budget 20 to 30 minutes. Both are open, and together they make a low-cost half-day by the sea.
Book ahead for the aquarium
Only the Malta National Aquarium recommends booking in advance. Tickets are indicatively €16.90 for adults and €10.90 for children, and the indoor tanks make it a sensible choice when heat or rain rules out the coast. Arrive before last entry and allow 90 minutes to two hours. Wignacourt Tower is paid, with €2 reported by one visitor rather than an official tariff; the Salina Catacombs are worth confirming before you travel.