St. Paul's Bay — traditionally where the Apostle was shipwrecked in 60 AD. Today a bustling resort with a kilometre-long promenade and views of the island with the saint's statue.
According to biblical tradition, it was in this bay that in 60 AD the ship carrying the Apostle Paul to Rome was wrecked. The Acts of the Apostles (Team 27) describe a dramatic storm lasting two weeks and a wreck on an unknown island, which tradition identifies as Malta. On the small island in the middle of the bay stands a statue of St. Paul, erected in 1845 to commemorate the event.
For centuries, St. Paul's Bay was a quiet fishing village. Only in the 20th century, as Malta became a popular tourist destination, did the bay begin to grow. Today it is one of Malta's largest concentrations of hotels and language schools — thousands of students from across Europe come here to learn English. The promenade along the bay buzzes with life, especially in the evening.
The promenade stretches along the entire bay, from Buġibba to Qawra. That is several kilometres of seafront pavement, with benches, palm trees, and a view of St. Paul's Island. In the evening, as the sun sets behind the Wignacourt Tower on the other side of the bay, the promenade takes on a special charm. Local restaurants set tables outside, and the air smells of grilled fish.
Practical tip: Bus from Valletta 30–40 minutes. The promenade is best in the evening. Combine with a walk to the Wignacourt Tower at the other end of the bay.
Bus from Valletta ~30-40 min. The promenade in the evening is magical.
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A restaurant at the end of the pier in St. Paul's Bay — tables over the water, lobster the size of a helmet. Explorer Piotr fought with tongs and won.
Wignacourt Tower (1610) — Malta's oldest surviving watchtower and the prototype for the entire defence system. Now a museum about the history of towers. The only Wignacourt tower open inside.
St. Paul's Islands are two tiny islets in St. Paul's Bay where tradition says St. Paul was shipwrecked in 60 AD. A statue of St. Paul on the larger island. Accessible by kayak or boat.