Local Recommendations
Malta is a fantastic diving location, with something for everyone. Blue calm water, with lots of options for wrecks and reefs. However, the island has lots to offer for the dry days as well as the dive days! With 3 beautiful walled cities to explore at Valetta, Mdina and Victoria (Gozo) and ample places to swim, sunbathe, and hike, there is plenty to keep you busy here.
With so much to see and do, the choice can sometimes be overwhelming. So we thought we would pass on some lesser-known information of things to do in our local area of Saint Paul's Bay, Qawra, Bugibba, and Xemxija.
Wignacourt Tower
Our dive centre is located right next to one of the oldest surviving watch towers in Malta. Wignacourt Tower was built in 1610 to help protect the island of Malta from invasion. The tower is now open on selected days during the week as a museum, and well worth a quick visit. It makes a beautiful spot to walk around as the sun sets. These defensive towers can be spotted throughout the island (for example, the red tower can be seen on the way to Cirkewwa).
Xemxija Heritage Trail
Only a short bus journey away from our dive centre is the Xemxija Heritage Trail (ideal if you are staying in Xemxija!). This walk includes Roman wall ruins, prehistoric standing stones, old temples, cart ruts and Roman apiaries. A great way to get away from the busier tourist spots and see Malta's natural side.
Qawra Point
One of our favourite walks in the local area is along the promenade from St Pauls Bay, Bugibba to Qawra Point. Along the walk you'll pass lots of ice cream stands, cafés, bars, restaurants, the aquarium, all with an impressive view of St Paul's Island. Qawra Point is a beautiful point and perfect for sunbathing, swimming and a gentle stroll. With public toilets and a café it's a great local spot... it's also one of our favourite local dive sites as well!
Bars and Restaurants
If you fancy a meal out, a drink by the sea or a café to watch the world go by, St Pauls Bay, Bugibba and Qawra have plenty to offer for everyone, with food from all corners of the world, and local cuisine. A must-have when here in Malta is trying the local fast-food pastizzi, or the national dish of rabbit stew.
The newly-renovated Bugibba Square has a great selection of bars and restaurants, with a pretty backdrop of the square, where you can sit and people-watch from one of the benches.
Near our dive centre there is a kiosk that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner overlooking the sea. They also do take away sandwiches, drinks and snacks - perfect for a dive day.
Watersports
Various watersports are available for the more adventurous tourist! Kayaks can be hired just around the corner from the dive centre, and jetskis can be hired close to Bugibba square. Also in Bugibba you can find an inflatable water park, open during the late spring, summer and autumn months, which is a lot of fun (and a surprisingly thorough workout!).
Ample large swim zones all along the St Paul's Bay, Bugibba, and Qawra coastlines also make plenty of safe spaces excellent for swimming and snorkelling.
Local Public Transport
Travelling around Malta can easily be done with the local bus service here, a great cost-effective and environmentally-friendly option for exploring.
St Pauls Bay, Bugibba and Qawra are on a lot of main bus routes for visiting areas such as Mdina, Valetta, St Julian's, Golden Bay, Mellieha, and the Gozo Ferries.
A single ticket costs €2.50, or you can buy unlimited bus travel for your time here in Malta, making it even easier to get around the island. Bus passes can be purchased both from ticket machines at the airport or at the Bugibba Bus Station.
If travelling from the airport on public transport, we recommend using the direct airport buses (the TD1 goes to Bugibba and Qawra). These express buses have fewer stops than the normal routes, with lots of space for luggage, and only costs €3 (or free with an unlimited bus travel card).
Additionally, as of May 2026, a fast ferry service operates from Bugibba harbour, offering efficient and cost-effective routes to both the tourist/shopping hub of Sliema, and the island of Gozo. A perfect way to avoid rush-hour traffic and experience some of Malta's alternative sea views!
We encourage our divers to explore the island on public transport where possible.
Discover even more things to do in Saint Paul's Bay with KAYAK's travel guides