Cottonera Sports Complex

The Cottonera Sports Complex sits in the south of Malta and is the largest indoor sports facility on the islands. Its newest addition is an indoor Olympic-size swimming pool, built with modern technology and designed for athletes, officials and spectators alike. For UK visitors who want a serious lane pool rather than a hotel plunge pool, it is one of the most substantial options in the country, and it is listed in our swimming pools in Malta directory.

The complex is run by SportMalta, the national entity for sport under the Ministry for Education and Sport, whose mission is to move a nation through the promotion and development of sport. SportMalta's headquarters are inside the same complex, and its stated values are integrity, transparency and accountability. Visitors planning a stay in the area will find the Grand Harbour close at hand.

The indoor Olympic-size pool

An Olympic-size pool is 50 metres long, which makes it far longer than the typical hotel or club pool, and the photographs show clearly marked lanes beneath a high timber-beamed roof with glazed walls. The pool has multiple dressing rooms for athletes and officials, dedicated office space, advanced control rooms, spectator stands and restroom facilities.

These details point to a venue built for competition as well as everyday swimming. The site does not publish public swimming timetables or entry prices for the pool, so ask before travelling about public access and any club sessions. Being indoors, the pool does not depend on the weather, and our Malta weather guide explains why that matters in the wetter winter months.

The main hall and meeting rooms

Beyond the pool, the complex has a Main Hall with a rubber surface and seating for 1,200 spectators. Its roof covers one of the largest spans in the country, and the design is innovative and unique to Malta.

There are also air-conditioned meeting areas, which sports organisations regularly use for committee meetings and annual general meetings. The photographs show the hall filled with children at a SportMalta event, a reminder that the complex is used for community programmes as well as elite sport. SportMalta's wider work includes programmes such as Let's Move Malta, European Week of Sport events and assistance schemes for athletes, and the complex is one of several SportMalta facilities that also include the Marsa and Kirkop sports complexes, the National Pool Complex and the national shooting ranges.

Opening hours and getting there

The complex opens early and late: Monday to Friday 05:00 to 23:00, Saturday 05:00 to 19:00 and Sunday and public holidays 07:00 to 19:00. The reception desk keeps shorter hours, as set out in the practical details. On Tuesdays a flea market runs from 06:00 to 12:00 and access during that time is on foot only, so allow extra time if you are driving. Visitors should also expect a working sports centre rather than a leisure resort, with early opening for training and late closing for evening sessions, which suits people who want to swim before work or sightseeing.

The complex is in Cospicua, one of the Three Cities, which sit across the Grand Harbour from Valletta. Our Three Cities guide and Vittoriosa guide cover the neighbouring waterfront towns, and the Valletta guide covers the capital. For history lovers, the Hypogeum guide and the Ħal-Tarxien Prehistoric Complex are within reach.

Planning your visit

If you are choosing a base for the south of the island, our where to stay in Malta page compares the main areas, and the things to do in Malta guide will fill the rest of your day. The Malta holidays overview is a good place to start planning.

To ask about the pool, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to SportMalta.