The Good Ship Murder Filming Locations in Malta
If you are looking for Good Ship Murder filming locations, look no further! I’ve compiled a list of memorable places and gorgeous locations you can visit in real life! All from Channel 5’s The Good Ship Murder!
If you haven’t watched the series, this post will contain spoilers, so read at your own risk!
I will also be continuously updating this post with new filming locations as The Good Ship Murder series 2 kicks off, so make sure you bookmark this page!
And if I’ve missed any filming locations below that you’ve noticed, please leave a comment so everyone can add it to their list!
And if you are a fan of Channel 5’s murder mysteries, make sure you check out my Madame Blanc Filming Locations Guide!
The Good Ship Murder Filming Locations
What is The Good Ship Murder?
The Good Ship Murder focuses on Jack Greyling (played by Shayne Ward), a detective turned cruise ship singer, and Kate Woods (played by Catherine Tyldesley), a first officer on the cruise ship. Together they figure out whodunnit at each port of call, exploring hot spots like Lisbon, Palma, Barcelona, and Malta.
The appeal of the show is traveling to a different destination every episode. Even though the episodes end with a cheesy cabaret number and there are a couple of cringe moments throughout, it’s still a fun mystery series that will fulfill your cozy mystery craving.
Where is The Good Ship Murder Filmed?
While the drone shots for the cut scenes are from the location they are supposed to be, The Good Ship Murder is filmed entirely in Malta (aside from filming on the cruise ship). So you won’t have to jet around the Mediterranean to visit all these locations!
The cruise ship used to film The Good Ship Murder is the MSC Virtuosa
The Good Ship Murder Filming Locations
Parish Church of Mellieħa
This amazing church in the village of Mellieha is used in S1, E3, as a church in Lisbon.
The famous author, Stephanie St James, is on the ship and doing a special walking tour around Lisbon based on the locations in her latest murder mystery novel.
The “fado” band plays in front of the church, where Jack dances along. The restaurant Il-Bottegin, to the left of the church, is where everyone sits after the tour, and the bell tower on the church is where Nero is murdered.
Mellieha should not be skipped when visiting Malta because it’s such a pretty, non-touristy village. Most people visit Mellieha Bay, a popular tourist resort, and completely skip the main square!
Imġiebaħ Bay
This beach is the location of the murder in S1, E1, and it’s located in northern Malta, very close to Mellieha. Even if you don’t make the trek down to the beach (and it’s a trek), the views from above are just as amazing.
Also known as Selum Beach, you can walk to it from Mellieha or Selum Palace, or have your taxi driver drop you off nearby. You can also kayak from one of the nearby bays if you want.
Lija
The Church of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady is the gorgeous little chapel used in S1, E2, when Stephanie St James visits a location in her book, she needs to take a second to reflect on Nero’s murder. It is here that she gets “attacked” by the mystery assailant.
This chapel is just a quick walk from the Lija Parish Church and can be paired with a day trip to Mosta to see the stunning Mosta Rotunda.
Tikka Bar, Valletta
This only pops up briefly, 10 minutes into the first episode, but it’s a great little bar, so I thought I would mention it! The “mystery shopper,” Nathan Graelish, looking very suspicious, appears to be following someone and taking pictures of them.
He is outside the Tikka Bar, renamed as Claude for the episode La Rochelle. Located in Republic Square, next to the statue of Queen Victoria, it’s the perfect place for a cocktail. It is budget-friendly and has great staff, AND you get free little nibbles on the side!
St Christopher’s Street, Valletta
St Christopher’s Street is in Valletta and close to the previous Good Ship Murder filming location. In S1, E4, titled “Palma,” Kate bumps into an old school acquaintance and is forced to attend her Bachelorette party. Unfortunately, her friend gets kidnapped as they are walking to the bar.
The bar and kidnapping take place not in Palma but on St Christopher’s Street. However, every street in Valletta looks very similar, and you’ll get the same vibe from each one!
The exterior of the bar, Fifty to One, where the girls have their bachelorette party and the husband is questioned doesn’t exist, but you’ll be able to find plenty of bars in narrow alleyways if you want to get that vibe.
Strait Street is just off St Christopher’s Street and it’s filled with cute and quirky cocktail bars to enjoy! Carmen Bar makes a great Aperol Spritz! *wink*
Upper Barrakka Gardens
These gardens appear in S1, E8 when the ship is actually in Malta!
The Upper Barrakka Gardens must not be missed while visiting the Good Ship Murder filming locations! This is where the famous singer, Vida Devine, is murdered.
The gardens are open from morning until night and the view across the Grand Harbour is amazing. You can watch the cannons firing at 12pm and 4pm every day from the Saluting Battery. The Upper Barrakka Gardens elevator will take you to the bottom of the harbor, giving you easy access to the fast ferry to Gozo or the traditional boats that take you to the Three Cities (another Good Ship Murder filming location)!
In the same episode, Victoria Gate is briefly featured and then Jack takes Vida Devine to lunch in a small restaurant on top of Victoria Gate. This is where Vida opens up to Jack about her hit record being a lie and how she wants her old life back pre-fame. The restaurant is Sicilia Bar and the food and views are AMAZING!
The road that leads to the top of Victoria Gate is also shown when Connor calls her to meet up at the Barrakka Gardens. And if you had a different angle of it, I’m sure you would recognize the Insta-famous street, Triq San Gwann.
Naxxar
In S1, E3 the cruise heads to Casablanca where they are short-staffed and Jack needs to run a tour through the medina. Jack suggests a cozy local place for lunch and the group heads inside.
Before the group can even order food, Suhani’s (a woman who works with a local charity) purse is stolen and Jack and Jamil pursue the thief through the streets.
The restaurant in the episode is The Old Charm, a small wine bar in Naxxar that serves Indian bites. You can also combine Naxxar with your day trip to Lija! That’s two Good Ship Murder filming locations in one day!
Birgu
Birgu is one of the Three Cities, and it is just a quick boat ferry across the Grand Harbour from Valletta. It is also the Good Ship Murder filming location of S1,E7, titled “Barcelona”.
Vlad, one half of a brother/sister roller skating duo on the cruise ship, is found dead in a park with a mysterious knife wound in the neck. The park, which is not in the shadow of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, is Burgu Ditch Gardens. The gardens were created in the ditch between Birgu’s massive fortifications and have only been open since 2016.
After the news is broken to Valentina and Sergio they are sitting at a restaurant called La Azucena, which is the now-closed restaurant, Osteria Ve.
Finally, a chase scene with Jack and Sergio breaks out through the narrow streets of Birgu. The big yellow doorway at the top of the stairs is located on Triq Il-Tramuntana.
Birgu also appears in S2, E2, titled “Rome”. When Jack rushes to the restaurant to save his daughter from the potential killer, Nick, he runs through the narrow alleyways of Birgu. The most recognizable feature is the bright blue door outside the restaurant. The street is Triq Il-Majjistral.
Rabat
Season 1, Episode 6 takes us to Sicily, Italy’s largest island. The story follows the Di Marco family and takes a dramatic turn when the father announces that his children will be written out of his will and receives the ‘kiss of death’ while on a tour of the town.
The scenes are shot in Rabat, a small town close to Mdina and one of the oldest in Malta. Roberto Di Marco wanted to take his children to their “roots” and show them where Di Marco Ice Cream started. The small gelateria seen as Giula’s Gelato is ZAIKA, an Indian restaurant outside of St Cataldus Catacombs.
The scene where Jack and Kate confront Freya Di Marco is in a cave restaurant in town called Grotto Tavern.
Manoel Theatre, Valletta
In S2, E1, an opera singer is poisoned on stage while Jack, Kate, and Jack’s daughter watch on. While the theatre’s exterior is deceiving and not the actual theatre in Malta, the interior is Manoel Theatre located on Old Theatre Street in Valletta.
You can see the interior of the theatre on select days during the “Grand Tour of One of Europe’s Oldest Theatres”.
Other Good Ship Murder Filming Locations
I’ve already mentioned that the drone shots for the cut scenes are from the locations in the episodes, so I want to highlight some amazing places that The Good Ship Murder visits—and you should, too!
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is Portugal’s capital and the perfect place for a weekend break!
- Some amazing things to do in Lisbon are:
- Visit the Belém Tower
- Explore Jerónimos Monastery
- Take a photo on the “Pink Street”
- Enjoy one of the many viewpoints (Miradouro da Graça is my favorite)
- Have a coffee in a cafe in Praça do Comércio
- Eat all of the Pastéis de nata
- Listen to fado in Bairro Alto
Palma, Mallorca
I LOVE everything about Mallorca, it’s one of my favorite Mediterranean islands.
- Some amazing things to do in Palma are:
- Take the 1920s wooden train to Soller
- Visit the gorgeous Cathedral of Santa Maria of Palma
- Explore The Mallorca Files filming locations
- Take a sunset boat tour
- Wander through Old Town
- Enjoy some tapas and nightlife in Palma’s Santa Catalina neighborhood
Barcelona, Spain
Heading to mainland Spain, Barcelona is a hot tourist spot, but that doesn’t mean you should miss out on this amazing city!
- Some amazing things to do in Barcelona are:
- Watch the sunrise over Park Güell
- Admire the many Gaudi buildings throughout the city
- Explore the Gothic Quarter
- Take the Telefèric de Montjuïc to the castle for amazing city views
- See the Magic Fountain nighttime show
- Gaze at the interior of Basílica de la Sagrada Família in the sunshine
Where to Stay in Malta
If you want a great location with a ton of history and amazing architecture, you can’t go wrong with staying in Valletta. If you wish to have a more “touristy” vibe, stay in Sliema – plenty of restaurants and bars are open late.
Both places are well connected and you can easily get buses or taxis to all The Good Ship Murder filming locations!
San Karlu: Lovely boutique hotel with a swimming pool and in a great location (also next to the filming location used in the episode “Palma”)
Valletta Central Apartment: This is a great apartment (where I stayed), the host is great and it’s located next to the Upper Barrakka Gardens (the filming location in the episode “Malta”)
Harbour Heights: Cozy apartment, close to the Upper Barrakka Gardens with amazing views
Sliema Seafront Apartment: Amazing views of Valletta across the harbor and close to lots of bars and restaurants
Are you planning on visiting any of The Good Ship Murder filming locations? Have I missed any locations that you’ve been to? Let me know in the comments below!
Save The Good Ship Murder Filming Locations on Pinterest!
