Malta Travel Guide: Things to Do, Tips & Itinerary

Malta is Europe’s fifth smallest country at 17 miles long and 9 miles wide. It’s around one fifth of the size of London, so it’s pretty small for a country. This makes it a good destination to choose if you want to explore the whole country in one trip, rather than a single city. If you want to visit Malta, read this Malta travel guide to find out everything you need to know before you go. This complete guide to Malta will cover whether Malta is worth visiting, the best things to do in Malta, and my tips for making the most of your time on the island.

Quick Facts About Malta

Capital: Valletta 

Currency: Euro

Language: Maltese and English 

Best time to visit: April–June and September–October 

Average trip length: 3–5 days 

Airport: Malta International Airport, Luqa

Malta Travel Guide: Is Malta worth visiting?

If a pretty island with white sandy beaches, good food, warm weather, historic towns and lovely churches is your thing, Malta is absolutely worth visiting!

Malta is perfect for: people who want to spend time sunbathing; people who want to split their time between working and exploring; people who want to hire a car and really get off the beaten track.

If you love history, Malta has so much of it and if you like nightlife, Malta won’t disappoint here either. Photography lovers will enjoy taking photos of Malta’s beautiful landscapes, balconies and doors. If you’re a foodie, Malta is for you too, with a huge variety of different food to eat. Food fans will have full bellies here.

Where is Malta and why is it so unique?

Malta is in the Mediterranean sea, not far off south of Sicily in Italy. Its Mediterranean climate means Malta stays warm all year round. Even Malta’s colder months, January and February, being ten degrees or higher.

We were there in December and mostly just wore a light jacket or cardigan. It was really nice for the time of year, when it was icy and freezing at home.

Malta was a British colony until 1964 and some British things have remained, like driving on the left. The country felt very familiar to me, whilst also being different-we don’t see many cacti at home, for example!

There’s also a big Italian influence in the food and the language. I spotted quite a strong Moroccan influence in things like the Maltese doors. It’s a really interesting country and I hope this Malta travel guide inspires you to visit this beautiful country.

Malta Travel Guide: Best things to do in Malta

I resisted visiting Malta for a long time thinking it’d be an island full of beaches, bars and not much else. I was very very wrong! There’s so many things to do in Malta, whatever you’re interested in. I hope my Malta travel guide helps you to discover things you didn’t expect to do or see in Malta.

Explore Valletta

Valletta, Malta’s capital city, does not need a car to get to or to explore. There are buses to Valletta from all over the island. We had a car but chose to get the ferry from Sliema – I like a boat! – and we got the bus back in the evening. Parking in Valletta is likely to be difficult so even if you do have a car, consider public transport instead.

Whilst the main city doesn’t have a huge number of tourist attractions, you won’t be short of things to do in Valletta. Head to Upper Barrakka for amazing views over the water and towards the Three Cities. Don’t miss the cannon firing at 12pm and 4pm. You’ll need to get there early to get a good view.

Staircase Street is famous for being pretty and full of restaurants. It’s a great place to go for food or a drink. Republic Street has lots of shops, and Republic Square is a must see beautiful square in the centre. Triton’s Fountain is well worth seeing. Is-Suq Tal-Belt, Valletta’s food market and food court, offers 15 different cuisines if you need another meal after a day of exploring.

Visit the Three Cities

Half a day should be spent visiting the iconic Three Cities. They can be accessed by bus or car but are easier to reach via a short ferry from Valletta. The views of both Valletta and the Three Cities (Vittoriosa/Birgu, Senglea/Isla and Cospicua/Bormla) from the ferry are absolutely outstanding. Be aware there are a LOT of steps in this part of Malta!

We didn’t have a list of things to see in the Three Cities, preferring to wander around and take in the slower pace and the history. We actually nearly didn’t take the time to go to the Three Cities, but I’m so glad we did.

Swim in the Blue Lagoon, or at any of Malta’s beautiful beaches

The Blue Lagoon is one of Malta’s most well known swimming spots. Located just off Comino, it’s always going to be one of the busiest places to swim. Ferries go from Cirkewwa and take 20 minutes. You’ll need to book a visitors slot in advance if you want to swim or snorkel.

If you want to swim and you’re not bothered about the Blue Lagoon specifically, all of Malta’s beaches are beautiful. Areas like Sliema are more set up for swimmers, with steps (and handrails) down from the rocks to the water.

Other bays are a bit quieter. I’d recommend taking basic safety precautions: enter the water slowly; let someone else know where you are; try not to swim alone.

In busier seasons there will be people around. If you’re brave enough to swim in December (I wanted to so badly, but hadn’t thought to pack swimming stuff!) you’ll need to think more about safety.

Visit Gozo for a relaxed day

Gozo is one of Malta’s three islands, with Malta itself and Comino making up the other two. Malta is the biggest with the most to do and Comino is basically empty. There’s just a tower and an abandoned hospital as its things to see. Comino is great for swimming and walking, but if you want another island to explore, visit Gozo.

Just a 45-minute high speed ferry from Valletta for foot passengers, visiting Gozo is well worth the trip. The ferry has really comfy leather seats and, whilst we’d heard the sea could be a bit choppy, it was fine for us. If you want to take your car, you can take a slower ferry from Cirkewwa.

We chose to do the Gozo open-top bus tour to get a good sense of the island and I’d recommend that. Next time we visit Gozo, we’ll take the car and explore off the main bus route, choosing how long we want to spend in each place.

Gozo is a dream to drive around, full of beautiful countryside, pretty villages and lots of sandstone churches. Gozo is definitely quieter than Malta and makes for a great quiet day trip.

Hire a car and get off the beaten track

The best thing to do in Malta, in my opinion, is to explore under your own steam without a regimented plan. Hire a car from the airport (it was pretty cheap) and drive around the island.

Parking is mostly free, but on the street. In some areas you’ll need the ability to parallel park uphill which I DO NOT possess, but despite parking stress I had a great time being able to drive all over the island.

We were able to easily visit places that aren’t as easy to access on public transport, as well as spotting sights on the map that we hadn’t initially been aware of and diverting off our original route to have a look. This allowed us to see some gorgeous views, a couple of amazing sunsets, and not worry about bus times. Bliss.

One thing to consider with a car is the engine size. My hire car, a Kia Picanto, took quite some time to speed up on the faster roads, which I didn’t love. I’d choose a hire car that was a bit bigger next time.

Visit Mdina, Malta’s silent city

Mdina, a car-free part of Malta, has gorgeous Baroque buildings, horses wandering around pulling carts, and absolutely no noise. It’s unusually quiet and it’s a really cool experience to wander the narrow streets and explore. If you visit really early in the morning or later at night, you’ll likely have the city to yourself too.

Fontanella Tea Garden has highly recommended cakes and St Paul’s Cathedral is striking. The Mdina Dungeons are an interesting way to get out of the sun for a bit, if you need to.

Coogi’s is a very good restaurant we ate at, with plenty of food options including pizza without red sauce (I like pizza but hate red sauce!). They were kind enough to give us a takeaway box for our leftovers too – portions were huge!

See a sunset at Dingli cliffs

Dingli cliffs, at one of the highest points on the island, has amazing views. We went during the day on our last day but catching a sunset here would be an amazing experience.

Get there early as you won’t be the only one with this idea. Whilst there’s some parking, if it’s really busy you may need to park further away and walk.

Marsaxlokk

One place I actually missed out on when visiting Malta, Marsaxlokk is a traditional fishing village. It has swimming spots, a harbour and lots of seafood restaurants. It’s quieter during the week but, on Sundays, there’s a popular market selling fish and local products that shouldn’t be missed.

Malta Travel Guide: A realistic Malta itinerary (3–5 Days)

A perfect Malta itinerary should be decided by things you want to do rather than the things I tell you to! My 3 day Malta itinerary and 5 day Malta itinerary will give you a starting point to work from.

Honestly, it’s better to do 24 hours or 48 hours in Malta than to never go. Some people even do it as an extreme day trip! I’d recommend at least 3 days to have a good look at everything Malta has to offer.

3 days in Malta itinerary

If you’re starting and ending a cruise from Valletta – or you’re planning a long weekend on the island – you’ll want to see the main sights. I’d suggest the following basics:

Day 1-Valletta and Three Cities. Three or so hours for the Three Cities, catching a cannon firing at either 12 or 4, plus some shopping and plenty of good food in Valletta. Don’t miss time just wandering around Malta’s beautiful capital city, you won’t regret that time.

Day 2-Gozo day. Catching the fast ferry as a pedestrian from Valletta, taking an open top bus tour around the island and getting off at five stops of your choice on the route to explore further. Make sure you don’t miss the last ferry back to Valletta because they don’t run all night. The car ferries from the other side of Gozo run later.

Day 3-General exploring. Visit Sliema for a beautiful beach and a paddle or swim in the sea. Check out Sliema’s famous cat park with its very friendly, well cared for strays. Head to Mdina and explore the silent city for a couple of hours. Finish with the sunset at Dingli cliffs.

5 days in Malta itinerary

If you’re lucky enough to be spending 5 days in Malta, I’d recommend day one and two remain the same. Day three could be slower paced. Spend the whole day in Sliema: plenty of beach time with a good book, and a nice meal in the evening. Still don’t skip the cat park!

Day 4- Mdina, Rabat, and Dingli cliffs. Your fourth day should take in the silent city, Mdina, with tea at Fontanella Tea Garden. Spend time wandering the city appreciating just how little noise there is, and pop into some of the lovely shops. When you’re done, explore nearby Rabat too. It’s right next to Mdina and has Crystal Palace, a well-recommended place to buy Pastizzi – a Maltese speciality! End this day with Dingli cliffs for a sunset and take snacks and relax. Be aware that, if you’re visiting Malta in peak season, there will be a lot of people here.

Day 5- Museums and shopping. Your final day should be spent visiting some of Malta’s museums, anything that takes your fancy, and shopping. Ta’ Qali Artisan Village sells all sorts of local arts and crafts. There are also plenty of shops in Valletta and Mdina for lovely Maltese things to take home. I got lots of art prints and a gorgeous little ceramic Maltese balcony which I then cracked at home as I didn’t realise how fragile it was-I’m so sad about that! Malta is also good for lace, Mdina glass and filigree jewellery, so why not treat yourself?

Malta Travel Guide: Museums

We loved the football museum (open Monday-Friday, 10-4). It’s at the national stadium, and it was only 5 euros for an adult ticket. We were there a good hour, and the lovely man who sold us the tickets even let us have a look at the pitch!

Valletta has the National Museum of Archaeology, the National Community Art Museum and the National War Museum. Mdina has Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum and Mdina Metropolitan Cathedral Museum. In Birgu, there is the Inquisitor’s Palace and the Maritime Museum.

Malta Travel Guide: Best time to visit Malta

Malta is at its busiest and hottest in July and August. So if you’re not great with heat, I’d avoid the summer. April and May sees the countryside full of beautiful wildflowers and the sea is warmer in September and October. We visited in December. It was light cardigan weather, and I loved the Christmas decorations and traditional nativities everywhere.

Malta Travel Guide: Where to stay in Malta

After a lot of research, we stayed in Sliema as we knew it was on the coast, close to Valletta and a cheaper location. Both booking.com and hotels.com had plenty of options for us to choose from. We went for an apartment so we could cook and wash, although we mostly ate out. Malta has lots of choice depending on what you want. I’ve covered some of the best areas to help you decide:

Sliema

Sliema is cheap, has a beach that’s easy to swim from, a little bit of shopping and a few restaurants and bars on the waterfront. There’s easy ferry access to Valletta too. If you want somewhere lower budget but with a bit of calmer nightlife, Sliema is a great choice.

Valletta

Malta’s capital is for you if you want to be right in the middle of the city, surrounded by history, museums, lots of shopping, bars and restaurants, and easy transport to Gozo. You’ll also find it easy to get around the rest of the island from Valletta’s main bus station.

St Julian’s

If you’re after the best nightlife on the island, St Julian’s has Paceville: lots of bars, nightclubs and casinos. There are also pretty bays and good beaches in the area.

Mdina

Mdina is a pricier option. Staying in the silent city will be peaceful and calm and will allow you to really appreciate how quiet things are when there’s no tourists around. It wouldn’t be my choice due to budget and liking a bit more going on, but it would be beautiful.

Mellieha

If you want to be close to some of Malta’s most beautiful beaches, Popeye Village, and watersports, Mellieha is a great choice when visiting Malta. Mellieha is the north of the island so further to go if you want to explore everywhere, but as Malta is so small it won’t matter too much.

Malta Travel Guide: Tips and advice

I’m often the person on the plane googling a few key phrases for a country whilst we’re taxiing. I know people who leave it that late to wonder if they need a travel adaptor! Whenever you travel somewhere new, you need to know the basics. This section of my Malta travel guide gives you the things you need to know when you visit Malta, so don’t skip this part.

Getting around Malta

The easiest way to get around Malta, going wherever you want, whenever you want, is to hire a car. We paid £56 for five nights which felt really reasonable, especially as I’d upgraded to an automatic.

The car hire company wanted £70 for their insurance or there was a £1500 excess for any damage caused which was a worry. I found that car hire excess insurance is a thing, so you can take out your own policy to protect yourself against the risk of that excess, for a much lower cost. Please make sure you read the small print to make sure the policy covers what you need. Also remember you’ll need your driving license, and a credit card in your name with enough available credit for the excess, as they will hold this amount until you return the car.

Malta’s drink driving limits are stricter than the UK’s, and you’d be better off not having any alcohol if you’re planning to drive. I had a couple of cocktails the night before we were getting a bus and a ferry, and nothing on days I was using the car, to be safe.

Malta’s buses are regular and cheap – locals actually travel for free with the island’s Tallinja Card – although at busier times they’re going to be very busy. Leave enough time to get somewhere in case you need to wait for the next bus. Ferries are easy and more fun, in my opinion, so I’d recommend those over buses where you can, if you decide against hiring a car.

Language, currency, mobile phones

Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English. Brits will not have a problem being understood. Malta uses the Euro, cards are widely accepted in all but the smallest of places, and the country is one of the safest I’ve been to.

My phone worked as normal in Malta but, as I only get 1GB of data abroad, I used Airalo to buy an eSim when visiting Malta.

Anything else?

Malta uses UK three pin plugs, so if you’re from the UK you won’t need that travel adaptor!

The island can get hot, so don’t forget sun protection and drink plenty of water.

Malta Travel Guide: FAQs

How many days do you need in Malta?

If you’re looking for a short relaxing break, two days in Malta will give you enough time to relax on the beach, try some delicious Maltese food and spend an afternoon wandering Valletta’s streets.

If you want to explore the island, four days will give you time to see the Three Cities, Mdina, cliff-top views and to visit Gozo.

Is Malta expensive to visit?

Malta, especially if you visit off season like we did, is not expensive at all to visit. Our flights were £35 each, our accommodation for five nights was £160 and the car and fuel cost £60.

We spent £300 on food, but this was largely because the trip was over my birthday. We had plenty of drinks, so you could easily do it cheaper.

Is Malta safe?

Malta is very safe. Crime rates in the country are low. As with any country you should be sensible, keep doors locked, not leave bags lying around and so on. Don’t drive or swim if you’ve had a drink, if you’re walking in the heat take water and tell someone where you’re going. I had no safety concerns.

Do you need a car in Malta?

I wouldn’t say you NEED a car, but it was definitely easier for us to have one. Being able to get to and from the airport ourselves was handy, not needing to look at public transport times and the ability to change plans quickly was really helpful. Parking was mostly okay in bigger cities, but a nightmare on hilly streets!

If this Malta travel guide has convinced you to visit Malta, I’m so pleased! You’ll have a brilliant time exploring the island. If you’re still on the fence, definitely look further into reasons to visit Malta because there are so, so many!