Things to Do in Malta: 15 Best Experiences

From the honey-coloured streets of Valletta to the clear water of the Blue Lagoon, Malta packs a lot into three small islands. This guide covers the 15 things we think are worth your time, where they are, and how to fit them into a short break.

Best Things to Do in Malta at a Glance

Experience	Area	Best for
St John’s Co-Cathedral	Valletta	Art and history
Blue Lagoon	Comino	Swimming
Mdina, the Silent City	Centre of Malta	Wandering old streets
Citadel in Victoria	Gozo	Views and a day trip
Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra	South coast	Prehistoric temples
Marsaxlokk Sunday market	South	Seafood and luzzu boats

Things to Do in Valletta

Valletta is Malta’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage city, small enough to cross on foot in about 20 minutes. Start early, before the cruise-ship crowds, and leave time to just walk.

1. St John’s Co-Cathedral

Plain on the outside and gilded from floor to ceiling inside. The oratory holds Caravaggio’s The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, the only painting he ever signed.

2. Upper Barrakka Gardens and the Saluting Battery

The best free view of the Grand Harbour. Below the gardens, the Saluting Battery fires its cannons at 12:00 and 16:00, Monday to Saturday, so time your visit for one of them.

3. Grand Harbour Cruise and the Three Cities

Across the harbour sit Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua, the Three Cities. Take a traditional dgħajsa water taxi over from Valletta, or see the whole harbour on a cruise.

Things to Do in Mdina and Rabat

4. Mdina, the Silent City

Malta’s old walled capital sits on a hill in the middle of the island. Cars are kept out of the centre, so the narrow streets stay quiet, especially in the evening after the day-trippers leave.

5. St Paul’s Catacombs in Rabat

Just outside Mdina’s walls, Rabat hides a network of underground Roman-era burial chambers. Combine both in a half day.

Blue Lagoon and Comino

6. Swim in the Blue Lagoon

The shallow, clear water between Comino and the islet of Cominotto is Malta’s most famous swimming spot. In summer you need a free time-slot pass before you land. Our Blue Lagoon guide explains the booking system, ferries and the best time to go.

Things to Do in Gozo

Gozo is greener and slower than Malta, and an easy day trip. The Gozo Channel ferry from Ċirkewwa to Mġarr takes about 25 minutes, and a fast ferry from Valletta takes about 45 minutes.

7. The Citadel in Victoria

Gozo’s hilltop fortress has walls you can walk around for views across the whole island.

8. Ramla Bay

A wide bay of red-orange sand on Gozo’s north coast. On the way, stop at the salt pans near Xwejni, which are still worked by hand.

Things to Do in the South of Malta

9. Blue Grotto

A group of sea caves on the south coast. Small boats leave from Wied iż-Żurrieq, and the colours inside are best on a calm, sunny morning.

10. Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Temples

Two of Malta’s megalithic temples, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and among the oldest free-standing stone structures in the world. They sit next to each other on a cliff top above the sea.

11. Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum

An underground prehistoric burial site, with the earliest levels dating to around 3600 BC. Only a small number of visitors are allowed in each day, so book through Heritage Malta weeks or months ahead. Children under six are not admitted.

12. Marsaxlokk Sunday Fish Market

A fishing village full of brightly painted luzzu boats. Come on a Sunday morning for the market, then stay for a long seafood lunch on the waterfront.

Best Beaches in Malta

13. Golden Bay, Mellieħa Bay and Paradise Bay

• Golden Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa: two sandy bays side by side on the north-west coast, good for sunsets.
• Mellieħa Bay (Għadira): Malta’s largest sandy beach, with shallow water that suits families.
• Paradise Bay: a small sandy cove near the Ċirkewwa ferry terminal.
• St Peter’s Pool: a rock pool near Marsaxlokk where people swim off the flat rocks.

Things to Do in Sliema and St Julian’s

14. The Sliema Promenade and St Julian’s

A long seafront walk with views back to Valletta, cafés, shops and the departure point for many harbour and Comino boat trips. Keep walking to Spinola Bay in St Julian’s, and the Paceville nightlife district beyond it. See where to stay in Sliema.

Malta Boat Trips and Tours

15. Get Out on the Water

Malta is best seen from the sea. Popular trips include Comino and the Blue Lagoon, the caves around Comino and Gozo, Grand Harbour cruises and full-day Gozo tours. The clear water also makes Malta a popular place to learn to scuba dive. Compare every option in our guide to Malta tours and excursions.

Eat and Drink in Malta

Don’t leave without trying a few local classics:

• Pastizzi: flaky pastries filled with ricotta or mushy peas, sold in pastizzerias all over the islands.
• Ftira: a ring-shaped Maltese bread, often filled with tuna, tomatoes, capers and olives.
• Stuffat tal-fenek: slow-cooked rabbit stew, the closest thing Malta has to a national dish.
• Fresh fish: best eaten in Marsaxlokk, ideally after the Sunday market.

How Many Days Do You Need in Malta?

Trip length	What you can fit in
3 days	Valletta, Mdina and Rabat, plus a Blue Lagoon boat trip
5 days	Add a day in Gozo and a morning in the south (temples, Blue Grotto, Marsaxlokk)
7 days	Add beach days, a Grand Harbour cruise and time to slow down, perhaps with two nights in Gozo

Not sure when to go? Our Malta weather by month guide shows temperatures, sea and sunshine for every month.

Things to Do in Malta FAQ

What is Malta best known for?

Its history. Malta has prehistoric temples older than the pyramids of Giza, a capital built by the Knights of St John, and the Blue Lagoon on Comino.

How many days do you need in Malta?

Three days covers Valletta, Mdina and the Blue Lagoon. Five days lets you add Gozo and the south. A week gives you time for beaches too.

Do you need a car in Malta?

No. Buses cover the islands, with Valletta as the main hub, and ferries link Sliema, Valletta, Gozo and Comino. A car helps on Gozo. Malta drives on the left.

Is Malta good for a winter break?

Yes, for sightseeing. Average highs in January are around 16°C, though you will get some rain. See our Malta weather by month guide.

Keep Planning

Sources: Climate of Malta (Wikipedia) · Saluting Battery (Wikipedia) · Ferries to Gozo (Big World Small Pockets) · Hypogeum booking guide (Past Pathways) · Malta International Airport