Malta has more churches than you could visit in a lifetime of holidays: every town and village has at least one parish church, usually Baroque, often crowned with a dome you can see from miles away. Some hold world-class art, one survived a wartime bomb that crashed through its roof, and one in Gozo draws pilgrims from across the Catholic world. These are the churches in Malta we think are most worth your time, from us at Experiences Malta, with opening times, prices and what to look out for.
Must-see
St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta
Entry
Most parish churches are free; a few charge
Dress code
Shoulders and knees covered
Best season
Summer, for village festas
Map of Churches in Malta
Where each church in this guide is, with directions.
Rotunda of Mosta
The Mosta Dome, modelled on the Pantheon. A German bomb pierced the dome in 1942 and did not explode.
St John’s Co-Cathedral
The Knights' church, gilded from floor to ceiling inside, with Caravaggio's Beheading of Saint John the Baptist in the Oratory.
St Paul’s Cathedral, Mdina
Rebuilt in Baroque style by Lorenzo Gafà after the 1693 earthquake, at the heart of the Silent City.
St Paul’s Shipwreck Church
A Baroque parish church dedicated to St Paul's shipwreck on Malta, with a relic of the saint.
Ta’ Pinu Basilica
Gozo's national shrine, standing alone in the countryside near Għarb. Consecrated in 1932.
Churches in Valletta
1. St John’s Co-Cathedral
The church of the Knights of St John, built in the 1570s and plain on the outside, is one of the most richly decorated churches in Europe inside. The vault was painted by the Baroque artist Mattia Preti, and the floor is a carpet of inlaid marble tombstones of Knights. The Oratory holds Caravaggio’s The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, the only painting he signed.
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 16:45 (last entry 16:00). Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
- Tickets: adults €15, students and seniors €12, children under 12 free with an adult. An audio guide is included.
- Tip: arrive at opening time to beat cruise groups, and wear flat shoes to protect the marble floor.
2. St Paul’s Shipwreck Church
A Baroque parish church on St Paul’s Street dedicated to the shipwreck of St Paul on Malta, described in the Acts of the Apostles. It keeps a relic said to be part of St Paul’s wrist bone and a piece of the column on which he was beheaded, and its altarpiece is attributed to Matteo Perez d’Aleccio, the 16th-century painter of the Great Siege frescoes.
3. Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Its tall dome rises above the city and, together with the spire of St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, defines the Valletta skyline seen from Sliema. The best view is from the Sliema ferry or the Tigné seafront at sunset.
4. Ta’ Ġieżu Church
The Franciscan church of St Mary of Jesus, known locally as Ta’ Ġieżu, is worth visiting during Holy Week: every Good Friday, a procession carrying centuries-old statues of the Passion leaves from here through the streets of Valletta. See our Valletta guide for the rest of the city.
Mosta, Mdina and St Julian’s
5. The Rotunda of Mosta (Mosta Dome)
Officially the Sanctuary Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady, the Rotunda was designed by Giorgio Grognet de Vassé on the model of the Pantheon in Rome. Building began in 1833 and took 28 years, and the church was dedicated in 1871. Its dome has an internal diameter of about 40 metres and was once among the largest in the world.
On 9 April 1942, during the Siege of Malta, a German bomb pierced the dome and fell into the church during a service, but did not explode. It was made safe and dumped at sea; a replica of the bomb is shown in the sacristy, and the event is remembered locally as a miracle. The church was made a minor basilica in 2018.
6. St Paul’s Cathedral, Mdina
The cathedral of Malta’s old capital stands, according to tradition, where the Roman governor Publius met St Paul after the shipwreck. The medieval church was badly damaged in the earthquake of 1693 and rebuilt in Baroque style by the Maltese architect Lorenzo Gafà. Combine it with a walk through the Silent City using our Mdina guide.
7. Carmelite Church, Balluta Bay
One of Malta’s few Neo-Gothic churches, standing over Balluta Bay in St Julian’s. It is an easy stop on a walk along the Sliema and St Julian’s promenade.
Churches in Gozo
8. Ta’ Pinu National Shrine
Ta’ Pinu stands alone in the countryside about 700 metres from the village of Għarb. It began as a small chapel; in 1883 a local woman, Karmni Grima, said she heard a voice there asking her to pray, and the chapel became a place of pilgrimage. The present neo-Romanesque basilica, designed by Andrea Vassallo, was started in 1920 and consecrated in 1932. Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass here in 1990 and Pope Francis prayed here in 2022. Inside, rooms of votive offerings left by pilgrims are moving to see.
9. The Cathedral of the Assumption, Victoria
Gozo’s cathedral stands inside the walls of the Citadel. Look up: the dome is an illusion, painted onto a flat ceiling. Visit it with the rest of the Citadel from our Gozo guide.
10. St George’s Basilica, Victoria
Known as the Golden Basilica for its gilded interior, St George’s is the heart of one of Gozo’s biggest festas, held in the third week of July.
Tips for Visiting Churches in Malta
- Cover up: shoulders and knees should be covered. A light scarf in your bag solves this in summer.
- Check service times: most churches are open for visitors outside Mass. Avoid wandering around during services.
- Photography: usually allowed without flash, but some museums and oratories restrict it.
- Small donations: many parish churches are free and rely on donations for upkeep.
- Sundays: St John’s Co-Cathedral is closed to visitors on Sundays, but parish churches are at their liveliest.
Village Festas: Malta’s Church Feasts
Each parish celebrates its patron saint once a year with a festa, and most take place between June and September. Streets are hung with banners and lights, the church is decorated inside, brass bands play, a statue of the saint is carried through the village and the night ends with fireworks. Visitors are welcome. Check our What’s On in Malta calendar for upcoming events.
See them with a guide
Valletta and Mdina Walking Tours
A local guide brings the Co-Cathedral, the Knights and Mdina’s cathedral to life, and many tours include skip-the-line entry.
- Co-Cathedral entry on many tours
- Small groups
- Morning starts before the crowds
Malta Churches FAQ
What is the most beautiful church in Malta?
Most visitors would say St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, for its gilded interior, Mattia Preti’s ceiling and Caravaggio’s Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.
How much does St John’s Co-Cathedral cost?
Adults pay €15, students and seniors €12, and children under 12 go free with an adult. The audio guide is included.
Why is the Mosta Dome famous?
For its huge Pantheon-style dome and because a German bomb pierced the dome in April 1942 during a service and failed to explode.
Do you need to cover up in Maltese churches?
Yes. Cover your shoulders and knees, and keep your voice down if a service is taking place.
When are the village festas?
Mostly between June and September, with each parish celebrating on or near its patron saint’s feast day.
Keep Planning
Things to Do in Valletta12 best sights
Mdina and RabatThe Silent City
What’s On in MaltaFestas and events
How we wrote this guideThis guide was researched and written by us at Experiences Malta, using the official and local sources listed below, and we review it through the year. Prices, timetables and opening hours change, so please check before you travel. More about Experiences Malta.
Sources: St John’s Co-Cathedral: hours and tickets, Rotunda of Mosta (Wikipedia), Ta’ Pinu (Wikipedia), Guide Me Malta: Ten churches you must visit, Guide Me Malta: St John’s Co-Cathedral.