Malta is one of Europe’s most beautiful, historical, and exciting places. With so many fun things to do in Malta, creating an itinerary is challenging.
Whether you’re a fan of ancient history, need a city break, or want to relax on a beautiful beach, endless Malta attractions will keep you entertained. Having visited this fascinating island country earlier this year, I’ve curated the best things to do in Malta to help you decide where to go and what to see.
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Top Things to Do in Malta
Without further ado, let’s explore the best things to do in Malta, in no particular order:
Take a Boat Ride to the Blue Grotto
The Blue Grotto, a series of sea caves located in the southeast of Malta, is one of the most famous places to visit in Malta. I took a cheap, small boat ride to the caves, which lasted around 30 minutes and was one of the highlights of my trip.
The boat ride takes you under several caves at the Blue Grotto, where the water is crystal clear. It was an enjoyable activity. If you don’t fancy the boat ride (which can be bumpy at times), you can admire the views of the caves and the ocean from the nearby cliffs.
There are also several lovely restaurants in the small area called ‘Wied iz-Zurrieq’ next to the caves, and it’s also a popular site for divers. Blue Grotto is a must if you’re trying to decide what to do in Malta.
Visit Valletta
Valletta, the capital, is one of the top places to visit in Malta. It is a charming place full of historical sites and awe-inspiring churches (see St. John’s Co-Cathedral below), and it also has no end of restaurants, bars, and shops to visit.
I loved Valletta’s architecture and countless mazy streets. Although it is packed with tourists, it should still be on your list of Malta things to do.
Be Awestruck by
Are you unsure where to go in Malta? is a beautiful landmark you must experience.
Ticket entry is a bit pricey (15 Euros for adults), but the church’s interior is one of the most awe-inspiring sites I’ve ever seen. The marble floors, paintings, and gold-leaf statues are all very impressive.
When I visited, there were many tourists, but apart from that, it was an exceptional experience. You can listen to an audio guide while wandering around inside, which gives you a lot of insight into its fascinating history.
Let the Hagar Qim Temple Transport You Back in Time
If you are interested in ancient history, visit the Hagar Qim Temple, just a 15-20-minute walk from the Blue Grotto site. It’s one of the top things to do in Malta for history buffs.
This impressive archaeological site is over 5,000 years old, and I found it fascinating and mind-blowing! I loved learning about the history and the various theories about who built the temples and why.
You can listen to an audio guide via a QR code on your phone as you visit both temple sites. Before visiting the temples, you can watch a short 3D film that briefly overviews the history.
Take a Day Trip to Gozo
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Gozo is Malta’s smaller sister island, making for a perfect day trip from the mainland. You can catch a ferry from Ċirkewwa in the north of Malta or Valletta. Gozo is among the most unique things to do in Malta, and I’m sure you’ll love it.
I caught the fast ferry from Valletta, which takes around 45 minutes and found it a straightforward, pleasant journey. Gozo is a much quieter place than Malta, and it’s easy to explore, but I found it just as interesting as Malta.
There are several interesting sites here, depending on your preference. Gozo has some renowned beaches, such as Ramla Bay, which is known for its reddish sand and is ideal for relaxing for a few hours.
If you’re a history buff like I am, then you have to visit the ancient archaeological site of Ġgantija Temples, which is believed to be the oldest temple site in the world, dating back thousands of years. I also visited Dwejra Bay, which features stunning rocky cliffs and dramatic views of the Mediterranean Sea—another place in Gozo that I recommend visiting.
You have a few options for getting around the island: rent a car, travel by jeep, or explore on a quad bike if you need an adrenaline rush. I caught a City Sightseeing Gozo Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, which stops at all the major Malta attractions and is relatively cheap.
Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?
The Insurance companies I recommend are Hey Mondo and Safety Wing
Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single-trip cover, annual multi-trip cover, and long-term travel cover. Safety Wing is great value, with monthly coverage starting at $45.08. It’s super easy to use, and it just renews each month. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy.
Read my full travel insurance post here, where I go into detail about all companies.
Spend a Day in the Silent City of Mdina
Mdina is a fascinating medieval city that dates back over 1,000 years, and not a lot has changed about it during that time. It was one of my favorite places to visit in Malta.
It is based on the top of a hill in central Malta and is known as the silent city because it became something of a ghost town hundreds of years ago, and its name stuck ever since.
It’s a beautiful place full of churches and narrow streets. Although it is a tourist hotspot, it is worth spending half a day exploring.
Explore
Another fascinating (and somewhat creepy!) place to visit is , just a short 15-minute walk from the medieval city of Mdina.
These catacombs are the earliest example of Christianity in-country, dating back several centuries, and I thought they were genuinely astonishing places to see in Malta. You can easily spend an hour exploring the site by wandering through the maze-like walkways of the catacombs, which once housed over 1,000 people.
However, it’s not ideal for anyone with claustrophobia, as it’s a dark, somewhat cramped place, especially with other tourists exploring. But it is another unique historical site I would recommend visiting!
Take a Ferry From Valletta to the Three Cities
Are you wondering where to go in Malta? The three cities of Malta (Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua) are fascinating places to visit for half a day or longer and are easy to reach via ferry.
I caught a ferry, which only took around 15 minutes, from Valletta across to Vittoriosa (also known as ‘Birgu’) and was pleasantly surprised by how many things there are to do there.
The Three Cities are much quieter than Valletta and feature many historical sites worth checking out. I recommend the Fort of St. Angelo in Birgu for stunning views of Valletta.
Go Swimming in the Blue Lagoon
One of the top Malta attractions is the Blue Lagoon, located on the small island of Comino. This lagoon and cave area have the most crystal clear turquoise waters you are likely to see, making them perfect for swimming or snorkeling.
Endless tours will take you via ferry to Comino, where you can spend a few hours exploring the area at your leisure. Because it’s among the most popular things to do in Malta, you can expect a lot of visitors, depending on what time of year you visit. I suggest visiting the Blue Lagoon either early in the morning or late in the evening (especially during sunset) when visitors will be less.
Despite being crowded at times, the lagoon is still a must-see place. There are plenty of restaurants and bars nearby, and the rest of Comino Island is just as interesting.
Visit Popeye Village
Not many people know that Malta was the film location for the 1980 musical Popeye, starring Robin Williams and directed by Robert Altman. Film sets from the movie have remained intact ever since, and after filming, it was turned into an amusement park.
The location is now one of the top things to see in Malta and is a fun place for families or movie buffs to visit. There are plenty of fun activities here for youngsters, and seeing actual sets from such a famous film makes for a memorable day out.
Discover Malta’s War Rooms
Malta was a strategic island during World War II, so there are some fascinating museums and locations to visit while on the island. The most intriguing of these is Lascaris War Rooms, a museum dedicated to Malta’s history and importance during the Second World War.
As well as a museum, it features an underground complex of tunnels and chambers, making it a top destination for anyone interested in history.
Malta also has a National War Museum, based at Fort St Elmo in Valletta, that is equally as interesting and worth visiting.
Relax on a Beach!
Of course, after experiencing all the unique things to do in Malta, you’ll probably want to relax on a beach! Thankfully, Malta is the perfect destination for sun worshippers, with many excellent beaches in Malta and Gozo.
Arguably, Malta’s number one beach location is , based in Mellieħa in the north. It is a gorgeous sandy beach with clear blue waters and, unsurprisingly, can be a hectic place to visit during summer.
Another top beach worth visiting is Ramla Bay in Gozo and Fomm ir-Riħ, northwest of the mainland. Fomm ir-Ri is less crowded but as beautiful as the more popular beaches.
💡Quick Tip
View my full Europe packing guide here including a downloadable checklist. And check out my Europe Essentials shopping list here.
Things to Do in Malta FAQs
How many days do you need for all the fun things to do in Malta?
Ideally, I would suggest visiting Malta for four days, the perfect length for a trip. I visited for four days and had enough time to see all the top tourist attractions around the island.
Two to three days would be too short a trip, but a week in Malta is certainly a good idea, especially if you want to spend a few days relaxing and enjoying the excellent weather that Malta is known for.
Is Malta expensive?
Malta isn’t necessarily an expensive place to visit. Its accommodations, restaurants, and tourist attractions are moderately priced.
If you visit Malta during the off-peak seasons, hotel costs will undoubtedly be cheaper.
As mentioned earlier, I found some tourist attractions to be slightly overpriced. For example, the entry ticket to St. John’s Co-Cathedral costs 15 Euros per adult, which I felt was too costly.
Is Malta safe to visit?
Yes, absolutely! Malta has a reasonably low crime rate overall – I never experienced any crime incidents and felt safe throughout my trip.
Of course, petty crime occurs everywhere, especially in capital cities, so always be on your guard.
Is it easy to travel around Malta?
Yes, Malta is quite an easy place to travel as it is a relatively small island. The roads are of good quality and, if you decide not to rent a car during your holiday, Malta has an excellent bus service.
Buses run throughout the island frequently, with a central bus station located in the capital of Valletta.
I would also recommend using taxis in Malta. There are a few different taxi services, but I used the ‘Bolt’ taxi app, which was cheap, on time, and easy to use.
Wondering where to stay? Check out these options!
Central 214 Boutique Hotel
The Suites – Piazza Kirkop
The Heritage Boutique Accommodation
Best Things to Do in Malta: Final Thoughts
There are many incredible Malta things to do, from medieval cities, catacombs, and impressive archaeological sites to dramatic rocky caves and gorgeous sandy beaches. You are spoiled by all the things to see in Malta. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about what to do in Malta and now have a clear plan for your trip to this beautiful European island.
Malta Travel Guide Planning
🧳 Any recommendations on what I should pack for Malta?
Yes! I have created a whole packing guide to Malta which you can read here and you can also check out my packing list for Malta on Amazon here.
🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation while I’m in Malta?
I strongly recommend using Bookaway. You can book almost all transport in the major tourist destinations through them online. They don’t just cover buses they also cover shuttles, ferries, and private drivers.
🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours in Malta?
I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide. They have a lot of options!
👩⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?
I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out SafetyWing digital nomad insurance.
I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance here.
✈️ Any flight recommendations?
WayAWay offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise Skyscanner or Expedia are my go-to flight searching platforms.
📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?
I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read here. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.
With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using either Airhub or Alosim. Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.
🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?
The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.
🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?
I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack.
Author’s Bio
Mark is from Wolverhampton, England, and started travel blogging in August 2022 after deciding to combine his love of writing and traveling.
In 2013, he quit his day job and traveled the world solo for nine months. Since then, he has continued his travels whenever possible and has visited over 40 countries, mostly solo.
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