16 Best Things to Do in Malta for an Epic Island Escape
Looking for the best things to do in Malta? From wandering through ancient cities and discovering prehistoric temples to swimming in bright turquoise water, Malta packs a lot into a relatively small country. Add in colorful fishing villages, dramatic coastlines, and nearby islands to explore, and it’s easy to see why Malta deserves more than just a quick stopover.
Malta is made up of three main islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino. While the main island is home to the capital, historic sites, and many of the country’s most popular attractions, Gozo offers a quieter atmosphere and Comino is known for its incredible swimming spots. Each island has a different feel, so it’s worth making time for more than just Valletta and the Blue Lagoon.
After exploring the islands, we put together this guide to help you narrow down the best places to visit in Malta. Whether you’re interested in history, beaches, food, nature, or unique day trips, these are the experiences we recommend considering for your itinerary.
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Basic Info for Experiencing the Best Things to Do in Malta
Before diving into all of the best things to do in Malta, let’s go over a few of the basics to help you plan your trip.
🇲🇹 Why Visit Malta?
Malta is such a fun mix of history, beautiful coastline, and island life. You can spend the morning walking through a medieval city, the afternoon swimming in ridiculously clear water, and then end the day watching the sunset over the Mediterranean.
What makes Malta especially interesting is how much history is packed into such a small country. There are prehistoric temples, ancient cities, churches, fortifications, fishing villages, and archaeological sites all over the islands. Then you have Gozo and Comino, which give you a completely different experience from exploring Malta itself.
And if you’re not someone who wants to spend your entire vacation looking at historical sites, there is plenty else to do. You can spend your days at the beach, snorkeling, taking boat trips, exploring villages, trying Maltese food, or simply driving around the coast and stopping whenever you see somewhere beautiful. There are so many different ways to experience Malta, which is what makes it such a great destination.
⏳ How Many Days Should You Spend in Malta?
We’d recommend at least 5-7 days in Malta if you want to experience the main island while also making time for Gozo and Comino. You can see some of the highlights in a long weekend, but you’ll have to be much more selective about what you visit.
A week gives you enough time to explore places like Valletta and Mdina, visit some of the prehistoric temples, spend time at the beaches, and take separate trips to Gozo and Comino. You can also fit in some of Malta’s smaller coastal towns and leave room for a food tour, boat trip, or just a slower day.
And if you have longer, you definitely won’t run out of things to do. Malta may be small, but between the three islands, there are plenty of beaches, historical sites, villages, and coastal areas to keep you busy.
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The Best Things to Do in Malta
There are a lot of ways to experience Malta, and you definitely don’t need to spend your entire trip checking off museums and historical sites. From exploring the streets of Valletta to jumping into the Mediterranean, here are some of the best things to do in Malta to add to your itinerary.
👀 Explore Valletta
Valletta is Malta’s capital and the perfect place to start your trip. The city is compact enough to explore on foot, but there’s plenty packed into its narrow streets, including beautiful churches, historic buildings, viewpoints, cafés, and restaurants.
Make sure to visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral, walk through the Upper Barrakka Gardens, and spend some time around the Grand Harbour. We also recommend leaving some time to simply wander around Valletta instead of planning every minute. The limestone architecture and little side streets are a big part of the experience, and you could easily spend hours enjoying the city.
💡 A great way to explore Valletta and learn about the history is to take a free walking tour.
🚶🏻♀️ Wander Through Mdina
Mdina, also known as the Silent City, is a fortified medieval city sitting on a hill in the center of Malta. Its narrow streets, limestone buildings, and impressive walls make it completely different from the atmosphere in Valletta.
Take your time walking through the old city and make sure to look out from the walls for views across the Maltese countryside. You can also combine your visit with neighboring Rabat, which is home to several historical sites and makes it easy to spend several hours in this part of the island.
🌆 Discover the Three Cities
Across the Grand Harbour from Valletta are the Three Cities: Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua. This area has a long maritime and military history, and its waterfronts and old streets offer a different side of Malta than the capital.
Vittoriosa, also called Birgu, tends to be the main stop for visitors. Walk through the historic streets, check out the harbor, and visit Fort St. Angelo if you have time. You can then continue into Senglea and Cospicua for more views and historic architecture.
🏝️ Take a Trip to Gozo
A trip to Gozo is easily one of the best things to do in Malta if you have enough time. The island feels noticeably quieter and more rural than Malta, with small villages, beautiful coastlines, beaches, salt pans, and archaeological sites.
You can visit Gozo as a day trip, but staying overnight gives you more time to explore without constantly watching the clock for the ferry back to Malta. Some of the highlights to add to your list include:
Gozo is also a great place to slow down and enjoy Malta’s countryside and coastline without trying to cram another dozen attractions into your day.
🚤 Take a Day Trip to Comino
Comino is much smaller than Malta and Gozo, but a day trip here is another popular addition to a Malta itinerary. The island is best known for the Blue Lagoon, where the water is an incredible shade of turquoise.
Swimming and snorkeling are the main reasons people visit, although you can also explore some of Comino’s walking trails and coastline. Keep in mind that the Blue Lagoon gets extremely busy during the summer, so timing can make a huge difference.
If you want to actually enjoy the water rather than spend the day surrounded by crowds, consider arriving early or later in the afternoon. Another option is booking a boat trip that allows you to see more of Comino and stop at less crowded swimming areas.
🌊 Explore Malta’s Incredible Beaches
If you’re looking for the best things to do in Malta during the warmer months, spending time along the coast should absolutely be on your list. Malta has everything from wide sandy beaches to rocky swimming areas and natural pools.
Here are some of the best spots to check out:
For the most popular beaches, go earlier in the day during summer. Some of the smaller rocky swimming spots can also have limited space, so don’t expect to arrive at noon and easily find a place to spread out.
🌅 Catch the Sunrise or Sunset
With Malta surrounded by the Mediterranean, there are plenty of beautiful places to watch the sun come up or go down. Sunrise and sunset are also great ways to fit some scenery into your itinerary without spending half a day at another attraction.
For sunset, Dingli Cliffs are particularly impressive, while Valletta and Sliema offer beautiful views across the water. Gozo also has plenty of coastline where you can find a quieter spot away from the main tourist areas.
If you’re a photographer, check the direction the coastline faces before choosing your location. It can make a huge difference in whether you’re actually looking toward the sunset or watching the sky light up behind you.
🕍 Visit Malta’s Prehistoric Temples
Malta and Gozo are home to some incredibly old archaeological sites, and visiting the prehistoric temples is one of the most interesting things to do in Malta for anyone who wants to see a side of the islands that goes far beyond the Knights and medieval history.
Rather than visiting just one, you can build an entire day around several of these sites:
The Hypogeum is particularly different from the other sites because it is underground rather than an open-air temple. If you want to visit, plan ahead because the number of visitors allowed inside is limited.
💙 Visit the Blue Grotto
The Blue Grotto is located along Malta’s southern coast and is known for its dramatic limestone cliffs, sea caves, and bright blue water. There’s a viewpoint overlooking the coastline, while boat trips can take you closer to the caves when weather and sea conditions allow.
The area can be especially beautiful in the morning when the sunlight reaches the water. If you’re already exploring Malta’s southern coast, it’s easy to combine the Blue Grotto with the prehistoric temples at Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra.
🎣 Explore Marsaxlokk
Marsaxlokk is a colorful fishing village in southeastern Malta, and its harbor is filled with traditional luzzu boats painted in bright colors. The waterfront is lined with restaurants, making this a great place to stop for lunch or dinner while exploring the area.
Marsaxlokk is also known for its market, particularly on Sundays. If you visit on a market day, give yourself extra time to walk around before or after exploring the harbor.
🧂 Visit Malta’s Salt Pans
Salt has been harvested from Malta’s rocky coastline for centuries, and you can still see traditional salt pans carved directly into the limestone. The shallow pools create geometric patterns along the coast and make for some really interesting scenery.
The most famous salt pans are actually on Gozo, but there are also smaller salt-harvesting areas around Malta. If you’re visiting Gozo, make sure to add the salt pans to your itinerary.
Some of the pans are still used for salt production, so be respectful of the pools and avoid walking through them. You can get great views without disturbing the areas where salt is being harvested.
⛵️ Take a Boat Trip
Getting out onto the Mediterranean gives you a completely different perspective of Malta. Boat trips can take you along the coastline, through sea caves, to swimming spots, or around the islands.
There are plenty of options depending on what you’re looking for, including larger group cruises, smaller boats, private charters, and sunset trips. If swimming is your priority, look for a tour with multiple swimming stops rather than choosing based solely on the itinerary.
🏘️ Visit Popeye Village
Popeye Village was originally built as the film set for the 1980 movie Popeye, and the colorful wooden buildings are still standing along Anchor Bay. Today, the site operates as a themed attraction and is particularly recognizable from the water and the surrounding viewpoint.
Even if you have no interest in the movie, it can be a fun stop if you’re already exploring northern Malta. The colorful buildings and dramatic coastline also make it a popular photography spot.
🍝 Try Maltese Food
Trying Maltese food should definitely be part of your list of things to do in Malta. The cuisine has influences from the many cultures that have passed through the islands, and there are plenty of ways to experience it beyond sitting down at a restaurant.
If you’re a foodie, I’d definitely leave room in your itinerary for a food tour or cooking class rather than only planning restaurant meals. It gives you more context about what you’re eating and how Maltese cuisine developed.
🤿 Go Diving or Snorkeling
Malta’s clear Mediterranean water makes it a popular destination for diving and snorkeling. The islands have rocky reefs, caves, underwater formations, and shipwrecks to explore, with options for both beginners and experienced divers.
For snorkeling, you don’t necessarily need to book a tour. Many of Malta’s rocky swimming spots have clear enough water to see plenty of marine life close to shore. Just make sure you’re checking local conditions before heading into the water.
🕺 Explore Malta’s Nightlife
Malta has plenty going on after dark, whether you want cocktails and wine bars, live music, or a full night of partying. Valletta has a mix of bars and restaurants tucked into its historic streets, while St. Julian’s and Paceville are known for their larger nightlife scene and clubs.
If partying isn’t really your thing, Malta is still a great place to enjoy an evening. Grab dinner along the waterfront, find a rooftop bar, or spend the evening walking around Valletta after the daytime crowds have cleared out.
Final Tips for Visiting Malta & What’s Next
Malta may be small, but don’t underestimate how long it can take to get around. Traffic, narrow roads, and busy summer transportation can make journeys take longer than they look on a map. If you plan on visiting a lot of beaches and more remote attractions, having a car can make your itinerary much easier, although driving in Malta can take some getting used to.
For getting between the islands, ferries are the main option for Gozo, while boats and ferries operate to Comino. If you’re planning to visit popular attractions, check whether you need to reserve ahead of time, particularly for the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum and organized tours.
And finally, bring comfortable shoes, plenty of sun protection, and a reusable water bottle. A lot of the best things to do in Malta involve walking over limestone, climbing stairs, or spending time under the Mediterranean sun, so you’ll be much happier if you’re prepared for it.
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👀 What’s Next?
Now that you know all of the fun things to do in Malta, let’s help you discover more of the island! We already have a guide about how to get to Malta, but here are some other guides that will be coming up in the upcoming weeks:
⭐️ Things to do on Gozo Island
⛵️ Gozo Island travel guide
🏝️ Day trip to Comino Island
🚗 How to get around Malta
📖 Complete guide for planning a trip to Malta
There are so many incredible things to do in Malta, and we know you’re going to absolutely love this island! If you have any questions about anything, feel free to drop them in the comments below.
Ready to learn more about visiting the island? We have quite a few Malta travel guides coming up – but in the meantime, you can explore all of our other European travel guides. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to get all of our updates on articles, trips, and shop discounts..
Are you ready to start booking your trip to Malta? With Scratch Your Mapa Travel Planning we make it super easy, so you can adventure more and stress less. To learn more about how it works, take a look at some of our travel planning packages or book your one-on-one consultation with us.
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