The Best Places to Visit in Malta – Island Hotspots to See

This guide to the best places to visit in Malta highlights all the main attractions that span the entire island, showing there’s a big adventure to be sought on this small island.

When you visit Malta, you’ll find a tiny landmass big on nature, centuries-old culture, and fascinating history. Wedged between southern Italy and the coast of North Africa, Malta is easily overlooked in favour of its popular neighbours, except you’ll find more to see, do and experience here than you first thought.

You can flit between beaches, adventure nature havens, historical landmarks, and cultural relics in a single day via a comprehensive public transport system on land and water, but where do you begin?

This Malta guide navigates you around the island, taking in the top attractions, viewpoints, walled cities, and culinary highlights across this 316-square-metre landmass, split into north and south for easy planning. 

A Brief History of Malta

The Arabs once occupied Malta for over 200 years before it became a part of the Roman Empire. It was later ceded to the Knights of St John for protection, who transformed it over 268 years with baroque architecture, palaces, churches, fortifications and aqueducts.

The Knights protected the island from the Ottoman Turks before it fell briefly to French rule with the arrival of Napoleon in 1798. Malta then called upon the British for assistance, becoming a part of the British Empire. However, its strategic location and alliance meant Malta suffered heavily during World War II – making it one of Europe’s most heavily bombed areas. 

Malta gained independence in 1964 and later joined the EU in 2004.

In short, Malta once adopted a Semitic language (which is still prevalent today), has elements of Italian culture and cuisine due to its proximity to Sicily, saw the birth of Christianity with the arrival of the Romans (the island has over 360 churches), changes to legal and education systems with the arrival of the French and vast changes in the way it was administered because of the British, alongside adopting English as the second official language.

Visiting Malta – Itinerary and Planning

Malta today is an island for those looking for a cultural trip. One that draws you into days of exploration and in a very accessible country to travel around and take in the major highlights, as you can see from the answers to some common questions about Malta below.

At the heart of tourism in Malta is the sheer variety of things to see, places to go, historical points of interest, attractions and viewpoints. The lesser-known corners of Malta can only be reached via a willingness for explorative travel. 

Where is Malta located?

The country of Malta is an archipelago of three islands in Europe, located in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily, Italy, and north of the African countries of Libya and Tunisia. The three islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino are all open for exploration. Locals live on Malta (the biggest island) and Gozo, with Comino, with just two residents, being a nature reserve known for its bird population. 

How big is the island of Malta?

Luckily Malta’s small size of around 316 square kilometres makes it all the more accessible to explore. Such a size is perfect for long coastal walks or a leisurely road trip.

How many days do I need for Malta sightseeing?

With neighbouring Gozo and Comino islands also topping the list of places in Malta to visit, you might need more than a long weekend for your trip to Malta. It deserves a lot more of your time, although a four-day trip will enable you to cover a lot of ground.

How long does it take to get from one side of Malta to the other?

In around one hour, you can cross the island of Malta in one direction by bus or car, covering a distance of around 27km long and 14.5km wide. As there is a lack of vast open spaces, the special thing is the changes in landscapes in that short time, where you will likely move from quiet communities and little bays to beaches and bustling small cities.

Getting Around Malta

Best Transportation in the Maltese Islands?

The Malta bus network is a prime option for most visitors, and there’s a great hop-on-hop-off tourist bus system where you can reach all the island’s main points.

However, with a car, the more avid island explorers can uncover more of magnificent Malta.

Ferries and Water Taxis in Malta

There’s a ferry system in Malta that connect Silema with Valletta and Valletta with the Three Cities of Malta. It costs €1.50 for a one-way journey and €2.80 for a return.

Motorised boat, Water Taxi services are also available, costing €2 for a single crossing to up to €10 for a Grand Harbour Tour or similar. 

Ferries to Gozo island leave from the northernmost point of Malta island, in the area of Cirkewwa. 

Malta Sightseeing Bus

Not everyone enjoys the hop-on hop-off bus services, but for some, it’s a more convenient means of getting around a destination at your own pace. Malta’s sightseeing buses are split into two routes – South Malta Route (which includes Valletta, The Three Cities,  Marsaxlokk Fishing Village, Hagar Qim & Mnajdra Temples and more) and the North Malta Route (including Mdina and Rabat, Mosta Church and Golden Bay, among other sites). You’ll need to start early to cover both as the buses don’t run into the evening. 

There is a similar sightseeing bus in Gozo, with 15 sightseeing stops. 

Malta Day Tours

Short on time and want to see the highlights with a local? Take a full-day tour of Malta and be guided around the must-see spots of the island, from villages and fortified cities to catacombs and clifftops. Tours run in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. 

Driving in Malta

To embark on a Malta road trip, you must be a great driver since Maltese roads can be tricky to navigate. Luckily for me, my chauffeur was a friend from the island, so I had my own local tour guide to show me around, get my bearings and understand the workings of the road (and Maltese drivers) better.

If you don’t want to drive, Bolt is the go-to ride order app on the island – I used it frequently on my recent visit. Drivers arrived quickly, and journeys were not overpriced. 

Is Malta Safe?

It is considered safe to travel in Malta, having had no known conflict activities or history of terrorist attacks. I felt safe and at ease in the secluded and hidden parts of Malta and the more bustling areas like St. Julian’s, where the worst thing you might see is a typical drunken outburst.

Where to Stay in Malta

Malta City Living

Valletta will likely be your main base or the first area you explore on Malta Island. One of the most wonderful things about Valletta is that you can experience the one dominant noble excellence of living by staying in a ‘Palazzo’ such as the Palazzo Prince d’Orange – a beautiful 17th-century apartment hotel where I stayed that’s right near to the harbour.

READ MORE: About Palazzo in Malta for further information.

Malta Beach Side

If you want to spend some days beachside, the Mellieha Bay and Sliema resort areas are considered top choices to find a base.

In the village of Mellieha, the Pergola Hotel & Spa is good value for money, just 15 minutes walk to the beach and with views to the islands of Gozo and Comino, as well as the surrounding bay.

In Sliema, check out the D Townhouse Boutique suites – a modern furnished less than 10 minutes from the beach and ferry terminal and a popular choice that quickly sells out.

Best Places to Visit in Malta  – In the South of the Island

My road trip expedition allowed me to pull together this Malta attractions guide with 20 of the best places to visit around the island, including some of Malta’s hidden places.

The Fortified City of Valletta

Between Europe and Africa, Malta’s strategic position made it a target for invaders over the centuries, and it’s why you’ll find walled citadels on the island – Valletta being the grandest of all.

Opulent Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and missing this magnificent walled city built by the Knights of St John is impossible. A true cultural and historical hub, Malta’s capital city of Valletta is exquisite in design, and it’s no wonder it was the European Capital of Culture 2018 and remains top of all the Malta sights.

Its navigable streets are lined with markets and complemented by manicured gardens. All around you are beautiful balconies and grand noble houses. The old city retains its fort, harbour, and historical structures like churches, theatres and the Grandmaster’s Palace.

A bustling café culture, al fresco dining options and reinvented boutique bars fill the gaps in between. This guide to Valletta goes into more detail about what to see and do there.

Valletta Tours

Take a three-hour walking tour of Valletta’s highlights with a local guide, or solve riddles in your own time while learning the history of the sites you uncover on this self-guided scavenger hunt city tour of Valletta. 

This three-hour walking tour includes a guided visit to St. John’s Cathedral – one of the greatest landmarks of the city. Adventure buffs can tour Valletta’s streets by segway, stopping at some of the city’s magnificent viewpoints. 

Get to know Valletta’s history while sampling Maltese cuisine on this street food and culture walking tour. 

The Three Cities of Malta

From Valletta, take a short and scenic ferry journey to the Three Cities of Malta – Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua. Malta’s fortified trio of cities south of the Grand Harbour were used as a base for the Knights of St. John (between 1530 and 1798) before Valletta was built as the main stronghold. 

Limited on time? The ‘Happy Train’ trundles around the highlights with historical commentary. It starts and ends at the Vittoriosa waterfront and costs €6. 

Vittoriosa

Vittoriosa, also known as Birgu, is the oldest of the three cities and where the Knights of St. John’s held their first commanding position. It holds historical significance as a place of refuge (alongside Mdina) during the Ottoman invasion of the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. You’ll notice it from afar by the grand Fort Sant Angelo. Wander the winding streets that cradle opulent architecture like the Maritime Museum and Inquisitor’s Palace, encased by the remains of defensive walls. 

Senglea

Senglea, also known as Isla, is located on the peninsula opposite Vittoriosa and was also built by the Knights, who named it after their Grand Master, Claude de la Sengle. See the fortifications of Senglea near the bottom of the peninsula and head to the Gardjola at the tip of the inlet to get to a gorgeous viewpoint of Valletta and the port.

Cospicua

Cospicua, also known as Bormla, is the largest of the Three Cities of Malta but is more of a residential area pocketed with important historic buildings, including St. Helen’s Gate, the Church of the Immaculate Conception and the fortifications known as The Cottonera Lines. 

The Three Villages of Malta

Balzan, Attard, and Lija form “The Three Villages” of Malta, which sit within the centre of the island. While not overly abundant on sites, this is a quiet and picturesque area to drive through, lined with classical structures and the San Anton Palace and Gardens, which accommodates the Presidential Palace to this day.

Medieval Mdina – “The Silent City”

The oldest and first capital of Malta, Mdina’s tiny space is chock full of architectural splendour, which begins at the grandiose Mdina Gate. Its silent city namesake comes from the period of the arrival of the Knights of St John when its inhabitants deserted it for the newly instated capital of Vittoriosa.

The nickname doesn’t refer to it being quiet today. It’s crowded – not just for those coming to admire its beauty but also because it was a filming location for Game of Thrones.

You can take a horse-drawn carriage through Mdina, but it’s wholly navigable by walking. Venture into the warren of side streets filled with courtyard restaurants, shops, and museums surrounding squares filled with exquisitely detailed Palazzos and landmarks like the St. Paul’s Cathedral from 1702, or take a walking tour of Mdina and Rabat with a local guide for deeper historical context. 

Mdina is also home to the best chocolate cake on the island, which can be found at the Fontanella Tea Gardens – be sure to get a good seat to secure a sweeping view of the island.

Arab Rabat for the Best Pastizzi in Malta

Another architecturally rich town that was once a suburb of old Mdina is Rabat. It’s also where you can find the Catacombs of St Paul – a slightly spooky but fascinating underground explorer’s haven.

Rabat is also home to the best pastizzi in Malta. Pastizzi are delicious cheese and pea-filled pastries and cost as little as 50 cents apiece. Look out for ‘Crystal Palace’ next to the car park between Mdina and Rabat, just across from the Roman Villa – it used to be a local secret, but not anymore. 

The Brewhouse – The Farson’s Brewery Experience

Malta’s latest experience is The Brewhouse. The former Farson’s landmark brewery site has been recently transformed into a cultural space and state-of-the-art museum detailing the history of Malta’s Cisk (pronounced ‘chisk’) beer brand and the island’s industrial heritage. End your exhibition immersion on the rooftop – it’s home to Malta’s very first Cisk-themed bar, where you can order a fresh pint on tap and enjoy it with a panoramic backdrop of the island. A multi-venue space, there’s also a bistro and gastropub onsite.

Dingli Cliffs Hiking Hotspot

One of the best viewpoints on Malta is from the Dingli Cliffs. The best way to experience the panorama is on wheels, so hire a Segway and roll along the stunning coastline. This is also a top hiking spot for the ramblers on the island.

Girgenti Olive Groves and Vineyards

Between the coastline and the city of Siggiewi is an unspoiled patch of countryside called Girgenti, where palatial limestone structures and streets are swapped for farmhouses and valley-like roads. Its landmark is the historical Girgenti Palace, built in 1625 as the summer residence of the Catholic Malta Inquisitors and, later, the British Lieutenant Governors.

A blanket of soft rolling wild green resembling Gozo’s landscape, visit the olive groves, where you book an experience with Karlito’s Way to taste the local olive oil batch and learn how to make a Maltese Ftira – a sourdough bread layered with tasty toppings and cooked in a wood-fired oven. Just don’t call it pizza! Combine your time here with a wine tasting at nearby Ta’ Betta Wine Estates – a four-hectare vineyard specialising in fine wines.

Ghar Lapsi for Maltese Nature

You’ll soon find the spot on your journey along the Dingli Cliffs where you can capture the view of Filfa Island in the distance, tour the temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra, take a boat trip out to the Blue Lagoon, or, if you are lucky, find the local hideaway and hidden beauty of Ghar Lapsi.

Zebbug Local Maltese Village

If you are keen to see Malta’s local life at its best, Zebbug is a good insight into a secluded area of Malta that visitors never frequent.  For a real village atmosphere, visit the town in the first week of June when the feast dedicated to St. Philip is underway and traditional music, food and fireworks are in full swing.

Marsaxlokk Fishing Village

This pretty fishing village of Marsaxlokk is great just to come and look at the traditional boats that fill the water. And the coffee is VERY cheap. Overall, a peaceful hangout with a colourful view of the island’s south.

Sliema, But Only for the View

I wasn’t a fan of Sliema – Malta’s modern island addition that somewhat ruins its classic skyline. However, staying away completely means missing out on Tignepoint – a breathtaking view of Valletta which glistens at sunset.

Sliema also has a convenient ferry port for full-day sailing trips to Camino Island and the Blue Lagoon.

Mosta Dome – The Beloved Landmark

Mosta Dome is the fourth-largest unsupported dome in the World, known for surviving an air raid in 1942 where two bombs bounced off the dome, and another went through, hit the statue of Jesus, landed amongst the congregation and did not explode. A local miracle and a much-loved landmark.

What to See in Malta – On the North of the Island

Thought southern Mata was packing with sights? It’s time to head to the North to see even more. 

Paceville

Pumping Paceville, with its bars, nightclubs and restaurants, marks the St Julian’s Bay area as the place to be when your day of sightseeing ends. It’s young, fun, and verging on the side of tacky (in parts), but consider a pub crawl and join a group to visit a few bars and nightclubs. 

Those who spend their holidays in St Julian’s Bay may not necessarily be here for the Malta culture. Still, you too might have to admit liking it just a little, especially if you score a restaurant balcony with a harbour view.

Bugibba and Qawra Village

Once farmer towns and fisherman’s villages, Bugibba and Qawra are now busy tourist hotspots on the island. However, the promenade offers a lovely walk during the summer evenings, where you can capture some beautiful shots of the surrounding vista.

Mistra Bay

You need to detour off the main road to reach Mistra bay; once you pass Xemxija and enter the valley, be sure to follow the small signs signalling the winding roads to Mistra Bay, where you will gain access to what is more of a local hangout.

For the more adventurous out there, following the coastline northbound by foot allows you to peer into a once-fortified turret, capture close-up shots of St. Paul’s Island and follow one of the many hiking trails in the area.

Gnejna Bay Local Beach

Gnejna Bay is small, cosy and out of the way, although when I arrived here, it was very windy, and the waves were choppy. However, catch this area on a good day, and you’ll soon see it’s a secluded spot to escape the crowds and hang out with the locals.

Joe, the resident car park attendant, has been working at the beach for roughly 20 years and is a great source of insider information about the area.

Ghajn Tuffieha Natural Beauty – Riviera Bay

Also known as Riviera Bay, the sandy cove at Ghajn Tuffieha will lure you in as soon as you see it from up high. Don’t be put off by the many steps leading down to its sandy shores because this area is just too gorgeous to miss and has one of the best beaches in Malta. Singita Miracle Beach bar offers music and cultural arts entertainment here. 

Golden Bay Viewpoint

Head to one of the viewpoint restaurants and enjoy the view. It’s that simple in Malta. Golden Bay attracts the younger crowd during the summer months, and it tends to be the busiest of the four mentioned beaches.

Mellieha Bay Beach Time

Add Mellieha Bay to your list if you are not bored with beaches and bays.  Perfect to try out water sports and work on the tan, there are half a dozen amazing ice cream vendors here too.

The Red Tower Area Secluded Viewpoint

Looking over the entire north end of Malta, the Red Tower provides 360 views across both land and sea. Set up as part of the defence strategy of the islands, it is open on certain days of the year (check the Heritage Malta website regularly), and access to the Red Tower is as simple as the rest of Malta – once you see it, you can drive straight to it.

A Little Chapel With a Difference

Situated on the opposite side of the Red Tower, this area known as L-Ahrax is commonly used for cliff camping since the area provides a stunning view over Mellieha Bay to one side and Comino on the other. Following the road to the tip, you’ll come across a little chapel – this mix of culture and scenic beauty gives Malta its unique persona.

Is Malta Worth Visiting?

Before my Malta trip was planned, I didn’t know much about it beyond the British connections. I soon saw that Malta travel is more than its main draw, Valletta (which is incredible), but about a small island of sizable variety – in landscape, architecture, history, culture, and cuisine.

One end of the island differs from the next, and you can switch from a walled city to a tiny village and from a bustling beach to a secluded cove within minutes. It doesn’t get more diverse than that, and that’s not even considering Malta’s sister islands of Gozo and Comino.

I may have been invited by Malta Tourism and the main Maltese airline, Air Malta, but all opinions remain my own. I spent extra time living with a local friend and exploring the island in order to gather further information for this article.