Things to Do in Malta: A Guide by Interest

Malta is small enough that almost nothing is far away, yet it holds more than most visitors can fit into one trip. The Republic of Malta is three inhabited islands: Malta itself, Gozo to the northwest and tiny Comino between them. UNESCO lists three World Heritage properties here, the City of Valletta, the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum and the Megalithic Temples of Malta, and the sea around the islands is clear enough to make diving and snorkelling a main reason to come. This guide groups the best things to do by interest, so you can build days around what you actually enjoy. Every item links to its own page with practical details.

History and the prehistoric temples

Malta's prehistoric monuments are the islands' most unusual draw. The Megalithic Temples of Malta were inscribed on the UNESCO list in 1980 and extended in 1992, and several of the component sites can be visited in a day or two.

Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum in Paola is an underground burial complex cut into limestone on three levels. Heritage Malta says it was in use between 4000 BC and 1500 BC. Only a small group enters at a time, so tickets sell out well ahead: book as soon as your dates are fixed. Children under six are not admitted. As of November 2026, Heritage Malta also lists a closure from 18 to 24 January 2027.
Tarxien Temples are a few minutes from the Hypogeum and pair well with it on the same morning.
Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra sit on the southern cliffs above the sea, linked by a short path. Combine them with the boat trip into the Blue Grotto just along the coast.
Ġgantija Temples on Gozo are the reason many history fans cross on the ferry.
The National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta holds many of the finds from these sites and is the best place to start if you want context before visiting them.

Later history is everywhere too. In Rabat, the St Paul's Catacombs and the Domus Romana cover the Roman and early Christian centuries, while the walled hilltop of Mdina next door is a medieval town where you can visit St Paul's Cathedral.

Valletta and the Grand Harbour

Valletta is a compact walled capital built by the Knights of St John, and the whole city is a World Heritage property. Allow at least a full day to explore on foot.

St John's Co-Cathedral is the headline interior: plain outside, gilded and painted inside.
The Grandmaster's Palace was the seat of the Knights' Grand Masters.
Upper Barrakka Gardens give the classic view across the Three Cities and the harbour.
Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum guard the tip of the peninsula, with a museum covering Malta's military history.

Across the water, Birgu (Vittoriosa) has Fort St Angelo and the Inquisitor's Palace. Marsamxetto Steamferry Services operates ferries from Valletta to the Three Cities and to Sliema, avoiding road traffic. To see all the creeks and fortifications from sea level, take one of the Grand Harbour cruises. Valletta also hosts several of the year's biggest events, including Notte Bianca, the Malta International Fireworks Festival and the start of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, while Birgu has its own candlelit Birgufest.

Sea, beaches and diving

Malta's coastline is mostly rock, so the sandy beaches are precious and busy in summer. The best ones are in the north and northwest of Malta island.

Golden Bay and its neighbour Għajn Tuffieħa Bay face west, which makes them the place for a sunset swim.
Mellieħa Bay is a long sandy bay, the easiest choice for families.
Paradise Bay and Armier Bay are at the northern tip, close to the Gozo ferry.
In the south, St Peter's Pool is a natural rock pool on the Delimara headland, where people swim from flat limestone ledges.

Underwater, Malta is a serious destination. Scuba diving covers wrecks, caves and reefs around all three islands, and snorkelling is another way to explore rocky coves when sea conditions are suitable. On the surface, try sea kayaking along the cliffs, stand-up paddleboarding in calmer bays, or a day out on the water through sailing and yacht charters. For a full comparison of swimming spots, see our guide to the best beaches in Malta.

Gozo and Comino

Gozo is greener, quieter and slower than Malta, and it deserves more than a rushed day trip if you can spare it. The Gozo Channel car ferry from Ċirkewwa to Mġarr takes about 25 minutes, and a fast ferry runs from Valletta.

The Cittadella crowns Victoria, the island's main town, with walls you can walk around for views across the whole island.
Dwejra Bay and the Inland Sea on the west coast are a striking stretch of cliffs and sea caves.
Ta' Pinu Basilica stands alone in open countryside near Għarb and is a major place of pilgrimage.
Ramla Bay is the red-sand beach on Gozo's north coast; Xlendi Bay and Mġarr ix-Xini are narrow inlets good for swimming and snorkelling.
Gozo's quiet back roads make cycling in Gozo a good way to link villages.

Comino is almost uninhabited. Its Blue Lagoon is a popular swimming spot and gets very crowded in summer. Since May 2025, visitors arriving by boat who wish to go ashore at the Blue Lagoon have needed a free online booking for one of three daily time slots, with numbers capped at any one time. Check the current rules before you go, then pick one of the Comino boat trips. Our Comino and Blue Lagoon guide and Gozo travel guide go into more detail.

Food and drink

Maltese food borrows from Sicily, North Africa and Britain and adds its own staples. Start with pastizzi, flaky pastries filled with ricotta or peas, sold from small shops and kiosks across the islands. For lunch, a ftira or hobż biż-żejt, bread rubbed with tomato and topped with tuna, capers and olives, is the classic choice. A traditional dish is stuffat tal-fenek, slow-cooked rabbit.

Other dishes worth ordering include lampuki pie made with dolphin fish in season, aljotta fish soup, timpana, and bigilla, a bean dip. On Gozo, look for ġbejniet, small sheep's cheeses. Finish with imqaret. In Marsaxlokk, Visit Malta describes the Sunday fish market as a window on a traditional industry, and the harbour is lined with fish restaurants. To go deeper, book one of the food tours and cooking classes or a wine tasting of local grape varieties.

Walks and the outdoors

Malta is best walked outside the hot months. Coastal walking and hiking routes follow the cliffs on all three islands. Good places to start:

Dingli Cliffs, the high southwestern edge of Malta, for a coastal walk.
Majjistral Nature and History Park, the coastal strip between Golden Bay and Anchor Bay.
Buskett Gardens, a wooded valley below Dingli and the setting for the Mnarja festival on 29 June.
Xrobb l-Għaġin Nature Park on the Delimara peninsula near Marsaxlokk.
The Red Tower on the ridge above Mellieħa, a short climb with views towards Gozo.

Birdwatchers should look at the Għadira Nature Reserve behind Mellieħa Bay and the Simar Nature Reserve at Xemxija, both linked to birdwatching trips. Climbers will find sea cliffs and crags covered on our rock climbing page.

With children

Malta is easy with children: distances are short and many sights are compact. Ideas that work for most ages:

Popeye Village, a film set turned family attraction, overlooking Anchor Bay near Mellieħa.
The Malta National Aquarium in Qawra, a good half day in any weather.
Beach days at Mellieħa Bay, Pretty Bay at Birżebbuġa and the Bugibba Perched Beach, checking sea conditions and access before swimming.
Forts with ramparts and cannon, especially Fort St Elmo in Valletta.
Film location tours for older children who know the films and series shot on the islands.

Note that the Hypogeum does not admit children under six, so plan that visit for when someone can stay outside with the youngest.

Rainy days

Rain is rare in summer but does come in the cooler months, usually in short bursts. Indoor options are plentiful:

Valletta's museums: the National Museum of Archaeology, the National War Museum at Fort St Elmo and the Grandmaster's Palace.
St John's Co-Cathedral, which can easily take a couple of hours with the audio guide.
The Mosta Rotunda, a vast domed church in the middle of Malta.
The Hypogeum, the catacombs in Rabat and the Inquisitor's Palace in Birgu.
The aquarium in Qawra.

For what the weather is really like month by month, see our Malta weather page and the guide to Malta in winter.

Putting it together

For a first trip, three days covers Valletta, the temples and one beach day; five to seven days lets you add Gozo and Comino without rushing. Our ready-made 3-day, 5-day and 7-day itineraries turn the ideas above into day plans, and the getting around Malta guide covers buses, ferries and driving. If you are timing a trip around festivals, browse the events calendar and our best time to visit Malta guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the one thing not to miss in Malta?

For most visitors it is Valletta: the walled capital is a UNESCO World Heritage property and holds St John's Co-Cathedral, the Upper Barrakka Gardens and Fort St Elmo within walking distance. If prehistory interests you, the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is the rarest experience on the islands, but tickets are limited and need booking well ahead.

Do I need to book the Hypogeum in advance?

Yes. Heritage Malta describes it as a highly popular attraction and strongly recommends booking early, because only a small group enters at a time. A limited number of last-minute tickets may go on sale the day before at a higher price. Children under six are not admitted.

Is Gozo worth visiting on a short trip?

Yes, even for a day. The Gozo Channel ferry from Ċirkewwa to Mġarr takes about 25 minutes, and in one day you can see the Cittadella in Victoria, the Ġgantija Temples and a beach such as Ramla Bay. If you have five days or more, staying a night or two on Gozo lets you see it at a slower pace.

Do I need to book to visit the Blue Lagoon on Comino?

Visitors arriving by boat who wish to go ashore at the Blue Lagoon have needed a free online booking since May 2025, choosing one of three daily time slots, and access without a valid booking may lead to a fine. Rules can change between seasons, so check the official booking site before you travel.

What can I do in Malta when it rains?

Head indoors to Valletta's museums, including the National Museum of Archaeology and the National War Museum at Fort St Elmo, or spend a couple of hours in St John's Co-Cathedral. The Mosta Rotunda, the catacombs in Rabat, the Inquisitor's Palace in Birgu and the national aquarium in Qawra are other good choices.

What is there for children to do in Malta?

Popeye Village near Mellieħa and the Malta National Aquarium in Qawra are the obvious family days out. Shallow sandy beaches such as Mellieħa Bay and Pretty Bay suit younger swimmers, and Valletta's forts are fun to explore. Allow for traffic when planning journeys between them.

Which Maltese food should I try first?

Start with pastizzi, the ricotta or pea pastries sold across the islands, and a ftira for lunch. For dinner, rabbit stew (stuffat tal-fenek) is a traditional choice. On Gozo, try the small local cheeses called ġbejniet.