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Things to do in Malta

10 places worth the trip in Malta, grouped by what they are. Every guide explains what to see, the best time to go and the practical details, checked against official sources. Best time to visit Malta: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct.

Heritage in Malta

Aerial view of the walled hilltop city of Mdina and its cathedral above the Maltese countryside
Heritage
Mdina, Northern Region

Mdina

A small fortified city on a ridge in central Malta, Mdina was the island's capital until the knights arrived in 1530. Its quiet lanes, noble palaces and Baroque cathedral make it one of Malta's most atmospheric places to walk.

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Senglea's fortified peninsula seen from across the Grand Harbour, with its bastions, waterfront houses and the Gardjola watchtower
Heritage
Cospicua, South Eastern Region

The Three Cities - Birgu, Senglea, Cospicua

Birgu (Vittoriosa), Senglea (Isla) and Cospicua (Bormla) occupy the peninsulas and creeks across the Grand Harbour from Valletta. Older than the capital, they are full of fortifications, waterfront promenades and quiet residential lanes.

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Rock-cut chambers inside the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, Malta (historic photograph)
Heritage
Paola, South Eastern Region

Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum & Tarxien Temples

Carved into the rock beneath Paola, the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is a three-level prehistoric burial complex with red ochre paintings and strictly limited entry. The Tarxien Temples, a short walk away, add elaborately carved megalithic architecture.

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Upright limestone slabs and walls inside the Ġgantija temples, with yellow spring wildflowers in the foreground
Heritage
Xagħra, Gozo Region

Ġgantija Temples, Gozo

Built from massive limestone blocks around 3600 to 3200 BC, the twin Ġgantija temples on Gozo are part of the UNESCO-listed Megalithic Temples of Malta. Visits begin at an interpretation centre on Gozo's prehistory.

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Cities in Malta

Valletta skyline with the Carmelite Church dome and St Paul's spire across the harbour at sunset
City
Valletta, South Eastern Region

Valletta

Malta's walled capital, founded by the Knights of St John in 1566, packs some 320 historic monuments into a grid of honey-coloured streets above the Grand Harbour. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980.

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Colourful luzzu fishing boats in Marsaxlokk harbour, with waterfront café umbrellas and the parish church's twin towers behind
City
Marsaxlokk, Southern Region

Marsaxlokk

A harbour village where brightly painted luzzu fishing boats bob in front of a palm-lined promenade and a twin-towered parish church. On Sundays the quay fills with a lively market of fresh fish and local produce.

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Mosques & temples in Malta

The gilded nave of St John's Co-Cathedral, with painted vaults, carved side chapels and marble tomb slabs on the floor
Religious site
Valletta, South Eastern Region

St John's Co-Cathedral

Behind a plain, fortress-like façade, the former church of the Knights of St John hides a dazzling Baroque interior of carved gilded stone, painted vaults and marble tombstones, along with Caravaggio's Beheading of St John the Baptist.

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Beaches in Malta

Swimmers in the turquoise water of the Blue Lagoon on Comino, with rocky islets beyond
Beach
Comino, Gozo Region

Blue Lagoon, Comino

A sheltered channel of clear, shallow water over white sand between the small island of Comino and the islet of Cominotto. It is a classic day trip by boat from Malta or Gozo, and very busy in summer.

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Islands in Malta

Limestone sea cliffs and rocks at Dwejra Bay on the coast of Gozo
Island
Victoria, Gozo Region

Gozo

The second-largest island of the Maltese archipelago, Gozo is hillier, greener and slower-paced than Malta, with the walled Cittadella in Victoria, the Ġgantija temples and dramatic coastline. Ferries cross from Ċirkewwa in about 25 minutes.

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Viewpoints in Malta

A row of black cannons on the Saluting Battery terrace, overlooking the Grand Harbour and the fortified Three Cities
Viewpoint
Valletta, South Eastern Region

Upper Barrakka Gardens & Saluting Battery

Laid out in 1661 on top of a 16th-century bastion, the Upper Barrakka Gardens offer one of the finest panoramas in Malta, across the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities. Below, the Saluting Battery fires its guns daily at noon and 4 pm.

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Malta holiday packages

Valletta skyline with the Carmelite Church dome and St Paul's spire across the harbour at sunset
BeachCulture
Malta · 6 nights4★ Hotel

Malta & Gozo Island Break

  • Valletta walking tour
  • Blue Lagoon
  • Gozo jeep safari
Includes accommodation · private transfers · daily breakfast · guided sightseeing
Indicative from
$1,209 pp
Aerial view of the walled hilltop city of Mdina and its cathedral above the Maltese countryside
LuxuryCity break
Malta · 4 nights5★ Boutique

Valletta Boutique Luxury

  • Palazzo hotel
  • Mdina by night
  • Private harbour cruise
Includes accommodation · private transfers · daily breakfast · guided sightseeing
Indicative from
$1,559 pp
Malta travel overviewPlan a Malta trip

Malta travel guides