Top Places To Visit in Malta & Gozo
Malta is the 10th smallest country in the world, but it is full of both natural and cultural attractions. Keep reading to hear about the very best places to visit in Malta!
My husband and I spent a week in this charming island nation and there is still so much more to see and do. So whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway or two weeks of fun, Malta will not disappoint.
This isn’t an exhaustive list, because that would be impossible. But these popular destinations will keep you busy for at least a week. I speak from experience: my husband and I went to all but two of these places ourselves.
Now let’s dive in to the beautiful and historic world of the Maltese archipelago!
This post may contain affiliate links and I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my disclosures.
Valletta, Capital of Malta
No trip to Malta would be complete without a visit to Valletta, the capital and cultural hub. Founded by the Knights of St. John in 1566, this city is full of lovely sea views and amazing historical sites.
Two highlights are St. John’s Co-Cathedral and the Grandmaster’s Palace. History lovers will also enjoy the superb National Museum of Archaeology (my husband and I spent hours there). And, of course, you must stroll down Republic Street and taste traditional Maltese pastries at Caffe Cordina.
Aside from its own charms, Valletta is a great choice for a home base during your time in Malta. You can easily get from the capital to anywhere on the islands of Malta and Gozo. We stayed at La Falconeria Hotel in central Valletta and it was wonderful.
Read my full post about Valletta here.
The Blue Grotto
Malta isn’t just historic: it has many beautiful natural attractions. One of tourists’ favorite places to visit in Malta is the Blue Grotto, a system of caves worn into the cliffs on the southeast coast of the main island.
I recommend that you start by admiring the Blue Grotto from above. There is a viewing platform on the top of a nearby cliff. Make sure you walk down the short, paved path to get the best view.
The lookout point is listed in Google Maps as “Blue Grotto Panoramic View Point.” Conveniently, the Panorama bus stop is right next to the viewing point, if you are taking Maltese public transportation.
READ NEXT: Tips for Visiting Malta: Lodging, Transportation, & More
After you have admired the gorgeous grotto and the Mediterranean from a distance, head down into the village of Wied iż-Żurrieq and take a boat tour through the caves themselves.
Boats depart from the Blue Grotto Boat Service and an adult ticket costs €8. Tours are cancelled in the case of inclement weather. For instance, there was too much wind on the day my husband and I were there, so we weren’t able to go on the water. To hear what it is like, you can read some enthusiastic reviews here on TripAdvisor.
But even if you stay on dry land, like we did, the Blue Grotto is worth a visit. Go in the morning, when the sunlight reflects off the water onto the sides of the caves. It’s beautiful!
Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra Megalithic Temples
If you have even the slightest interest in archaeology, then you simply must visit the megalithic temples at Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra. These enormous stone temples are over 4000 years old and were built during the Stone Age.
This means that the early peoples of Malta constructed massive buildings without the use of metal! When you see the size of some of the rocks, you will be very impressed.
And guess what? You can walk inside the temples themselves. Pamphlets and an audio tour will tell you about the sites and their builders. A single archaeological park contains Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra , so you can easily visit both temple complexes in one day and with a single ticket.
My husband and I visited a variety of temples on Malta and Gozo, and Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra were our favorites. They stand overlooking the Mediterranean, so the ancient ruins combine with the sea to produce a beautiful view.
The archaeological park is only a 20-minute walk (or one bus stop away) from the Blue Grotto, so I recommend combining the two attractions into a fun day trip.
Mdina & Rabat
Mdina
The former capital of Malta, Mdina, is known as the “Silent City” for reasons that are somewhat unclear. Perhaps it is because cars aren’t allowed inside the historic center – pedestrians only, unless you have a special permit.
The first city on the hilltop was built in the 8th century B.C.E. in the Punic Period. Mdina, as it survives today, is mostly medieval. As you wander the narrow streets you will feel like you have slipped into a movie.
Be sure to pop into the Cathedral of St. Paul and see the painting of St. Paul’s shipwreck in the half dome above the altar. Legend says that St. Paul spent three months in the area after his ship sunk en route to Rome.
While you’re in Mdina, go to eat a meal or get a snack at Fontanella Tea Garden. You can sit up on the city walls and enjoy delicious food with a view of the surrounding landscape. In my opinion, it is worth visiting Mdina just to eat at this restaurant.
I had the absolutely scrumptious ftira Maltija. This is a traditional sandwich with Maltese sausage, bean paste, cheeselets, and tomato paste. It was my favorite meal in Malta, and that’s saying something.
Ir-Rabat (Island of Malta)
Ir-Rabat, not to be confused with the other Rabat on Gozo, is the modern suburb of Mdina. Rabat is packed with yummy pastry shops and restaurants. It also hosts two of Heritage Malta’s sites: the Domus Romana and St. Paul’s Catacombs.
The Domus Romana contains the remains of an ancient Roman house as well as a small museum explaining what Roman life was like in Malta. You won’t need long here – maybe an hour – but it’s worth a visit. The site’s pride and glory is a well-preserved mosaic depicting two doves drinking water from a bowl.
St. Paul’s Catacombs were rather underwhelming for me. I had read rave reviews, but there was nothing special. The catacombs were cool in theory, but there wasn’t much interpretive information in the site itself. Basically, you just wander around tunnel after tunnel.
Since Rabat is literally right next to Mdina, I think it is worth taking some time to stroll around. But I would focus on Mdina itself!
Marsaxlokk
Marsaxlokk is a fishing village on the northeast coast of the island of Malta. Visit here for delicious seafood and to take a ride on a traditional Maltese fishing boat (a luzzu).
You can’t miss these eye-catching luzzijiet. The boats are painted in bright colors and the bow has a pair of eyes. These eyes are said to protect fishermen while they are out at sea.
My husband and I did not go to Marsaxlokk, since the water was pretty choppy when we visited in March. Not ideal for boating, alas. But this is the first place I will go if we make it back to Malta!
Victoria or Rabat (Island of Gozo)
No trip to Malta would be complete without a visit to the island of Gozo. And while you’re there, you should definitely visit Victoria, the largest city on the island, also called Rabat.
La Cittadella, the ancient citadel of Victoria, sits up on a hill which has been occupied since Phoenician and Roman times. The first settlers probably arrived over 3000 years ago, and then the current fortress was built in the 17th century.
Start at the Citadel Visitor Center, a small, interactive museum that tells the history of Victoria and Gozo more broadly. Then you can climb up (or take an elevator) to the Citadel itself.
When you visit La Cittadella, you will soon understand the attraction of the location. From the walls of the citadel you can see almost the entire island of Gozo – from the sea to the north to the sea to the south. The view is beautiful, and the height of the hill offers protection to those who live there.
Whatever you do, definitely go up on the walls and enjoy the panoramic view of Gozo. That was the highlight of our visit!
You can also enter the cathedral and various museums. For instance, the Old Prison, where the Knights of St. John kept prisoners, is cool (although tiny). Grand Master Jean de Valette, the namesake of Valletta, was an inmate there during his wild youth. You can look at the graffiti left by generations of prisoners.
If you are looking for somewhere to eat a meal, then I recommend It-Tokk Restaurant. It is located off Independence Square at the foot of the Citadel. We enjoyed a delicious Gozitan pizza here, and the menu has other traditional Maltese foods, too!
Ġgantija Megalithic Temples (Island of Gozo)
The Ġgantija Temples are one of those places that you simply must visit in Malta. The two stone temples date to between 3600 and 3200 BCE – that’s over 5000 years ago.
These enormous structures are older than both Stonehenge and the pyramids of Egypt. It’s no wonder that they are part of the Megalithic Temples of Malta UNESCO World Heritage site.
And you can walk inside them! Just like at Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, an interpretive path guides you through the two temples. You can also learn more about the site’s past at the Interpretation Centre (a small, but excellent, museum).
Ġgantija is only about a 10-minute drive from Victoria, so you can easily visit both places in the same day. There is a bus from Victoria to Ġgantija, but we took a Bolt since the bus schedule didn’t work well for us.
Note that the Ta’ Kola Windmill is only a few minutes’ walk from the temple complex. We didn’t have time to go here, but it sounds really cool!
Comino & the Blue Lagoon
So far I have talked about the island of Malta and the island of Gozo. Now it’s time to mention the third inhabited island in the Maltese archipelago: Comino. Comino’s famed Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular places to visit in Malta.
The Blue Lagoon is a bay known for its clear blue waters and its white beaches. The lagoon sits between Comino and the small neighboring island of Cominotto and it is a favorite spot for swimming and relaxation.
Visitors will also enjoy strolling around the rest of the island of Comino and admiring the historic buildings. The Blue Lagoon can get extremely crowded, so if you want some peace and quiet, you can head to one of the other beaches. St. Mary Bay and St. Nicholas Bay are two good options!
When my husband and I visited in March, we weren’t able to get to Comino. It was super windy the day we traveled to Gozo and the ferry to Comino wasn’t running. Something for us to do when we return to Malta!
Speaking of ferries, here’s some quick tips. You can get to the Blue Lagoon by public transportation: take the bus to Ċirkewwa (island of Malta) or to Mġarr (island of Gozo) and then take a ferry across to Comino. Or you can book a tour, such as this popular option on TripAdvisor.
Top Places To Visit in Malta: Final Thoughts
I hope that you now feel inspired to travel to Malta! I absolutely loved it, and I hope to return in the future. Malta impressed us with its historic, cultural, and natural attractions.
My favorite places to visit in Malta were Valletta and the Megalithic Temples, but that’s because I’m a history and archaeology nerd. Whether you crave a connection with nature, beach relaxation, or simply good food, you can find something to enjoy in Malta!
We did not have a car when we were in Malta, and we got around without any trouble via a combination of buses, ferries, and Bolt. Click here to read more about how to get around Malta!
YOU MAY ALSO LOVE:
