A Malta itinerary for a short break
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This small Mediterranean nation has lots to offer visitors for a short break. Whether it’s exploring the beautiful old towns, dining on mouthwatering seafood or swimming in the azure waters surrounding it.
We spent 5 days exploring the island which was a good amount of time for some relaxing by the pool as well as checking out some of the sights.
We’ve put together ideas for your Malta itinerary to make the most of your time there.
When is the best time of year to visit Malta?
We visited in August, which to be honest for us was VERY hot. Fine if you want to spend your days swimming or lazing around but not ideal really for getting out and exploring.
In my opinion, the ideal time of year to visit would be either Spring or early Autumn. May and September are probably the best months temperature-wise.
The weather is still warm enough to swim without getting cold but not so hot to prohibit sightseeing.
Having said that, Malta can be a year-round destination.
Where to stay for your Malta Itinerary
There are numerous resort areas around the island and it is very much personal choice as to which area might suit your family best.
We stayed in St Julian’s, which is an area just North West of Valletta. This area is full of restaurants and bars within easy walking distance. There is also a small sandy beach at nearby Balluta bay.
We stayed at the Hilton hotel, which was a great choice for our family.
There are four different swimming pools and we never had an issue getting a pool-side sunbed. It was also within easy walking distance of lots of restaurants and bars in St Julians and Balluta bay.
Neighbouring Sliema has a similar vibe and you can also catch a ferry from there across the water to the old town of Valletta.
Other popular areas for families are Mellieha, in the north of the island which has one of the few sandy beaches in Malta. We’ve put together more ideas of where to stay here.
Getting around for your Malta Itinerary
Usually we like to hire a car on holiday so that we can be independent in getting to wherever we want to go.
We didn’t get a car for this trip since it was meant to be mostly about relaxing. There are buses that go between most of the towns on the island, although these can often take a while.
Traffic, particularly around Valletta can also be a problem. Around Valletta there are ferries that shuttle across the water to both Sliema and Birgu, part of the three cities.
We mostly got around by taxi or ecab. E-cab is the Maltese equivalent of Uber, and is pretty easy to use by just downloading the app to your phone.
If you would like to tick off a few stops in one day without worrying about how to get around a hop on hop off bus tour is a good option.
There are two routes; one exploring the North of the island and one the South. Once you have purchased your ticket you can get on and off the bus throughout the day as much as you would like.
What to include in your Malta Itinerary
Here are the places to visit in Malta that we enjoyed most.
1. Valletta
No trip to Malta is complete without a visit to the capital and UNESCO world heritage site, Valletta.
Crowned by domes and spires and surrounded by sturdy city walls, Valletta enjoys a unique position on a promontory.
Wandering through the cobbled streets, rising and falling like a roller coaster, can in itself while away a few hours. Especially when you pause in pavement cafes to watch the world go by while enjoying delicious ice creams or snacks.
A city tour is often a great way to really get your bearings and get some top tips from the locals. We made our own city tour armed with a guidebook and a map!
Not to be missed in Valletta:
These were our Valletta highlights.
Upper Barrakka Gardens
These small but perfectly formed gardens are above the cruise port and close to the main city gates.
It’s a beautiful place for a wander or to take in the views across to the three cities. Try to time your visit for the firing of the canons from the saluting battery directly below the gardens.
These are usually fired at 12pm and 4pm each day.
St John’s Cathedral
This cathedral is a key landmark in central Valletta. It is definitely worth paying the entry fee to go and look at the exquisite interior.
City Gates
Valletta’s city gates are most likely where you will enter the historic centre if you are arriving by land.
In this area you will also find the Maltese parliament building and freedom square.
The Grand Master’s Palace
This impressive building stands proud over St George’s Square. Visitors can go inside to gawk at the grandeur of the state rooms.
For further details and more about our own Valletta day tour have a look at our other post on this.
2. Mdina
Situated in the centre of the island, this stunning town was once the capital of Malta.
We took a taxi there from our hotel in St Julians but it is also well connected with buses from around the island.
Due to it’s central location it shouldn’t take too long to get there from wherever you are staying and should definitely be on your Malta itinerary.
Rabat, the neighbouring town, is the modern workday town now while Mdina remains a small time capsule of a city.
Encircled with robust city walls it is mostly pedestrianised so easy to explore on foot. It is packed with winding alleyways which our children loved exploring.
It is difficult to get truly lost in old town Mdina because of the small size. You will most likely end up back where you started at some point.
Some of the bastions also provide awesome views all the way out to the coast.
Top sights in Mdina
You may enjoy simply wandering through the honey-hued streets and soaking up the atmosphere. Another way to get around in this medieval citadel is by horse and cart.
We usually avoid these things aimed at tourists but our children were desperate for a ride so we conceded. It was actually a lovely way to get around the city.
The smiles erupting their faces definitely made it worth the money as well.
However you are getting around looking out for the following sites:
St Paul’s cathedral
Topped by an elegant dome, you can’t miss this beautiful building in the main square of Mdina. Find up-to-date information on opening times and prices on the website if you would like to go in.
Cathedral entry also includes entrance to the museum housed in the beautiful baroque building next door.
Palazzo Vilhenna
Now housing the natural history museum, you can’t miss this stunning building when you enter the old town of Mdina. We didn’t go inside but it’s worth taking a moment to admire the building’s facade and pretty courtyard.
Palazzo Falson
One of the oldest buildings in Mdina, look out for this historic building. It houses a museum, but children under 6 are not permitted entry so we couldn’t go in.
City gates and walls
You’ll enter the city through the gates so can’t miss them. The walls encircling the citadel make great view points out over the surrounding island.
Within our Malta Itinerary, Mdina was a half day trip where we went for a few hours and had a lovely lunch before returning to our hotel to relax by the pool.
3. Marsaxlokk
This pretty fishing village in the south of the island is THE place to go for sensational seafood.
Our family are united in our love of seafood meaning that we had to make the trip there to explore and enjoy a fish supper!
We slotted it in to our Malta Itinerary after a lazy day by the pool as a late afternoon outing combined with dinner.
Getting to Marsaxlokk
To get there we got an e-cab from our hotel in St Julian’s, which took around 20 minutes.
It is a small fishing town so rather than go for a whole day we got there for late afternoon / early evening to enjoy a wander and drink before dinner.
Exploring Marsaxlokk
With directions from our friendly cab driver we walked along the harbour to find a small playground for the kids to let loose.
To get there when facing the water walk towards your left, past the tourist information centre. It’s always great to be able to find a playground for little ones to have a run around and play.
Even better, this one is fully fenced and has a small bar next to it for a drink!
After walking back towards the main harbour we admired the colourful fishing boats bobbing in the Mediterranean. Look out for the fisherman sculpture, which our children loved.
By early evening the restaurants that line the road across from the harbour begin to set up their tables harbourside.
The only problem is that there is so much choice! It is a perfect setting for dinner watching the colourful, traditional boats bobbing up and down in the water.
Around Marsaxlokk
Nearby St Peter’s pool is on my to-do list for our next visit to Malta. It looks like a perfect swim spot tucked away on nearby Delimara point.
4. Explore Malta’s Megalithic Temples
Malta is home to an abundance of historic temples. Six of these ancient Megalithic temples are now a world heritage site.
The most popular temples to visit are Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, which are located close to one another in the South of Malta. The dramatic hilltop location adds to the charm of a visit here.
A hire car or taxi is the easiest way to visit Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, as they are not easily served by public transport.
If you would like to see a temple closer to Valletta, Tarxien temple is much closer and can be accessed by bus from Valletta, Sliema or St Julians.
5. Take a boat trip around Comino
Comino is the small island that lies between the larger islands of Malta and Gozo. It is mostly uninhabited apart from the boat loads of tourists that come to marvel at the pristine waters of it’s blue lagoon.
The azure waters are just perfect, but with such perfection comes the curse of boatloads of tourists.
It’s hard to complain about tourists when you are one, but it can ruin an experience when you have to share it with hoards of other people.
To try and protect the deliacate ecosystem, the Maltese government have recently brought in a pass system for visitors which limits the number at any one time.
These need to be bought online in advance, in specific time slots.
To get there, you will need to take a boat. This could be a ferry from Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal, in the North of Malta or a popular option is a boat tour which also allows a look around other parts of the island of Comino.
6. Explore the Three Cities
In Malta the three cities refers to the towns of Vittoriosa (Birgu), Senglea (Isla), and Cospicua (Bormla), which occupy three peninsulas across the Grand Harbour from Valletta.
These fortified towns make an excellent day trip, offering meandering ancient streets and views back over Valletta’s old town.
It’s quieter than Valletta so a good place to get a feel for more local Maltese life. The easiest way to get there is by ferry from Valletta, offering a good chance to see the cities from the water as well.
We loved our short break in Malta with kids. If you are there for longer there are plenty more areas and attractions to discover.
The island of Gozo is waiting for us to discover on our next visit too. Please let us know where else should be one our list next time we are in Malta with kids.
Is the tap water safe to drink in Malta?
Yes, we drank the tap water througout our stay in Malta. It meets all EU standards so is perfectly safe to drink.
Is Malta stroller friendly?
On the whole, yes there are many stroller friendly promenades and streets, particularly around Sliema and St Julians.
Some of the smaller streets in the three cities, Valletta or Mdina are cobbled and uneven. For this reason a lightweight stroller is probably best.
Does Malta have sandy beaches?
Malta does have some sandy beaches but much of the coastline is rocky.
Golden Bay and Mellieħa Bay (Għadira) are both in the North of the main island. On Gozo there are more sandy beaches which tend to have a reddish hue.
