Valletta is one of the Mediterranean's great small capitals — a fortified city built by the Knights of St John, packed into a peninsula above the magnificent Grand Harbour, with a Caravaggio masterpiece, baroque streets and golden limestone everywhere. It's tiny and walkable, and the springboard to the rest of Malta and Gozo. This is our shortlist of what's worth booking in the city and across the islands.
Live availability and prices from GetYourGuide, sorted by what travellers actually rate. The harbour cruises, Mdina trips and Gozo and Blue Grotto tours are the headline bookings.
Malta is one of Europe's sunniest spots. Spring and autumn are ideal; summer is hot and busy; winter is mild and among the warmest in Europe.
The non-activity essentials — same partners we use ourselves.
Coverage that follows you globally — medical, evacuation, lost baggage. Subscription-style, cancel anytime. Sensible for longer European trips without strong card cover.
Pre-booked transfer from Malta International (MLA), ~15 min to Valletta. The island is small, so transfers are quick — a fixed-price car is simplest with luggage.
Malta or Europe-wide data plans you install before you fly. No SIM swapping, no roaming charges, working the moment you land. One plan can cover multiple EU countries.
Compare rental providers across Malta. Free cancellation on most. Malta is small but a car helps reach the quieter coves and the south; note the British-style left-hand driving. Buses are cheap if you'd rather not.
Connecting from cafés or hotel WiFi? Use NordVPN to keep banking and email private on public networks.
One day for Valletta itself — it's compact and walkable — but three to four for the islands: add Mdina and Rabat, the Blue Grotto and the south, the Three Cities across the harbour, and a day trip to Gozo. Malta packs a lot into a small space, so a long weekend or more works well.
St John's Co-Cathedral — a plain exterior hiding a staggering baroque interior and Caravaggio's largest work, The Beheading of St John the Baptist, his only signed painting. Pair it with the Upper Barrakka Gardens' view over the Grand Harbour and a wander through the Knights' fortified streets.
Yes — Malta's smaller sister island is greener, quieter and more rural, with the Ġgantija temples (older than the pyramids), the citadel at Victoria, and excellent swimming and diving. It's a short ferry from the north of Malta, and a day trip gives you a taste, though an overnight lets you enjoy its slower pace.
Yes — English is an official language alongside Maltese, a legacy of British rule, and it's spoken universally. That, plus the left-hand driving, the familiar plug sockets and the sunshine, makes Malta one of the easiest Mediterranean destinations for English-speaking visitors.
April to June and September to October — warm, sunny and less crowded, with the sea swimmable. July and August are hot, dry and busy (though the village festa season is colourful). Winter is mild and among the warmest in Europe, pleasant for sightseeing if too cool for the beach.
We use cookies to improve user experience. Choose what cookie categories you allow us to use. You can read more about our Cookie Policy by clicking on Cookie Policy below.
These cookies enable strictly necessary cookies for security, language support and verification of identity. These cookies can’t be disabled.
These cookies collect data to remember choices users make to improve and give a better user experience. Disabling can cause some parts of the site to not work properly.
These cookies help us to understand how visitors interact with our website, help us measure and analyze traffic to improve our service.
These cookies help us to better deliver marketing content and customized ads.