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The Phoenicia Malta - LHW, Malta

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Malta

Updated 1 October 2026 · 18 things to do

Pictured: The Phoenicia Malta - LHW

Malta crams more history into a few square miles than most countries manage in total. There are prehistoric temples older than the pyramids, a fortress capital built by crusading knights, a silent hilltop city, and fishing harbours full of brightly painted boats, all wrapped in sea so clear it looks retouched.

Everything is close: from Sliema or St Julian's you can be in Valletta in minutes, in Mdina in half an hour, and on the ferry to Gozo before lunch. Spend at least one day on the water; the coast is where Malta shows off.

Don't miss

  1. 1Valletta
  2. 2Mdina
  3. 3The Blue Lagoon, Comino
  4. 4Gozo
  5. 5Marsaxlokk

The big sights

Knights, fortresses and seven thousand years of history.

  1. Valletta

    Landmark

    The Grand Harbour seen from Valletta's Upper Barrakka Gardens
    Photo: Trajcinema, CC BY 4.0

    Malta's capital is a UNESCO-listed fortress city of honey-coloured stone, built by the Knights of St John and small enough to cross on foot. Every street seems to end in a glimpse of sea, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens give a grandstand view over the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities.

    Wander the grid of steep streets with their enclosed wooden balconies, then settle in for long lunches and rooftop drinks as the stone turns gold in the evening light.

    Tip: Be in the Upper Barrakka Gardens at midday, when the cannons of the Saluting Battery fire over the harbour.

  2. St John's Co-Cathedral

    Landmark

    Plain on the outside, astonishing within: the Knights' cathedral in Valletta is a blaze of gilded carving, painted vaults and marble tombstones, and it holds Caravaggio's monumental Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.

  3. Mdina

    Landmark

    St Paul's Cathedral in the walled hilltop city of Mdina
    Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Malta's old capital is a walled hilltop city of narrow, silent lanes, noble palaces and a Baroque cathedral, known as the Silent City. Come late in the afternoon, when the day-trippers have gone and the light softens over the island below.

    Next door, Rabat has the catacombs of St Paul and some of the best pastizzi bakeries on the island.

  4. The Three Cities

    Neighbourhood

    Birgu (Vittoriosa), one of the Three Cities across the Grand Harbour
    Photo: MrPanyGoff, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Across the Grand Harbour from Valletta, Birgu (Vittoriosa), Senglea and Cospicua are older, quieter and far less visited. The Knights' first base on the island, they are full of fortifications, waterfront cafés and a marina of yachts, best reached by the little traditional boats that cross from Valletta.

  5. Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum

    Museum

    The central chamber of the underground Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
    Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0

    An underground prehistoric burial complex carved out of solid rock some five thousand years ago, with chambers, halls and red ochre painting. It is one of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    Tip: Visitor numbers are tightly limited: book weeks, or even months, ahead.

Beaches, bays and the sea

  1. The Blue Lagoon, Comino

    Beach

    Turquoise water of the Blue Lagoon off Comino
    Photo: Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Between Malta and Gozo, the tiny island of Comino hides a channel of shallow, impossibly turquoise water over white sand. Boats run from Malta and Gozo through the summer, and it is the classic Maltese day on the water.

    Tip: Go early or late in the day: by midday in high season it is very busy.

  2. Golden Bay

    Beach

    Golden Bay beach at sunset on Malta's north-west coast
    Photo: AbbyT93, CC BY-SA 4.0

    One of Malta's few proper sandy beaches, on the north-west coast: a curve of golden sand, clear water and spectacular sunsets, with the quieter Għajn Tuffieħa bay just around the headland.

  3. The Blue Grotto

    Nature

    Sea arch and caves of the Blue Grotto on Malta's south coast
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    On the south coast, sea caves and arches glow an electric blue when the morning sun hits the water. Small boats leave from the little harbour of Wied iż-Żurrieq when the sea is calm.

  4. Dingli Cliffs

    Nature

    Farmland ending at the Dingli Cliffs above the sea
    Photo: Felix König, CC BY 3.0

    Malta's highest point, where farmland ends abruptly in cliffs above the open sea. It's a wonderful place for a walk and one of the best spots on the island for sunset.

Gozo

Malta’s greener, slower sister island, a short ferry ride away.

  1. Gozo

    Day trip

    The ferry from Ċirkewwa crosses to Gozo in about 25 minutes, and suddenly everything slows down. The island is greener and more rural than Malta, with terraced fields, village churches and dramatic coastline, and many visitors wish they'd stayed longer.

  2. The Citadel, Victoria

    Landmark

    The walls of the Citadel above Victoria on Gozo
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Gozo's hilltop fortress crowns its capital, Victoria, with a cathedral inside its walls and views over the whole island from the ramparts.

  3. Ġgantija Temples

    Museum

    The megalithic Ġgantija temples on Gozo
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    These megalithic temples, built from enormous stones over five thousand years ago, are among the oldest free-standing structures in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  4. Ramla Bay

    Beach

    The red-gold sand of Ramla Bay seen from Calypso Cave on Gozo
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Gozo's best beach: a wide sweep of red-gold sand in a green valley, backed by dunes. It's at its loveliest seen from the hillside above.

Eat, drink and local life

  1. Marsaxlokk

    Market

    Painted luzzu fishing boats in Marsaxlokk harbour
    Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A fishing village on the south-east coast whose harbour is packed with luzzu, the traditional painted boats with an eye on the prow. Its Sunday fish market is a feast for the eyes, and the waterfront restaurants serve the catch straight off the boats.

  2. Pastizzi

    Food

    Freshly baked pastizzi in Rabat
    Photo: Kritzolina, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Malta's favourite snack: flaky diamond-shaped pastries filled with ricotta or mushy peas, sold hot from little bakeries for pocket change. Wash them down with Kinnie, the island's bittersweet orange soft drink.

  3. Rabbit stew

    Food

    Stuffat tal-fenek, rabbit slow-cooked in wine and tomatoes, is Malta's national dish. Look for it in family-run restaurants in the villages, often served as a feast with spaghetti in the sauce first.

  4. St Julian's and Paceville

    Nightlife

    When the sun goes down, the bars and clubs around St George's Bay and Paceville keep going into the small hours. For something more grown-up, Valletta's wine bars and rooftop terraces are hard to beat.

Days out with the family

  1. Popeye Village

    Activity

    The painted wooden houses of Popeye Village above Anchor Bay
    Photo: DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The film set built for the 1980 Popeye musical still stands above Anchor Bay, a jumble of brightly painted wooden houses now turned into a family attraction with shows and a little beach.

Where to stay in Malta

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Malta →

Getting around

Buses cover the whole island, ferries link Sliema with Valletta and the Three Cities, and the Gozo ferry leaves from Ċirkewwa in the north. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are easy to find, and a hire car gives you freedom, though you'll drive on the left in busy traffic.

When to go

Spring and autumn are ideal for sightseeing and walking, with warm sea into October. Summer is hot and busy, and perfect for days on the water.

Questions about visiting Malta

What is Malta best known for?
Its history (prehistoric temples, the fortress capital Valletta and the walled city of Mdina), crystal-clear water such as the Blue Lagoon on Comino, and its sister island Gozo.
How many days do you need in Malta?
Four or five days lets you see Valletta, Mdina and the Three Cities, spend a day on the water around Comino and take a day trip to Gozo. A week allows a slower pace.
Is Gozo worth visiting?
Yes. Gozo is greener and quieter than Malta, with the Citadel in Victoria, the Ġgantija temples and Ramla Bay, and it's only about 25 minutes by ferry.
Does Malta have sandy beaches?
A few: Golden Bay, Għajn Tuffieħa and Mellieħa Bay on Malta, and Ramla Bay on Gozo. Around the harbours, swimming is from rocks and lidos.

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