Malta is small enough that almost everything is a day trip from Valletta, which makes it easy to base yourself in one place and explore. The challenge is choosing, because there is more than you can fit into a week. Here are seven excursions that give the best return, with ideas for combining them.
1. Mdina and Rabat
The walled hilltop town of Mdina, the old capital, is the classic half-day trip, a short bus ride from the capital. Wander the silent lanes, climb to the bastions for island views and visit the cathedral. Then walk to Rabat for St Paul’s Catacombs and the grotto, and finish with pastizzi in the town square. Go in the late afternoon for the best atmosphere, and add an evening meal if you can. You can reach both by public bus, though many guided tours link them with Dingli Cliffs and San Anton Gardens.
2. The Three Cities
Across the Grand Harbour, Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua offer a quieter, more authentic slice of Malta. Take the ferry from below the Upper Barrakka Gardens, explore Birgu’s lanes, visit Fort St Angelo and walk to Senglea’s Gardjola. You can see them in half a day, or combine them with a harbour cruise for a view of the fortifications from the water. It is an easy trip for those short of time, and wonderful in late afternoon light.
3. The south coast: temples, caves and fishing boats
A loop through the south covers the Neolithic temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, the sea caves of the Blue Grotto and the fishing harbour of Marsaxlokk. Start with the temples in the morning, take a boat into the grotto while the light is good, and finish with a fish lunch by the harbour. Go on a Sunday if you want the Marsaxlokk market, but expect crowds. Public buses reach these places, but connections are slow, so a guided tour, taxi or hire car makes the loop much easier.
4. Comino and the Blue Lagoon
The tiny island of Comino, between Malta and Gozo, is a car-free nature reserve with a famous turquoise lagoon. Boats leave from Valletta, Sliema, St Paul’s Bay and Ċirkewwa, and many cruises include swimming stops at sea caves and other bays. In summer, the lagoon is busy, and a timed-slot system has been used to manage numbers, so check the arrangements for your dates. Go early or late, or visit in the shoulder season, for a calmer experience. Bring sun cream, water and a towel.
5. Gozo
Malta’s sister island is greener, quieter and more rural. A day trip typically includes the Citadel in Victoria, the Ġgantija temples, the salt pans at Xwejni and a beach such as Ramla Bay. The ferry from Ċirkewwa takes about twenty-five minutes, and a day is enough for the highlights, but a night on the island gives you the evening calm and sunset views. Guided tours, buggy and jeep excursions and hire cars are all popular, and buses run between the main villages.
6. The north: Mellieħa, Popeye Village and the beaches
The northwest is Malta’s beach country, with the sandy sweep of Għadira Bay, the sheltered cove of Popeye Village and the cliffs of Ġnejna. It is a good choice for families, and combines easily with the ferry to Gozo. Popeye Village makes a fun half-day for children, and the beaches are the best on the island for sandcastles and shallow swimming. Go on a weekday in summer to avoid the biggest crowds.
7. A scenic loop: Mosta and Dingli Cliffs
For a relaxed drive, combine the great Rotunda of Mosta, with its enormous dome, the quiet gardens of San Anton and the high cliffs at Dingli, where the land drops straight to the sea. It is a good sunset trip, and ideal for photographers and anyone who prefers views to museums.
How to combine them
In two days, pair Mdina and the Three Cities on day one and Gozo and Comino on day two. In three days, add the south coast. Families might swap the Three Cities for Popeye Village and a beach. If you are short on time and have no car, a hop-on hop-off bus covers many of the main sights and includes a harbour cruise, while guided tours simplify the south and the islands.
Practical tips
Buses are inexpensive but slow, and times change with the season, so check the latest timetable. Ferries to Gozo run frequently, but queues can build in summer, so allow extra time for the return. Start early, wear sun protection and keep some flexibility in your plan, since sea conditions can affect boat trips and the Blue Grotto. Whichever you choose, you will be back in Valletta by evening for dinner on a bastion terrace.
