3 Days Itinerary for Malta and Everything You Should Know
Malta is a small archipelago (group of islands) in the Mediterranean Sea. with 3 main islands: Malta, Gozo, & Comino. Malta is known for its warm climate, beautiful beaches, and rich history.
This small country is famous for its beautiful beaches, the iconic architecture and its special history so why not enough people choosing Malta over the other popular destinations?
In this post I will share with you my top reasons why you should visit Malta and add it to your bucket list, a few interceding facts that you probably didn’t know about Malta and my top things to do there!
Table of Contents
Where Is Malta
Malta is a small island nation located in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of Italy and north of Libya. It has three main islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino, with the largest and most populated is Malta itself. For more details about Malta you can check my Malta travel guide.
Why You Should Add Malta To Your Bucket List
Malta Has A Great Weather
Malta has a typical Mediterranean climate with an average temperature 23°C (73°F) with very sunny summers and mild winters.
Some Of The Best Beaches In Europe
Malta has some of the best beaches in Europe with crystal clear waters, some of the top beaches in Malta are: Paradise Bay, the Blue Lagoon in Comino, Mellieħa Bay and more.
Malta Has A Great Weather
Malta has a typical Mediterranean climate with an average temperature 23°C (73°F) with very sunny summers and mild winters, which makes it a great summer destination but also a beautiful sunny winter pick.
Amazing Mediterranean Food
the food in Malta is a very nice combination of Italian food (lots of Italian people there) and north African food all wrapped with the Mediterranean cousin with great fish and fresh ingredients!
Great Nightlife
Malta has a very vibrant Nightlife scene, with lots of bars and clubs at any price level. There is a great place for everyone there! The most popular bar street is Paceville with many bars and clubs.
Very Rich History & Architecture
Malta has a very rich history dating back to Neolithic times, the island has been ruled by many empires in the past which added to the history of the island with layers upon layers. The iconic architecture of Malta made the Game of Thrones production team to film in the island many of its iconic scenes.
Facts You Didn’t Know About Malta
5th Smallest European Country
Malta holds the title of being the 5th smallest country in the European Union by both population and size.
Despite its small size, it has a rich history, vibrant culture and beautiful landscapes.
Filming Location for Movies and Shows
Malta’s picturesque landscapes and historic architecture have made it a popular filming location for some of the most iconic Blockbusters including Gladiator, Troy, Game of Thrones and more.
Their Language Is Unique to Malta
Maltese is the only Semitic language written in the Latin script. It’s a fascinating mix of Arabic, Italian and French, reflecting Malta’s history of being ruled by different empires.
Ancient Megalithic Temples
Malta is home to some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world, predating the pyramids of Egypt!
The Ġgantija temples on the island of Gozo for example, are older than Stonehenge and are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Malta Is a Country of Feasts
Malta is known for its rich tradition of feasts, which are deeply ingrained in the island’s culture and religious heritage.
Some of the famous feasts are Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck, Feast of St. Joseph, Feast of Our Lady of Victories and more.
The feasts are celebrated in different areas of the Island, usually with food, fireworks and parties, some of them lasting more than a week!
My Perfect 3-Days Itinerary
Instead of just sharing with you my favorite things to do in Malta, I’ve made the perfect 3 to 4 days itinerary that you can use as a reference for your next trip in this beautiful country. Use it as a guide and add or remove places if you are short in time, have more than 3-4 days or interested in some other places as well.
Malta Itinerary: Day 1
We are going to start the first day in the old town of Valletta (the capital of Malta) and then we will move to the beautiful old town of Mdina which is the old capital of Malta.
1. Triton Fountain
We are starting the day at the Triton Fountain which is a nice and cute fountain that is located exactly infront of the gate of the old town of Valletta which is a great spot to start from.
2. The City Gate
Valleta City Gate is our next stop, this is a beautiful gate to the old town and it is the entrance to the walled city which feels like a scene out of a movie.
3. Parliament of Malta
The Parliament of Malta is located right next to the city gate on the old town, it was built by the famous architect Renzo Piano. let’s take a quick look at the parliament of this small country before we are moving to the next spot.
4. Pjazza Teatru Rjal
Pjazza Teatru Rjal is the beautiful Royal Opera House of Malta and it is located just outside of the Parliament, it was designed by the English architect Edward Middleton Barry and opened to the public in 1866.
5. St. John’s Co-Cathedral
St. John’s Co-Cathedral is located just 2 minutes down the road from the Opera house, visit this beautiful 16th century cathedral and admire the art and paintings before we are moving to the next one.
6. St. George’s Square
St. George’s Square is located very close to the cathedral, this beautiful square is on of the main squares in the old town of Valletta, take some time to enjoy this bustling square.
7. Palazz tal-President
Palazz tal-President is basically the president palace of Malta, the palace is located in St. George’s Square as well, you can check the palace from the outside or get inside if you are interested.
8. Lower Barrakka
Now, lets continue down to the Lower Barrakka park one of the most famous places in Malta, with an amazing views over the harbor, benches for sitting and a few monuments as well.
8. Upper Barrakka
Once we are ready, lets walk up from the Lower Barrakka to the Upper Barrakka, another beautiful park but it is located upper on the hill, with even better views over the harbor and the famous Fort St. Angelo (featured in Game of Thrones!), cafes and more.
9. Lunch time
Now, it is a great time to have lunch somewhere in the old town before going to our next stop.
10. Mdina Old City: The Old Capital Of Malta
Once we finished our lunch, we can move to our next place the Old City of Mdina, for this one we should drive, take a taxi or bus to Mdina (if you are taking a bus, there is big bus stop outside of the old city, next to the fountain) The old town of Mdina is a small walled town in the heart of Malta and it used to be the capital of Malta in the past.
The city was built in the Medieval period on a plateau (high plain), the main highlights of the city are the main gate, the fortress, cathedrals, Museum and a few viewpoints.
If you are a Game Of Thrones lover like me, a few parts of the city like the main gate and more were featured a few times in the series!
11. Mdina Main Gate
The Mdina Main Gate is the entrance of the walled city of Mdina, this beautiful gate is also known as the Vilhena Gate. This impressive gate was built in the Baroque style in 1724 and was featured in a few episodes of Game of Thrones as well.
12. Pjazza Mesquita
Pjazza Mesquita is one of the main squares of Mdina, this is a small beautiful old square that was featured as well in Game Of Thrones in season 1.
13. St Paul’s Cathedral: the oldest Church in Malta
The St. Paul’s Cathedral is also known as Mdina Cathedral, is the oldest Church in Malta, the original building was built in the 12th centaury and severely damaged by the earthquake in Sicily in the 17th century, the current cathedral was built in the years after.
14. Bastion Square
The Bastion Square (Piazza del Bastione) is a beautiful little square on the way to the observation deck.
15. Observation Deck Mdina
The Observation Deck Mdina is located on a hill and it is one of the highest points in all over Malta, this observation deck offers an amazing panoramic views over the island and the coast line. Do not miss this beautiful place when coming to Mdina.
Malta Itinerary: Day 2
1. Mellieha Bay
Mellieha bay is a beautiful bay in the northern part of Malta island, this bay is located not too far from Mellieha town. lets start the day here and spend some time at the beach.
2. Paradise Bay
Paradise Bay is located a few minutes from Mellieha bay, this this is another amazing beach in the very northern part of the island, the paradise bay is also very close to our next stop (the ferry terminal to Comino island).
3. Cirkewwa Passenger Terminal (ferry to Comino Island)
Cirkewwa Passenger Terminal is the terminal we are going to take a ferry to Comino island from, the terminal is very close to the paradise bay so the walk/ drive won’t be long.
From this exact terminal you can also take a ferry to Gozo island as well in case you are planning to go next.
The ferries to Comino are available around every 30 minutes during the summer days only (check the schedule of two ferry operators here: Ebsons Comino Ferries or Comino Ferries), the ferry from Cirkewwa terminal to Comino takes approximately 20 minutes each way.
4. The Blue Lagoon in Comino:
The Blue Lagoon in Comino island is one of the most beautiful places in Malta and thankfully the ferry dock is very close to the lagoon which means you can just drop off the ferry and jump to the beautiful water, lets have a few amazing hours here, please make sure you are on time to the last ferry back to Malta (check the schedule of two ferry operators here: Ebsons Comino Ferries or Comino Ferries).
Malta Itinerary: Day 3
In our 3rd day in Malta we are going to discover the amazing island of Gozo, Gozo is the 2nd largest island in Malta and it has a lot to do from amazing beaches to some of the most famous archeological sites in Malta.
1. Cirkewwa Passenger Terminal (ferry to Gozo Island)
Cirkewwa Passenger Terminal is the terminal we are going to take a ferry to Gozo island from, it is the same terminal we took the ferry to Comino on the 2nd day so we already know it.
The ferries to Gozo are available around every 15-30 minutes and almost 24 hours! also at night (you can check the schedule of Gozo Channel company here), the ferry from Cirkewwa terminal to Gozo takes approximately 25 minutes each way.
2. It-Tempji tal-Ġgantija temple
We start the day at the It-Tempji tal-Ġgantija temple, those temples are among the world’s oldest monuments and they are very well preserved.
The It-Tempji tal-Ġgantija are from the Neolithic era which is around 3600 BC (around 5600 years old) which makes them even older than the pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
3. Ramla Beach
Ramla Beach is located not too far from the temples, so it is a great reason to have a good and refreshing swim on a sunny day. This is a beautiful public beach with a restaurants and a few ruins of a roman villa as well.
4. Tal-Mixta Cave
Tal-Mixta Cave is located next to the Ramla beach and it is a great spot for watching the view and have a nice walk. There is a way up from the beach but it could be slippery and a bit more difficult or you can just navigate there from the main road instead.
5. Gran Castello Historic House in Victoria town
The Gran Castello Historic House is a historic house museum dedicated to Gozitan folklore, It is located within a cluster of 16th-century houses in the Cittadella, the oldest part of the city of Victoria (small town in Gozo) the place is functioning as a museum since 1983. Lets take 30-40 minutes to enjoy this beautiful citadel and move to the next spot.
6. Time for a Drink & Dinner
Our day is close to an end and it is a great time to have a drink or dinner here in Gozo island if you want to, since the ferries are active the whole night it is possible to stay late and enjoy your time there before coming back to Malta, another option is to stay for a night or two in Gozo if feel so.
My Favorite Restaurants and Bars in Malta
Malta is a great place for an amazing nights life scene and great restaurants during the summer but also during the winter, the island has many seafood and Italian palaces with an amazing food options that you defiantly should check, some of my favorite ones are in the list below:
Restaurants In Malta:
The Avenue Restaurant is a great Mediterranean food that I really liked, they have some good fish and seafood options and also some great pasta and even pizza.
Anciova Restaurant is a great place with good prices and some amazing seafood.
Trattoria del Mare Restaurant another great seafood Italian restaurant, very recommended and the prices are fair as well.
Bars In Malta:
Kamy Cocktail Bar this is a great cocktail bar in the heart of the old town of Valletta.
Nappa Bar is a cute small bar with a very affordable prices that I’m recommending for a relaxed evening or a few drinks before going to a club.
Bar Native this is a nice bar in this busy bar street in St Julian, it’s a great place for a few drink and food or snacks before going to another place.
Havana Club Malta this is a nice club / dance bar with some good music and lots of people in weekends, this street itself is full of places so you can hop from one to another.
Where to Stay In Malta
Malta is not a huge place but there are still many areas with different vibes and atmosphere for different people. let me breakdown the options for you so you would be able to decide where is the right area for you.
Valletta City: Great for Nightlife, Restaurants and City Feeling
Valletta city is an amazing place for those who want to stay in Malta but feel like in a city, the old town is full of beautiful little streets with many restaurants and bars.
Recommended Accommodation in Valletta
Check the list of recommended hotels, hostels and guesthouses in Valletta from Trip.com
Sliema: Great for Restaurants, Small Bays and Affordable Hotels
Sliema town is a great area for staying close to Valletta but with more affordable options, this town is also great for many restaurants, cafes and a few small swimming bays you can swim at in the season.
Recommended Accommodation in Sliema
Check the list of recommended hotels, hostels and guesthouses in Sliema from Trip.com
St. Paul’s Bay: Great for Beaches and Beach Front Hotels
St. Paul’s Bay is located in the north of Malta and this town is a great place for people that want to stay closer to the good beaches of Malta around this area but also have a small town feelings as well.
Recommended Accommodation in St. Paul’s Bay
Check the list of recommended hotels, hostels and guesthouses in St. Paul’s Bay from Trip.com
Gozo Island: Great For Archeology and Beaches
Gozo island is the 2nd biggest Island in Malta and it is famous for some of the most important and impressive temples and archeology in Malta like Ġgantija Archaeological Park and more. Gozo has some incredible beaches to offer like Ramla Beach and some iconic medieval towns like Victoria (Rabat) to visit.
Recommended Accommodation in Gozo
Check the list of recommended hotels, hostels and guesthouses in Gozo Island from Trip.com
Check My Other Posts About Malta
Thank you for reading this post, if you liked this one I’m sure you will like my other posts from Malta
3 Days Malta Itinerary
