Malta, top things not to miss – Ultimate travel guide

Malta is a small archipelago located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Tunisia. The perfect location to have sunshine all year round and make it a perfect European summer destination but not only, but it allows you to visit Malta whenever you want. Malta is a really small country but still has so much to offer every time of the year. Keep reading this travel guide to learn the top things not to miss in Malta, especially if you are a first-time visitor.

Valletta

Malta’s capital is the first thing you must visit when in Malta. It’s the most beautiful and authentic city and is considered a piece of living history. You can find beauty everywhere, in the fortified city walls overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, in the Baroque architecture throughout the city, in the old bakeries on the side of the roads, so, the smallest European capital, is one of the world’s heritage sites.

What to visit in Valletta:

St John Cathedral 

This is one of the top sights to visit in Valletta. Looking simple on the outside, this cathedral is stunning inside with incredible detail and artwork. It doesn’t matter if you are religious or not, this place is just breathtaking. From sculptures and detail to Caravaggio’s artwork, there are so many things to look at and admire during your visit, which should last about one hour.

As in any other religious site, you must cover your shoulders and knees. However, shawls are available at the entrance.
The entrance is 15 euros, audio guide is included (kids under 12 free).

Upper Gardens and Lower Gardens

Two beautiful parks are located in Valletta. Ideal for relaxing and enjoying beautiful views.
The best thing that Upper Gardens offers is the view of the Three Cities that takes your breath away. This picturesque spot in Valetta becomes even more beautiful when the sun starts to set.
Lower Gardens is a little bit lower in altitude than the Upper Gardens, it has a unique perspective of the city and offers you a great view of the Mediterranean.

If you don’t have much time in Valletta, I would suggest you visit the Upper Barrakka Gardens.

Tip: Upper Barrakka Gardens has a ‘Saluting Battery’ which features a gun that is fired at 12 am and 4 pm every day except Sundays. This 500-year-old tradition is certainly a spectacle to be seen.

Grandmaster’s Palace

One of the first buildings built in Valletta is a point of it is a point of interest from the historical point of view. If you like to meet the medieval spirit of Malta, this is the place to be. Lodgings, corridors, halls decorated with wall paintings, and armored guards along corridors built in 1571 are among the things that would make you experience a nice and place worthy of spending the afternoon.

The entrance fee is 6 euros.

Triton Fountain

Located near the bus station. this fountain adds a touch of magic to the already charming city of Valletta. You can have snacks from many of the nearest shops and spend some time in the square. For a better experience visit the monument in the evening, there is special lighting on the fountain.

Valletta City Gate 

Located a few steps away from Triton Fountain, Valletta City Gate is a historic place. You can do many activities here such as skateboarding, reading or simply enjoying the views. You can find everything nearby – shops, restaurants, cafes to take a short break.

Birgu

Also known as Victorious City, Birgu is the oldest of 3 cities. Get lost on the tiny narrow cobbled streets, and enjoy the village atmosphere and the stunning waterfront views. Birgu is one of the oldest cities in Malta, rich in history, with beautiful architecture, and rich cultural heritage.

What not to miss in Birgu:
Fort Sant Angelo 

Located at the heart of the Grand Harbour and known as the Birgu star attraction, it was originally a medieval castle. Nowadays it contains some good exhibits of Malta’s war history. The castle is well known also as the location where is shot the famous TV Show Game of Thrones.
The entrance fee is 10 euros.

Visit the city churches

St Lawrence’s Church located next to St Joseph’s Oratory, is one of the biggest and oldest churches in Malta. The church is well decorated but nighttime lights and decorations made it extra special.

Walk along the seafront and explore the Birgu alleys 

Start by exploring the heart of Birgu made of traditional Maltese houses. Let yourself be lost between colorful balconies, street cats, and flower pots. Then go for a long walk along the seafront. Birgu offers beautiful waterfront views.

How to get to Birgu? 

You can reach Birgu from Valletta using the bus lines nr 1, 2, 3. The bus runs every 20-30 minutes, and the ride is around 30 minutes. The ticket cost 2 euros.

Mdina

A must-visit to Malta and the perfect half-day trip from Valletta. Mixed baroque and medieval architecture, makes Mdina such a nice place to visit. The Mdina old city looks like something straight out of the pages of a historical book. Several movies have used the Old City for filming, such as Game of Thrones. Once upon a time, Mdina was the capital of Malta, then the capital was moved from Mdina to Valetta and the people also, leaving Mdina with very view inhabitants, like a ghost city. That’s why Mdina is called the silent city. Nowadays there are still inhabitants in the Old City, but silence is still respected. Only a few cars are allowed to move in the city, giving a sense of peace and tranquility to everyone who visits Mdina.

The main attractions not to miss in Mdina are Palazzo Falson, Mdina Citadel, St. Paul Cathedral, and cathedral museum, Carmelite Priory, Viewpoint in Bastion Square, Palazzo Vilhena, and the Xara Palace.

How to get to Mdina

You can reach Mdina from Valletta using the bus lines nr 51, 52, 53. The bus runs every 10 minutes, and the ride is around 25 minutes. The ticket cost 2 euros.

Rabat

Located 10 minutes away from Mdina, Rabat is a small traditional village, with a lot of historical value. Rabat will offer you a unique atmosphere that becomes even more beautiful if you grab a drink in one of the bars overlooking the majestic Saint Paul’s Church.

The main attractions in Rabat are the Domus Romana Museum, Catacombs of St Paul and Saint Paul’s Church, Casa Benard Palace, Wignacourt Museum, and Dingli Cliffs.

How to get to Rabat 

You can reach Rabat from Valletta using the bus lines nr 51, 52, 53. The bus runs every 10 minutes, and the ride is around 35 minutes. The ticket cost 2 euros.

Tip: Don’t skip Howard Gardens. One of the largest gardens in Malta is this public garden that divides Rabat and Mdina.

Popeye Village

There are two favorite things for me in Malta, and one of them is Popeye Village, for the second one, keep reading. 😊 Popeye Village is a cool village located in a beautiful bay, with turquoise water. The visit to Popeye Village is a good hit of nostalgia if you’re familiar with Popeye, but still fun if you don’t know it. You’ll have so much fun there with the entertainment shows, with the water games, water dances, Zumba, etc. Popeye Village is probably the most photogenic spot in Malta.

It is mostly recommended for families and children as there are a lot of things to do and make them happy.

The entrance fee at the cash desk is 22€ per person, with no food or drinks included, but it gives you the option to have free sun bed but in the peak season all of them are occupied and most probably you will find no space where we could stay.
Tip: For photo lovers, there are two viewpoints near the Popeye Village. One in the front of the village, up on the hill. The second one is the Anchor Bay Viewpoint.

How to reach Popeye Village

You can reach Popeye Village from Valletta using bus lines nr 41 and 42 to Qammieh bus station and then bus 101 from Qammieh bus station to Popeye Village. The bus 41 and 42 runs every 10 minutes, and the bus 101 every 20 minutes. The ride is around 1 hour and 10 minutes. The ticket cost 2 euros.

St Peter’s Pool

An interesting rock formation that seems to be the most popular beach spot in Malta. As I said the beach is rocky, but there were lots of flat places to put our towels and it was very easy to jump in and have a swim. Cliff jumping is lots of fun and there is a beach bar at the top of the path if you need water or fancy an alcoholic drink. The landscape is stunning, the atmosphere is great, and I would definitely recommend a trip here over a visit to the Blue Lagoon if you are looking for a more chill and less touristy vibe. The St Peter’s Pool is a nice spot for snorkeling too, as you can see a lot of fish.

How to reach St Peter’s Pool 

Take bus 81 from Valletta to Abdosir station, Marsaxlokk. The bus runs every 20 minutes. Then you have to walk around 30 minutes from the bus station to reach St Peter’s Pool. It is a long walk from Marsaxlokk, so wear comfortable shoes.

Marsaxlokk

Is the fishing village of the country. It’s known for its colorful gondolas, also known as Luzzu, which make the waterfront very picturesque. I suggest you visit Marsaxlokk in return from St Peter’s Pool, so you can have an aperitivo and enjoy the charming views at sunset time.

How to reach Marsaxlokk

Take the bus 81 and 85 from Valletta bus station. This bus runs every 20 minutes and the ticket costs 2 euro.

Best beaches in Malta:

Ta’ Fra Ben

Armier Bay and Little Armier

Ġnejna Bay

Paradise Bay

St. Peter’s Pool

Imġiebaħ Bay

My Top 3 beaches are:

Mellieħa Bay

Għajn Tuffieħa

Golden Bay

The Blue Lagoon (Comino)

Gozo and Comino

The last thing to do before leaving Malta is to visit Comino Island and Gozo Island. Three major islands constitute the Maltese Archipelago. Malta is the bigger one, Gozo the middle one, and Comino the smaller one.

Several ferries take you from Malta in Comino, from Malta in Gozo or you can find tour options that include both islands.

The most popular boat to Comino leaves from the harbor at Marfa Bay and the ticket costs 13 euros.

To reach Gozo you can take the ferry from Cirkewwa, the ticket costs €4.65 for foot passengers or €15.70 if you bring a car.

You can easily spend a full day in Gozo and half a day in Comino.

For more information read the travel guide dedicated to Gozo and Comino.

If you are still undecided whether you will visit Malta or not, read this
travel guide too. It has all the information you need to know before visiting Malta.