Guide to Malta: Top 20 Things to do on the Island

After arriving in Malta and quickly falling in love with this little island in the Mediterranean, a trip that was supposed to last a few weeks turned into living here for nearly a year! Throughout this year of exploring the island, meeting the locals, and working in the tourism industry, I have put together the top 20 things to do in Malta!

Walking tour of Valletta

Being a World Heritage site, Valletta is packed with history and beauty. Valletta is the capital of Malta and was renovated in 2018 when it was set as the European Capital of Culture which transformed it from a run down ghost town to a hip, clean, and extremely popular hangout place for both locals and tourists. Packed with restaurants, bars, shops, and loads of history there is always something going on in the historic Valletta! Pro tip: Make sure to swing by the saluting battery at noon to see the firing of the cannons, but be on time, the soldiers don’t wait for anyone!

St. John’s Co Cathedral

Although there are 360 churches packed onto this little island, you can’t skip this incredible cathedral that is practically dripping with gold interior. Located in the heart of Valletta, St. John’s Co Cathedral is a great stop while walking the historic streets of Valletta.

Visit the Three Old Cities via gondola

If you are staying in Valletta, which I do suggest, The Grand Hotel Excelsior is my favorite option! It is a 5 star hotel that feels luxurious, is right on the water, has great food (especially the desserts) and is a great price! (tell them that Briana sent you and I am sure they will give you a warm welcome)! Right across the Grand Harbour from Valletta is the Three Old Cities which are called Birgu, Senglea, and Bormla. The best and cheapest way to get there is from Valletta on a gondola water taxi! After arriving, stroll around Birgu which is the oldest of the three cities – even existing before the Knights arrived in Malta!

Blue Grotto boat tour

The Blue Grotto is one of Malta’s many natural beauties. There is a beautiful view from the lookout above where you can even see Filfla in the distance which is a tiny protected island that actually used to be used by the Royal Navy for target practice! After seeing it from above, I suggest taking a quick boat trip through the caves of Blue Grotto! This way you will get a real feel for how big the arch is and the beauty of the crystal clear water! Pro tip: the best time to go is in the morning – the sun reflecting off the water gives a beautiful light show appearance inside the caves!

Mdina

Mdina is the “silent city” and old capital of Malta. With it’s tall bastion walls, narrow streets, lack of cars, and tranquil atmosphere, you will likely feel like you have shot a few centuries back in time. Mdina is great for a nice stroll ending at a lookout where, on a clear day, you will be able to see nearly the whole east coast of the island! If you like a more spooky take on Mdina, I suggest you go for a walk after dark to see the dimly lit streets and occasional ghost or two if you’re lucky 😉

Visit the Mdina Glass shop in Mdina

One of Malta’s most popular arts is glass blowing. Mdina Glass makes beautiful glass that is used all over Europe! Stop by their shop at the entrance of Mdina to see their amazing creations and grab unique a souvenir to take home!

Stop in Rabat for a famous Maltese Pastizzi

Rabat is an up-in-coming village right across from Mdina. After Visiting Mdina I suggest walking across to Good old Crystal Palace which is known for making the best pastizzi in Malta! A Pastizzi is a buttery baked pastry with ricotta cheese or mashed pees inside – not the healthiest thing you will eat in Malta but it sure is worth it!

Admire Dingli Cliffs

Standing on the steep limestone cliffs in Dingli will make you feel like you have literally reached the edge of the world! This stop is all about the views and the peacefulness of the Maltese coast.

Enjoy a night out in Paceville

Paceville – the party capital of Malta. If you are looking for a fun night out to dance until the sun comes up -literally- then Paceville is the place to go. With the street lined with bars and clubs you will be sure to find a place to show off your sweet dance moves. My personal favorites are Havanna and Native Bar which you will love if you like Latin music like me! Pro tip: I recommend having a little pre-party, they tend to water down the drinks in the bars.

Cliff jump at Coral Bay

This one took me a while to find but it’s beauty and serenity was worth the wait. Whether you choose to take the quite intimidating leap into the water or just watch from above this is a beautiful sight that you can’t find many other places. To make your way back to land does require a  lot of swimming though so be aware! Pro tip: if you aren’t into heights, renting a kayak is a great way to enjoy the pool as well!

Witness a Village Feast and it’s Extravagant Fireworks

I am not sure where to begin with explaining the Maltese and their love for fireworks. Let’s just say, if you are in Malta in the summer time you will be sure to see and hear fireworks almost every night! The Maltese culture has a very big catholic influence which you will quickly notice as you see the saints watching you as you walk down almost any street in Valletta. Each Village has their own patron saint that they celebrate each year. To celebrate, they decorate the whole village, have a big celebration/ party in the streets during the weekend, have a parade with the village band club and patron saint and finally top it off with likely the biggest and loudest fireworks you have ever seen!!

Sunset at Popeye’s Village

Calling all my instagram babes – Popeye’s Village will definitely brighten up your page along with giving you a fun experience! You can grab some tickets and run through the old Popeye’s movie set or just stop at the lookout from above for free, which is where you will get the best photos anyway! The sun sets beautify behind the village so would definitely recommend bringing a blanket and your favorite snacks to stick around for that!

Soak up the sun on Golden Bay

If you are looking for a sandy beach on Malta, you won’t find much but Golden Bay has to be my favorite. It is a small beach in the north of Malta which is typically less crowded and cleaner than it’s more popular sister beach -Melliha.

Party Boat to Blue Lagoon

If you are visiting Malta in the summer this is a MUST! Hopping on a party boat (or normal boat if you like) and swimming in Malta’s famous Blue Lagoon has to be one of my favorite things I’ve done in the nearly one year of living in Malta!! You will get to see the coast of Malta which is a mixture of cities and cliffs as you sail up to Comino. Swim, party, and repeat until you head back in the afternoon having made awesome memories and even better friends!

Visit the Hypogeum

Let’s talk history again.. The Hypogyum is a Neolithic underground structure from the Saflieni phase in Malta. This structure is dated all the way back to roughly 3000 BC!! This is very popular though so if you choose to visit this I would suggest going ahead and booking now or at least a few months in advance!

Swim in St. Peters Pool

St. Peters Pool is a classic Mediterranean staple. Grab your Gopro, go snorkeling, soak up some sun, and show off some of your best back-flips into the bright blue waters of the pool! I suggest to check it out after your tasty lunch in Marsaxlokk since it is right near by!

Spend Sunday morning in Marsaxlokk

Marsaxlokk is another place to snap a great colorful Instagram shot. Right on the water, Marsaxlokk hosts a local market every Sunday morning where you can find anything from clothes to souvenirs to the best seafood on the Island! Along with that, you will get a real feel for the laid back yet loud and proud Maltese culture. As you walk along the bright blue water your focus will actually be on the colorful Maltese traditional fishing boats called Luzzus! If you love seafood like me, you can’t leave before stopping at one of the many fresh fish restaurants along the water, one of my favorites is Capo Mulini’s Muscles! 

Explore the Miracle of the Mosta dome

The Mosta dome is a beautiful cathedral in Mosta that – yep you guessed it – has quite a story behind it! Back in 1942, two German bombs shot through the roof of the cathedral that had a mass in session with around 250 parishioners attending. The bombs did not go off nor did anyone get hurt. Sure sounds like a miracle if you ask me! Not only is the history amazing,  the massive dome being the third largest in Europe is worth the entrance alone!

Stroll the Sliema Promenade

At first glance, Sliema can seem a bit too modern and crowded to belong in Malta but if you make your way to the Sliema Promenade you will find numerous cute outdoor bars and cafes, see families and runners out getting fresh air, and my favorite – you can go for a swim in the old roman baths along the coast. The promenade is a great walk along the water stretching from Sliema all the way up to St. Julian’s, although I wouldn’t suggest walking all that way in the peak of summer like I did..

Visit Malta’s Megalithic Temples

By now I’m sure you can see that Malta has quite a bit of interesting history. Well, we haven’t even gotten to where it all began, literally. Malta’s Megalithic temples are also a world heritage site and easily the first structure that is still standing in Malta. The temples are said to be even older than Stonehenge!  I was so amazed by these temples and the fact that you can see how the beginning of civilization looks. I also found it awesome that you are allowed to walk through the temple and get quite close!

Thanks for reading! I hope you found this helpful and have a great time on the unique island of Malta! If you want to see more travel tips and inspiration follow my Pintrest and Instagram! Happy travels!