🇲🇹 Malta

Golden-stone island of knights and megaliths

Open Malta in the interactive travelogue →

Valletta — Fortress capital of the Knights

St John's Co-Cathedral Cathedral

Austere outside, gilded within, holding Caravaggio's Beheading of St John.

Best time: Year-round — An indoor Baroque masterpiece for any weather.

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Upper Barrakka Gardens Historic garden

Terraced gardens over the Grand Harbour with a daily saluting battery.

Best time: Apr–Oct — Mild weather is best for the harbour-view gardens.

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Grand Harbour Natural harbour

Deep fortified harbour of bastions and creeks, cruised by traditional boats.

Best time: May–Sep — Warm months are best for harbour boat trips.

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Fort St Elmo & War Museum Historic fortress

Star fort on the point telling Malta's story from the Knights to WWII.

Best time: Apr–Oct — Mild weather suits the largely open-air fort.

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Hal Saflieni Hypogeum Archaeological Site/Underground

Prehistoric underground burial temple carved in limestone with UNESCO heritage status.

Best time: Year-round — Extraordinary Neolithic monument predating Egyptian pyramids.

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Mdina — The silent walled city

Mdina Old City Old town

Fortified medieval hilltop capital of hushed lanes and noble palazzos.

Best time: Apr–Oct — Mild weather is best for the walled 'Silent City'.

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St Paul's Cathedral Cathedral

Baroque cathedral said to stand where St Paul met the Roman governor.

Best time: Year-round — An indoor Baroque landmark for any weather.

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Bastion Viewpoint Viewpoint

Ramparts with a sweeping view across the island to the sea.

Best time: Apr–Oct — Clear days give the widest island panoramas.

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Rabat & St Paul's Catacombs Historic site

Adjoining town with early-Christian catacombs and Roman remains.

Best time: Apr–Oct — Mild weather suits pairing the catacombs with Mdina.

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Ta'Qali Craft Centre Craft Market/Shopping

Open-air market near Mdina featuring traditional Maltese crafts and artisan shops.

Best time: Year-round — Authentic local craftsmanship and traditional cultural commerce.

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Gozo — Malta's greener sister island

Ġgantija Temples Archaeological site

Megalithic temples older than the pyramids, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Best time: Apr–Oct — Mild weather suits the open-air prehistoric site.

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Dwejra & Azure Window Site Coastal landmark

Dramatic sea cliffs, the Inland Sea and the site of the collapsed Azure Window.

Best time: Apr–Oct — Calm, clear months are best for the coast and diving.

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Victoria Citadel Historic fortress

Hilltop citadel over Gozo's capital with island-wide views.

Best time: Apr–Oct — Clear days give the finest views from the ramparts.

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Ramla Bay Beach

Gozo's finest red-sand beach, backed by the mythical Calypso's Cave.

Best time: Jun–Sep — Summer brings warm, clear water to the red-sand bay.

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Xaghra Circle Neolithic Temple

Underground Neolithic temple sanctuary with intricate carved stone chambers.

Best time: Year-round — Prehistoric cultural site rivaling world's most ancient temples.

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Rabat — Roman Villas & Catacombs Below

Domvs Romana (Roman House) Museum

First-century AD aristocratic villa with intact mosaic floors, sculptures, and domestic artifacts.

Best time: May–Oct — Extraordinary glimpse into Roman daily life preserved almost perfectly for two millennia.

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St. Paul's Catacombs Historical Site

Underground Christian burial chambers extending across multiple levels with early iconography.

Best time: May–Oct — Remarkable early Christian heritage with spiritual atmosphere in ancient chambers.

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St. Paul's Church Religious Site

Baroque parish church with ornate ceiling frescoes, marble columns, and baroque altarpieces.

Best time: May–Oct — Architectural masterpiece showcasing Maltese baroque at its most ornamental.

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Old Prison (Museum) Museum

Medieval fortified building with exhibits on Maltese judicial history and prisoner conditions.

Best time: May–Oct — Unique perspective on social history and medieval island governance.

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Argotti Botanical Garden Garden

Manicured 18th-century gardens with Mediterranean plants, fountains, and stone seating areas.

Best time: Apr–Oct — Serene escape with horticultural heritage and views of the surrounding countryside.

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Mosta — Village crowned by Europe's third-largest church dome with village square charm

Church of the Assumption Historic Site

A 19th-century basilica with a massive unsupported copper dome over 60 meters wide.

Best time: April-October — An architectural marvel and engineering feat commanding Mosta's skyline and the island.

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Mosta Main Square Old Town

A charming village plaza surrounded by historic buildings, cafes, and local character.

Best time: May-September — Experience authentic village life with stunning church as backdrop and relaxed atmosphere.

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Mosta Bomb Monument Historic Site

A memorial marking where a WWII bomb landed in the church during a service.

Best time: Year-round — A poignant reminder of Malta's strategic importance and resilience during World War II.

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Mosta Local Museum Museum

Small museum documenting the village's history, WWI, WWII, and local traditions.

Best time: April-October — Provides essential context for understanding Mosta's role in Maltese history.

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Mosta Rural Surroundings Natural Feature

Peaceful countryside with dry-stone walls, traditional fields, and rural Maltese landscapes.

Best time: April-October — Escape crowds and experience the island's agricultural heritage outside urban areas.

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Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit Malta?

It depends on where you go: every place has its own ideal season on this page. For example, St John's Co-Cathedral is best around Year-round. Malta has 5 featured cities and areas to plan around.

Is English spoken in Malta?

Roughly 88% of people speak English. The main language is Maltese, English.

How strong is the Malta passport?

The Malta passport gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to about 188 destinations.

Is Malta expensive to travel in?

This page lists real traveller costs for Malta — accommodation, food, transport, plus education, medical, insurance and connectivity — so you can budget before you go.

What is there to do in Malta?

St John's Co-Cathedral, Upper Barrakka Gardens, Grand Harbour, Fort St Elmo & War Museum, Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, Mdina Old City — each with the best time to visit, why it is worth it, and specific things to do.