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Weekend in Malta

Two days of ancient cities, harbour views, and very good pastizzi

Duration
2 days
Difficulty
easy
Best time
Apr–May / Sep–Oct
Budget
£120–£380

Overview

The route on a map

One pin per geographic location. Click a pin to see the days and navigate to them.

Tap a pin for detailsCARTO · © OpenStreetMap contributors
Day 1
Valletta

Get in as early as your flight allows. Drop your bags and walk straight to St John's Co-Cathedral — the outside is severe and unassuming, the inside is one of the most unexpectedly overwhelming Baroque interiors in Europe. After that, walk the full length of Republic Street from City Gate to Fort St Elmo, turning off into side streets whenever something looks interesting (it almost always does). Make time for the Upper Barrakka Gardens before 16:00 to catch the cannon firing at noon if you haven't already — it happens daily and is worth timing your walk around. End the afternoon at the Lower Barrakka Gardens for the quieter view across to the Three Cities. In the evening, eat somewhere away from the main tourist squares — ask your hotel, or walk until the menus stop being laminated.

Day 2
Three Cities / Valletta

Walk down to Valletta's waterfront at the Lower Barrakka end and find the traditional water-taxi (dgħajsa) crossing to Vittoriosa — it's a short crossing that feels completely out of time and costs very little. Spend the morning wandering Vittoriosa's narrow streets and walking the waterfront to Senglea Point, where the view back across the Grand Harbour to Valletta is one of the best you'll get in Malta. The Three Cities see a fraction of Valletta's visitors, so it's noticeably quieter and more local-feeling. Take the boat back to Valletta after lunch and spend your remaining time on whatever you didn't get to on Day 1 — the National Museum of Archaeology is excellent if history is your thing, or simply sit at a café and watch the city go about its business. Malta is small enough that you don't need to fill every minute.

Fit check

Is this route right for you?

The honest version. Read the red block as seriously as the green one.

Good fit if

You want history and sunshine without spending a week abroad. Malta is tiny enough to feel manageable on a short trip — you can walk between Valletta's main sights in a day and still have time for a harbour swim. It works brilliantly for solo travellers and couples who want culture without the backpacker-hostel grind.

Skip if

If beaches are your main priority, two days won't cut it — the best swimming spots (Gozo, Comino) need a full day just to reach and return. Also skip if August heat (often above 35°C) sounds miserable to you; it genuinely is.

Climate

Weather

Mediterranean climate. Warm dry summers, mild wet winters. Humidity spikes in late summer, making 32°C feel like 38°C. Sea stays warm into October but cools fast in November.

Season Breakdown
Dec–FebWinter
10–17°
78%some rain
Mar–MaySpring
11–24°
71%occasional rain
Jun–AugSummer
20–32°
68%dry
Sep–NovAutumn
14–28°
77%some rain
Sir
Win
10°
30°
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Source: Malta Meteorological Office 1991-2020 normals · verified 2026-04-15

Calendar

Highlights

Festivals, closures, and seasonal events worth planning around.

Festival
Malta International Fireworks Festival
Late April · 4 days

Nightly firework shows set to music, held across multiple locations around Valletta and the Grand Harbour. The final Saturday night is the biggest show of the year.

Worth extending your trip for if you're already visiting in April. Book a harbour-view dinner 3+ weeks ahead for the final Saturday.

Last checked 2026-04-22 · Official source ↗

Cultural
Village festas
June through September, weekly across villages

Every village celebrates its patron saint with fireworks, band marches, statues carried through the streets, and festive lighting. The atmosphere is genuinely local, not staged for tourists.

Ask your hotel which village is hosting its festa that weekend — it's a better evening than any tourist show.

Last checked 2026-04-22 · Official source ↗

Closure
Feast of Our Lady of Victories
8 September (fixed)

National public holiday marking the end of the Great Siege of 1565. Banks and government offices closed; museums and restaurants open. Grand Harbour regatta the same day.

Plan around closed government services. Worth being in Valletta for the regatta if you're visiting early September.

Last checked 2026-04-22 · Official source ↗

Ground info

Practicalities

Plugs, water, and anything customs might flag.

Electrical
Type G230V · 50Hz
✓ Universal adapter works

Same plugs as the UK — British three-pin plugs work directly. EU travellers with two-pin plugs need a UK adapter; pack one before you fly, airport shops charge 3x the online price.

Tap water
Safe to drinkTastes acceptable

Tap water is desalinated and safe to drink. It tastes mildly salty compared to UK tap water and most locals buy bottled. Fine for brushing teeth and cooking.

Inclusive travel

Accessibility

Honest ratings for ten common travel needs, plus any extras relevant to this destination.

Mobility
challenging

Old towns (Valletta, Mdina) are heavy on steps and uneven cobbles. Wheelchair users will struggle outside the waterfront promenades. Sliema and St Julian's are flatter and more accessible.

Vegetarian
great

Widely understood. Most menus have 2-3 genuine vegetarian options, not just salad. Italian-influenced cuisine helps.

Vegan
workable

Pasta and pizza places handle it easily. Traditional Maltese cuisine is heavy on rabbit, pork, and cheese. Sliema has dedicated vegan spots (Grassy Hopper, The Grassy Hopper).

Halal
workable

A handful of halal restaurants in Paceville and Sliema serve the small Muslim community. Outside these areas, halal options are limited. Seafood and vegetarian dishes are usually safe.

Gluten-free
workable

Most restaurants understand the request, but options are often limited to salads and grilled items. Maltese cuisine leans bread-heavy — ftira, pastizzi, and sandwiches are core. Sliema has a few dedicated gluten-free bakeries.

Solo female
great

One of the safer Mediterranean destinations. Sliema and Valletta are safe to walk alone at night. Some catcalling in Paceville (nightlife district) on weekends — not threatening, but worth knowing.

LGBTQ+ safety
great

Same-sex marriage legal since 2017. Malta consistently ranks in the top 5 in ILGA-Europe's Rainbow Map. Visibly gay couples are welcome; public affection is normal. Valletta and Sliema host Pride each September.

Travelling with a baby
workable

Bolt and buses are stroller-friendly. Restaurants are welcoming and most have high chairs. The main challenges are summer heat (July-August) and cobbled lanes in Valletta and Mdina. Pharmacies stock the standard baby brands (Aptamil, Hipp).

Non-English speaker
great

Maltese and English are both official languages. Everyone speaks English, often better than visiting Brits. Signs, menus, and transit are bilingual or English-only.

First international trip
great

A gentle introduction to international travel — small, English-speaking, safe, EU-standard infrastructure, and cheap to reach from the UK. Distances are short, the airport is easy, and nothing about the experience is culturally jarring.

Additional considerations
Water / boats
workable

Several itinerary items involve boat travel (Blue Lagoon, Gozo ferry, Three Cities water taxi). All are short hops on stable craft; no one needs to swim. Skip Comino day if boats are a hard no — the rest of the trip works without it.

Plus size
workable

Bolt and buses are comfortable. Restaurant chairs and hotel beds are EU-standard sizes. Some of the smaller tour boats (Blue Grotto, Marsaxlokk fishing boats) have narrow bench seating that may be uncomfortable for longer trips.

Malta is compact and doable without a car, which opens it up to more travellers than many Mediterranean destinations. English-first, EU standards, and short distances make this one of the easiest destinations on the codex.

Eating & drinking

Food

Maltese food is distinctly its own thing — Italian-influenced with Arab, British, and North African threads. Heavy on seafood, rabbit, pork, bread, and seasonal vegetables. Portions are generous.

Must try
Ftira

Malta's answer to pizza — a flat baked bread loaded with tuna, olives, capers, tomato, and olive oil. Eaten any time of day.

Must try
Rabbit stew (fenkata)

The unofficial national dish, slow-cooked in red wine with garlic. Traditionally a communal meal.

Must try
Pastizzi

Flaky filo pastries stuffed with ricotta or mushy peas. The local breakfast snack, €1 apiece.

Cisk lager
Worth trying
Cisk lager

The local beer, pronounced "chisk". Not life-changing but pleasant and everywhere.

Worth trying
Kinnie

Bittersweet orange soda with a herbal edge. Tourists love it or hate it — try it once.

Dietary notes · Vegetarians eat well. Vegans should stick to pasta, pizza, and the Sliema area. Halal options exist in Paceville but aren't widespread. Gluten-free is workable but not common — Maltese cuisine leans bread-heavy.

Costs

Budget

Real daily costs at three spending levels. All prices in GBP.

Budget
£60 /day

Hostel dorm or very cheap guesthouse, self-catering breakfasts, street food and cheap local cafés, buses everywhere, free or low-cost sights

Accommodation£20
Food£20
Transport£5
Activities£10
Incidentals£5
Mid-range
£130 /day

Decent 3-star hotel or boutique guesthouse in Valletta, sit-down meals at local restaurants, occasional taxi, paid entry to St John's Co-Cathedral and a site or two

Accommodation£70
Food£35
Transport£10
Activities£10
Incidentals£5
Splurge
£250 /day

Boutique or design hotel in central Valletta, restaurant dining for every meal, private transfers, guided tours, rooftop bar sundowners

Accommodation£150
Food£60
Transport£20
Activities£15
Incidentals£5
Malta is noticeably cheaper than western European cities like London or Paris but has become more expensive than it was a decade ago. Entry to St John's Co-Cathedral is one of the few things that feels steep relative to other Maltese costs — it's worth it, but factor it in. Eating at places aimed at locals rather than tourists makes a big difference to food spend.

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