What are the best day trips from Malta?

For first-time visitors: Gozo by ferry (25 min crossing, full day of temples and cliffs) and Comino Blue Lagoon (best beach in the archipelago) are the top picks. For 7-day trips: add Sicily by catamaran (4h crossing, Etna or Taormina). Mdina and the Three Cities are half-day options.

Best day trips from Malta: Gozo, Sicily, Comino, Mdina ranked 2026

Day trips from Malta: the honest ranking

Malta is a compact archipelago — the entire country is smaller than many European cities. But that compactness works in your favour: you can reach Gozo in 25 minutes, Comino in 45, and even Sicily in 4 hours. The variety of day trips available from a Malta base is genuinely impressive.

This ranking is honest: it tells you which day trips actually deliver, which are better for experienced Malta visitors than first-timers, and which require specific conditions or time commitments that make them only worth doing if you plan carefully.

1. Gozo day trip (best for: everyone, first visit or return)

Gozo is Malta’s most rewarding day trip by a significant margin. The island offers something completely different from Malta’s main tourist circuit: the prehistoric Ggantija temples (older than the Pyramids), the Citadella in Victoria, the Inland Sea at Dwejra, salt pans, red-sand beaches, and a pace of life that feels genuinely different from the Malta mainland.

The ferry from Cirkewwa takes 25 minutes and runs frequently. Gozo fills a full day comfortably. This is the day trip everyone should do, regardless of how long they are staying.

Full guide: Gozo day trip from Malta

Gozo day trip including Ggantija Temples Gozo full-day tour with guide and fun train

2. Comino and the Blue Lagoon (best for: beach lovers, any duration trip)

The Blue Lagoon is the most photographed spot in Malta and lives up to its reputation — if you go at the right time. Turquoise water over a sandy floor, enclosed by limestone cliffs. In summer, go early (before 09:30) or at sunset. In September-October, go anytime.

The boat from Sliema or Bugibba takes 45–90 minutes each way. Most half-day or full-day tours also include the sea caves. This trip works on a 3-day Malta visit (do it first before the crowds in July).

Full guide: Comino and the Blue Lagoon

Comino Island and Blue Lagoon cruise from Sliema

3. Mdina and Rabat (best for: history lovers, any length trip)

The medieval walled city of Mdina is one of Malta’s highlights and only 30 minutes from Valletta by bus. Combined with Rabat’s Roman catacombs next door, it fills a comfortable half-day. The sunset from Mdina’s bastions is among the best views on the island.

Ranks third because it is shorter in duration than Gozo or Comino and works as a half-day rather than a full day trip. But it is arguably the most accessible and reliable of all Malta day trips — weather-independent and close.

Full guide: Mdina and Rabat in a day

From Sliema: Mdina and Rabat trip

4. Sicily day trip by catamaran (best for: 6+ day visitors, adventure seekers)

The catamaran from Marsa to Catania (Sicily) takes 4 hours each way and gives you 4–5 hours in Sicily. The routes combining Mount Etna with Taormina or Syracuse are genuinely extraordinary — volcanic landscapes unlike anything in Malta. But it requires 8 hours of sea travel, a 06:30 departure, and €100–160 per person.

Only makes sense for visitors with 6+ days in Malta who have already seen the main Maltese sites. Worth every hour if you have the time.

Full guide: Day trips to Sicily from Malta

Mount Etna and Taormina day trip by catamaran from Malta Mount Etna and Syracuse day trip from Malta

5. Three islands cruise (best for: first visit, overview seekers)

A day boat tour covering Malta’s coast, Gozo’s southern cliffs, Comino’s sea caves, and a 2–3 hour swim at the Blue Lagoon. You don’t land on Gozo, but the coastal view is beautiful. Combines well with a first-time visit when you want a geographic overview of the archipelago.

Full guide: Three islands cruise comparison

Sliema: three islands cruise with buffet lunch and drinks

6. Valletta and the Three Cities (best for: history lovers)

A day that moves between the Knights’ capital city and their original medieval stronghold across the Grand Harbour. The 10-minute ferry crossing alone is memorable. Fort St Angelo, the Inquisitor’s Palace in Birgu, and the Senglea Gardjola viewpoint fill an afternoon after a Valletta morning.

Full guide: Valletta and the Three Cities day

Valletta to the Three Cities return ferry

7. Southern Malta circuit: Blue Grotto, Hagar Qim, Marsaxlokk (best for: variety seekers)

Three completely different southern Malta experiences in one day: the Blue Grotto sea caves (boat tour), Hagar Qim and Mnajdra prehistoric temples (UNESCO), and Marsaxlokk fishing village. Sunday adds the fish market. About 25 km of driving total.

Full guide: Blue Grotto and Marsaxlokk day trip

Southern Malta tour: Blue Grotto, Hagar Qim, Marsaxlokk

8. Gozo jeep/quad safari (best for: active travellers)

The same Gozo geography as the ferry day trip, but experienced from a jeep or quad rather than a coach. Off-road tracks, farmhouse lunch, local guide with genuine knowledge. Higher cost (€80–160) but a more immersive experience. Add Comino boat trip on many tours.

Full guide: Malta jeep safari day

Gozo jeep safari and Comino with buffet lunch and wine

9. Mdina, Dingli Cliffs, and the rural interior (best for: slow travellers, photographers)

A longer version of the Mdina day that adds Dingli Cliffs (Malta’s highest point, facing west for sunset) and Ta’ Qali craft village. Best done by car for flexibility. Spectacular in golden hour.

Full guide: Mdina, Rabat and Dingli Cliffs

10. Malta archaeological temples circuit (best for: prehistoric history enthusiasts)

Hagar Qim, Mnajdra, and Tarxien in one day — the three most accessible UNESCO prehistoric temple sites. Remarkable even for visitors with no prior interest in archaeology once you understand the age and mystery of these structures.

Full guide: Malta archaeological day tour

Prehistoric Temples of Malta guided tour

11. Gozo Citadella and Ggantija focused visit (best for: culture and history depth)

A slower version of the Gozo day that prioritises the Citadella museums and Ggantija temples over covering the whole island. Best for history-focused travellers who want depth over breadth.

Full guide: Gozo day trip with the Citadella

12. Ragusa, Modica, and Scicli from Malta (best for: architecture lovers, 7+ day visits)

The most coach-heavy Sicily option (3 hours driving) but the most architecturally extraordinary: baroque UNESCO hill towns of southeastern Sicily, and Modica chocolate. Only worth doing if you have 7+ days and have already covered Malta.

Full guide: Modica, Ragusa and Scicli from Malta

Ragusa, Modica and Scicli day trip from Malta

How to choose the right day trips for your Malta trip

If you have 3 days:

Day 1: Gozo (the most unmissable day trip)
Days 2-3: Valletta (full day), Comino or Mdina

If you have 5 days:

Day 1: Gozo
Day 2: Valletta
Day 3: Comino Blue Lagoon or Three Islands Cruise
Days 4-5: Mdina/Rabat + Southern Malta circuit

If you have 7+ days:

All of the above, plus Sicily by catamaran (Etna + Taormina or Etna + Syracuse) on day 6 or 7.

Frequently asked questions about Malta day trips

What is the most popular day trip from Malta?

Gozo and the Blue Lagoon at Comino are consistently the most visited. The three islands cruise (combining both) is the single most purchased tour product on GetYourGuide for Malta.

Can you do both Gozo and Comino in one day?

The three islands cruise does this — but you get a coastal pass of Gozo without landing, and 2–3 hours at the Blue Lagoon. If you want to actually explore Gozo (Citadella, Ggantija), you need a separate day. Trying to do both Gozo exploration and Comino swimming in the same day results in doing neither properly.

What is the most underrated day trip from Malta?

The prehistoric temples circuit (Hagar Qim, Mnajdra, Tarxien) is frequently overlooked in favour of beach and boat days. The temples are genuinely world-class archaeological sites that most visitors to Malta never see beyond a passing mention.

Which day trips can you do without a guided tour?

Gozo (ferry + rental car), Mdina (bus from Valletta), the Blue Grotto and Marsaxlokk (car or bus). Sicily requires either a guided tour or significant advance planning for independent transport in Catania.

What is the cheapest day trip from Malta?

Mdina and Rabat: bus from Valletta + €5 catacombs entry + lunch. Total under €20. The Gozo ferry (€4.65 return) plus the Hop-On Hop-Off on Gozo is under €30.

Last reviewed: 2026-04-20