Is the Heritage Malta pass worth it?

Yes, if you plan to visit 4 or more Heritage Malta sites. The adult pass costs €50 and covers 27 sites for 30 days including Hagar Qim, Tarxien, Fort St Elmo, Fort St Angelo, Ggantija (Gozo) and St Paul's Catacombs. It does not include the Hypogeum (separate booking required) or St John's Co-Cathedral.

Heritage Malta multi-pass: the 30-day ticket explained for 2026

What Heritage Malta is and why it matters

Heritage Malta is the government agency responsible for managing Malta’s national museums, prehistoric temples, forts, palaces and archaeological sites. If you are interested in Malta’s extraordinary depth of cultural heritage — the megalithic temples (5,000 years old), the Knights of St John legacy, the WWII history, the prehistoric art — almost everything worth seeing is managed by Heritage Malta.

The multi-pass is Heritage Malta’s answer to visitors who want to see multiple sites without buying individual tickets at each entrance. One purchase, one QR code (or plastic card), entry to 27 sites for 30 days.

This guide tells you exactly what you get, what the pass does NOT cover (important), whether the maths work in your favour, and how to buy it efficiently.

Prices (2026)

Ticket type	Price
Adult (18–59)	€50
Reduced (student with valid ID, 60+, Heritage Malta member)	€30
Child (12–17)	€20
Child under 12	Free entry at most sites (no pass needed)
Family (2 adults + up to 3 children under 12)	~€105

Prices are set annually by Heritage Malta. The above reflect the 2025–2026 pricing structure, but check heritagemalta.mt for the current year’s prices before purchasing.

All 27 sites covered by the multi-pass

Malta island

Valletta and Floriana

National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta — prehistoric artefacts including the Sleeping Lady statuette
National Museum of Fine Arts (MUZA), Valletta — Malta’s national art collection
St James Cavalier / Residences of the Grand Master (select areas)
Malta at War Museum, Valletta (wartime shelters and WWII context)

South Malta

Hagar Qim Temples — clifftop UNESCO temple complex with protective tent
Mnajdra Temples — adjacent to Hagar Qim, same site visit
Tarxien Temples — in Paola, walking distance from the Hypogeum
National Museum of Archaeology annexe at Tarxien

Central Malta

Mosta WWII Shelters and archaeological zone (at Mosta Dome — do not confuse with Mellieha)
National Museum of Natural History, Mdina — natural history collection in a baroque palace

North Malta

Mellieha Air Raid Shelter — WWII underground shelter in Mellieha (note: this is Heritage Malta managed, distinct from the Mosta WWII Shelters)

Birgu and Three Cities

Fort St Angelo — the maritime citadel above Birgu harbour, with audio guide
Maritime Museum — in the former British naval bakery at Birgu
Inquisitor’s Palace — baroque judicial seat, best preserved of its kind in the world

Rabat

St Paul’s Catacombs — Roman-era underground burial complex
Domvs Romana — Roman townhouse remains with mosaic floors

Paola

Hypogeum Visitor Centre (NOTE: access to the underground Hypogeum requires a SEPARATE timed ticket — see below)

Gozo sites (also covered by multi-pass — ferry not included)

Ggantija Temples, Xaghra — UNESCO, 3,600 BCE, among the oldest freestanding stone structures on earth
Gozo Museum of Archaeology, Victoria
Folklore Museum, Victoria (Citadella)
Craft Centre, Citadella
Natural Science Museum, Citadella
Old Prison, Citadella
Casa Bernardo visitor centre

Comino (if applicable)

Heritage Malta does not manage any Comino attractions specifically.

What the multi-pass does NOT cover

This is where visitors most commonly run into surprises. The following sites are explicitly excluded from the Heritage Malta multi-pass:

Hal Saflieni Hypogeum (underground): the most important exception. The Hypogeum requires a separate timed ticket booked at heritagemalta.mt, up to 3 months in advance, at €40 per adult. See the Hypogeum booking guide for full details.

St John’s Co-Cathedral: managed by the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, a separate charitable body. Individual ticket €15. See the St John’s Co-Cathedral guide.

Casa Rocca Piccola: private palace in Valletta, independently operated. Individual ticket. See the Casa Rocca Piccola guide.

Mdina Cathedral Museum: managed by the Diocese, not Heritage Malta.

Fort St Elmo entry fee (National War Museum within Fort St Elmo): check current status — Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum have been subject to renovation phasing that has affected which sections are included in the multi-pass in various years. Confirm at heritagemalta.mt.

Private tours and audio guides: if you book a guided tour at a Heritage Malta site, the guided tour fee is separate from the multi-pass entry.

How to buy the Heritage Malta multi-pass

Option 1: At any Heritage Malta site entrance

Purchase at the ticket desk on arrival at any Heritage Malta managed site. The first site you visit activates the 30-day countdown. Payment by card or cash. You receive a plastic card.

Option 2: Online at heritagemalta.mt

Purchase online before your trip for the convenience of skipping ticket queues at the first site. Print or save the confirmation email — it functions as the pass until you collect a physical card at the first site you visit (some sites issue a plastic card on first use of the digital confirmation).

Option 3: Via package booking

Some Malta tour packages include the Heritage Malta multi-pass as part of a bundled offer (ferry + bus + pass). Compare the bundle price against individual components before assuming this is cheaper.

Malta multi-pass combining ferry to Gozo, Gozo bus and Heritage Malta sites

How to use the 30-day validity strategically

The 30-day window is generous for most Malta visits. On a 7-day trip, you have 30 days — but realistically you only have 7. The key is front-loading your cultural visits to ensure you hit the pass break-even point before leaving.

Recommended 5-day culture itinerary using the multi-pass

Day 1 (Valletta): National Museum of Archaeology (activate the pass here), MUZA, Fort St Elmo. Walk between all three.

Day 2 (Three Cities — Birgu): Fort St Angelo, Maritime Museum, Inquisitor’s Palace. All within the same district.

Day 3 (South Malta — temples): Hagar Qim and Mnajdra (same site, one visit), then Tarxien Temples in the afternoon. Total individual value: €10 + €15 = €25 on this day alone.

Day 4 (Gozo): Ferry to Gozo (Cirkewwa → Mġarr, 25 min, not included). Ggantija Temples in Xaghra, Gozo Museum of Archaeology and Citadella sites in Victoria. Full day with the pass pays off handsomely — Ggantija alone is €12 individual.

Day 5 (Rabat): St Paul’s Catacombs, Domvs Romana, Natural History Museum in Mdina. Combine with Mdina walking.

Running total (rough individual prices): Day 1 (€30) + Day 2 (€28) + Day 3 (€25) + Day 4 (€25) + Day 5 (€20) = €128 in individual tickets against a €50 multi-pass. Saving: €78.

Even a reduced 3-day culture itinerary (Days 1, 3, 4 above) generates approximately €70 in individual tickets against the €50 pass — still worth it.

Sites with the highest individual ticket prices

For maximum value extraction from the multi-pass, prioritise the sites with the highest individual admission prices:

Site	Individual adult price	Heritage Malta pass value
Hagar Qim and Mnajdra	€15	+++++
Fort St Angelo	€12	++++
Ggantija, Gozo	€12	++++
Fort St Elmo	€12	++++
St Paul’s Catacombs	€10	+++
National Museum of Archaeology	€10	+++
Tarxien Temples	€10	+++
MUZA	€8	+++
Maritime Museum	€8	++
Inquisitor’s Palace	€8	++

Note: prices are approximate 2025/2026 Heritage Malta pricing. Individual prices are subject to annual adjustment.

The pass in the context of a mixed Malta trip

Most Malta visitors split their time between cultural sightseeing, beach days, boat trips and dining. The Heritage Malta multi-pass is specifically for the cultural sightseeing component. It does not compete with or interact with:

Malta HOHO bus passes (transport)
GYG boat tours (activity)
Diving packages (activity)
Comino boat trips (activity)

Plan your cultural and non-cultural days separately, then assess whether the Heritage Malta multi-pass break-even point is achievable on the cultural days.

Frequently asked questions about the Heritage Malta multi-pass

Does the Heritage Malta multi-pass include Gozo ferry transport?

No. The ferry from Cirkewwa to Mġarr costs €4.65 per adult round trip and is paid separately. The multi-pass covers the Gozo site admissions only.

No. Each pass is valid for one person only. Each person in your group needs a separate pass.

Is the Heritage Malta multi-pass available at the airport?

Not typically. Purchase at any Heritage Malta managed site, online, or via partner booking packages. The Malta International Airport tourist information desk may have information on current offers.

Does the multi-pass need to be used on consecutive days?

No. Any combination of days within the 30-day validity is acceptable. Skip days for beach days or diving and return to cultural visits without penalty.

Can I visit the same site multiple times on the multi-pass?

No. Each site is admitted once per pass. If you want to visit Hagar Qim again (rare but possible for photographers wanting different light conditions), you would need to buy an individual ticket for the second visit.

What happens if Heritage Malta sites close for renovation?

Heritage Malta sometimes closes sites or sections for conservation or structural work. If a site is closed during your pass validity, Heritage Malta’s policy is to either refund that site’s value or extend the pass. Check heritagemalta.mt for current site opening status before purchasing.

Gozo sites in depth: using the multi-pass across the channel

The multi-pass’s inclusion of Gozo sites is one of its most undervalued features. A Gozo day trip using the multi-pass can recover the entire pass cost on a single day.

The Ggantija complex: the crown jewel of Gozo heritage

Ggantija in Xaghra is the UNESCO highlight of Gozo — two prehistoric temples whose outer walls, built from single limestone blocks weighing up to 50 tonnes, stand over 5 m high in places. Individual admission is €12. The site includes a modern visitor centre with a detailed explanation of the construction methods and the social organisation that made them possible. Allow 60–90 minutes.

Ggantija is typically the first stop on a Gozo day trip — arrive early (before 10:30) to beat the day-trip group coaches from Malta that arrive mid-morning.

The Citadella complex: four Heritage Malta sites in one medieval walled city

The Gozo Citadella (Cittadella) in Victoria is the fortified old city on the hill above the capital, and it contains four Heritage Malta managed sites that can all be visited on a single multi-pass:

Gozo Museum of Archaeology: prehistoric artefacts from Ggantija and other Gozo sites, Roman period material, and medieval finds. Essential context for the temple visits.

Folklore Museum: in three medieval buildings in the Citadella, covering rural Gozo life from the 18th–20th centuries. The interiors are preserved as working spaces — a weaving room, a farmhouse kitchen, a craftsman’s workshop. More evocative than a typical ethnographic collection.

Natural Science Museum: geological samples, marine specimens, and natural history of the Maltese islands. Small but well-organised.

Old Prison: the Citadella’s medieval prison, largely intact with original graffiti carved by prisoners scratched into the walls. Brief but atmospheric.

Individual admission value for all four Citadella sites: approximately €28–32 Multi-pass covers all four: included.

Timing a Gozo day to maximise pass value

A Gozo day with the multi-pass can realistically cover:

Ggantija Temples: €12 individual value
All four Citadella sites: €28–30 individual value
Casa Bernardo visitor centre: €6 individual value

Total Gozo day value: approximately €46–48 in individual admissions from a single day’s use of a €50 multi-pass. If this is your first full day of using the pass, you have nearly broken even on day one.

The multi-pass and the Hypogeum: understanding the exclusion

The most common confusion about the Heritage Malta multi-pass is its relationship to the Hypogeum. To be explicit:

The multi-pass covers the Hypogeum Visitor Centre (the above-ground audio-visual exhibition adjacent to the underground site). This is included in the pass’s coverage of the Paola area Heritage Malta sites.

The multi-pass does NOT cover underground access to the Hypogeum itself. The underground timed-entry visit (€40 per adult, 80 visitors/day, book 2–3 months in advance) is a completely separate product.

This distinction matters practically: if you cannot get Hypogeum underground tickets (sold out), visiting the above-ground visitor centre is covered by your multi-pass and provides genuine context. It is not a substitute for the underground visit, but it is more than nothing.

For the full Hypogeum booking guide: how to book Hypogeum tickets.

Sites worth less attention on the multi-pass

Not every Heritage Malta site warrants the same attention. For visitors with limited time, these sites are lower priority:

Natural History Museum, Mdina: competent but modest. Worth 30 minutes if already in Mdina. The building (a baroque palace) is pleasant.

Mosta WWII Shelters: interesting in concept (the Mosta Dome was famously hit by a bomb that failed to detonate during a wartime mass) but the associated shelter exhibit is brief. Include it as a supplement to a Mosta Dome visit, not as a primary activity.

Mellieha Air Raid Shelter: a short but genuinely atmospheric WWII shelter in Mellieha town. Good if you are already in north Malta for diving or beach days. Not worth a dedicated trip.

Casa Bernardo Visitor Centre, Gozo: brief introduction to Gozo’s lacemaking tradition. Worth the 20 minutes if in the Citadella area.

Contrast these with the highest-priority sites (Hagar Qim/Mnajdra, Ggantija, Fort St Angelo, Fort St Elmo, St Paul’s Catacombs) where the individual admission value is highest and the visitor experience is most substantial.

Practical differences between card and digital pass

Heritage Malta’s multi-pass has evolved toward digital delivery but you may encounter both formats:

Physical card: issued at the first site you visit after purchasing online, or immediately if you buy at the site desk. Has a QR code on the back that is scanned at each site entrance. The card is your admission document — do not lose it.

Digital confirmation: if you purchase online, you receive a PDF confirmation email. This can be used at most Heritage Malta sites directly from your phone screen. Some older Heritage Malta site entrances (smaller sites with less visitor infrastructure) may request a physical card — the main urban sites (Fort St Elmo, Fort St Angelo, National Museum of Archaeology) all accept digital confirmation without a physical card.

Replacement if lost: contact heritagemalta.mt with your booking reference. The pass can be re-issued; there is typically a small administrative fee.

Combining the multi-pass with other Malta tickets

The Heritage Malta multi-pass works alongside, not instead of, the tickets you will buy for sites it does not cover:

Hypogeum: separate Heritage Malta booking, separate ticket (€40). See the Hypogeum guide.
St John’s Co-Cathedral: separate ticket (€15). See the St John’s Co-Cathedral guide.
Casa Rocca Piccola: separate ticket (~€10). See the Casa Rocca Piccola guide.
Mdina Cathedral Museum: separate ticket (~€7). See the Mdina Cathedral guide.
Knights of Malta Museum, Mdina: separate ticket (~€15). See the Mdina Knights Museum guide.

Budget for these separately when planning your Malta trip. On a comprehensive 7-day culture itinerary, a single adult might spend €50 (multi-pass) + €15 (St John’s) + €40 (Hypogeum, if booked) = €105 in museum and site admissions, versus approximately €180+ buying individual tickets for all sites.

Last reviewed: 2026-04-20