Malta in autumn: October and November, the quiet return

Autumn in Malta: September through November

Malta’s autumn spans three months with quite different characters:

• September — effectively summer continuing, but with crowds easing after the school holidays end (around September 5–10 in most European countries)
• October — genuine shoulder season, still warm, sea still swimmable until mid-month, excellent value
• November — the transition to winter, quieter, cheaper, the sea cooler but the island atmospheric

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September: the best month in Malta

September is the most consistently recommended month by experienced Malta visitors, and the data supports it. Average temperature 26°C, sea temperature 25°C — essentially the same as August, but with 40–50% fewer tourists.

The mechanism is simple: European school holidays end around September 7–10 for most countries, and the families who filled Malta’s July–August peak return home. Prices start dropping from the second week of September. The Blue Lagoon becomes manageable — still popular, but not the 3,000-person ordeal of August.

What makes September special

The sea. The Mediterranean accumulates heat through the summer; the water is warmest in September (25°C surface temperature). For swimming, snorkelling and diving, September is the peak of the year. Visibility in the water is exceptional — the algae and turbidity of August’s boat traffic has reduced, and the warm water supports excellent underwater clarity.

Lower prices. Hotels begin reducing August-level rates from mid-September. By late September, prices have dropped 15–25% from the August peak. For a late-September stay, you are accessing summer sea temperatures at transitional prices.

Shorter queues. You can walk into St John’s Co-Cathedral without a 45-minute queue again. The ferry to Cirkewwa is shorter. The Blue Lagoon in mid-September afternoon has hundreds of visitors rather than thousands.

Last festas. The final village festas of the year happen in September. The atmosphere is the same (fireworks, brass bands, processions) but with a slightly nostalgic quality — the last festa before the island goes quiet for winter.

September weather

Aspect	September average
Air temperature	26°C
Sea temperature	25°C
Rain days	3–5 per month
Sunshine hours	9 per day

September is Malta’s driest summer month (alongside July and August). Rain is rare, days are long, and conditions are consistently good.

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October: the shoulder season sweet spot

October has the best argument-per-month ratio in the Malta calendar. You get:

• Sea temperature 23°C in early October (still pleasantly swimmable for most)
• Air temperature 22°C (ideal for walking and outdoor exploration)
• Prices 20–25% below September levels (which were already below peak)
• Notte Bianca in Valletta (early October)
• Crowds down to genuinely comfortable levels at all major sites

The caveats:

• Sea temperature drops to around 20–21°C by late October — still swimmable for some, not for others
• The last Comino ferries of the season run in early–mid October; after that, public boats to the Blue Lagoon stop until June
• Weather becomes more variable — the first autumn rain events occur in October, though they are typically short

Notte Bianca

Notte Bianca (“White Night” — the Maltese version of the European Nuit Blanche concept) is held in Valletta on one Saturday evening in early October. All museums, cultural venues and heritage sites in Valletta open their doors for free from evening until midnight. The streets fill with locals and visitors for music, theatre, art installations and general revelry.

It is one of the most genuinely local events in the Malta calendar — Maltese families from across the island travel to Valletta for Notte Bianca. If you are in Malta in early October, structure your schedule around it.

Mdina at sunset in October

The October light — lower sun angle, golden quality — is the best time to photograph Mdina. The sunset tour of the silent city in October, when the streets are uncrowded and the lighting is spectacular, is one of Malta’s quiet treasures.

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November: the quiet transition

November is the beginning of Malta’s low season. The tourist infrastructure does not disappear — all sites are open, all restaurants function — but the rhythm is genuinely different from summer.

What November is like

Temperature averages 18°C. Rain becomes more frequent (8–10 days per month) and can be heavier than the brief summer showers. The Gregale wind (north-easterly) begins making appearances.

The sea is 20°C in November — brisk but swimmable for hardier visitors. Most beach services (sun loungers, kiosks) have closed by mid-November.

Comino public ferries are typically suspended by November (operators pull their services when demand drops). Private charter to Comino is possible in calm weather, but the Blue Lagoon in November is cold, grey and has no facilities.

The genuine advantages of November

Price. Hotel prices in November are 30–35% below October rates — already the shoulder season. For budget travellers, November offers some of the best accommodation value of the year.

Authenticity. November is when you see Malta as a place where people actually live, not as a stage set for tourism. The local bars and restaurants in villages are serving locals, not visitors. Marsaxlokk’s Sunday market in November has genuine fishing families rather than tourist coaches.

The final festas. A few scattered festas continue into November (the All Souls’ tradition on November 1–2 involves some village celebrations). The last summer festas having concluded, there is a quality of final evenings about November that experienced Malta visitors find appealing.

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Autumn activities: what to do

Gozo in September–October

Gozo in early autumn is arguably better than Gozo in summer. The hiking routes on the west coast are at their best when the heat is dropping — you can walk the trails around San Lawrenz and Dwejra in the morning without the punishing summer sun. The Ggantija temples, the Xlendi bay swimming and the Citadel in Victoria are all accessible with reduced summer crowds.

Gozo diving (for certified divers) is excellent in September and October — warm water, good visibility, the dive centres still fully operational.

The archaeological sites in October light

Hagar Qim and Mnajdra at dawn in October are genuinely magical. The Equinox sunrise (around September 22) aligns with the temples’ astronomical orientation, flooding the inner sanctuary with light in a way that only happens twice a year. If your timing happens to coincide with the equinox, this is worth planning around — Heritage Malta sometimes organises dawn events at the site.

Diving season extension

The dive season officially extends through October and into November in Malta (the water temperature is 23°C in October, 20°C in November). Many dive schools run through the autumn. Gozo diving at Dwejra (the Blue Hole) is possible through October; November becomes weather-dependent.

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Autumn versus spring: which is better?

Both autumn (September–October) and spring (April–May) are the recommended shoulder seasons for Malta visits. The differences:

Factor	Spring (April–May)	Autumn (September–October)
Sea temperature	17–19°C	23–25°C
Air temperature	17–21°C	22–26°C
Flowers and scenery	Wild flowers everywhere	Dry summer colours
Events	Fireworks Festival (April)	Notte Bianca (October), last festas
Crowds	Lower than autumn	Lower than summer, higher than spring
Prices	Slightly lower	Slightly higher (coming down from summer)

For swimming and sea activities: Autumn wins (much warmer water). For landscape and scenery: Spring wins (the wild flowers are extraordinary). For cultural events: Both have excellent options.

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Frequently asked questions about Malta in autumn

Is September still busy in Malta?

The first week of September remains genuinely busy (families extending summer holidays). By the second and third weeks, crowds drop noticeably. Late September is genuinely shoulder-season in feel.

Can you swim in Malta in October?

Yes, particularly in early and mid-October. Sea temperature is 23°C in early October — warmer than you would swim in most of the UK or northern Europe all year. By late October it drops to 20–21°C, which is still swimmable for those acclimatised to it.

Is the Blue Lagoon accessible in autumn?

The public boat service from Mellieha Bay typically runs through September and into early October. After that, public services generally stop until the following June. Private charter boats can take you to Comino in October in good weather.

What is Notte Bianca?

Notte Bianca is a free annual event in Valletta (early October) when all museums and cultural venues open for the evening for free. The streets fill with locals and visitors for a night of art, music and culture. One of Malta’s most authentic annual events.

Are flights cheaper to Malta in autumn?

Yes. Autumn (September–November) sees significantly cheaper flights from northern Europe compared to July–August. October and November are among the cheapest months for flights to Malta.

Is Gozo worth visiting in autumn?

Absolutely. The island is at its best in September–October — warm enough for swimming (Gozo’s coastal coves are excellent), cool enough for comfortable walking, and far less crowded than summer. A Gozo farmhouse stay in October is one of the best things you can do in the Maltese archipelago.

Last reviewed: 2026-04-20