Top 12 things to do in Malta in 2026

How we chose this list

Malta is a 27 km × 14 km island with a 7,000-year history of occupation, an EU capital that punches far above its size architecturally, and two quieter sister islands. This list focuses on the main island only (Gozo gets its own guide: top things to do in Gozo).

The 12 experiences below were chosen on four criteria: depth of experience over superficiality, access without a car, honest value for money, and geographic spread across the island. You will not find horse carriages or tourist menus here.

Budget note: Malta uses the euro (€). Many of the best experiences here are free or under €10. For the paid ones, the price range in 2026 is noted.

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The 12 best experiences on Malta

1. Walk Valletta end to end

Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage City and one of the smallest capital cities in the world — roughly 600 metres by 1,000 metres. Everything is walkable in half a day. Enter through the Renzo Piano City Gate, walk Republic Street past the St James Cavalier arts centre, turn left into any of the side streets (Old Bakery Street, St Paul Street) and you have immediately left the tourist circuit behind.

The essential stops: St John’s Co-Cathedral (where Caravaggio’s The Beheading of St John the Baptist hangs — the largest painting he ever made), the Upper Barrakka Gardens for the harbour view, the Lascaris War Rooms underground, and Strait Street for a drink at dusk. Allow a full day for depth. The Cathedral alone takes 90 minutes.

Admission to St John’s Co-Cathedral is €15. A guided walk adds historical context that a solo visit misses.

The Grand Tour of Valletta (walking)↗

For the Co-Cathedral specifically:

Valletta City Tour: St. John's Cathedral, Malta Experience↗

2. Upper Barrakka Gardens and the noon cannon

The Upper Barrakka Gardens sit on the bastions above Grand Harbour. They are free to enter and open daily. The view from the terrace — across the harbour to Birgu, Senglea, and the Three Cities — is the defining image of Malta. Come at noon (or 16:00 in summer) for the cannon salute: a 17th-century tradition maintained by uniformed re-enactors firing a period cannon from the Saluting Battery directly below the gardens.

The cannon firing is free, takes three minutes, and is one of the most satisfying rituals in Maltese daily life. Arrive five minutes early and stand on the left side of the gardens for the best view down into the battery.

The Barrakka Lift (€1.50 one way) connects the gardens down to the waterfront, saving the staircase climb back.

3. Explore Mdina — the silent city

Mdina was the island’s capital for a thousand years before the Knights of Malta built Valletta. It sits on a limestone ridge in the centre of the island, enclosed by medieval walls, and is home to around 250 permanent residents. No commercial traffic, no buses, and — between 07:00 and 09:30 before the day-trippers arrive — almost no tourists.

The alleys are tight Norman-Baroque architecture. Palazzo Falson (a 15th-century merchant’s palace, €10) is the best interior in Malta outside of Valletta. The bastions have panoramic views across the island to the sea.

Avoid the horse carriages (€60/30 min — the same route is better on foot). Walk from the main gate, through the Cathedral square, and along the bastions. The return walk through Rabat to see St Paul’s Catacombs adds another hour.

Mdina: Guided Walking Tour↗

Alternatively, a self-guided audio tour covers the same ground at your own pace:

Mdina Audio Tour with Map and Directions↗

4. Blue Lagoon, Comino — with the right timing

The Blue Lagoon is justifiably famous: the water is a particular shade of turquoise caused by the limestone seabed and the shallow depth. The island of Comino between Malta and Gozo is otherwise uninhabited (one hotel, one policeman, no cars).

The problem is peak season crowding: in July and August between 10:00 and 17:00, up to 3,000 visitors a day arrive by tour boat. The solution is timing. Arrive before 09:30 or after 17:00 — the water is clearer, the concrete platforms are empty, and the light is better for swimming.

See the Blue Lagoon timing guide for specific boat departure times and the evening catamaran option.

5. Hagar Qim and Mnajdra prehistoric temples

Malta’s megalithic temples predate Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids by 500-1,000 years. Hagar Qim and Mnajdra sit adjacent to each other on the south coast, with views across to the uninhabited islet of Filfla. They are Heritage Malta sites (tickets €10 each, or a joint ticket).

The temples were built between 3600 and 2500 BCE by a culture that preceded the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, and Knights. The Visitor Centre has a good exhibition explaining the astronomical alignments — the inner chamber at Mnajdra is lit precisely by the solstice sunrise. The shelters protecting the temples are ugly but necessary.

Guided tours of all three main temple sites (Hagar Qim, Mnajdra, and the Tarxien Temples near Paola) run from Valletta.

Prehistoric Temples of Malta Tour (Hagar Qim, Mnajdra, Tarxien)↗

6. Grand Harbour cruise from Sliema or Valletta

Grand Harbour is one of the great natural harbours of the Mediterranean — it sheltered the Knights of Malta for 268 years and withstood a German and Italian siege in World War II. Seen from the water, the scale of the fortifications becomes clear in a way that ground-level walking does not reveal.

A two-harbour cruise covers both the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour (on the Sliema side), passing below the fortifications, the Three Cities waterfront, and the old breakwater. Duration approximately 1.5 hours.

From Sliema: Valletta and the Three Cities Scenic Cruise↗

For a longer experience with dramatic views of the harbour at night:

Malta: Marsamxett Harbour and Grand Harbour Cruise by Night↗

7. Birgu and the Three Cities on foot

The Three Cities (Birgu/Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua) sit directly across Grand Harbour from Valletta and are consistently overlooked. They have the same age as Valletta and considerably fewer visitors. Birgu is where the Knights of Malta first established themselves after arriving in 1530, before the founding of Valletta.

The waterfront at Birgu has the Maritime Museum, Fort St Angelo (a genuine fortress active since the Roman period, tickets €10), and the Inquisitor’s Palace — the only surviving inquisitor’s palace open to the public in Europe. Walk along the Birgu waterfront in the late afternoon and you will find cafés with direct harbour views at Valletta prices minus 30%.

Get there via the Valletta-Three Cities ferry (€1.50 each way) — the five-minute crossing with Grand Harbour views is itself worthwhile.

8. Hike Dingli Cliffs at sunset

Dingli Cliffs on the southwest coast are the highest point on the Maltese islands (253 metres above sea level) and run for approximately 7 km along a limestone plateau. The cliff path is free, accessible from the Dingli village bus stop (route 201 from Valletta), and one of the few places on Malta that feels genuinely remote.

Walk north or south from the chapel of Madlena. At sunset, the cliffs turn amber and the view extends — in clear conditions — to Sicily, 90 km to the north. This is also the best place on the island to see the endemic Malta Feral Donkey (Ħmara tal-Malta) and rare flora.

A guided tour from Valletta combines Dingli with Rabat, Mdina, and Ta’ Qali craft village in a half-day:

Malta: Mdina, Dingli Cliffs and San Anton Botanical Gardens↗

9. Marsaxlokk fishing village

Marsaxlokk is Malta’s main fishing harbour, in the southeast of the island. The traditional luzzu fishing boats — painted in primary colours with the Eye of Osiris on the prow — fill the harbour. On Sunday mornings, a market occupies the waterfront (arrive before 10:00 to avoid the tourist rush). The fish market section, slightly inland, is where locals buy their weekly supply.

The important honest note: the waterfront restaurants on Sunday charge tourist prices (€25-35 for grilled fish). The same quality food in the streets behind costs €18-22. On any weekday, Marsaxlokk is quieter and better value.

From Marsaxlokk, a short boat trip reaches St Peter’s Pool — a series of natural limestone bathing pools with deep blue water, no commercial services, and no sand.

10. Three-cities walking tour and St Angelo

For travellers who want structure, the Three Cities walking tour with Fort St Angelo entry combines the Birgu maritime quarter with the inquisitor’s palace and the fort itself in a guided half-day.

Birgu: 3 Cities Walking Tour With Inquisitor's Palace Entry↗

11. Valletta food tour — street food beyond Republic Street

Valletta’s food scene has developed substantially in 2022-2026, with a cluster of serious restaurants around Strait Street, the Merchants Street area, and the backstreets parallel to Republic Street. A food walking tour is the most efficient way to cover the ground and avoid the overpriced tourist traps on the main artery.

A good food tour covers: the Central Market (fresh produce and local breakfast), a ftira bakery (the traditional Maltese ring bread with tuna and capers), a pastizzi vendor (flaky pastry with ricotta or mushy peas, €0.35 each), and modern Maltese cooking.

Valletta: Street Food and Culture Walking Tour↗

12. Gozo full-day excursion from Malta

Gozo merits its own trip and its own guide (top things to do in Gozo), but if you only have one day for the island, a guided full-day excursion covers the Ggantija temples, the Dwejra Inland Sea, the Citadella in Victoria, and Ramla Bay. The ferry crossing from Cirkewwa takes 25 minutes.

From Malta: Gozo Day Trip Including Ggantija Temples↗

For Gozo in more depth, with temple entry and a guide:

Gozo Full Day visiting Ggantija Temples, Salt Pans & Dwejra↗

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Practical notes for 2026

Getting around: Malta has no trains. Tallinja buses cover most of the island at €2 per trip (flat rate). Bolt (ride-hailing) is widely available and cheaper than white taxis. For Dingli, Marsaxlokk, and the south, a rental car saves time but is not essential.

When to visit: April-May and September-October give the best weather for outdoor activities (22-26°C, lower crowds, reasonable prices). July-August is hot (28-32°C), crowded, and expensive — still fine for beach and boat activities if you manage timing.

Currency: Malta uses the euro. No need to change currency for EU travellers. Cards accepted almost everywhere.

For a budget breakdown: Malta budget calculator.

For accommodation: where to stay in Malta.

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Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need to see the best of Malta?

Five to seven days covers the main island properly (Valletta, Mdina, Three Cities, Dingli, Marsaxlokk, a harbour cruise, and the Blue Lagoon). Add two days for Gozo and half a day for Comino. Ten days gives you genuine depth including slower exploration of Valletta and a few days on a specific theme (diving, food, archaeology).

Is Malta good for first-time visitors?

Exceptionally so. Malta is small, English-speaking everywhere, EU-regulated, well-connected by bus, and safe. The challenge is picking between too many options rather than navigating difficulty. First-timers should prioritise Valletta and the Grand Harbour area on day one — everything else radiates from there.

What is the best time of year to visit Malta?

September is the consensus best month: sea temperature peaks (25°C), summer crowds begin to thin, prices drop 15-20% from August highs, and the light is warm. April and May are excellent for archaeology and walking (wildflowers in bloom, cool enough for hiking). July-August is high season — manageable with early starts and Blue Lagoon timing discipline.

Is Malta expensive for tourists?

Mid-range by southern European standards. Budget travellers can manage €50-70/day (dorm, bus, casual food). A comfortable mid-range trip (3-star hotel, sit-down meals, two activities per day) runs €120-160/day. Luxury options exist at €300+/day. The entry-level experiences — walking Valletta, Mdina, Barrakka Gardens, Dingli Cliffs — are free or very cheap.

Do you need a car in Malta?

No. The Tallinja bus network covers Valletta, Sliema, Mdina, Marsaxlokk, and the north coast without a car. Ferries cover Gozo and Comino. A car helps for Dingli, the rural south, and village exploration — but the standard five-day itinerary is entirely doable without one.

Last reviewed: May 2026