Things to do in Malta: Attractions and places to visit

1. Valletta – the capital city

Malta’s most famous destination is Valletta, the Maltese capital “Il Belt”, located on the north coast of the country. Designed on a drawing board from the 16th century, Valletta today bears witness to the mystical Order of Malta with its knights, but also to traces of the EU with its modern parliament building. Valletta is wonderfully easy to explore, as Republic Street, which is about 2 km long, leads through the walled headland.

Small shops line up next to historic buildings, all in the yellowish shining stone look. Towards the water, the stairways drop steeply in some places and are the best way to walk around Valletta in the dark. At the top of the capital is the fortress of St. Elmo, seemingly unimpressed by its long history. Valletta was already inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980 for its cultural wealth.

2. The Blue Grotto

Those who think of Capri at the “Blue Grotto” will be surprised by the namesake in the south of the main island. Here, too, the sea can be found in all its facets between light blue and deep dark blue, framed by stately rocky cliffs. The Blue Grotto is about 25 metres high and is regularly approached by boats, from where you can experience an enchanting play of light.

Along the stony south coast you can drive through small dreamy places with the rental car or make the Playmobil Fun Park unsafe with the little ones. The visit of the Blue Grotto is admittedly a bit touristic, as one can only participate in guided tours, but the special play of colours is worthwhile!

3. The hypogeum of Hal Saflieni

In the immediate vicinity of Valletta lie the impressive temples of Tarxien. Here inquisitive witnesses of the Maltese megalithic culture, whose history can be traced back to the 4th millennium BC, can be seen. The exploration of the deep soil, where the hypogeum of Hal Saflieni can be found, is particularly exciting.

Unique in its age and state of preservation, this monument combines an underground temple with a mystical tomb and place of worship. Here one dives into the human prehistory, a completely different world under the earth. In the acoustic room you can listen to the beautiful sounds just like before.

4. St. John’s Co-Cathedral

From the outside it hardly stands out from the usual Valletta, but inside the St. John’s Co-Cathedral is hardly to be surpassed in pomp. Those who are looking for the most famous sights in this country will find the most beautiful one in a side street of Republic Street in the capital. The Konkathedrale owes its strange name to its position as the second bishop’s seat of the archbishopric, which once again underlines the country’s long history, marked by different currents.

Inside the cathedral the guests feel like in the Vatican. Rich decorations, wonderful inlays and magnificent tombstones dominate the room. Here the Grand Masters of the Maltese Lodge rest and in the oratory you can admire a real Caravaggio. A visit to Valletta cannot end without a visit to this extraordinary place of worship.

5. Silent Mdina

The city of silence is the counterpart of the planned city of Valletta and is situated in a central location. Mdina is the old capital of Malta and has impressively preserved its former face. Even from a distance you can see the slightly elevated fortified town, reinforced all around with a high city wall.

In fact, the awe-inspiring tourist first walks through a city gate and is suddenly in another world. Narrow alleys, completely preserved buildings, a magnificent cathedral take you straight into the Middle Ages. Everything’s quiet, even at rush hour. Whoever has seen Mdina understands the Maltese a little better.

6. The Rotunda Santa Marija Assunta

If St. John’s Co-Cathedral captivates with its interior, the exterior clearly dominates in this homage to the Roman Pantheon. The Rotunda has the fourth largest church dome in the world and certainly the most impressive if you consider its limestone construction material. The interior is slightly more spartan, but forms a wonderful frame for the main actor, the dome.

7. The standing stones of Hagar Qim

Those who do not enjoy the sea water in Malta will certainly have some form of stone in their field of vision. Perhaps the most attractive, because stately and functional among them can be found in the south of the island in the cult center Hagar Qim. The golden yellow, rather soft limestone is omnipresent here. Quarry stone walls and watchtowers surround the area, which is characterised by dizzying quarries.

Hagar Qim is a rather lonely place of the past with large stone blocks that once served as stone age temples. The whole complex was earlier and is still a place of cult, oracles and religion. The view from outside to the wide sea and the equally wide Maltese landscape is the same as thousands of years ago.

8. The beautiful Gozo

Easy to reach by ferry is Gozo, Malta’s little brother. Here everything is a bit quieter and the landscape is richer and greener. You have to breathe in sunny island idylls and discover tranquil villages. Victoria (or Rabat) is the capital of Gozos.

Another of the many island sightseeings is Xewkija, whose domed church is not as big as the one in Mdina, but towers over the whole place once more. To the west, at the tip of the Maltese islands furthest from Valletta, the cliffs drop steeply. For a long time the famous Azure Window was displayed here before it sank into the floods after a storm.

9. Malta’s Blue Lagoon off Comino

Comino is the little brother of Gozo, thus the nestling of Malta, and with its only 2,5 km² it is hardly worth mentioning. Those who nevertheless book a boat tour here will hardly find any vegetation, only barren scree fields. Therefore, the path must lead to the sea – more precisely to the Blue Lagoon, which not only sounds magical, but is also of unique beauty.

In good weather, the water shines in the purest blue tones and turns the waves of the Mediterranean Sea into turquoise sights. There is only a very small sandy beach at the Blue Lagoon, most visitors settle down in the cliffs and spend the day bathing and snorkeling in the water anyway. Comino is the most relaxed of the three main islands of Malta.

10. Film set Popeye Village

Malta is a popular location for filming due to its unique landscapes and mild weather. In 1979 a Canadian fishing village was built here, which in the film was the home of Popeye the Sailor. The film became a flop, but the imaginative village still attracts with interesting details and a small amusement park – also ideal for families!

Best time to visit Malta

We recommend the following months as best time to travel for exploring the attractions and acivities of Malta:

May, June, July, August, September, October, and November

You can find more information about the weather, including all climate data, on our climate page for Malta.