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Region

Malta Island

Base once on the main island; see the rest by bus and ferry in day-trips.

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Key facts · Malta

Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Visa
Depends on your passport
Currency
Euro (EUR, €)
Language
Maltese and English
Plugs
G · 230 V
Time zone
CET, UTC+1
Month by month hereIn detail ↓
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Italy and Malta ↗The region's headline sights run on timed tickets that sell out: book the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, the Uffizi, the Last Supper and Malta's Hypogeum before you fix train and hotel dates.
  • Italy and Malta ↗Budget for per-night city taxes in Italy (up to about €10 a person in Rome), Malta's per-night environmental contribution, and Venice's day-visitor fee on peak days; none are included in most online room prices.
  • Malta ↗Malta is in the EU and the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border.
  • Malta ↗Traffic drives on the left; if you hire a car, expect narrow roads, heavy traffic and limited parking in the towns.
  • Malta ↗Sockets are the UK three-pin type (Type G); bring the right adapter.
  • Malta ↗Every licensed stay adds an environmental contribution per adult per night (€1.50 from 1 July 2026, capped per stay — check), collected by the hotel or host.

Malta Island is small: Valletta to Mdina is about 30 minutes by bus, and the whole island is roughly 27 km end to end. Changing hotels every night costs more time than the rides. Sleep in Valletta or Sliema for harbour access and buses, or in St. Julian's, Buġibba or Mellieħa for the beach side; day-trip the rest. Gozo is a separate island and a separate page.

Where to sleep

9 places in this region

Sleep base

Day trip

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

4 nights
Valletta or Sliema 4; Mdina, Cottonera and the south temples as day-trips
6 nights
Valletta 3 + north coast (Mellieħa or Buġibba) 3; Gozo as a long day or move there
  • Valletta + Mdina + the Three Cities + Gozo in two days is four half-days of transit.
  • Summer buses to the north beaches fill up; a missed bus can mean a 30-minute wait.

Day-trips door to door

ToFromDoor-to-door p50Last returnNote
MdinaValletta40 minunknownBuses run into the evening; the walled town is best after about 16:00.
CottoneraValletta15 minunknownFerry across the harbour, then walk; check the last ferry time.
Mellieħa and the north beachesValletta70 minunknownLong bus ride; go early, come back before the evening crush.
Hagar Qim and MnajdraValletta60 minunknownBuses pass the site about hourly; the walk down to Mnajdra is about 1 km (0.6 mi).

Bags between cities

No luggage forwarding on the island; with a car, move bags yourself — parking near Valletta is scarce.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
CountryJFMAMJJASOND
Valletta
Sliema
St. Julian's
Mdina
Cottonera (Three Cities)
Mellieħa
Buġibba
Qawra
Żejtun
Malta (country-wide)
Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month
ZoneJFMAMJJASOND
Malta Islandwhole main islandcoolcoolokbestbesthothothotbestbestokcool
best: dry, mildok: workablecool: jacket, greyhot: short walking windows
Malta Island
July and August are hot and dry, often above 30 °C (86 °F); the sea stays warm into October. Winter is mild but wet and windy.

April to June and September to October give the best walking weather; August is beach weather with strong sun.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate
FromToHowp50Note
MLA (Malta International, Luqa)VallettaBus or taxi~20–30 minThe island's only airport; buses run to Valletta and the resort towns.
Sicily (Pozzallo or Catania)VallettaPassenger ferrycheckSeasonal and not daily; check the operator's timetable before booking.
Gozo (Mġarr)Cirkewwa, north tipGozo Channel ferry~25 min crossingFrequent sailings; buses meet the ferry at Cirkewwa.

Regional passes

Verdict first

Tallinja card

buy

Cheaper single fares and day/week options; tap on buses across the island.

Valletta–Three Cities ferry

buy

A short hop that saves the long way round the harbour; pay per crossing.

Gozo ferry

check

Foot passengers pay on the return leg; cars pay more — check current fares.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works
DishWhereTiming / trap
Pastizzi and ftiraValletta and village bakeriesCheap snack; pastizzi sell out by mid-morning in busy shops.
Fresh fishMarsaxlokk and the harbour townsSunday market morning is the busiest; book lunch ahead.
Rabbit stew (stuffat tal-fenek)Village restaurants, Mdina and the southOften a weekend dish; ask before ordering.
Kinnie and local wineIsland-wideBitter soft drink and inexpensive local labels.

Go next

Gozo

planned

Ferry from Cirkewwa, ~25 min

Two nights does it justice; a day trip is rushed.

Valletta

Bus or ferry from Sliema

The capital and the main bus hub.

Valletta and the Grand Harbour

Walk or ferry

Harbour forts, ferries and the waterfront.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids3 partsIn numbers · Going in… · Trips here

Region in numbers

Where to sleep
3 bases
Day trips
4, 15 min to 1 h 10
Nights suggested
4–6 nights
Ways in
3 listed
Best months
Apr, May, Sep, Oct

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Trips that stop here

From the Malta guide

  • Valletta only, 5 nights

    5 nights here

    valletta

  • Malta and Gozo

    7 days · 5 nights here

    Valletta → Gozo

  • Sicily and Malta

    10 days · 5 nights here

    Taormina or Catania → Syracuse → Valletta

  • Rome and Malta

    14 days · 6 nights here

    Rome → Vatican (morning) → Valletta → Gozo

All Malta trips →

Travel to Malta Up to Malta

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

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