Find places in Malta

Must-Haves

• St John's Co-Cathedral (Valletta)
  A dazzling gilded baroque interior with two Caravaggio paintings in the oratory.
• Grandmaster's Palace (Valletta)
  State rooms and an armoury from the days when the Knights ruled Malta.
• Fort St Elmo and National War Museum (Valletta)
  A star shaped fort telling Malta's story from the Great Siege to the Second World War.
• Lascaris War Rooms (Valletta)
  Underground tunnels where the Allies ran the defence of Malta and planned the Sicily landings.

Off the Beaten Path

• Casa Rocca Piccola (Valletta)
  A noble family palazzo still lived in, with wartime shelters beneath it.

Must-Haves

• Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery (Valletta)
  The best Grand Harbour view, with a cannon salute fired daily.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Lower Barrakka Gardens (Valletta)
  A quieter garden with a breakwater view and the Siege Bell Memorial nearby.

Fun for Everyone

• Valletta to Three Cities ferry (Lascaris Wharf, Valletta)
  A short, scenic harbour crossing that doubles as a cheap harbour tour.
• Malta Experience (Valletta)
  A film introduction to Malta's history, paired with a tour of the Knights' old hospital.

Off the Beaten Path

• Hal Saflieni Hypogeum (Paola)
  An underground prehistoric burial complex carved from rock, with very limited daily entry.

Great for Date Night

• Noni (Republic Street, Valletta)
  Creative modern cooking built on Maltese ingredients in an elegant townhouse.
• Under Grain (Valletta)
  Inventive fine dining in the basement of a boutique hotel.

Must-Haves

• Rubino (Old Bakery Street, Valletta)
  A historic former confectioner serving traditional Maltese dishes and the famous cassata.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Is-Suq tal-Belt (Merchants Street, Valletta)
  A restored Victorian market hall with a food court and grocery below.

Great for Date Night

• Trabuxu Wine Bar (Strait Street, Valletta)
  A cosy vaulted wine cellar with Maltese wines and cheese platters.
• Yard 32 (Strait Street, Valletta)
  A gin bar in a pretty courtyard on Valletta's old sailors' street.

Must-Haves

• Bridge Bar (St Ursula Street, Valletta)
  Locals sit on the steps outside with drinks, and live jazz plays on summer Fridays.

Fun for Everyone

• Cafe Society (St John Street, Valletta)
  A tiny bar where everyone spills onto the stepped street at sunset.

Must-Haves

• Caffe Cordina (Republic Street, Valletta)
  A grand historic café on Republic Square, a classic stop for coffee and Maltese pastries.

Must-Haves

• Merchants Street market (Valletta)
  A daily street market for clothes, souvenirs and everyday bargains.

Off the Beaten Path

• Valletta Waterfront (Floriana)
  Restored baroque warehouses on the harbour, with restaurants and cruise ship views.

Must-Haves

• Valletta Carnival (Valletta)
  Colourful floats, costumes and dancing fill the capital in the days before Lent.
• Malta Jazz Festival (Ta' Liesse, Valletta)
  Open air jazz concerts on the harbour each summer.

Great for Date Night

• Notte Bianca (Valletta)
  A night in early autumn when museums, palaces and streets open late with music and art.

Fun for Everyone

• Malta International Fireworks Festival (Grand Harbour, Valletta)
  Spectacular competition fireworks light up the Grand Harbour in late spring.

Great for Date Night

• The Phoenicia Malta (Floriana)
  A grand 1930s hotel just outside City Gate with gardens and a pool.

Must-Haves

• Rosselli AX Privilege (Merchants Street, Valletta)
  A boutique luxury hotel in a seventeenth century palazzo in the heart of the city.

Off the Beaten Path

• Valletta bastion walk (Valletta)
  Walk the city walls all the way round for views of both harbours.

Must-Haves

• Tower Road promenade (Sliema)
  A long seafront walk with rocky swimming platforms and views of Valletta.
• Comino Blue Lagoon boat trip (The Strand, Sliema)
  Day boats leave for the turquoise lagoon between Malta and Gozo.

Fun for Everyone

• Sliema to Valletta ferry (The Strand, Sliema)
  A ten minute crossing with the best view of Valletta's skyline.

Great for Date Night

• Spinola Bay (St Julian's)
  A pretty harbour of fishing boats and waterfront restaurants, lovely at night.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Balluta Bay (St Julian's)
  An elegant bay with an Art Nouveau building, a church and a small swimming spot.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Fond Għadir rocks (Sliema)
  Flat rock platforms where locals swim in clear water off the promenade.

Fun for Everyone

• St George's Bay (St Julian's)
  The nearest sandy beach to Sliema, small and lively in summer.

Off the Beaten Path

• Għar id-Dud (Tower Road, Sliema)
  A seafront spot named after a small cave, popular for an evening swim.

Off the Beaten Path

• Fort Manoel (Manoel Island, Gżira)
  A Knights' fort with a parade ground and views across Marsamxett Harbour.

Great for Date Night

• Barracuda (Main Street, St Julian's)
  Seafood in an old seafront villa looking over Balluta Bay.

Fun for Everyone

• Zest (Spinola Bay, St Julian's)
  Asian and Mediterranean dishes in a restored townhouse over the bay.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Ta' Kris (Fawwara Lane, Sliema)
  Hearty Maltese home cooking, including rabbit and bragioli, in a former bakery.

Fun for Everyone

• Paceville (St Julian's)
  Malta's nightlife district, packed with clubs and bars on summer weekends.

Great for Date Night

• Hugo's Terrace and Rooftop (St George's Bay, St Julian's)
  A rooftop bar with a pool and views over St George's Bay.

Low Cost and Authentic

• The Thirsty Barber (Spinola, St Julian's)
  A quirky barbershop themed cocktail bar near Spinola Bay.

Must-Haves

• The Point (Tigné Point, Sliema)
  Malta's largest shopping centre, at the tip of Sliema with harbour views.

Must-Haves

• AX The Palace (Sliema)
  A modern hotel with a rooftop pool and views of Valletta.

Great for Date Night

• Hotel Juliani (Spinola Bay, St Julian's)
  A boutique hotel in a restored townhouse right on Spinola Bay.

Fun for Everyone

• Hilton Malta (Portomaso, St Julian's)
  A large resort with pools, a marina and the bay a short walk away.

Must-Haves

• St Paul's Cathedral, Mdina (Mdina)
  A baroque cathedral on the site where tradition says St Paul met the Roman governor.
• St Paul's Catacombs (Rabat)
  Underground Roman and early Christian burial chambers spread over a large site.

Fun for Everyone

• Mdina Cathedral Museum (Mdina)
  Religious art, coins and prints by Dürer in a baroque seminary.

Off the Beaten Path

• Palazzo Falson (Villegaignon Street, Mdina)
  A medieval house museum full of art, arms and curiosities.
• St Agatha's Catacombs (Rabat)
  Catacombs with rare painted frescoes, plus a small museum above.

Must-Haves

• Mdina Gate and the Silent City (Mdina)
  Wander the hushed lanes of Malta's old walled capital, best at dusk.

Off the Beaten Path

• Clapham Junction cart ruts (Dingli)
  Mysterious ancient grooves cut into the rock, still unexplained.

Great for Date Night

• Fontanella Tea Garden (Bastion Street, Mdina)
  Famous chocolate cake and a view across the island from the bastions.

Great for Date Night

• de Mondion (Xara Palace, Mdina)
  Fine dining on a bastion terrace with island wide views.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Crystal Palace (Rabat)
  A legendary pastizzi bar opposite Mdina, open from early morning till late.

Great for Date Night

• The Xara Palace Relais and Châteaux (Mdina)
  An intimate hotel in a seventeenth century palazzo inside the walls.

Must-Haves

• Dingli Cliffs (Dingli)
  High sea cliffs that are Malta's favourite sunset spot.

Great for Date Night

• Buskett Gardens (Siġġiewi)
  A shady woodland and orange groves, rare in dry Malta.

Low Cost and Authentic

• San Anton Gardens (Attard)
  Formal gardens around the President's palace, free and peaceful.

Fun for Everyone

• Ta' Qali Crafts Village (Ta' Qali)
  Workshops for Mdina glass, silver filigree and lace in old wartime huts.

Must-Haves

• Fort St Angelo (Birgu)
  The Knights' stronghold of the Great Siege, restored with harbour views.
• Inquisitor's Palace (Birgu)
  One of the few surviving inquisitors' palaces, with courts and cells.

Fun for Everyone

• Malta Maritime Museum (Birgu)
  Ships, models and naval history in the old British naval bakery.
• Basilica of Our Lady of Victories (Senglea)
  Senglea's grand church, heart of its lively September festa.

Off the Beaten Path

• Malta at War Museum (Birgu)
  Wartime life and a rock cut air raid shelter under the town.

Off the Beaten Path

• Gardjola Gardens (Senglea)
  A lookout carved with an eye and ear, facing Valletta across the harbour.

Great for Date Night

• Dgħajsa harbour boat ride (Birgu Waterfront)
  A ride in a painted traditional boat around the Grand Harbour creeks.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Collacchio quarter walk (Birgu)
  Narrow lanes where the Knights first lived, with auberges and tiny squares.

Off the Beaten Path

• Cottonera Lines (Cospicua)
  Huge fortifications ringing the Three Cities, quiet for a walk.

Great for Date Night

• Don Berto (Birgu Waterfront)
  Pasta and seafood on the marina with yachts and Valletta views.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Del Borgo (Birgu)
  A wine bar in old cellars in the heart of the Collacchio.

Must-Haves

• Birgufest (Birgu)
  Streets lit by thousands of candles in October, with open museums and music.

Fun for Everyone

• Regatta on Victory Day (Grand Harbour)
  Traditional rowing boats race on 8 September as the Three Cities cheer.

Great for Date Night

• Cugó Gran Macina (Senglea)
  A boutique hotel in a historic Knights' building on the waterfront.

Must-Haves

• Cittadella (Victoria)
  A fortified hilltop town with a cathedral and views over all of Gozo.
• Ġgantija Temples (Xagħra)
  Some of the oldest freestanding buildings in the world.

Fun for Everyone

• Ta' Pinu Basilica (Għarb)
  Malta's national shrine, standing alone in the countryside.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ninu's Cave (Xagħra)
  A small stalactite cave reached through a family home.

Must-Haves

• Ramla Bay (Nadur)
  A red golden sandy beach in a green valley.
• Dwejra and the Inland Sea (San Lawrenz)
  Cliffs, Fungus Rock and a lagoon linked to the sea by a tunnel.

Off the Beaten Path

• Xwejni salt pans (Marsalforn)
  Centuries old rock cut salt pans still worked in summer.
• Wied il-Għasri (Żebbuġ)
  A narrow sea gorge with a tiny pebble cove for a quiet swim.

Great for Date Night

• San Blas Bay (Nadur)
  A small red sand beach reached by a steep path through orchards.

Fun for Everyone

• Xlendi Bay (Xlendi)
  A narrow bay with rock swimming and seafront restaurants.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ta' Kola Windmill (Xagħra)
  A restored windmill showing old Gozitan rural life.

Must-Haves

• Diving at Dwejra (San Lawrenz)
  The Blue Hole and Inland Sea tunnel are among Europe's famous dives.

Must-Haves

• Ta' Rikardu (Cittadella, Victoria)
  Gozitan cheeses, ravioli and wine from the owner's own farm.

Great for Date Night

• Ta' Frenc (Marsalforn)
  Refined dining in a farmhouse surrounded by fields.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mekren's Bakery (Nadur)
  A traditional bakery famous for ftira and wood fired bread.

Fun for Everyone

• Il-Kartell (Marsalforn)
  A seafront restaurant in old boathouses, good for fish and pasta.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Victoria morning market (It-Tokk square, Victoria)
  A small square market for local produce, lace and souvenirs.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ta' Dbiegi Crafts Village (San Lawrenz)
  Lace, pottery and glass from local makers.

Must-Haves

• Gozo carnival in Nadur (Nadur)
  An unscripted, spontaneous carnival with eerie homemade costumes.

Great for Date Night

• Opera at the Aurora and Astra theatres (Victoria)
  Two rival theatres stage full opera productions every autumn.

Must-Haves

• Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz (San Lawrenz)
  A countryside resort near Dwejra with pools and a spa.

Fun for Everyone

• Gozo farmhouse stays (Għarb)
  Converted stone farmhouses with private pools are a Gozo classic.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Gleneagles Bar (Mġarr, Gozo)
  A friendly harbour bar where fishermen and visitors share drinks.

Must-Haves

• Marsaxlokk Sunday Fish Market (Marsaxlokk)
  Fresh catch and stalls along the harbour of colourful luzzu boats.

Must-Haves

• Marsaxlokk harbour and luzzu boats (Marsaxlokk)
  Painted fishing boats with the eye of Osiris on the bow.
• Blue Grotto (Wied iż-Żurrieq)
  Small boats visit sea caves glowing blue in morning light.

Fun for Everyone

• Popeye Village (Anchor Bay, Mellieħa)
  The colourful film set from the 1980 musical, now a family park.

Must-Haves

• Tartarun (Marsaxlokk)
  A favourite for fresh fish and seafood on the harbour front.

Must-Haves

• St Peter's Pool (Delimara)
  A natural rock pool with clear water and jumping ledges.
• Golden Bay (Mġarr)
  A wide sandy beach on the west coast famous for sunsets.

Off the Beaten Path

• Wied iż-Żurrieq valley walk (Żurrieq)
  A coastal path from the Blue Grotto towards the temples, with cliff views.
• Għajn Tuffieħa Bay (Mġarr)
  A sandy bay below clay slopes, reached by steps from a watchtower.

Fun for Everyone

• Mellieħa Bay (Għadira) (Mellieħa)
  Malta's longest sandy beach, shallow and ideal for children.

Must-Haves

• Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Temples (Qrendi)
  Prehistoric temples on the southern cliffs, aligned with the sun at the solstices.

Fun for Everyone

• Tarxien Temples (Tarxien)
  Prehistoric temples with spiral carvings in a quiet town setting.

Off the Beaten Path

• Għar Dalam Cave (Birżebbuġa)
  A cave with fossils of dwarf elephants and hippos from the Ice Age.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Village festa season (Across Malta)
  Summer weekends of fireworks, band marches and decorated streets in every parish.