Malta Trip Itinerary: How To Spend 1 Week In Malta

This post was last updated on 2024 September 17

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Planning a trip to Malta and wondering how many days in Malta you need?

My default answer to this question, no matter the destination, is nearly always: AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE. But I realize that not everyone has unlimited time to travel, and also not everyone has the desire to thoroughly explore a destination with the finest of fine tooth combs like I do ;)

So when it comes to deciding on a Malta trip itinerary, I think one week in Malta is ideal to get a very good feel for the country and see the best of it.

If you have more time on your hands and feel like you could easily spend many days exploring beaches and historical sites or going diving, two weeks in Malta would be even better (which is what I did when I visited).

In this post, I outline a Malta 7 day itinerary for you to follow, which includes what I consider to be the best things to do in Malta. If you want to spend more than one week in Malta, I’ve also included some extra sights that you can add to your extended Malta itinerary.

Ready to get excited about this naturally stunning and vastly underrated Mediterranean gem? Let’s dive into this 7 day Malta trip itinerary!

Important Things To Know About Malta

Beaches or History? Choose your own adventure

There are two very clear tracks you can take when spending 1 week in Malta: beaches or history.

Malta has more than enough incredible beaches and historical sites that you could fill a Malta trip itinerary with ONLY beaches or ONLY historical sites and literally nothing else. They do both things extremely well here.

My August 2023 Malta trip was very heavily biased toward beaches (duh, no surprise there), but I did sprinkle a little history in as well.

This Malta 7 day itinerary has a good balance between both beaches and history so that you have a well rounded experience of Malta and get to enjoy the best of what this delightful country has to offer.

Regions of Malta

When looking at this Malta 7 day itinerary, I think it’s super useful to have an idea of Malta’s geography and what’s located where so that it all makes sense.

Malta itself is comprised of 3 islands:

• Malta is the main island, the largest island, and the eastern-most island. The east side of Malta is the most developed, and is where the airport as well as the major cities (Sliema, Valletta, The Three Cities) are located.
• Gozo is the smaller, western-most island. It’s much quieter and has more of a local feel than the other islands.
• Comino is a tiny island in the middle, hugely popular for day trips and sailing trips to its Caribbean-esque turquoise waters. No overnight accommodation is available here.

When it comes to booking accommodation in Malta, you could book one accommodation on Malta and one on Gozo, but what I did (and what I recommend in the Malta trip itinerary below) is to book one accommodation in Sliema or a nearby city, one accommodation elsewhere on Malta, and one accommodation in Gozo. This will cut down on all the driving back and forth across Malta, as there are sights all over the island. The island isn’t that big though, so staying at just one hotel or B&B on Malta is definitely doable – it comes down to your preference, really.

Car Rental in Malta

Though Malta has a surprisingly effective bus system that will take you to many of the best sights in Malta, to make the most out of your 7 days in Malta, you really need to have a car.

Thankfully car rentals in Malta are surprisingly affordable, even in summer. I paid 35 euros/day for an automatic car rental in Malta with Josef Car Hire, which was about half the daily rate I paid to rent a car in Italy one week later (both rentals were in August 2023).

CLICK TO BOOK A RENTAL CAR IN MALTA

Most if not all car rentals in Malta are done at the airport, so the easiest thing would be to pick up your rental car at the airport when you land, and drop it off as you catch your flight out of the country.

HOWEVER… if you plan to stay in Sliema, Valletta, or nearby, having a car becomes a hassle when dealing with traffic and limited parking in cities. Valletta also charges an access toll if you drive in the city on weekdays from 8am-6pm.

In this Malta itinerary, I’ve recommended staying in the Sliema/Valletta area for the first two days. If you don’t want to deal with a rental car that you won’t even need while exploring these cities, you can opt to take a taxi from the airport instead of your rental car, and then after those two days you can take a taxi back to the airport and pick up your rental car for the rest of the trip.

Or, if you don’t mind city driving/parking, feel free to rent a car for your entire Malta trip :)  It’s up to you!

Other things to know about driving in Malta:

• In Malta, you drive on the LEFT side of the road (like in the UK and Australia).
• Narrow roads are the norm in much of Malta and Gozo. You’ll need to get used to pulling over to let oncoming cars pass by, as there are many segments where two cars can’t comfortably fit across the width of the road.
• If you do NOT hold a license from the EU, Switzerland, or Australia, you will need an international driving permit to drive in Malta. Be sure to order one in advance of your Malta trip and always have it on hand when driving in the country.
• It only takes about 45 minutes to drive across the island of Malta.
• You can take your rental car on the ferry to Gozo, but you likely will not be allowed to take it to another country (e.g. Sicily, Italy).

CLICK TO BOOK A RENTAL CAR IN MALTA

Malta-Gozo Ferry

Taking your rental car on the ferry to Gozo is super easy and requires no planning or pre-booking. All you have to do is show up and follow signs or staff members directing traffic. They will indicate when you should board the ferry and where to park.

You don’t have to pay when boarding the ferry from Malta; instead, you’ll pay for the return trip when you leave Gozo. An attendant will take your payment from a booth just before you drive your car onto the ferry at the Gozo terminal.

As of summer 2024, the Gozo ferry costs €4.65 per passenger, and €15.70 for car+passenger (so if you are two people taking a car on the ferry, you’ll pay €20.35 total for the round trip ferry).

The Malta ferry terminal is located in Cirkewwa, and the Gozo ferry terminal is located in Mgarr. The ferry trip takes about 25 minutes, has both indoor and outdoor seating, and offers a bar and a little convenience shop onboard. I highly recommend taking a seat outside so you can admire the excellent cliff views as you pass Comino.

Malta Itinerary: 7 Days

VALLETTA / THE THREE CITIES

This may be a hot take, but if I only had 7 days in Malta, I’d probably skip Valletta, Sliema, and the Three Cities and fill those days with more outdoor adventures elsewhere on the island.

However, it would be irresponsible of me to exclude them from a Malta trip itinerary because they’re pretty epic if you’re into history and city frolicking. So here they are :)

As I mentioned above, you’re probably not going to want to drive in these cities, so I’d advise either checking with your accommodation to see if they have any parking options or recommendations, or picking up your rental car on day 2 after you leave the cities.

 

WHERE TO STAY: Sliema is where most people stay in this part of Malta, as there are the most accommodation options and it’s very well connected to the other cities nearby.

Day 1: Sliema / Valletta

Freshly arrived in Malta, you’re gonna want to perk up with the best coffee in Sliema at Coffee & Strangers Espresso Bar. Honestly, it may even be the best coffee in all of Malta (though I can’t definitively say without going back to do some thorough research).

Depending on when you arrive in Malta, you may or may not have ample exploring time on your first day. Here’s what you can do closeby to your Sliema accommodation:

Sliema

If you don’t have too much time on your arrival day or just want to take it easy, I recommend just walking along the Sliema waterfront. Start by the ferry wharf and walk left (counterclockwise around the peninsula, or loosely heading north) for as long as you’d like. If you keep going, you’ll reach St. Julian’s (a neighboring town).

At the start of the walk, you’ll enjoy views out toward Valletta; then as you round the corner and start walking north, the waterfront becomes dotted with beach clubs (called ‘lidos’) and rocky outcrops popular for sunbathing. There aren’t any sandy beaches around; instead, you’ll see ladders and stone steps carved into the rock for swimmers to safely access the sea. Honestly, if you’re at all jetlagged or otherwise exhausted from your journey to Malta, you might as well come straight here to laze around, relax in the sun, soak up that Maltese lido lifestyle.

Note to Below Deck fans: Season 7 of Below Deck Med had their “crew day off” at the Surfside beach club, which you’ll pass on this walk.

Valletta

Valletta, Malta’s capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site rich in history and architectural beauty. The best thing to do is take the ferry over from Sliema and just wander around the narrow streets without much of a plan.

The ferry to Valletta departs from the Sliema ferry wharf every half hour, costs €2.80 return, and takes about 10 minutes each way. It’s easiest to pay by cash onboard, or you can buy a ferry ticket from a nearby kiosk in advance.

A few of the top things to do in Valletta:

• St. John’s Co-Cathedral – One of Valletta’s most iconic landmarks, this Baroque cathedral is known for its opulent interior, including intricate marble floors and a famous Caravaggio painting. Tickets are €15.
• Upper Barrakka Gardens – These lovely gardens offer panoramic views of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. Just below the gardens, the Saluting Battery is used for the daily ceremonial gun salute, which is fired at noon.
• Casa Rocca Piccola – A living museum within in a 16th-century palace that’s still home to a noble Maltese family. Tickets are €9.50 and allow you to tour the rooms and underground World War II shelters.
• Fort St. Elmo and the National War Museum – A fortress that played a crucial role during the Great Siege of 1565 and World War II. The museum highlights Malta’s military history. Tickets are €10.

Day 2: The Three Cities / Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum

The Three Cities

The Three Cities in Malta are the historic fortified cities of Birgu (Vittoriosa), Isla (Senglea), and Bormla (Cospicua). They are located across the Grand Harbour from Valletta, visible from Upper Barrakka Gardens.

The Three Cities are steeped in history, and there’s no shortage of forts, palaces, museums, and churches to see in this area. Among them include:

• Fort St. Angelo (Birgu), €10 admission
• Inquisitor’s Palace (Birgu), €6 admission
• St. Lawrence’s Catholic Church (Birgu)
• Gardjola Gardens (Isla)
• Immaculate Conception Church (Bormla)

Much like in Valletta, you could spend your time hopping from historic site to historic site, learning more about Malta’s past, ticking things off your Malta to-do list in The Three Cities. It’s seriously a history buff’s dream!

But if you’re more like me (aka history doesn’t interest you much, and you just like looking at pretty things), you might have more fun just wandering the narrow streets and ogling the cool medieval buildings and colorful balconies. It’s a top place for frolicking!

Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum

If you see just one archaeological site in Malta, let it be the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum.

The Hypogeum is an amazing underground prehistoric burial site located in Paola, which is closer to The Three Cities than to Sliema. It’s easiest to drive there, but it’s also reachable by bus (20 mins from Bormla or Valletta, 1 hour from Sliema).

Simply put, the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the world, and one of the best things to do in Malta. It dates back to around 4000 BC and is a very well preserved UNESCO World Heritage Site. With 3 levels to explore and numerous intricate carvings and paintings to observe, there’s so much to see here.

Tickets cost €35 and must be booked several weeks (or months) in advance because admission is strictly limited. So basically, if this is on your Malta trip itinerary, you should book tickets as soon as your trip is confirmed. Don’t leave it til just before you arrive like I did :(

MALTA

WHERE TO STAY: It’s a little overwhelming trying to figure out what part of the island to base yourself in on this Malta 7 day itinerary. Since it’s relatively small, it’s not a big deal if you do end up having to drive halfway across the island to see some sights. So don’t worry too much!

I opted to base myself in Mellieħa, which is in the northwest corner of Malta, as the things I was most eager to see were in that part of the island. Plus, it’s just a 10 minute drive to the ferry wharf and terminal, which made for quick and easy access to the boats to Comino and Gozo.

Mellieħa itself is a cute little town with plenty of restaurants and shops. If you stay here, you MUST watch the sunset from Sea View Cafe, preferably with an aperol spritz in hand (aka the unofficial sponsor of summer in the Med). The cafe is set on a hill overlooking Mellieħa Bay, and you can watch the sun go down over Gozo – it’s absolutely magical.

St. Paul’s Bay is another popular place to stay in Malta. It’s the starting point for many boat trips, and it’s also quite developed so there are lots of accommodation and restaurant options.

Day 3: Blue Grotto / Ħaġar Qim Temple / Mdina

Blue Grotto

Day 3 of this one week in Malta itinerary marks the start of your island adventures! Hop in your rental car (or go pick it up if you haven’t already) and leave Sliema for the Blue Grotto (about 30mins south).

The Blue Grotto is one of Malta’s most famous natural attractions, located near the village of Wied iż-Żurrieq. It’s a complex of sea caves known for their stunning blue waters and dramatic rock formations.

It’s worth stopping at the observation deck to view the Blue Grotto from above before driving down into town to take the Blue Grotto boat tour.

Pro tip: Aim to visit as early as possible in the morning to avoid the crowds! When I went in late morning, I couldn’t find a place to park so unfortunately was not able to take the boat trip :(

If you do make it for the tour, Blue Grotto Boat Service runs 20 minute boat trips for €10 (cash only). The boat takes you through the caves around the Blue Grotto, which is the only way to access them.

Ħaġar Qim Temple & Mnajdra Temple

Next on your Malta trip itinerary, you can stop at the nearby Ħaġar Qim Temple and Mnajdra Temple, which are just a few minutes up the road. I wouldn’t go out of the way to see them, but since you’re already so close, you might as well stop and check them out. If you’ve already seen the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, you’re probably fine to skip these temples (unless of course history/archaeology is your thing!).

A €10 ticket gets you access to both temples with a self-guided audio tour. The temples are largely in ruins, but well preserved.

Mdina

Spend the afternoon exploring Mdina, aka the “Silent City” and former capital of Malta.

Mdina is an old fortified city surrounded by walls and perched on a hill. It’s Euro medieval vibes out the wazoo here (aka VERY FUN for frolicking and taking photos). Think: lots of narrow streets and cute squares to stumble upon inside the city walls.

Things to see and do in Mdina include:

• Mdina Gate – The entrance to the city, an impressive Baroque structure constructed in the 18th century. It has been featured in several movies and TV shows, including Game of Thrones.
• St. Paul’s Cathedral – A stunning Baroque cathedral with an interior featuring beautiful marble floors and intricate frescoes.
• Palazzo Falson – A 13th-century noble residence that’s now a museum with a fascinating collection of art, antiques, and medieval weapons.
• National Museum Of Natural History – Housed in an elegant 18th-century palace, this museum celebrates Malta’s natural history, with exhibits showcasing fossils, minerals, birds, and other wildlife native to Malta.

Equally enjoyable is the town of Rabat, right next to Mdina. Grab coffee and lunch at the quirky Coffee Circus Smile, check out the nearby St. Paul’s Catacombs (€6), and pose for photos in front of the colorful windows (location here). 

Day 4: Popeye Village / Riviera Beach

Popeye Village

Popeye Village (aka Sweethaven Village) was originally built as the film set for the 1980 musical “Popeye” starring Robin Williams, and has since been transformed into a theme park. Its 20+ colorful wooden buildings nestled into seaside cliffs make for an excellent photo op, best viewed from the Popeye Village Viewpoint (location here).

Tickets to Popeye Village cost €24 and include a variety of activities for both kids and adults, such as:

• Touring the film set
• Live performances with costumed characters
• An interactive cinema experience + animation shows
• Boat rides around Anchor Bay
• Inflatables, trampolines, floating sun deck, and an assault course – all in the water
• Mini golf

If you’d rather not bother with the theme park but want to be amongst it, head down to the Anchor Bay viewpoint where you can lay out on the stone jetty and go for a swim in Anchor Bay.

CLICK TO BOOK TICKETS TO POPEYE VILLAGE

Riviera Beach

Fellow beach lovers, buckle up: you’re in for a real treat with this one!

Riviera Beach (Għajn Tuffieħa Bay) is my pick for the best beach in Malta.

Located in the northwest of Malta (just 5km south of Popeye Village), Riviera Beach is famous for its orange sand, crystal-clear water, and headland walk.

Note: There is limited street parking near Riviera Beach, so be prepared to pay to park in nearby lots.

You’re greeted with a sensational view of the bay at the top of the stairs leading down to the beach. If sunbathing and swimming is atop of your to-do list, head down the stairs and try your luck at finding a free patch of sand to lay your towel on (Riviera Beach has quite a narrow strip of sand, so space is limited). The water is shallow for quite a ways out, making it ideal for kids to swim and snorkel. Sunbeds and umbrellas are also available to rent.

If soaking up this gorgeous beach from every possible angle is your priority, you’ll want to detour from the stairs and head left on the footpath that passes above the beach and over to the headland.

I cannot emphasize how incredible the views are from this headland. Whatever you do, do NOT skip the walk up here! Not only do you get to enjoy the best views of Riviera Beach from above, but also of neighboring Qarraba Bay – and more importantly, its multi-colored clay cliffs that look like they were plucked straight from a volcanic crater.

Don’t be afraid to hike further up from the headland, towards Qarraba Bay. The views are even better from up here! The trail actually continues all the way to Gnejna Beach.

If you have time, you can rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard at nearby Golden Bay and paddle to Riviera Beach and over to Qarraba Bay, Ta’ Babu Cove, and Gnejna Bay.

COMINO

Day 5: Comino

Every Malta trip itinerary requires a day trip to Comino, the small island nestled between Malta and Gozo with the most vibrant turquoise waters. It is visually STUNNING and an absolute must-do on this Malta 7 day itinerary.

All the boats drop off at Blue Lagoon, the main swimming area at Comino. This whole area is gorgeous but super crowded and feels very beach clubby in parts. If that’s your vibe, book yourself onto one of those big boats that run day trips to Comino and you’ll be amongst it.

If you’d rather have more time to explore the island on foot and find a little peace for yourself, take the ferry over to Comino instead and walk along the coastline from the Blue Lagoon to Crystal Lagoon to Santa Marija Tower (best view is here). I promise it’ll be one of the most devastatingly scenic walks of your life. Then walk back and cool off with a swim in the Blue Lagoon. A guaranteed 10/10 day day, I promise!

To get to Comino, you have a few options:

• Book a half or full day boat trip
• Book a private boat trip
• Take the ferry

The big boats typically depart from Sliema or Bugibba (St. Paul’s Bay), spend time at both Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, and may stop at nearby caves or even Gozo, depending on which Comino boat trip you book. These boats tend to have sun loungers and luggage lockers onboard, which is a major pro because otherwise you’ll be lugging around all your gear and attempting to sunbathe on uncomfortable dirty rocks around the lagoons. A few boats even have water slides attached.

If you’re like me and prefer to avoid crowds and structured tours, you may want to travel to Comino independently via ferry from Cirkewwa or Marfa. Tickets are €15 return with Ebsons or Comino Ferries. The ferry ride takes about 20 minutes. I recommend going early because 1). Parking around the wharf in Marfa fills up fast, and 2). There is often a longer wait for the boats returning from Comino later in the day.

GOZO

WHERE TO STAY:

Day 6: Daħlet Qorrot Beach / Wied il-Għasri / Victoria

Catch the ferry to Gozo from Cirkewwa ferry terminal. Upon arrival, head straight to your first beach: Daħlet Qorrot (just a 10 minute drive north).

Daħlet Qorrot Beach

Daħlet Qorrot is very much a locals beach. Along the edge of the beach you’ll spot a row of colorful doorways: these are boat houses carved into the limestone cliff, used by fishermen to store their boats and gear. There’s a staircase just past them that leads up the cliff (highly recommend for prime sea views).

There’s a small patch of beach here where you can lay out, but it’s better to spread your towel out on the rocks or concrete and sunbathe with a superior view of the sea. There’s a boat ramp and ladders leading into the water, but many people prefer to jump right in.

Daħlet Qorrot is my favorite beach in Gozo – one, because it’s not the slightest bit touristy; and two, because the shades of blue in the water here is absolutely unreal. It definitely sets the bar high as your first stop in Gozo!

Back up the hill and towards the ferry terminal, there’s an excellent lunch spot called Xerri il-Bukkett. The views out toward Comino and Malta are sensational, and the food is pretty decent as well (but really, come here for the views).

Wied il-Għasri

Next, head to the northwest corner of the island (only about a 25 minute drive) to Wied il-Għasri, a top highlight on any Malta trip itinerary due to its uniqueness and exceptional natural beauty.

This fjord-like beach is more gorge than beach, and more gorgeous than anything else :)

Be sure to admire the views from above (highly recommend walking left of the stairs to get a full view), then descend the steps and claim a spot on the small pebbly beach, or on either side of the gorge on one of the rock shelves.

You can cliff jump here, but I wouldn’t say this is a particularly good spot for swimming, as the water is quite rough as you enter from the beach.

You likely won’t need too much time at Wied il-Għasri, due to the lack of shade or semi-comfortable seating, but it’s an absolute must do on this Malta 7 day itinerary.

Victoria

By late afternoon, drive down to Victoria, Gozo’s capital and an ancient fortified town.

If you do only one thing in Victoria, let it be the Citadel. Here you’ll find historic buildings, defensive walls, and narrow streets that harken back to the town’s medieval past.

The Citadel is free to enter and walk around, though the museums inside require paid admission. Cathedral Square might be the most beautiful non-beachy thing in all of Gozo. Look at that Baroque cathedral!

While at the Citadel, you must walk all around the outer walls. From here, you can see all the way out to sea in multiple directions thanks to the 360-degree views over Gozo.

If you’ve got the time, here are some other things you can see within the Citadel walls:

• Cathedral of the Assumption
• The Old Prison
• Gozo Museum of Archaeology
• Gran Castello Historic House (Folklore Museum)

It’s also worth stopping by Victoria’s Main Square (It-Tokk) for a drink, dinner, or just some people watching.

READ MORE IN THIS POST: The Best Beaches in Gozo, Malta

Day 7: Ramla Beach / Blue Hole / Sanap Cliffs

Ramla Beach & Tal-Mixta Cave

Start your last day in Malta early and head to nearby Ramla Beach (just a 5 minute drive from L’Gharix). But first: make a quick stop at nearby Tal-Mixta Cave, perched above the beach with an epic view.

Ramla Beach itself might be Gozo’s one proper sandy beach, and a distinct one at that with its bright orange sand. It’s a local favorite, and probably your best bet for swimming.

You might also notice some tents pitched in the hills around Ramla Bay (away from Tal-Mixta Cave). There’s a short walking path you can follow in that direction if you’re keen to soak up some more coastal views.

Blue Hole & Dwerja Inland Sea

In the afternoon, head to the other side of the island to check out the Blue Hole. It’s exactly what it sounds like, and best seen from above (just walk uphill from the main parking area).

The Blue Hole is a very popular dive spot, so you might spot divers descending or emerging from the water. If you want to get closer to go for a swim or snorkel, you can enter from the rock platform via some ladders and make your way there very carefully. It can be extremely slippery walking on the rocks nearby, so wear grippy water shoes if you have them.

Nearby the Blue Hole is the Dwerja Inland Sea. It looks like a crater lake from above, but the water is actually connected to the sea via a cave tunnel. You can see for yourself by hopping on a boat trip that takes you from the Inland Sea out to the actual sea, along the coast and back. It’s only €5 and departs whenever the boat is full. From the boat, you’ll be able to spot some caves and interesting rock formations along the coast.

Sanap Cliffs

By late afternoon, head down to Xlendi Bay (a 20 minute drive south) and set off on a lovely golden hour walk to the Sanap Cliffs. Ideally you want to do the Xlendi Bay to Sanap Cliffs walk about 2 hours before sunset so you can enjoy that golden hour light and watch the sunset as you walk back towards town.

The full walking trail actually goes for 13km all the way to Mġarr in southeast Gozo, where the ferry terminal is located. For the purposes of this Malta 7 day itinerary where time is limited, you can do a 5km loop instead from Xlendi Bay to Sanap Cliffs, walking along the coast to the cliffs and then back to Xlendi via the inland shortcut. This loop is only about 5km (click to view the route on Google Maps) and offers some of the most sensational coastal views of the Mediterranean.

Staying longer? Add these sights for an extended Malta trip itinerary

If you’re not quite sure how many days in Malta you want and think you may want more than one week in Malta, there’s plenty more to see and do across the islands:

Malta

• St. Peter’s Pool + Il-Kalanka
• Ta’ Betta Wine Estates
• Dingli Cliffs
• Scuba diving

Gozo

• Hondoq ir-Rummien
• Mġarr ix-Xini
• Xwejni Bay
• Scuba diving (Blue Hole)