24 Things to Do and See in Malta
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DISCLAIMER: This list is in order of how we did everything on our trip to Malta, so please scroll all the way to see everything!! Only a few of the items we did not have time to do, but they are mostly in order of how we would have added them. We only had 2 days in Malta, and I don’t say this often, but I could have probably spent a week there. So many historical sites, fun restaurants, and outdoor/water adventures.
Malta is pretty unique to other places I’ve visited. It is located in the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Africa, and it looks the part. It is such a unique mixture of cultures and history. Actually, almost everyone on the island speaks English, as it is one of their main languages. Also, Catholicism is its main religion, so there are churches galore.
Malta is one of my new favorite countries, and I like that it flies under the radar pretty often. This being said, it is a great Mediterranean island destination and a cruise ship destination. It is a great road trip island (like the Azores or Iceland). I HIGHLY suggest renting a car here! The island is very budget-friendly, including accommodations, a rental car, and everything else. If you want to see everything, it’s just so much easier if you have a car.
So, I’ll stop talking your ear off and just get to the list. This is a list of almost everything we did or would have done in Malta. And keep in mind, this is just a list of things you can add to your itinerary if it seems like something you would enjoy. Many people prefer tours, and I do a lot of the time too! We had time for one tour while we were there, and we booked through Viator. They have all kinds of tours, some that you might not even think of, and I always recommend using them to my friends and family. Have the best time in Malta!!
1. Coral Lagoon
Keep in mind that I’m listing these as their Google Maps names. This is just easier, because I will always suggest flagging or starring things on Google Maps so you can easily plug in your next stop. So, add Coral Lagoon to your maps now!
There is a small parking lot located next to this scenic spot. Park there, and you’re in a for a short hike to see it. Wear appropriate shoes! You will be walking on a lot of rocky ground and there is glass around. To your left, you will see somewhat of a swimming hole. Granted, when we were there it didn’t look like a great time to jump in. But, continue walking up the hill.
After you come up to the top of the hill, you will walk down to the large hole in front of you. You can walk all around this. It’s just one of those natural holes created by the water, and it’s pretty fun to watch. The water comes in through one larger hole in the walls, as you can see in the pictures. I had to walk around to the edge closer to the left side to see that!
If you’re scared of heights or just feel unsteady, you don’t have to get that close. But, it’s so fun to walk around there and see all the fishermen out on the rocks. You can really walk pretty close to the sea from here. When you go back to the parking lot, there is a little shop for food or drinks too!
2. Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal
So, Malta is made up of 3 islands. Many people take day trips from the main island to these! I absolutely love taking a ferry. If you’re looking to get out on the water, you can definitely make this ferry trip!
On the other islands, you’ll find more churches, hikes, and beautiful cliffs. In fact, we were wanting to hike some (just didn’t have time), and the hikes were going to be on these other islands! If you’re a diver or appreciate water activities, the other islands have tons of opportunities for that.
At the Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal, you also have an underwater wreck and statue that you can dive to see. This is the port for the ferry and for other boat tours, so you might find yourself here. Right next to it, they also have the Paradise Bay Resort that looks so fun to stay at. You have views of all 3 islands and the beautiful cliff side with a pool.
If you are staying in Valletta (the main town on the main island), this is definitely a different side of the island that is pretty fun to drive around.
4. Parcheggio Sant Andreas
Now, I don’t speak Maltese, but parcheggio is Maltese for parking lot. Again, while Malta also is an English-speaking country, you will find a lot of the Maltese language around. So, why would I direct you to a parking lot? From here, you get a good view of the ferry port, the cliff side, and a “fault line” of sorts.
We walked right up to the line, but as usual, just be careful. Never walk too close to the edge of anything. These cliffs can also be unstable, as the sign suggests, so only walk where you are comfortable. While up here, we also came across the unique vegetation. Since we stayed near the beach in Mellieha, we hadn’t seen much of it yet.
A lot of the island can be almost desert-like when not near the water. This was definitely the most unique terrain I had ever seen, somewhat similar to the Greek islands. As you drive around the island, you just seem to find yourself looking at something different at every turn. So, if you want a good vantage point for views, head to Parcheggio Sant Andreas.
3. Underwater Shipwrecks & Statues
As I mentioned above, Malta has tons of underwater shipwrecks and statues. This would be a diver’s dream. And if you don’t dive but want to, I’m sure they do lessons here as well! All around the cliffs on every island, they have underwater shipwrecks that you can go see. This also includes old statues and other things.
Because Malta is so full of history and it was used by the British, the history is evident everywhere you go. This is even true in the ships that wrecked on the coast of Malta while going between Africa and Europe. Going to see these shipwrecks would transport you back in time even more. They have battleships and cargo vessels.
As I’m not a diver, I did want to note that you should be an experienced diver, especially because some of the sites can be done on your own. Always make sure that you are prepared and that you have everything you need. Malta is home to some of the best dives and best shipwrecks to see, but don’t expect a ton of wildlife!
5. It-Torri L-Ahmar (Red Tower)
The iconic Red Tower is also very high up on the mountain. You can walk all around it, but you can also go inside at certain times. Back in the day, it served as a watch tower, which is why it is so high up on the mountain. The road to get there can get narrow, so make sure to leave plenty of space for other cars coming and going.
The Red Tower is also called Saint Agatha’s Tower. Saint Agatha was a martyr and is used to symbolize strength. From the Red Tower, you truly have 360 degrees of views of the entire island. This is what made it the perfect location to watch for invaders. On the side of the building, you will see a canon, and stairs that lead to a bridge that lead to inside.
Make sure to check the time that they open if you’re wanting to take a look inside. The building has been preserved as a historical site, so there is a small fee to enter. This helps maintain the building and allow tourists to visit.
We were there right when they opened, but we had fun just walking around and reading the plaques that explain the significance as well. For more information, click here: Red Tower.
6. Sunset Point & Radar Station
If you’re going up to the Red Tower, I will say you definitely have to visit Sunset Point and the Radar Station! This was one of my favorite places we saw while in Malta. And yes, some might say it’s random, but it’s the most intriguing thing to find historical sites just sitting there frozen in time.
When you’re there, you feel like you just stepped foot into a war zone. The buildings are decrepit and appear to be blown out in some parts.
Like in most deserted places, the walls have graffiti and trash inside the buildings. Please do not add to this, and if you see trash, pick it up! Never go to someone else’s home and leave it worse than how you found it. Now, as you walk around, you will hear the sound of the turning radar.
Look, I’m not a historian or know much about how all of this works, so my words are probably incorrect. I’m just saying that the whole thing is eerie. It is fittingly also by Sunset Point because you have unobstructed views of the sea and the cliffs from all angles again.
A radar station has to be high up, right? So, as you visit Red Tower, definitely add this as a stop. Just follow the same road all the way to the end and you’ll find it.
7. Mellieha
As I have mentioned a couple of times, we stayed in Mellieha. I went back and forth on where we wanted to stay, because it definitely put us outside of the main city of Valletta. If you have a car, I thought this was the perfect place to stay. Mellieha is a beach town, and it definitely has that feel. It is much less crowded and slower than in Valletta.
We actually stayed at the perfect beachside penthouse. It had 3 bedrooms for only $400 for 2 nights! Again, this was a steal. We were close to everything we needed and we could walk to get dinner or to the market for waters.
While we went in October, so it wasn’t a more typical tourist time, plenty of people were still going to the beach. The water is crystal clear and blue. This was also a place where tons of fishing boats were out on the water in the morning and at night.
Even if you don’t stay here, it would be a great place to visit for the day. You can easily take the bus to here, spend the day at the beach and eat your meals beachside. They have different spas and resorts in this area too, so it can give you a more “vacation” feel rather than a “tourist” feel.
8. Blu Beach Club
Blu Beach Club is a restaurant and bar located in Mellieha. I have it as its own place, because it is the perfect place to grab a nice meal and sit seaside. They have a large patio outside where you can sit and enjoy your meal next to the water.
Their menu boasts a variety of different meals, very easily digestible for us tourists. It is a mixture of American food and Italian food, with some Maltese dishes mixed in. Again, we were there in the middle of the week and in October. I’m sure this place is a lot more lively in the summer months or on the weekend. But, even on a random Monday night, Blu Beach was still going until the later hours.
There were people eating dinner and having drinks until much later than we wanted to stay up. They also have music that plays, and if you’re spending a day in Mellieha, this is a great place to take a break for food or drinks. They also have a Starbucks basically connected, so we were able to grab a quick breakfast and coffee in the morning before starting our adventures around the island.
9. Popeye Village & Popeye Cliffs
If you look up things to do in Malta, this is likely one of the first things you will see. Whether or not you are a Popeye fan, I still think this was such a fun tourist attraction. We started at the Popeye Cliffs. Here, you can see the entirety of Popeye village from across the bay. Popeye Village is where the original Popeye was filmed. Trust me, they really do it up here.
After you get some pictures at the cliffs, you can drive just around the way to the Popeye Village parking area. Then, you can walk up to the building and purchase your admission. Tickets are about $15-20, depending on your age. We easily bought tickets when we arrived, but you can try to do it online too. Your ticket includes access to all the main attractions in the village as well as one free popcorn!
They give you a map while you are there, so you can explore all the fun little buildings. Yes, I call them little, because everything was built for smaller people, and I’m on the tall side. They have the fire station, a movie theater, restaurants, gift shop – you name it. You can spend your time walking around, grabbing a bite to eat, and shopping.
Popeye Village also has places for relaxing. If you have the time, you can make a day out of it. They have places for sunbathing and going down to the water. And, like you’ll see in a lot of pictures, a large water obstacle course. Kids absolutely loved this place.
They put on shows every hour at the fire station, and they also have little play areas and games around the whole village. And the popcorn was actually so good!
10. Victorian Military Barracks and Spotlight Building
If you’re starting to notice the theme, a lot of the attractions have military and wartime connections. Because of the history of the island, this is so common. It is in a unique position in the Mediterranean Sea, which makes it the perfect position for these sites. While this doesn’t make it a good thing, I always find value in actually witnessing the areas and seeing how it would have been at that time.
This location is much like others around the island. I included it because I have some pretty cool pictures surrounding it, but there isn’t much to do here. And if you want to make it all the way to the site, you would have to do a good bit of walking. We chose to just stop at the top where we could park our car. We walked down to the first watch station and a little further. From here, you can see the military barracks.
Like all other military buildings, this has a view of the island. If you can see now, our journey took us in a circle around the island. We started in Mellieha, and we made our way eastward. So, while this is one of the many stops on our journey, you can add it depending on your time or interests.
11. Migra I-Fehra
Many of the stops along the island are beautiful cliff sides, but it can be hard to decide which ones to visit. On this list, I know I have a few, but some are more popular than others. Also, some are definitely more accessible than others.
While this one was accessible and has a large parking lot, the roads leading here are very winding and steep. Although we did see little mountain goats on the side of the road sleeping in some rocks!
Going down to these cliffs was a little scary, yes, and I’m a confident driver. You are driving on the opposite side of the car and road if you’re from the United States, like me. Anyway, keep making your way over and you’ll find a parking lot that sits close to the edge of the cliffs. Walk towards the right of the parking lot over to a large covering of rocks and dirt.
To see this beautiful natural water hole, you’ll have to get pretty close to the edge. I never want to hide that or put anyone in dangerous situations, but this picture is what you will see if you’re comfortable or if you just want to know what it looks like and you’re afraid of heights. You can walk around here and just take in the salty air and the warm breeze.
12. Mdina
This was our favorite stop of the day!! Seriously, we spent hours here, and honestly, we could’ve spent the whole day here. It is classically known as being a fortified city that sits in the center of the island.
While Mdina has the fortified area, it is also right next to a more populous town filled with historical sites, plenty of places to get food and drinks, and would make a great place to stay if you don’t care about being by the water.
Now, once you park, you can go in from a couple of different ways. The main entrance is the Mdina Gate. It is large and beautifully carved with ornate designs. Walking in, you will be surrounded by the classic tan walls all around you.
There are restaurants, churches, shops, and homes inside of here, so be respectful. With every turn, you will find the most picturesque alleyways that almost feel like a maze at times. You can likely buy a map, but I used Google Maps the whole time trying to figure out where to turn.
Inside, one of the most notable places to see is St. Paul’s Cathedral. The walkways connect in a larger square that looks right up at the gorgeous church. Towards the edges of Mdina, you’ll find a couple tea gardens that are straight out of a fairytale.
I highly, highly recommend visiting here, and if you don’t have a car there are plenty of tours from Valletta!
13. Il-Veduta (Pizzeria & Restaurant)
While there are plenty of restaurants inside Mdina, we ended up getting lunch outside of the walls. We ate at Il-Veduta Pizzeria & Restaurant. When we were there, we ended up talking to one of the managers. He was actually from Portland, Oregon, so it was really cool to talk to him and just chat about how he ended up living in Malta.
The patio here has vast views of the island, and everyone wants to sit outside. It was almost full out there except for directly in the sun, so we escaped the heat and sat inside. As you can imagine from the name, they are a pizzeria so that’s what I opted for. My family went with a bunch of different options. We all agreed it was good food especially after a day of exploring.
The staff was all very friendly, and this is definitely a tourist spot based on their location right outside of Mdina. The food isn’t the best food we had our whole trip, but we also didn’t go for the traditional Maltese foods, so keep that in mind. If you’re looking for a place to sit after walking around the Mdina, or if you want sweeping views of the mountain while drinking a glass of wine, this is the place to go.
14. Blue Grotto
Blue Grotto is one of the more famous things to see in Malta. In fact, they actually have a few different places named Blue Grotto. It is an easy sight to get to, right off one of the main roads on the outer edges of the island. In fact, a big tour bus was there when we got there, so you can opt to visit that way if you don’t have a car.
You simply follow the well-marked path down to the viewing area and take it all in. It is an archway formed on the cliffs that water pours through from the sea. While there is one main viewing area with a small gated section you can see through, there are views of the tall cliffs from all along the bottom of the viewing area.
We had to wait a little bit for everyone to get done taking pictures, and then we were able to see the full view. If you love seeing how the world just naturally forms incredible views, this is a spot for you. In this same category, there are also boat tours around the island that stop at really cool spots around the cliffs of the island. You can always choose to do a boat tour and see everything that way!
15. Archaeological Sites
We just simply didn’t have time to really tour any of these, but if I go back, I definitely will. All along the island, there are various archaeological sites that you can explore and tour. Formed in the dirt are tons of types of ancient formations and buildings. From caves to temples to ruins, there is so much to see.
Many of these are well-preserved, just make sure to check the opening times or book a tour if you want! A tour is always a great way to see a lot of things on your list while also learning from local or knowledgeable guides. If you’re going to do the archaeological sites, I would definitely book a tour to get the most bang for your buck.
16. Hotel Jerma
Let me just preface this by saying: you can no longer go inside here or get close to it!! Hotel Jerma is an old, abandoned hotel on the coast of Malta towards the eastern side of the island.
Otherwise named Jerma Palace Hotel, it actually used to be a pretty luxurious place to stay. Now, it is covered in graffiti – and although it can be sad to see the area become more abandoned, the art is actually really cool.
There really isn’t a ton of things around this, although it is close to the traditional fishing village, Marsaxlokk. It was truly a deserted area near the hotel. It was definitely creepy, and like the Radar Station mentioned above, if you love abandoned places you will love this. It was meant to be rebuilt back in 2007, but the plans never came to fruition.
I’m pretty sure back in the day you could have explored the hotel a little more, but now they have a tall wall around the bottom to prevent people from being there. You can definitely walk around near the shore it’s on and the salt pans next to it (mentioned next).
17. Salt Pans
I don’t know what it is, but salt pans are so aesthetically pleasing to me. I know they are actually meant to be functional, but there’s just something about the perfectly imperfect squares that are all different colors. Anyway, all around the islands, you will find these along the shorelines. If you didn’t know, salt pans are what they are named – a place to collect salt.
Salt pans can either be manmade or natural. While writing this, I just went down a rabbit hole of research on them because I just got so intrigued. Salt pans have so many functions, including sustainability of the environment around them as well as harvesting salt for use.
The Mediterranean Sea has a higher concentration of salt, so a lot of times these form naturally from water left over that didn’t evaporate. The ridges naturally form from the minerals – you’ll see this in both the salt pans and the salt flats.
The most important thing to know is not to walk on these or damage anything around them. Salt pans and salt flats are crucial to biodiversity and the natural formation of minerals and salt. The last thing the earth needs is a tourist messing this up! They also provide jobs for locals (the ones that are functional and not abandoned), so if you visit – please only view it and take in the wonderful way the earth works.
18. Marsaxlokk (Traditional Fishing Village)
As I already put in parentheses, Marsaxlokk is a traditional fishing village on the east coast of Malta. It is one of the other major towns that people usually visit while in Malta. If you’re looking for that classic, quaint coastal town, then this is the one for you. Although, it is does have that tourist feel in some areas, with little shops/stands popping up in the harbor.
We ended up driving around the city for a while before actually getting out. Yes, I just kept getting turned around by the one-way roads. It was a Tuesday afternoon, and it was pretty quiet in the city.
Everywhere you turn, you’ll find those tan buildings with the bright colors just so fittingly brightening up the place. While walking along the harbor, you’ll come to a larger opening with a view of a church in the corner on a hill.
This would make another great place to stay if you wanted to be out of the main city but still around people and things to do. They have boat cruises that leave from there, local markets, and plenty of guesthouses for you to stay. You will also find plenty of fresh seafood at any of the restaurants here. Make it a day trip or just come for the afternoon to escape the big city!
19. Harbour Cruise
My family and I love being on a boat when we travel. There’s just something about the fresh breeze that hits your face as you pass sights you don’t get to see at home. Well, Malta has an incredible coastline pretty much anywhere you look. But, I will say a classic harbour cruise from Valletta is one of the top things to do. I almost always go through Viator when booking tours – click here to check out all the tours they have to offer: Viator.
We booked our tour through Viator, and it was simple and fun. We booked the tour, “Harbour Route Valletta & The Three Cities”. You can find that tour here: Valletta Harbor Cruise. If you didn’t know, Valletta is the capital of Malta. It juts out onto the coast and is a destination for cruise ships. Surrounding this is many of the countries’ preserved historical sites and larger cities.
These cruises typically leave from across the harbor in Sliema. Over here, you will find plenty of boat cruises leaving the harbor. The cruise only took about an hour and a half and we got to go all around the whole harbor, listening to the guides explain the history and significance of all the sights. The cruise also stopped at the science center, so some people opted to get off and go explore that too.
The water was super choppy when we were out, so take some motion sickness medication if you need! The prices for these boat tours can range, but they are typically less than $20 a person, which is a great deal. Ours was a little bit of a bigger group, so the tickets were cheaper, but there are tons of other more intimate options if you want to interact with your guide more.
20. Upper Barrakka Gardens
In Valletta, you will find both the Lower and Upper Barrakka Gardens. As you can guess, the upper gardens are higher up in the city, offering a gorgeous view of the coast and more historical sights. Parking can be quite difficult in the city.
If you are staying in Valletta or nearby, you can take a bus or walk. If you are driving, you can attempt street parking nearby or park a little further out of the city like we did and just walk there. This part of Malta can be quite hilly, as you’ll notice from the pictures, so wear good shoes!
Entry to Upper Barrakka Gardens is free, so you don’t have to worry about that. It is a beautifully-constructed garden with greenery, archways, and even cannons down below. It looks out onto the Grand Harbour, and many people were just walking around, taking pictures, or sitting on the benches enjoying the environment.
Around here, there are little stands set up for food and drink, as well as some restaurants. This is one of the most classic things to do in Valletta, so it will be crowded. You can also go down the stairs in the center and visit The Lascaris War Rooms which has been turned into a museum!
Upper Barrakka Gardens is also located next to the Malta Stock Exchange and the prime minister’s office, as well as the iconic Triton Fountain. This is a great place to start your exploration of the city, as you make your way down to the next couple places on my list.
21. Merchants Street & St. Paul Street
You haven’t lived until you’ve walked down the streets of Valletta. Okay, that’s dramatic, but the tan buildings combined with the colorful windows, plants, and lights is one of my favorite views. The buildings have bay windows that jut out from them, and balconies that make you want to live a fairytale.
From these streets, you look all the way at the top down to the bottom that looks right out onto the sea. Walking down these streets, you’ll see plenty of shops and restaurants along the way. Churches are all around this city as well, and you will walk past plenty of bars.
This is a great, smaller city that you can spend a day just walking around and exploring. There are little museums, views, and tourist attractions throughout the city, so just walk around and I’m sure you’ll find something you love.
22. St. Lucia Street Steps
In this same category, while walking down Merchants Street or St. Paul Street, you will look to the side and find gorgeous steps. This little alleyways are usually full of shops or restaurants with tables literally set up on the steps.
Many of these steps look down to the water, but my favorite was the St. Lucia Street Steps. It looks down right at the Church of St. Lucy. It was almost like the epitome of being in Malta with the tan, stone buildings, the church, and the people eating and drinking right on the steps.
You can find these steps or side streets as you walk all along Merchant Street. This would be a great place to get some shopping done or eat your meal the European way.
23. Drink Cisk at McDonald’s (yes, beer)
Honestly, just drink a Cisk. I had one at a restaurant near our Airbnb, and it was just a normal lager. It is THE drink to have anywhere you go on the islands, so much so that it is sold at McDonald’s.
While you should try a Cisk anywhere, I just think there’s something funny about having a beer at a McDonald’s. Also, the McDonald’s we grabbed a quick breakfast at in Sliema was 2 stories and so fancy, so it’s just interesting to see the differences between the U.S. and Malta.
Cisk is offered pretty much anywhere you go, and it is a Maltese beer and a local favorite. If you’re looking to indulge in the culture, look no further than trying a Cisk!
24. Ferry to the Other 2 Islands
Yes, yes, we have finally made it to the end of the list. Again, this is something we didn’t get to do, but with more time it would have been top of the list. With limited time, it is easier just to stay on the main island. But, you can take a ferry to either of the other 2 islands: Gozo and Comino.
Comino is the smallest island, and there isn’t a ton of people or things to do, but there is some hiking here, as well as places to go diving. It is also home to the famous Blue Lagoon, which is a great place to take a boat, hang at the beach, or go swimming with wildlife.
Gozo is the farther, middle-sized island, and is more popular. There is more to see and do here, as well as more hotels and people who actually live on this island. It is home to caves, most gorgeous coasts, and even an inland dive site. Definitely add a trip to these islands if you have time!
To read more about international destinations, click here: International Destinations.
For more on a Mediterranean vacation, read: Best of Santorini in 2 Days or: Things to Do in Mykonos.
For things to do in Rome, click here: 10+ Things You Have to Do in Rome.
