Planning your first trip to Malta? Here’s everything you need to know — from getting around and where to stay, to must-try foods and local experiences you won’t want to miss.
Table of Contents
✈️ Before You Go: Essential Facts About Malta
- Location: A small (316 square km) Mediterranean archipelago made up of Malta, Gozo, and Comino
- Population: 421,000
- Languages: Maltese and English
- Currency: Euro (€)
- Drive on: The left-hand side
- Best time to visit: Spring and early autumn (April–June or Sept–Oct) for great weather and fewer crowds
- Fun fact: Malta was a British colony for 150 years and only gained independence in 1964
12 Malta Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors
🚍 Tip 1: Use Public Transport to Get Around
Buses are reliable and affordable. Skip hiring a car, as roads are often narrow, busy, and parking is limited.
- Explore Card: Unlimited travel for 7 days
- ExplorePlus Card: Includes buses, a Valletta ferry ride and a hop-on hop-off or boat tour
- 12 Journey Card: Best if you’re making only a few trips busy, and parking is limited.
⛴️ Tip 2: Plan at Least One Boat Trip
A boat trip is one of the best ways to see Malta and should not be missed.
Top picks:
- Blue Lagoon & Crystal Lagoon (Comino) – Clear blue waters, perfect for swimming
- Valletta Harbour Cruise – A relaxed way to take in the city’s history
- Personal tip: If you’re staying in Mellieha, consider booking with English Rose Cruises for a more intimate and personal experience.
Comino: Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon & Sea Caves Boat Tour
- Duration: 7 hours
- Highlights: Swim stops, sea cave visits, Crystal Lagoon access (seasonal), sun deck and water slide
- Departs from: Bugibba
- ✅ Great for families or couples looking for a full-day experience
- View on GetYourGuide
Grand Harbour Cruise from Sliema
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Highlights: See Valletta’s historic forts and harbours from the water
- ✅ Short and scenic, ideal for history buffs
- View on GetYourGuide
Full-Day Cruise to Gozo and Comino with Drinks and Lunch
- Duration: 7 hours
- Includes: Buffet lunch, open bar, snorkelling stops
- ✅ Combines Gozo and Comino in one tour
- View on Viator
4. Blue Lagoon & Comino Full-Day Boat Tour
- Duration: 6–7 hours
- Includes: Snorkelling gear, sun deck, and optional lunch
- ✅ Great value, highly rated by Viator travellers
- View on Viator
🏖️ Tip 3: Don’t Expect Endless Sandy Beaches
Malta is rocky, and beaches are limited. Head north for:
- Mellieha Bay – Malta’s largest sandy beach.
- Golden Bay or Paradise Bay – Popular but can be rough.
- Blue Lagoon (Comino) – Tiny beach, better enjoyed from the boat!
🍽️ Tip 4: Try Traditional Maltese Food
Maltese cuisine is a fusion of Mediterranean influences — here are a few to try:
- Stuffat tal-Fenek – Rabbit stew (the national dish).
- Lampuki pie – Seasonal fish pie with capers and veg.
- Pastizzi – Cheap and cheerful pastries filled with ricotta or peas.
- Bajtra – Prickly pear liqueur, great as a souvenir.
- Cisk – Local beer, perfect for a sunset drink.
🛏️ Tip 5: Choose the Right Area to Stay
Each area suits different styles of travel:
- Valletta – Central, historic, good for sightseeing.
- Mellieha – Great for beach lovers and boat trips to Comino.
- Sliema/St Julian’s – More modern with shops and nightlife.
- Gozo – Quieter, greener, and ideal for a slower pace.
Read – Malta Area and Accommodation Guide
📅 Tip 6: Choose the Right Time to Visit
Malta enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year, but timing your trip makes a difference:
- April to June: Warm weather, fewer crowds, ideal for sightseeing and boat trips.
- July to August: Hot and busy — expect high temperatures and lots of visitors.
- September to October: Still warm but quieter, especially good for swimming and festas.
- Winter months (Nov–Feb): Mild and less touristy, but some attractions operate on limited hours.
If you want to attend a local festa or avoid cruise ship crowds, it’s worth checking the calendar before booking.
🎉 Tip 7: Time Your Trip for a Festa
Every town in Malta celebrates its saint’s day with a festa – fireworks, food, and fun.
📅 Notable Festa Days in Malta
If you’re planning your visit around Malta’s summer festas, here are some of the most popular celebrations to look out for:
| 📍 Location | 🎉 Festa Name | 📆 Date |
|---|---|---|
| Valletta | St Dominic | 5 August |
| Mosta | The Assumption of Our Lady (National) | 15 August |
| Mdina | Conversion of St Paul | 27 January |
| Qawra | St Francis of Assisi | 1 September |
| Victoria (Gozo) | St George Martyr | 21 July |
| Mellieha | The Nativity of Our Lady (National) | 8 September |
Festivals typically include fireworks, music, street food, and beautifully decorated churches and town centres.
🛍️ Tip 8: Shop Local at Markets
Top market experiences:
- Marsaxlokk Fish Market – Especially busy (and worth it) on Sundays.
- Valletta Market – Great for browsing and street snacks.
- Ta’Qali Farmers Market – Buy honey, goat’s cheese and Maltese bread.
📱 Tip 9: Download the Tallinja App
The Tallinja app is a must if you’re using Malta’s bus system. It shows real-time routes, schedules, and even how full the bus is. You can also top up your travel card through the app.
🏛️ Tip 10: Visit the Three Cities for a Local Feel
For a more authentic and less touristy experience, explore Vittoriosa (Birgu), Senglea (Isla), and Cospicua (Bormla) – collectively known as the Three Cities. They’re just across the harbour from Valletta and offer beautiful views, historic sites, and charming streets.
☀️ Tip 11: Be Sun Smart
Malta experiences intense sunshine, especially during the summer. Pack high-SPF sunscreen, a hat, and reusable water bottles — and take shade breaks, especially in the afternoon.
🎫 Tip 12: Book Popular Attractions in Advance
Places like the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum (an underground Neolithic site) often book out weeks ahead. If it’s on your wishlist, reserve early.
✅ Bonus Tip: Don’t Try to See Everything
Malta may be small, but there’s a lot packed in. Pick a few must-do experiences, allow for downtime, and don’t rush.
📍 Top Things to Do in Malta
Here are a few unmissable highlights to add to your Malta itinerary:
- Valletta: Explore Malta’s baroque capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Don’t miss Fort St Elmo, the waterfront at Pinto Wharf, and a harbour cruise for stunning views.
- Mdina: Wander the walled “Silent City” and soak up its medieval charm and panoramic views.
- The Three Cities: Visit Birgu, Senglea, and Cospicua for a glimpse of authentic Maltese life and impressive fortifications.
- Mosta: Admire the Rotunda with its massive dome, and the story of the unexploded WWII bomb.
- Marsaxlokk: Stroll the harbour in this traditional fishing village, especially on Sunday, for the lively market.
- Comino: Swim or snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon. Book a boat trip for the best experience.
- Gozo: Escape to Malta’s greener, quieter sister island. Visit the citadel in Victoria and try local delicacies, such as prickly pear jam.