Are you looking for the perfect Malta Travel Itinerary? Look no further, because right here, I will show you all the best places of Malta and what not to miss when traveling Malta. There are so many things to do in Malta, it is hard to squeeze all its highlights in only four days but nevertheless, I think Malta is the perfect summer destination for a short vacation.
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FAQ – Everything You Need to Know About This Malta Travel Itinerary
When to travel to Malta?
Malta is a lovely place to travel to all year round, but as with many Mediterranean destinations, you will have the warmest temperatures during June, July, and August. I do, however, also recommend going there during shoulder season (April and May or September and October). During that period, you will usually have warm weather, fewer tourists, and cheaper accommodation offers. I went to Malta in May and had a glorious time!
How to Get to Malta?
Malta has an International Airport, located in Luqa (MLA). It is super central and you can easily get to any accommodation on the main island.
Where to Stay in Malta?
When booking your accommodation, you will have to choose between staying on the main island or going to Gozo. Depending on your choice, you will have to book a ferry to Gozo accordingly. For my stay in Malta, I opted for a hotel on the main island in the town called St. Paul’s Bay. There I stayed in the Mayflower Hotel, which has an incredible infinity pool overlooking the ocean, clean and comfy rooms, and breakfast included.
How to Get Around in Malta?
Malta has a very developed bus system, making it possible to get to most places fast and easy. For those who don’t want to wait for the bus, you can also use Uber on almost any part of the island, securing you fast and cheap transport. Of course, you can also rent a car for a day or two to be able to move around completely free.
Day 1 – Arrival, Exploring St. Pauls Bay & the Café del Mar
Upon my arrival in Malta, the first thing I decided to do for that day is to keep it more relaxed. I arrived at the Mayflower Hotel in St. Paul’s Bay around lunchtime, so after check in, all I did was to explore my neighborhood for the next few days. St. Paul’s Bay and the Mayflower Hotel are the perfect base for your trip to Malta, if you want to spend a relaxing time close to the ocean. My personal favorite was spending time at the Café del Mar, a lounge/restaurant/café with an enclosed pool, which is not only perfect to spend the day sunbathing but especially to cheer on your upcoming time with a nice cocktail that comes with the best view.
Day 2 – Valletta
Let’s start the first full day of this Malta Travel Itinerary bright and early! Today we are going to explore the best places of Valletta, the capital city of Malta. The Old Town of Valletta is a must-do on everyone’s Malta Travel Itinerary and one of my personal highlights when traveling Malta. You will find so many lovely streets, charming alleys and magnificent buildings to marvel at when you stroll through the city. Furthermore, it is also filled to the brim with lovely cafés, restaurants and bars, it gets hard to choose where to have your coffee and lunch for the day! But before we indulge in the food options of Valletta, let’s check out the sights first!
St. John’s Bastion & City Gate
Upon entering Valletta, the first major sight you will come across is the St. John’s Bastion and the city gate. This massive fortress marks the beginning of the charming city of Valletta and while climbing it, is a little challenge as it comes with many steps to be taken, the views from up the walls alone make up for it! So once you have passed the Triton fountain, make sure not to simply walk through the City Gate of Valletta but make sure to turn left and walk the stairs up the Bastion!
Merchant Street
Once you set your foot in Valletta, the best course of action in my opinion is to walk down the Merchant Street and take in all the small shops, boutiques, and cafés on your journey. There will be many places you want to stop for, especially upon seeing all the alleys facing down towards the sea.
Lower Barraca Gardens
Eventually, you will leave Merchant Street and walk down towards the sea, hopefully stopping for a coffee in one of the cute cafés along the way at least once. However, once you take in enough of the lovely streets of Valletta, make sure to take in the beauty of the Lower Barraca Gardens, a gorgeous park, filled with lush green plants and such a tranquil atmosphere.
Casa Rocca Piccola
One of my favorite things to do in Valletta is visit the Casa Rocca Piccola, home of an old Maltese aristocratic family, who opened their home to the public. You can visit their home and see how they lived, where they spent their time, and what treasures they have accumulated. Inside their villa, you will also find a courtyard filled with flowers, arts, and most importantly their parrot, whom you can talk to!
Fort Manoel
As some of you might know, the cities of Malta appeared in the show „Game of Thrones“ as the city „King’s Landing, “ and there are a few places all over the island where you can walk on the steps of the characters of the show. One of those places is Fort Manoel, and even if you don’t have the time to cross the bay to get there, it is amazing to have your lunch at the Waterfront, looking over to Sliema.
Church of St. Anne
One of the most prominent features of the skyline of Valletta is the dome of the Church of St. Anne, which you can see from many angles all over the city. You can find it on the very end of the city and if you want, you can also visit its inside!
Day 3 – Mdina, Marsalox and Blue Grotto
The second day of this Malta Travel Itinerary starts bright and early with a place unlike any other. Then, you will move on to one of the most charming fishing villages you can imagine, where you will indulge in the ultimate Maltese lunch, tasting the best the island offers. After a stroll along the promenade to digest all the delicious food, you will get some much-needed vitamin Sea before finishing the day with cosmopolitans with a view!
Mdina
The first stop of the day is the medieval city of Mdina. Once the capital of Malta, the city kept its medieval character of narrow streets, opulent facades, and breathtaking views throughout the centuries. As a hotspot for noble families, there weren’t many changes made to adapt the city’s layout to modern standards, so today, there are barely any streets in Mdina that can fit a car. That also adds to the incredible charm of the Mdina.
I spend the whole morning wandering the streets of Mdina, passing through the main gate (also a filming location for Game of Thrones!) and working my way to the outer city wall for some views of the surrounding fields. Of course, wherever I go, I have to get some coffee and cakes, which I had at the lovely café of the Palazzo Bifora Boutique Hotel (which will 100% be the next hotel I stay in when traveling to Malta!)
Marsaxlokk
Just a short Uber drive away from Mdina, you will find the fishing village Marsaxlokk. The vibrant and colorful village hosts a lovely market from Tuesday to Sunday, which is perfect for buying souvenirs and a quick stroll before heading to the Ta’ Victor, your lunch place for the day! The only thing you can order there is a 4-meal course filled with Maltese specialties, making it the perfect occasion for you to try the island’s cuisine!
Grotodrey
Once you have at least partially digested your lunch, the last stop of the day is the Grotodrey, a place close to the Blue Grotto, which, sadly, I did not end up seeing. However, Grotodrey is for sure so enchanting I didn’t even realize that I had missed the actual Blue Grotto. I don’t know what it is, but the ocean in Malta is simply bluer and more picturesque than anywhere else. Here, we sat for a long time, yapping the afternoon away, observing the waves crashing onto the shore.
Day 4 – Trip to Gozo & the Blue Lagoon
What good is it to spend so much time on an island and not spend some time on the ocean? Not at all, if you ask me! That’s why on the fourth day of your trip to Malta, it is time to get on a boat and explore the maritime beauty Malta has to offer even closer! With a day trip to Gozo and the Blue Lagoon, you are not only killing two birds with one stone in case of visiting Maltas best places but you are also booking the perfect day.
Blue Lagoon
The first stop of your day trip will be Blue Lagoon, a wonderful lagoon with shallow crystal clear water, which is the perfect place for a plunge and a cocktail! It is one of those places, where you just think to yourself „What a lovely moment to be alive“.
Gozo
Exploring Gozo, if only for such a short amount of time, is something you shouldn’t miss out on! Naturally, the island is even more gorgeous than Malta, and there are wonderful ocean viewpoints to be discovered. My favorite place in Gozo so far is the Citadella de Victoria, a gorgeous old citadel with so much to see from island views, cute souvenir shops, and wonderful cathedrals.
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