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If Malta isn’t already on your list of places to visit, I’m here to tell you - it should be! The great thing about Malta is that it’s very easy to get to in Europe and it’s small, making it perfect for a weekend getaway which is exactly what I did and why I want to share with you my 3 day itinerary for Malta.
This guide will help you plan what to see in Malta in 3 days and is ideal for people who like to see as much as possible but also incorporates my favourite beaches for some afternoon relaxation after a busy day exploring!
Located in the Mediterranean, Malta is an island country off the south coast of Italy. Its capital city is Valletta which also happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety. Thanks to it’s southern Europe location, Malta is a reliable destination if you’re looking for some sunshine, in fact it rarely drops below 10 degrees Celcius, with average temperatures in December and January being 13-14 degrees C (so jealous).
To get you started here’s a few fun facts about Malta:
Valletta is the smallest national capital in the EU
Malta is the world’s 10th smallest country but 5th most densely populated
Malta is made up of three islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino
English is an official language alongside Maltese
Malta became a British colony in 1815 and gained independence in 1964
Because of this, they drive on the left in Malta and also have the same plug sockets as in the UK
Valletta was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 and there are also two other World Heritage Sites in Malta, The Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni and The Megalithic Temples of Malta.
Getting around Malta
We hired a car for our three days in Malta which I would personally recommend doing. While the towns are cities are very reliably linked by public bus services and you could easily get around this way, there are also a lot of areas, particularly beautiful beaches and hiking areas which are not serviced by buses.
If you are using the buses to get around then the Malta Public Transport site has all the info you need. Buses have a flat fare for any two hour journey and cost 1.5euro in Winter and 2euro in Summer.
St Peter’s Pool, Malta
For example, this swimming area was beautiful, a very safe swimming area not in open water, people jumping in and sunbathing on the rocks, but it was accessed by a very long and narrow unpaved road. There was a carpark at the bottom and we had no problem parking here or anywhere on the island so it paid off to have a car.
Parking in Malta
There were plenty of car parks and spaces to leave your car around the island. In the towns and cities the spaces were often full before 11am in June so if you’re going peak season, be sure to get there early.
Also there are very few paid or pay-and-display car parks, most are pay by donation and have a man waiting to take your money. Be assertive and if you don’t have any money tell him you’ll be back with money when you return. We found this worked best when we didn’t know how long we were going to be in a place we we could adjust our tip/donation accordingly.
The perfect 3 day itinerary for Malta
Day 1: Malta
Assuming you’re staying on the main island, start your trip by exploring it! You might be staying in Valletta or perhaps St. Paul’s Bay (where we stayed).
Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta, Malta
What to do in Valletta:
Upper Barrakka Gardens and Lower Barrakka Gardens are both beautiful and free gardens located at opposite ends of the city with views over the Grand Harbour.
The National War Museum looks at Malta’s military history and has lots of interesting exhibits. If you’re into history then there are plenty of attractions to visit including the Malta at War Museum, The Lascaris War Rooms, Fort Rinella and the Saluting Battery.
Walk along the Valletta waterfront, grab some food or a drink at one of the many restaurants with a view of the harbour.
Explore the unique streets of Valetta with the colourful balconied windows. My favourite Valetta photo locations are below.
If you want to explore another city and don’t have a car, you can take the ferry to Silema from Valletta. Silema has a waterfront with lots of shops and cafes. There is also the VIctorian Bathing Pools which are built into the rocky coast and naturally fill with sea water.
See all these sights and more on a Guided audio tour of the Valletta's main sights and attractions.
Photo locations
Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens
The view down St Paul’s Street from the top
Pedestrianised section of Triq Sant’ Orsla
Bridge Bar - with the red windows and red telephone box
The view up the steps from the bottom of Triq San Gwann
Where to eat and drink in Valletta
We didn’t spent too long in Valletta but we had some great fresh pizzas at Storie & Sapori. Also The Beer Cave for drinks and La Falconeria Hotel rooftop bar is great if you want to spend a little more for drinks and an incredible view.
Marsaxlokk
This is probably the other main city you’re going to want to see on Malta and it’s famous for those colourful fishing boats which sit in the harbour. It also has one of my favourite swimming areas that we visited on our trip.
How to get to Marsaxlokk from Valletta?
We drove this as we had a rental car but you can also take the Route 85 bus which runs very regularly between the two cities. You can find the timetable here. That website is also the official public transport site for Malta and is the most reliable as not all the bus routes are on Google Maps.
Alternatively, Book this guided tour from Valletta to Marsaxlokk and the Blue Grotto if you don't have your own vehicle and don't want to take the bus.
What to do in Marsaxlokk
Explore! Whilst there isn’t a huge amount in terms of tourist attractions, this is the perfect place to spend a relaxing afternoon- you’re on holiday right?!
There are so many beautiful streets to explore and beautiful Catholic churches.
Bars and Restaurants along the waterfront with views of the fisherman and colourful fishing boats.
Saturday market with local artisans selling souvenirs and handmade Maltese glass ornaments.
Head up to St. Peter’s Pool for a relaxing afternoon swim and sunbath.
St Peter’s Pool
This is the location I mentioned earlier that is located down a long narrow road without public transport access but with a carpark at the end so you can access it easily if you’re renting a vehicle. It’s labeled on Google Maps so you’ll be able to find it easily. Alternatively it is a 2.5km walk, doable but bring water and suncream!
St. Peter’s Pool isn’t a beach. It’s a natural swimming pool formed in the coastal rocks with clear blue water. There is plenty of places to lay out your beach towel, have a drink or two and enjoy the sun and sea, but it can get hot and busy so bring water, sunscreen. We were there in June and while it wasn’t too busy I can imagine it gets a lot busier in July and August.
The rocks have ladders into the water so you don’t need to jump in (although a lot of people do - so beware!)
St Peter’s pool, swimming lagoon in Malta
Day 2: Malta and Comino
There is so much to see on Malta alone that you can really mix up your itinerary to suit you, especially if you have a car. The ferries to Malta and boats to Comino are also very regular so you can fit in your visits to them as needed.
Mdina
Mdina was actually my favourite city we visited. Head there early to get a parking space, either outside the city walls or drive through the tunnel into the city and head for the carpark exactly opposite you on the other side of the roundabout - all car parks are donation as mentioned earlier.
Mdina is sort of in two parts, there’s the original fortified city which is entirely pedestrianised now, or there is the ‘new’ city which is the area you will drive into and has similar architecture to Valletta. Both are well worth exploring but make sure you don’t miss the walled city part like we nearly did!!
Mdina was perfect for us travelling on a budget, we just wandered around, took lots of photos and grabbed some tasty ice creams! But there are plenty of attractions and historical points to visit if that is your interest:
St. Paul’s Catacombs - underground Roman cemetery and archeological attraction in the new part of the city
Casa Bernard - grand house and gardens, beautifully decorated
St Paul’s Cathedral - the beautiful cathedral at the centre of the fortified city
Mdina Gate - the historic entrance to the fortified city
Palazzo Falson - medieval palace full of collected weapons and antiques
See all of this on a Mdina City Walking tour.
Photo locations
The Mdina Gate
St Paul’s Cathedral
The insta famous house with the bougainvillea around the door - head to Bastion square then walk down the alleyway on the left side of the house with the red shutters, the pretty blue door and bougainvillea is on your right.
All the beautiful stone and cobbled streets
Other places to visit on Malta island
These are all places you can stop quickly, take a photo, have a drink, soak in the view but you don’t necessarily need to dedicate a lot of time to them - all great places if you have a car.
The Blue Grotto viewpoint
Blue Grotto viewpoint - there’s space to park your car on the side of the road and the viewpoint is just off the road. The grotto is stunning and great for a few photos. If you wanted to stay longer then drive down the hill and there are a few cafes plus the Blue Grotto Boat service (labelled on Google maps) and you can take boat rides into the grotto.
Golden Bay - lovely beach area
White Tower Bay
Paradise Bay
Popeye Village Viewpoint - this is the original set used for the 1980 Popeye film starring Robin Williams. The set still remains and is now an amusement park so if you’re on holiday with the family then this might be one for you. If you just want to see it (it really is a bizarrely interesting thing to see!) then there’s a viewpoint off the road on the opposite side of the bay, you can park your car there and take some snaps.
Popeye Village viewpoint in Malta
An Afternoon on Comino
I did this the on my first trip to Malta, not my second, there are so many beautiful beaches on all the islands that we picked some different ones in Gozo for our recent trip. But if you’re driving around Malta and end up in the north of the island (Popeye Village is there) then you’re very close to the Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal. Ferries leave this terminal regularly for Comino and Gozo and take foot passengers and cars.
The journey to Comino takes around 20-25minutes and costs 10 euros for the round trip. There are also regular buses from Valletta to Cirkewwa ferry terminal, check out the schedule here.
Comino is an uninhabited island between Malta and Gozo and is famous for the Blue Lagoon. There is also the Crystal Lagoon and lots of hiking trails.
Day 3: Gozo
Depending on your interests you may or may not need a whole day in Gozo. If you have a car and the freedom to explore at your own pace then here is an idea of some of the things to do:
Visit the famous Ruins of the Azure Window which collapsed into the sea in 2017. There is also the Blue Hole nearby which you can dive or snorkel.
Hiking routes around the island are numerous. Visit Gozo has some great hiking routes with historical interests too.
Have lunch in Victoria, the capital city of Gozo and another fortified town.
Bazilika-Santwarju Nazzjonali is a huge Catholic Basilica, it’s a little out of the way but has beautiful architecture and views.
Beach hopping! Gozo is famous for it’s beaches so why not explore a few and have a relaxing last day. Hondoq Ir-Rummien was my favourite and has views of Comino Blue Lagoon.
I hope this itinerary helps you plan your trip to Malta - it really is a beautiful country and a great place in Europe for a quick weekend escape. It’s small size means an itinerary like this can be mixed and matched so easily to suit your own itinerary. If you do book a trip to Malta, let me know!
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