8 Best Things to Do in Malta
Ultimate Travel Guide 2025
Wander the Streets of Valletta
Malta’s capital, Valletta, home to only around 6,000 people, is often the first place toursits explore. It’s a stunning introduction to Malta, with its unique limestone architecture, narrow streets, and blend of cultures. What we did—and what we highly recommend everyone to do—is to simply stroll around and explore everything that this city has to offer. Wander through the charming alleys, spend too much money (spoken from experience) at local shops, make your way to the port and catch the firing cannons at the Saluting Battery (Monday – Saturday at noon).
Get the Heritage Malta Multisite Pass
If you’re a history, culture or nature enthusiast like we are, the Heritage Malta Multisite Pass is a lifesaver. Priced at €60 (with discounts for children, students, and seniors), it lets you access a multitude of places, 24 different sites/museums to be specific, so you can choose which ones fit your taste – our favorites were the National Aquarium and St. Paul’s Catacombs. From what we’ve seen, they really made sure the museums and historical sites are in a great condition. You can find a brochure, which includes a list of all the museums/sites and their location, displayed nicely on a map from their site.
Explore the “Silent City” – Mdina
The former capital of Malta, Mdina, is a breathtaking combination of Medieval and Baroque architecture, famous for its ancient fortifications. More recently, it gained extra fame as a filming location for Game of Thrones (it doubled as King’s Landing!). There are two ways to experience Mdina:
- At night – The city takes on a magical atmosphere, with dimly lit alleys and a peaceful silence (pun intended). Walking through Mdina after dark is a unique experience, one we couldn’t find anywhere else.
- At day – While the city may not be feeling like you’re in a TV show now, and crowds will fill the streets, the museums are open and they are totally worth it.
The best part? You can do both! We did, and we don’t regret it one bit.
Popeye’s Village
Our favorite spot! Yes, it’s a tourist attraction, but for a good reason. Originally built as a film set for the musical Popeye, it’s now a colorful, fun-filled village that feels straight out of a Disney movie. If that did not convince you, there are tons of mini-games (be warned—they’re extremely addictive, we spent a couple hours trying all of them). There’s also a small “beach”, but here’s a pro tip:
- Instead of staying at the village’s beach, leave Popeye’s Village and walk about 5 minutes along the cliff’s edge until you find a path leading down. You’ll discover one of our favorite swimming spots. The water is clear, the views of Popeye’s Village are stunning, especially at sunset, and if you visit off-season, you will be one of the only people there, if not the only. Just a heads-up—the water is fairly deep, so you won’t be touching the bottom.
Comino
Comino is famous for its pristine, turquoise waters, making it the perfect spot for swimming and cliff diving. The Blue Lagoon is the main attraction and yes, you should spend some time there, it is beautiful.
But here’s what most people miss—the hiking trails. The island’s arid landscape, red soil, and specific vegetation make for an unusual but perfect experience for nature lovers like us.
- Want to avoid the crowds? Visit in November, the weather is still great.
Gozo
The third and final island we’ll mention, Malta’s sister island, Gozo, is great for a day trip. Firstly Victoria’s Citadel, which made us feel like we got transported to an Assassin’s Creed game. Honestly, we still can’t decide whether we preferred Victoria or Mdina—both have their own unique charm. After exploring the Citadel, make sure to visit The Salt Pans, and if you’re feeling adventurous cliff hike to Mgarr. Just don’t be like us and do it at night… in flip-flops… with no phone battery. Trust us on this one.
Try Malta’s Watersports
If you love an adrenaline rush, Malta’s crystal-clear waters are the perfect place:
- Jet Skiing – Zoom across the Mediterranean.
- Scuba Diving & Snorkeling – Malta has some of the best dive sites in Europe, including shipwrecks and vibrant marine life.
- Kayaking & Paddleboarding – Great for exploring the coastline and hidden caves.
Marsaxlokk – Malta’s Charming Fishing Village
We’ll be honest—we ran out of time and didn’t make it to Marsaxlokk on our trip. But hey, that just means we have the perfect excuse to come back! This fishing village is famous for its brightly colored traditional boats, bustling Sunday market, and fresh seafood, making it instantly land on our bucket list.
