A Mediterranean gem that dazzles year-round. With its rich history, stunning architecture, and vibrant culture, Malta is a wonderful destination for anyone seeking adventure, relaxation, and unforgettable experiences. In this blog post we’re sharing how we explored this charming island country in the winter.
Malta is a small archipelago located in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily. It’s known for its rich history, including ancient temples, medieval towns, and remnants of various empires that once ruled the islands. As a result, it is marked by influences from various civilizations – the Romans, Arabs and British to name a few.
Getting to Malta: Malta is actually an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, some 80 km (50 mi) from southern Italy. Only the three largest islands — Malta, Gozo and Comino are inhabited. We flew direct into the Malta International Airport from London but you might have to take a connecting flight depending on where you’re coming from. You also have the option to get here by taking a ferry from Sicily, Italy.
When did we visit: This was our first time to Malta and we chose to visit in the off-season month of February for 4 days. What’s even better is that the islands are warmer compared to many other European destinations this time of the year, making it a perfect warm winter retreat. The temperatures were a pleasant 15-16ºC and it was mostly sunny (but windy) during our time here. There was also the huge benefit of lesser crowds everywhere we went.
Note that it’s still cold to venture into the Mediterranean sea as the water can be quite cold. But you can easily spend 5-7 days here even in the winter, as there’s plenty to do and see.
Accommodation: We stayed at the The Embassy Valetta Hotel right in the heart of Valetta making it easy to get around on foot. It also offers a stunning rooftop bar and restaurant and a heated rooftop swimming pool with city views.
Getting Around: In Valetta, we walked everywhere as we were in the city center. To explore other parts of Malta we rented a small car (a Mitsubishi Space Star) through Merlin Car Hire which costed us 60 Euros per day (all inclusive – rental, insurance, child-seat). [Tip]: we recommend renting a small car which is ideal for navigating through the narrow streets and parking in tight spaces.
Valetta, the capital city
Valetta, the capital of Malta is where we spent the maximum amount of time in this visit. In this section we are sharing how we explored this breathtakingly beautiful city.
- St. John’s Co-Cathedral: some of you might have seen a lot of cathedrals in your life. After all they are ubiquitous all over Europe. But this one is a masterpiece and quite unlike any other we’ve come across on our travels. The exterior doesn’t really stand out too much but as you step inside, prepare to be awe-struck by the intricate Baroque design, adorned with stunning works of art by celebrated artists such as Caravaggio. See opening hours and ticket prices, here.
- Barrakka Gardens and the Saluting Battery: Perched atop the city of Valletta lies the tranquil Upper Barrakka Gardens. The gardens offer panoramic views of the Grand Harbour, the fortified walls and city below. Entry to the gardens is Free. Adjacent to the gardens, the Saluting Battery stands as a testament to Malta’s military history. Today, you can witness the ceremonial firing of the cannons twice daily at noon (12.00 hrs) and afternoon (16.00 hrs). See opening hours and ticket prices, here. [Tip]: you can witness the cannon firing for free from the top of the gardens if you do not wish to enter the Saluting Battery.
- The Grandmaster’s Palace: Originally built in the 16th century, the palace now serves as the seat of Malta’s Parliament and the Office of the President. Visitors are welcomed to explore its opulent interiors, adorned with exquisite tapestries, intricate frescoes, and priceless works of art that offer a glimpse into Malta’s illustrious past. The palace is absolutely stunning and is worth the visit for sure. See opening hours here and ticket prices, here.
- Site-seeing Train Ride (Malta Fun Trains): A 30-mins train ride on this trackless train is a fun and family friendly way to tour the beautiful city of Valetta. Starting from the centre of the capital, passing by fortifications, and the amazing views of the Grand Harbour, this is a unique way to learn more about the city, all for 5 Euros.
- Soak in the beautiful architecture: being in Valetta feels like you’ve travelled back in time. Take some time to walk around the narrow winding lanes, sit back at an outdoor table at one of the many cafes or restaurants, or perhaps at a rooftop bar to enjoy a sunset over the city, admire the centuries-old Baroque buildings with the hallmark colorful closed balconies and just be.
Lastly, you can catch a ferry or a traditional boat from the harbour in Valetta, to go across to the Three Cities for more cities exploration. We skipped it this time around so that we could explore a few places further away from Valetta. [Tip]: You can take the Upper Barrakka Lifts to get to the Grand Harbour to catch the ferry for The Three Cities and other islands.
Ancient towns of Mdina and Rabat
Mdina, known as the “Silent City,” is a medieval town characterized by its narrow, winding streets, ancient limestone buildings, and sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. Once the capital of Malta, Mdina invites you to wander through its labyrinthine alleys and explore its hidden courtyards and historic landmarks. Or you may choose to tour around on a horse driven carriage for that added historical charm. For Game of Thrones fans, it’s also the filming location of King’s Landing from Season 1.
[Tip]: Enjoy some cake, cannoli and tea whilst admiring the countryside views at a lovely Tea Garden Cafe called Fontanella while you are here.
Just beyond Mdina’s fortified walls lies Rabat, a quaint town steeped in history. One of Rabat’s most notable attractions is St. Paul’s Catacombs, an underground labyrinth of ancient burial chambers dating back to Roman times. You can also explore the impressive architecture of St. Paul’s Church and take a leisurely stroll through the town’s streets, lined with cafes, shops, and traditional Maltese houses.
[Tip]: Do try the Pastizzis at Is-Serkin – Crystal Palace Bar here. All for 50 cents you can sample hot-off-the-oven, fresh and absolutely delicious pastizzi (small, flaky pastry puffs filled with mushy peas or ricotta cheese). This is an iconic eatery that remains open 24×7 on most days.
Apart from walking around, we chose to tour the town of Rabat and the neighbouring area on a Malta Fun Train yet again. This worked well for us as we were travelling with a toddler and it was a nice way to rest our legs, learn more about the place and it was fun for our little one too.
The Blue Grotto
The Blue Grotto, located on the southern coast of Malta is a natural wonder renowned for its stunning azure waters and a network of six limestone caves. We wanted to go for a Boat Tour which takes you over the waters and under the caves. However, due to the weather conditions, the boat service was unfortunately closed on the day we visited. So we settled to admire it from a panoramic viewpoint that we could drive up to. The vistas from here were stunning and serene letting us enjoy the coastline views.
Marsaxlokk – a traditional fishing village
Marsaxlokk is a small traditional fishing village nestled along the southeastern coast of Malta. It has a harbour and you cannot miss the traditional luzzu boats painted in bright primary colours, that line the sheltered inner harbour. The village is also known for the Marsaxlokk Market, which is mainly a large fish market which takes place along the seafront on Sundays, and a tourist market during all other days of the week. For those who enjoy sea-food, there are plenty of sea-facing restaurants to choose from.
Here we took a leisurely stroll alongside the picturesque waterfront promenade and the narrow streets of the village. Then we went for a short 25-mins boat ride, around the habour which was lovely. It gave us a different vantage point to admire the azure waters of the Mediterranean and soak in the views, all for 5 Euros each.
[Tip]: Longer duration boat rides are also available that will take you around the harbour and natural attractions such as St. Peter’s Pool.
So there you have it. This was how we spent our time in Malta in the winter. As we had only four days in hand and we were travelling with our little one, we didn’t try to pack too much into this one.
As you would have noticed, we didn’t venture to the islands of Gozo and Comino, leaving that for a future visit. Overall, we had a splendid time in Malta and would love to revisit some day.
Thanks for stopping by and we hope that this gives you a starting point for planning your own itinerary to this beautiful country. As always feel free to leave your thoughts and questions below and we’ll try our best to answer them. Until next time, take care!
