Malta Trip Itinerary: a Perfect 7 Days in Malta
Are you looking for a Malta trip itinerary? If so, you’re in the right place.
Malta is truly a fascinating place to visit. It has been ruled by all manner of countries and empires, including the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Knights of St. John, and, in more modern times, the British.
Today, all that history and culture, means a trip to the Maltese islands offers the opportunity to enjoy a varied itinerary, covering everything from megalithic temples to cocktails at the famous Blue Lagoon.
In this seven day Malta itinerary I’ll cover how to spend seven days in Malta, taking in the top sights and some hidden gems. I’ve personally visited all over Malta and Gozo so you can rest assured that I’ve included the very best activities.
I love this unique island nation, so I’m excited to help you plan what to do in Malta for your own trip.
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Day 1: Valletta and the Three Cities
The first day of your Malta trip itinerary is dedicated to exploring in and around the capital of Malta, Valletta.
Wander the evocative old-fashioned streets, where the colourful Maltese balconies and shop signs wear their worn-out look with charm.
UNESCO liked it so much that they named the whole city a World Heritage Site.
To get away from the busy central area, walk the route of the old bastion walls all the way down at the end of the peninsula, by Fort St. Elmo.
On my trips, I loved walking along the Valletta steps and traditional streets like St Paul Street. It’s quite steep in places though, so be warned.
Key highlights of Valletta
- Strait Street – famous for being the red-light district in the mid 20th century, now a thriving thoroughfare of cool bars and restaurants.
- Upper Barrakka Gardens – get wonderful views out across the harbour and enjoy a moment of tranquillity here.
- Lascaris War Rooms – join a guided tour to really appreciate the strategic military role that Malta held over the years.
- St. John’s Co-Cathedral – to see the Caravaggio painting ‘The Beheading of St John the Baptist’. Entrance costs from €15, closed on Sundays.
- Casa Rocca Piccola– a 16th Century Maltese palace, located in the centre of Valletta.
Where to eat and drink
- San Paolo Naufrago, St. Lucia’s Street
- Nenu the Artisan Baker, St .Dominic Street
- Chocolate District, Melita Street
- The Bridge Bar, Liesse
For the first afternoon of your seven days in Malta, take to the gorgeous blue Maltese water and sail over to The Three Cities.
From here you can look back and get the best views of Malta’s Grand Harbour and the Valletta skyline.
The Three Cities of Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua (also known as Birgu, L’Isla and Bormla), offer a quieter, more laid-back pace than Valletta, with winding streets to get lost in.
Don’t miss a trip to the Malta at War Museum and the miles of underground air raid shelters it houses.
If museums aren’t your thing, check out the Ghost House on Il – Kwartier, in Birgu. It’s a quirky hidden gem.
Pro Tip: instead of taking the ferry over to the Three Cities, take a traditional Maltese boat. Price is only a few euros. Departure point is the Lascaris Water Taxi station, almost opposite the bottom of the Barrakka lift.
Day 2: Blue Grotto, Hagar Qim and the Dingli Cliffs
After Valletta, the next part of your Malta trip itinerary takes in two big sights on the the southwest coast of Malta.
There are so many reasons to visit Malta and you don’t want to miss a visit to the sparkling Blue Grotto. Boat tours leave from the bottom of Triq Wied iz-Zurrieq. The 20-minute trip will take you on a small boat, run by locals, out to the incredible blue waters of the caves. During peak season you’ll have to wait before you can get on a tour but it’s worth the wait.
To to the Blue Grotto by bus from Valletta, take bus #74 and ride for 40 minutes until you reach the stop on the coast just above the Blue Grotto, called Panorama.
After the gorgeous waters of the Blue Grotto, take a walk of 25 minutes up to the Hagar Qim megalithic temple. This is another UNESCO World Heritage site in Malta.
These ancient stones date from 3600 to 3200 BC and are one of the most significant historic sights on Malta. Entrance costs from €10.
Next, take a short walk to have a dip in the beautiful water at the Ghar Lapsi Dive site. This is one of the more off the beaten path things to do in Malta and should be quieter than some of the other places on your itinerary.
Evening sunset on Malta
Once you’ve had enough of all that relaxing, you can either walk along the coast for around 90 minutes, take bus #201 from Hagar, or get one of Malta’s Ubers to take you experience the nearby Dingli Cliffs.
Spend time admiring the views, immersing yourself in the smells and sounds of the local flora and fauna, and, if you time it right, enjoying epic sunset views.
Whilst you’re here, you might spot the bizarre sight of what looks like a giant golf ball that’s landed on the coast. This is the Dingli Radar Station and it’s one of the more interesting spots on Malta for Instagram photos.
Day 3: Mdina, Rabat and the Mosta Dome
If you’re wondering what to do on the third day of your Malta trip itinerary, look no further than the golden glow of the picturesque streets of Mdina, ‘the silent city’.
Mdina is the former capital of Malta and is a fortified city and perfect for strolling around and taking in the peaceful atmosphere.
There is plenty of history, culture, and architecture to take in as you explore the bastions, palaces, churches, and museums of Mdina.
There is also the Instagram blue door with bougainvillea to visist.
As well as taking in the sights inside the walled city, head beyond the Mdina Gate to visit the nearby St. Paul’s Catacombs, in Rabat. This is a large complex of underground burial chambers, which can at times get very small and a bit spooky.
Other activities to not to miss in and around Mdina
- A visit to Mdina Glass at Ta’ Qali craft village, where you can see how the famous Maltese glass is made. Skilled crafts people blow, cut, and shape the molten glass into beautiful objects.
- Refreshments at the Fontanella Tea Garden.
You could easily spend a whole day exploring Mdina. However, if you prefer to skip the museums and additional activities you’ll have time to visit the iconic Mosta Rotunda as well.
Mosta village is home to one of the most famous churches in Malta, known as the Mosta Dome or Mosta Rotunda. It has the third largest unsupported dome in the world.
The Mosta dome has one of the most interesting histories in Malta. During World War II, a bomb pierced the dome but didn’t explode, sparing the lives of all those inside at the time. The decoration of the dome is also beautiful to see.
Days 4 and 5: Gozo
With seven days in Malta, you can afford to spend more than one day on the sister island of Gozo, which is great news, as it’s one of my absolute favourite parts of a trip to Malta.
The air in Gozo seems a little fresher, the pace of life is slower and there is plenty of open countryside to enjoy.
If you like a bit of adrenaline, take a jeep tour across the island, or hire your own boat and take yourself around the island by sea.
For a more sedate experience, head out on one of Gozo’s many hiking routes and end up at one of the beautiful rustic beaches. There are plenty to choose from. I loved spending time at the quiet Dahlet Quorrot and floating in the deep blue waters of the Wied-il-Ghasri inlet.
Top sights in Gozo not to miss
- Ramla Bay – the iconic ochre coloured beach on Gozo.
- Wied il-Mielah – a stunning table top like rock formation in the north of the island.
- Mgarr-ix-Xini – for water activities like kayaking and SUP.
- The Sanap Cliffs – for stunning sunset views across the gigantic cliffs of Gozo’s coastline.
- Gozo’s salt pans – to see a traditional craft in action and visit one of Gozo’s most instagrammable places.
- The Cittadella – the historic fortified centre of Gozo, in Victoria. There is so much to see that you might want to add another day in Gozo.
Day 6: Comino and the Blue Lagoon
When you’re considering what to see in Malta, you absolutely have to visit the Blue Lagoon in Comino.
Sure, it’s a tourist trap, full of cocktails in pineapples and inflatable flamingos but it’s also a stunning stretch of turquoise sea that has to be seen to be believed.
So, accept that there will be a lot of people (or get there super early) and go with the flow.
Alternatively, book one of the Blue Lagoon boat trips so you’ve got a base and somewhere to sunbathe from (it has been mega-crowded on the beach part on my visits to the Blue Lagoon).
Once you get away from the actual lagoon area, the rest of Comino is peaceful and there are several historic buildings to visit, like St. Mary’s tower and the Church of Our Lady’s Return from Egypt.
Pro Tip: either book a boat trip or take a walk around Comino’s coast and swim in the less-crowded Crystal Lagoon.
Day 7: Marsaxlokk, St. Peter’s Pool and Il-Kalanka
For your last day on Malta, stay on Malta island itself and visit some of the best swimming spots in the south.
Head over from Valletta to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk. Famous for its fish market, it’s also home to many colourful Maltese boats, Dgħajsa and Luzzo. Stroll along the harbour front admiring the technicolour view.
Next, walk over to St. Peter’s Pool, a beautiful swimming spot that’s popular with locals and tourists alike.
Here you can make like a local and jump into the sea from the rocks, or take my option and just revel in watching others do it.
St. Peter’s Pool has become more well known over the years, so can get crowded in peak summer.
Pro Tip: walk a little further down the coast, past St. Peter’s pool and swim at il-Kalanka. It’s very similar but less busy.
Alternative day
If you only want to spend one day on Gozo, or if you want to tailor your Malta trip itinerary more towards visiting Malta with kids, why not swap day 5 for a visit to Popeye Village and the northern Malta beaches.
This truly is one of the most unique and quirky attractions in Malta. It was originally a film set, built for the movie Popeye, staring Robin Williams. A whole small village was built and nowadays serves as a fun park.
There are shows, mini golf, characters dressed up like the movie and a water activity park.
Once you’ve finished with all the entertainment at Popeye Village, head over to nearby Golden Bay and Rivera beach (Għajn Tuffieħa). These are some of the best sandy beaches in Malta.
How to get around in Malta
Malta is a great island destination if you travel without a car. There are lots of helpful bus routes, particularly if you’re staying in Valletta.Â
Bus tickets are cheap, only €3 per journey (less in winter) and the ticket is valid for two hours on any bus. Check out my article on getting around Malta for more information.
I’ve travelled all over Malta and Gozo to visit the places listed in this Malta trip itinerary without a car so it’s very do-able.
If you prefer to hire a car or a scooter then Malta is easy to get around by yourself due to its small size.
If you want prefer a guided tour, there are lots of great day trips you can do in Malta and Gozo.
Where to stay
Malta has plenty of wonderful boutique options for accommodation.
There are also great adults only hotels in Malta.
Best time to visit Malta
Any time of year is a good time to visit Malta, due to its mild Mediterranean climate. It also has a high number of sunny days per year.
Malta does get very hot in the summer so if you prefer to avoid the hottest part of the year but still want the sea to be warm enough to swim in, visit in the shoulder seasons of June to mid-July and September to early October.
FAQs: Malta trip itinerary
How many days are enough for Malta?
If you’re wondering how many days are enough in Malta, I’m tempted to say there are never enough days in Malta, it’s such a fantastic destination. However, you can use this itinerary to plan a seven-day trip to Malta. Or extend your trip and spend two weeks in Malta, including a week on Gozo.
Is 7 days in Malta too much?
Seven days in Malta is not too much. There is plenty to do in Malta to keep you entertained. From gorgeous beaches, historic buildings, fascinating museums and the whole of the sister island of Gozo to explore.
Is it better to stay in Malta or Gozo?
If I had to pick, I would stay on Gozo but Malta has so much to offer itself that the best option is to spend some time staying on both Malta and Gozo. That way you can enjoy the best parts of both islands.
Do you need a car in Malta?
You do not need a car in Malta. I’ve adventured all over Malta without a car and been able to see all the top sights and some hidden gems. This also includes exploring Malta’s sister island of Gozo. There are bus routes, Uber is available on the islands, and you can also walk between some sights.