7 Day Malta Itinerary

Malta might be small, but don’t let its size fool you. There is a surprising amount to see and do here, and a week gives you enough time to explore beyond Valletta without constantly rushing from one attraction to the next.

I spent a week in Malta, using public transport to get around and visiting both the main island and Gozo.

We explored historic cities, wandered through tiny villages, visited prehistoric temples, ate plenty of Maltese food and spent time along the Mediterranean coastline.

Of course, there were things I would do differently next time.

I’ve taken what we did, kept the things I loved, removed the things I wouldn’t bother repeating (including the morning we spent doing laundry!) and added a few places I wish we had squeezed in.

The result is this 7 day Malta itinerary, with a mix of history, food, coastal scenery and time to simply enjoy being in Malta.

If you have one week in Malta, I think this gives you a great introduction to the islands without trying to cram something into every hour.

You don’t need to follow the days in this exact order. In fact, I recommend you don’t. Move them around to suit the weather, opening days and any local festivals happening during your visit.

If you’re still deciding when to travel, take a look at my guide to the best time to visit Malta. And if you’re right at the beginning of your planning, my Malta Travel Guide covers all the basics.

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7 Days in Malta at a Glance

Here’s how I recommend spending your week in Malta.

• Day 1 – Valletta: Walking tour, St John’s Co-Cathedral and Upper Barrakka Gardens
• Day 2 – Sliema & St Julian’s: Waterfront walk, Balluta Bay and Spinola Bay
• Day 3 – Gozo: Spend a full day exploring Malta’s second-largest inhabited island
• Day 4 – Northern Malta: Mellieħa, the beach and your choice of Popeye Village or the Malta National Aquarium
• Day 5 – Mdina & Rabat: Explore the Silent City, catacombs and Malta’s Roman history
• Day 6 – Marsaxlokk & the south: Fishing village, Sunday market if your dates line up, and optional St Peter’s Pool
• Day 7 – Blue Grotto & prehistoric Malta: Blue Grotto, Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra

One important tip: If your seven days include a Sunday, consider making that your Marsaxlokk day so you can experience the busy Sunday market, then shuffle the other days around it.

Day 1: Valletta – Malta’s Historic Capital

Start your week in Valletta, Malta’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed capital.

I almost always start exploring a new city with a walking tour, preferably a free one. I use GuruWalk to see what is available, and Valletta is a particularly good place to do one.

Apart from helping you get your bearings, a walking tour gives you some background to Malta’s history and points out places you might otherwise walk straight past.

It can also lead to unexpected experiences.

During our Valletta walking tour, we heard about a local festival happening in Rabat the following day. We changed our plans to go along, and it ended up being one of our favourite memories from the trip.

After your tour, spend some time wandering Valletta’s streets at your own pace. Stop at the Upper Barrakka Gardens for views across the Grand Harbour towards the Three Cities, and duck into any churches, museums or laneways that catch your attention.

For a quick lunch, grab a pastizz or two. These inexpensive savoury pastries are one of the traditional Maltese foods I recommend trying and perfect when you don’t want to spend an hour sitting in a restaurant.

Visit St John’s Co-Cathedral

Make St John’s Co-Cathedral your main attraction for the day.

I have to admit, I was initially in two minds about visiting. I’d already seen plenty of impressive European cathedrals and wasn’t convinced I needed to pay to see another one.

We eventually visited on our last day in Malta and I’m very glad we did.

The interior is incredibly elaborate, and one of the highlights is Caravaggio’s The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, the only known painting he signed.

If you’re also wondering whether it’s worth the admission price, I have a whole post answering the question is St John’s Co-Cathedral worth visiting?

The Co-Cathedral is currently open to visitors Monday to Saturday, but opening hours can change for religious and special events, so check the official St John’s Co-Cathedral website before your visit.

It is closed to sightseeing on Sundays and public holidays.

If the timing works, head back towards the Upper Barrakka Gardens afterwards to see the Saluting Battery below.

There are currently cannon firing displays at noon and 4 pm, but again, check the schedule before planning your day around one.

Remember that St John’s is an active place of worship, so dress appropriately.

Evening in Valletta

Once the sightseeing is done, slow things down. Wander Valletta’s streets and stop somewhere for a drink before dinner.

For dinner, Guzé Bistro is one option for Maltese-inspired food in the centre of Valletta.

Or turn your first evening into another experience with a traditional Maltese dinner or cultural show.

Then call it a night – there’s plenty more Malta still to come.

Day 2: Sliema and St Julian’s

Today is less about ticking off attractions and more about enjoying Malta’s coastline, so put on your walking shoes.

If you’re coming from Valletta, take the ferry across the harbour to Sliema. It’s a particularly nice way to start the day.

Spend the morning walking along the waterfront and follow the coast towards St Julian’s. There are plenty of cafes, shops and places to stop, so there’s no need to plan every part of the day.

Lunch in Sliema

For lunch, try Ta’ Kris, tucked away just off one of Sliema’s main shopping streets.

If you haven’t tried rabbit yet, this could be your opportunity. It’s one of Malta’s traditional dishes, although there are plenty of other choices if that’s not for you.

After lunch, continue north towards St Julian’s.

You’ll pass Balluta Bay, one of the prettiest spots along this stretch of coastline. When we visited, we even caught a glimpse of swimmers training in the sea.

Continue around to Spinola Bay, where traditional fishing boats sit alongside the much more modern side of St Julian’s.

If the weather is warm, you could add a swim or water activity. Otherwise, find somewhere overlooking the water, give your feet a rest and watch the world go by.

Evening in St Julian’s

Stay in the area for dinner rather than rushing back to your accommodation.

We ate at Wigi’s Kitchen near Balluta Bay, which makes a good option before finishing your day.

From here, catch a bus or taxi back to your accommodation – unless you’re staying nearby and can simply walk home.

Day 3: Take a Day Trip to Gozo

Today you’re heading across to Gozo, Malta’s second-largest inhabited island.

You could easily spend several days here, but if you only have a week in Malta, a day trip gives you a good taste of the island.

I have a complete guide to taking a day trip to Gozo if you want more detail when planning this day.

There are several ways to get there. The Gozo Channel ferry runs between Ċirkewwa in northern Malta and Mġarr on Gozo, and you can take a car across if you have one. There is also a fast passenger ferry between Valletta and Gozo, or you can book an organised tour.

We were travelling around Malta without a car, so we took a bus to Ċirkewwa and caught the ferry across.

Once on Gozo, we used a hop-on hop-off bus to get around. Normally I prefer public transport, but with only one day this worked well. We could see several parts of Gozo without spending too much time working out bus connections, and the commentary gave us some background as we travelled.

What to See on Gozo

Don’t try to see everything below in a single day. Pick the places that interest you most.

Some of the highlights include:

• Victoria and the Citadel – Wander through Gozo’s capital and explore the fortified Citadel.
• Dwejra – Once famous for the Azure Window, this dramatic stretch of coastline is still worth visiting. You’ll find the Inland Sea and Blue Hole here.
• Xlendi – A small seaside town that makes a lovely lunch stop. We ate mussels and drank Maltese wine overlooking the water at Ta’ Karolina.
• Ta’ Pinu Basilica – An important pilgrimage site surrounded by countryside in western Gozo.
• Ġgantija Archaeological Park – Home to extraordinary prehistoric megalithic temples.
• Ta’ Kola Windmill – An 18th-century windmill close to Ġgantija, making the two easy to combine.
• Xewkija Rotunda – An enormous domed church that dominates the skyline around Xewkija.
• Ramla Bay – If you’d rather spend some of your day swimming, this reddish-gold sandy beach is one of Gozo’s best known.

What About Comino and the Blue Lagoon?

You’ll find plenty of tours combining Gozo and Comino, usually with a stop at the famous Blue Lagoon.

That can be a good option if the Blue Lagoon is high on your Malta wish list, but every hour you spend on Comino is time you don’t have to explore Gozo.

Personally, with just one day, I’d choose between seeing more of Gozo or taking a Gozo and Comino combination tour rather than trying to squeeze everything in independently.

There is also an important new rule to know about. If you want to get off the boat at the Blue Lagoon, you need to reserve a free timed landing pass in advance.

There are separate morning, afternoon and sunset sessions, and numbers are limited.

Getting Back to Malta

Allow plenty of time to get back to the ferry, particularly if you are relying on the hop-on hop-off bus or public transport.

If you return via Ċirkewwa, you could stop in Mellieħa for dinner before continuing to your accommodation.

Otherwise, keep things simple and eat somewhere near where you’re staying. After a full day exploring Gozo, you may be very happy not to have another journey to make.

Prefer a tour to Gozo? Here are some options.

Day 4: Explore Northern Malta

After yesterday’s busy trip to Gozo, today can be as active or relaxed as you like.

Head north to Mellieħa, where you’ll find Malta’s largest sandy beach as well as a few other attractions worth considering.

Start by exploring Mellieħa itself. The town is built on a hillside, with the impressive Parish Church of Mellieħa sitting prominently above the surrounding landscape.

From here, choose how you want to spend the rest of your day.

Option 1: Spend Some Time at the Beach

If the weather is warm, head down to Mellieħa Bay, also known as Għadira Bay.

It’s Malta’s largest sandy beach and a good place to stop sightseeing for a while. Swim, hire a sunbed or find somewhere for lunch and enjoy a few hours by the water.

Option 2: Visit Popeye Village

Just across the peninsula at Anchor Bay is Popeye Village, originally constructed as the film set for the 1980 musical Popeye starring Robin Williams.

The wooden village was left in place after filming and has since become a tourist attraction.

It’s certainly quirky, and even if you don’t go inside, the view across Anchor Bay towards the colourful collection of wooden buildings is worth seeing.

If you do visit, allow a few hours to explore.

Option 3: Visit the Malta National Aquarium

Another option is to continue towards Qawra and visit the Malta National Aquarium.

This is what we did after spending the morning around Mellieħa.

It’s not enormous, but if you happen to be travelling with someone who loves aquariums — like my husband does — it’s an enjoyable way to spend an hour or two.

It’s also useful if the weather isn’t cooperating.

Afterwards, take a walk along the waterfront around Qawra and St Paul’s Bay before heading back to your accommodation.

Where to Eat

If you’re around Mellieħa, one80 Kitchen & Lounge is one option for lunch or dinner.

Otherwise, eat wherever suits your plans. Not every day of a Malta itinerary needs to finish with a restaurant reservation.water sports, but be warned, it can get very busy in summer.

Day 5: Explore Mdina and Rabat

Today you’re heading inland to explore Mdina and Rabat.

Our day here didn’t go quite according to plan — in the best possible way.

During our walking tour in Valletta, we’d heard that celebrations for the Feast of St Joseph would be taking place in Rabat, so we changed our plans and went along.

The streets were decorated, crowds had gathered and we somehow found ourselves caught up in the arrival of Malta’s President for Mass. There was music and singing, statues were carried through the streets and zeppole were being sold everywhere.

It ended up being one of those wonderful travel days we could never have planned.

Unless you happen to be visiting around the Feast of St Joseph too, your day will probably be considerably quieter!

Wander Through the Silent City of Mdina

Start with Mdina, Malta’s former capital.

The fortified city is tiny, so you don’t need a complicated itinerary. Walk through the gates and simply start exploring.

I loved wandering through the maze of narrow streets, occasionally turning a corner and finding another beautiful building, courtyard or view.

Mdina is known as the Silent City, and once you get away from the entrance and busier areas, it’s easy to understand why.

Make your way to the edge of the fortified city for views across Malta, and take a look inside St Paul’s Cathedral if it interests you.

If there’s a walking tour available, this is another place where I think joining one can add a lot. Mdina is beautiful to wander around, but knowing some of the stories behind what you’re seeing makes it much more interesting.

Stop at Fontanella Tea Garden

Before leaving Mdina, stop at Fontanella Tea Garden beside the city walls.

It’s well known for its cakes, so stop for tea and cake or make this your lunch break.

Explore Rabat

Mdina and Rabat sit right beside each other, so you can simply walk between them.

Rabat feels completely different. While Mdina is a tiny fortified city, Rabat is a living town with shops, cafes, churches and everyday Maltese life happening around you.

One of the most interesting attractions is St Paul’s Catacombs, an extensive complex of underground burial chambers used over many centuries.

You can also visit Domvs Romana, where archaeological remains include impressive Roman mosaics.

And leave yourself time simply to wander.

We stopped at a small cafe called Chalk for coffee, cannoli and zeppole and managed to get a table on a tiny balcony overlooking the street. Combined with everything happening for the festival, it’s one of the things I remember most about our day.

That’s why I wouldn’t try to pack too much into Mdina and Rabat. Give yourself time for the unexpected things too.

Evening

Stay around Mdina or Rabat for dinner, or return to wherever you’re staying.

If you’d like to make a night of it, seeing Mdina after many of the day visitors have left would be a lovely way to finish the day.

Day 6: Marsaxlokk and Malta’s South Coast

If one of your seven days falls on a Sunday, I recommend making Marsaxlokk your destination that day and moving the rest of the itinerary around to suit.

Marsaxlokk is a traditional fishing village on Malta’s south-east coast, best known for its waterfront, colourful fishing boats and market.

There is a market in Marsaxlokk on other days too, but Sunday is the big one and the day I’d choose for this itinerary.

We arrived towards the end of the market and immediately wished we had got there earlier, so this is one morning when it’s worth getting going reasonably early.

Explore Marsaxlokk

Start with the market before wandering along the harbour.

Look out for the brightly painted traditional Maltese fishing boats known as luzzijiet, many decorated with the distinctive eye on the bow.

Then slow down for a while. Browse the stalls, walk along the waterfront and find somewhere overlooking the harbour for lunch.

There are plenty of seafood restaurants lining the waterfront.

We ate at one on a very busy Sunday and, while the food was fine, the incredibly slow service meant it wasn’t somewhere I’d particularly recommend. I’d simply choose somewhere that looks good on the day.

Optional: Swim at St Peter’s Pool

If the weather is warm, spend the afternoon at St Peter’s Pool, a natural swimming spot along the rocky coastline not far from Marsaxlokk.

There isn’t a sandy beach here. Instead, people swim from the limestone rocks surrounding the water.

Getting there without a car takes a little more effort, so check your transport options before setting off.

And if scrambling down to a swimming spot doesn’t appeal, don’t feel like you need to go simply because it’s on every Malta itinerary.

Stay longer in Marsaxlokk or head back towards Valletta and give yourself a free afternoon.

After almost a week of sightseeing, a few hours with nothing planned might be exactly what you want.

Tonight I recommend enjoying dinner at The Harbour Club. Sadly this is another one I didn’t personally try, but I have since seen it shared by someone else I know and it is firmly on my list for my next visit.

Day 7: Blue Grotto, Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra

For your final day, head back to the south coast for a combination of coastal scenery and some of Malta’s extraordinary prehistoric history.

Start at the Blue Grotto

Begin at Wied iż-Żurrieq, where small boats take visitors out to the Blue Grotto and surrounding sea caves.

The boat trip takes you beneath the natural arch and into several caves, where sunlight reflecting through the water can create brilliant shades of blue.

Boat trips are weather dependent, so check conditions before you set out.

Even if the boats aren’t operating, the coastline is beautiful and there is a viewpoint above the Blue Grotto that gives you a completely different perspective of the arch.

I’d aim to visit earlier in the day rather than leaving it until late afternoon.

Visit Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra

From the Blue Grotto, continue to the Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Archaeological Park.

These prehistoric temple complexes date back more than 5,000 years and form part of Malta’s UNESCO-listed Megalithic Temples.

Ħaġar Qim sits on higher ground, while Mnajdra is further down the hillside towards the sea. A walking path connects the two, so allow enough time to see both.

The setting is part of what makes this area so memorable – enormous prehistoric stone structures surrounded by open landscape with the Mediterranean beyond them.

One accessibility point worth knowing is that the visitor centre and Ħaġar Qim have accessible provision, while Mnajdra is not accessible in the same way.

Afterwards, find somewhere nearby for lunch or a drink before making your way back towards Valletta.

Your Final Evening in Malta

For your final evening, head back to Valletta.

By now you’ve already spent time here, so there’s no need for another sightseeing list. Wander through the streets, stop somewhere for a drink and have one last Maltese meal.

If there was somewhere you spotted on Day 1 and thought, we should come back here, tonight is your chance.

Seven days exploring Malta can be surprisingly busy for such a small country!

If You Have More Than 7 Days in Malta

Have longer than a week? You certainly won’t run out of things to do in Malta.

My first choice would be to spend more time on Gozo. We visited as a day trip and managed to see quite a bit, but there was plenty more I would happily have stayed to explore.

Spending a night or two there would also let you experience the island after many of the day-trippers have returned to Malta.

You could also add a separate trip to Comino and the Blue Lagoon, rather than squeezing it into your Gozo day.

Or simply slow this itinerary down. Spend a full beach day in Mellieħa, add more time in Valletta, visit some of Malta’s museums or explore the Three Cities across the Grand Harbour.

And if you really want to add another country, Sicily is surprisingly close to Malta.

I visited Sicily a couple of months after this trip and loved it, but rather than squeezing it into a day trip, I’d give Sicily a few days of its own if your itinerary allows.

Tips for Planning Your 7 Days in Malta

Getting Around Malta

We did this trip using public transport, so you absolutely don’t need to hire a car.

Buses will get you to most places in this itinerary, although journeys can take longer than you might expect for such a small island. The Tallinja app is useful for planning journeys.

Ferries are also handy, particularly between Valletta and Sliema and for travelling to Gozo.

If you prefer more flexibility, hiring a car can make places such as the Blue Grotto, Marsaxlokk and northern Malta easier to reach. Malta drives on the left, which at least makes that part familiar for Australian visitors.

Discover Cars is where I now search and compare rental cars when I travel.

I have a separate guide to getting around Malta without a car if you’re planning to use public transport as we did.

Where to Stay in Malta

For a first visit, I’d look at Valletta, Sliema or Il-Gżira as convenient bases for this itinerary.

Valletta puts you amongst the history with good access to buses and ferries, while Sliema and neighbouring Il-Gżira have plenty of restaurants, shops and accommodation and are well connected to other parts of the island.

We stayed at the Alavits Hotel by ST Hotels in Il-Gżira, which worked really well for us. You can read my full review of Alavits Hotel by ST Hotels here, or check current prices and availability.

For more options, take a look at my guide to the best areas to stay in Malta.

You Don’t Need a Restaurant for Every Meal

Eating out for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day gets expensive – and sometimes you simply don’t want another sit-down meal.

Pick up a pastizz, try some ftira or stop at a bakery or cafe for something quick.

I’ve put together a guide to the Maltese foods worth trying, so keep an eye out for some of those as you travel around the islands.

Don’t Try to See Everything

This itinerary covers a lot, but it isn’t meant to be a challenge.

If you wake up one morning and would rather spend the day swimming than visiting another historic site, do it. If you love Gozo, stay longer. If museums are your thing, spend more time in Valletta.

Seven days is enough to see a good variety of Malta, but not absolutely everything – and you don’t need to.

Use this itinerary as a starting point, move the days around and make the week your own.

If this is your first visit, my Things to Know Before You Go to Malta post also has more practical information to help with your planning.

Is 7 Days in Malta Enough?

I think seven days is a great amount of time for a first trip to Malta.

It gives you enough time to explore Valletta, Mdina and Rabat, spend a day on Gozo, see some of the coastline and beaches, and discover just how much history is packed into these small islands.

Our own week didn’t go exactly to plan – and I’m glad it didn’t. Some of my favourite memories came from changing our plans after hearing about the festival in Rabat or simply stopping somewhere longer than expected.

So use this 7 day Malta itinerary as a guide rather than a schedule you have to follow.

Plan the things you really don’t want to miss, leave some space for whatever you discover when you arrive, and don’t worry if you don’t see everything.

You can always come back.