Things to do when visiting Malta. A tourist guide to visiting the island of Malta
St. John’s Co-Cathedral – Valletta
St. John’s Co-Cathedral is one of the biggest attractions in the historical city of Valletta. Built-in the years 1573 and 1577. The cathedral is an architectural gem of Baroque art and design, created by Maltese military architect Gerolamo Cassar.
Housed within are two masterpieces by master artist Caravaggio. The religious monument is a great gateway into Malta’s historical past.
Admission for an adult is €15, however, entrance for those under 12’s is free there are discounted prices for students. The Cathedral is open to the public between 9 am and 4.45 pm and is closed on Sunday. Allow 1-2 hours to see the entire cathedral.
As an active place of worship, dress respectfully in modest clothing. It is recommended that shoulders are covered and shorts/skirts be past the knee when entering. As the cathedral is old and to protect it, tourists are asked to wear flats that don’t harm the floors. Flip Flops are available at the entrance.
Visit Mdina Old City & Rabat
Mdina City or the Silent City. Is a medieval-built fortified city with its walls built on a large hill in the centre of Malta. The town was the capital of Malta’s history, with views of the Mediterranean sea.
Mdina now is a hot tourist destination, and there are lots of private tours available with Mdina as a stop-off point. However, if you want to spend longer and explore the streets you can travel from Va;letta via bus routes, 50, 51, 52, 53 and 56. As Mdina is a pedestrianised zone, so the buses will stop in Rabat a 5-minute walk away. Taxis are also available for €30 one way.
If you are a fan of the HBO show Game of Thrones, many of the Kings Landing scenes were filmed inside the walls of Mdina, tours for this are also available for superfans. A must see when visiting Malta.
As you are already close to Rabat, visiting Mdina becomes a two-for-one tour, within walking distance. The town of Rabat also has a treasure trove of museums and attractions for those interested in Maltese history.
Barrakka Gardens – Valletta
Looking over the grand harbour, Barrakka Gardens is a beautiful public open garden. The spot has dynamic views of the island. A great spot to enjoy a coffee or lunch.
The gardens were open to the public from 1824. There are two areas of the Barakka Gardens, both upper and lower. The lower gardens are a 15-minute walk apart that has an observation deck of the harbour with cannons lining the edges.
The gardens are open from 8 am to 10 pm daily.
Popeye Village – Malta
The film set purpose-built as the backdrop for the 1980 Musical Production “Popeye”, is a great attraction when visiting Malta, if you have a few extra nights in the country. For the old and the young, the village has plenty of things to do including a filming experience with the animation crew where you can become a movie star for a day.
Perfect for film lovers and those who are interested in quirky history
Other attractions include; Santa’s toy town, a boat ride (weather permitting), water trampolines, sun bathing decks, a beach lido (summer only), food outlets, a winery offering a free glass of wine, a free postcard given to all adults and a thrilling experience in the new ‘Popeye the Comic Museum’ enhanced with over 100 original comics dating back to 1936.
In Summer entry is £€20 for adults and in the winter €14. Buses from Valletta take around 1 hour.
Blue Grotto – Malta
A complex of sea caves is found across the southern coast of the island of Malta. This beauty spot in Malta is worth a visit, either view from above, or take a boat ride through the caves. Which cost between €20-€40.
The place actually got its name in the 1950s, when a British soldier visited the area and compared it to Capri’s famous Grotta Azzura, which basically means ‘Blue Grotto’, because of its amazing clear, bright blue waters
The caves glimmer blue, but only on bright sunny days, so it is worth planning your trip around the weather.
Bus 74 from Valletta takes you to the Blue Grotto, it takes around 30 minutes to arrive.
Blue Lagoon – Comino Island
The Blue Lagoon Malta is a small bay with relatively shallow, azure-coloured water that’s located on the West coast of Comino Island.
The lagoon is popular for its bright waters, especially during the high summer season. The island is relatively small and there is not a lot of sand for visitors to bathe during busy times.
There are different boat routes, from Gozo, Sliema and ferries from Cirkewwa. From Valletta, it takes a 2-hour ferry.
Short stay in Malta but want to experience the islands?
If you have a shorter stay when visiting Malta and need to plan your trip out, boat tours run from different locations and also can add pick-up from hotels. So if you don’t want to be travelling on public transport and ferries. There are multiple boat tours you can pick from to get the Malta highlights.
