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Travel guide · Knights, golden stone and Gozo

Travelling to Malta

Golden stone, the Knights of Malta, turquoise coves and seven thousand years of history across three islands. We tell you when to go, what to see and what to eat.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • All year round
  • Where to eat: the pastizzeria
Photo: Unsplash

Malta in 30 seconds

  • Any time of year is good to travel to Malta: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.
  • The Tallinja Card makes buses cheaper; paying on board costs more.
  • To eat like a local: the pastizzeria. Don’t leave without trying: Pastizzi, Fenkata, Ftira.

Malta in November

Yes: November is a good time to travel to Malta. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

More destinations for November

When to travel to Malta

Any time of year is good to travel to Malta: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings

What to see in Malta

The cities and areas most worth your time, with their highlights. Open each one for all the places, where to stay and its day trips.

  • Valletta
    Valletta

    Valletta

    A fortress city that is a World Heritage Site, with St John’s Co-Cathedral and views over the Grand Harbour.

    • St John’s Co-Cathedral
    • Upper Barrakka Gardens
    • Palace of the Grand Master
    • Fort St Elmo
    Valletta guide
  • Mdina
    Mdina and the interior

    Mdina

    The Silent City: the old walled capital, with narrow streets and palaces.

    • St Paul’s Cathedral, Mdina
    • Palazzo Falson
    • Mdina Gate
    • St Paul’s Catacombs
    Mdina guide
  • Victoria
    Gozo

    Victoria

    The sister island, greener and quieter, with Victoria’s Citadel and coves for diving.

    • Cittadella, Victoria
    • Cathedral of the Assumption
    • Ġgantija
    • Ta’ Pinu
    Victoria guide
  • Sliema

    Sliema

    A seafront promenade, shopping and a direct ferry to Valletta.

    • Tower Road promenade
    • Ferry to Valletta
    • Manoel Island
    • Shopping streets
    Sliema guide
  • St Julian’s

    St Julian’s

    Malta’s nightlife hub, with Spinola Bay and Paceville.

    • Spinola Bay
    • Paceville
    • Love Monument
    • St George’s Bay
    St Julian’s guide
  • Comino

    Comino

    A tiny island between Malta and Gozo, with the famous Blue Lagoon.

    • Blue Lagoon
    • St Mary’s Tower
    • Crystal Lagoon
    • Trails
    Comino guide
  • Marsaxlokk

    Marsaxlokk

    A fishing village of painted luzzu boats with an eye on the bow.

    • Luzzu harbour
    • Sunday market
    • St Peter’s Pool
    • Promenade
    Marsaxlokk guide
  • Three Cities

    Three Cities

    Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua, across from Valletta: Malta at its most authentic.

    • Fort St Angelo
    • Birgu
    • Gardjola Gardens
    • Dgħajsa
    Three Cities guide
  • Mellieħa

    Mellieħa

    The north of Malta, with the island’s longest sandy beach.

    • Għadira Bay
    • Popeye Village
    • Red Tower
    • Mellieħa Sanctuary
    Mellieħa guide

Day trips and activities

What’s most worth booking from each city. We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

From Valletta

From Mdina

From Victoria

From Sliema

From St Julian’s

From Comino

From Marsaxlokk

From the Three Cities

From Mellieħa

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What to eat in Malta

To eat like a local: the pastizzeria, and order ricotta pastizzi or rabbit stew. And don’t leave without trying:

  • Pastizzi

    Flaky pastry filled with ricotta or peas, the national snack.

  • Fenkata

    Stewed or fried rabbit, the dish for celebrations.

  • Ftira

    Gozitan bread filled with tomato, tuna, capers and olives.

  • Lampuki pie

    An autumn pie of dorado (mahi-mahi).

  • Ġbejniet

    Little sheep’s cheeses from Gozo, fresh or peppered and cured.

  • Kinnie

    A bittersweet orange and herb soft drink.

The typical dish of Malta, at home

Pastizzi
Photo: Chattacha · CC BY 3.0

Pastizzi

Diamond-shaped flaky pastries filled with ricotta or peas, Malta’s street snack. They’re bought hot from the pastizzerias in every town.

  • Serves 12
  • 1 h

Ingredients

  • 2 sheets of puff pastry
  • 400 g ricotta
  • 1 egg
  • Salt and pepper
  • For the pea ones: 300 g cooked peas, 1 onion, mild curry powder and cumin

How to make it at home

  1. Mix the ricotta with the egg, salt and pepper. For the pea ones, fry the onion with the spices and mash the peas.
  2. Cut the puff pastry into 10 cm squares.
  3. Put a spoonful of filling in the centre and close by bringing two opposite corners together, leaving the sides open.
  4. Put them on a lined baking tray.
  5. Bake at 210 °C for about 20 minutes, until golden and puffed.

The trick: They’re eaten fresh from the oven with a milky tea, as in Malta’s bars.

The typical food of each city, with a recipe

Curious facts about Malta

What guidebooks don’t tell you and will help you understand the country better.

  • Its megalithic temples are older than the pyramids of Egypt.
  • Valletta is one of the smallest capitals in the European Union.
  • Maltese is the only Semitic official language of the EU and is written in the Latin alphabet.
  • People drive on the left, a British legacy.
  • There’s a church for almost every day of the year.
  • Many films and series have been shot here, such as Gladiator and Game of Thrones.

Traditions of Malta

Customs and celebrations that will help you experience the country like a local.

  • Summer Festa

    Each village celebrates its patron saint with processions, bands and fireworks.

  • February Carnival

    Floats and costumes in Valletta and Nadur (Gozo).

  • October Notte Bianca

    Valletta opens its museums and palaces at night.

  • December Nativity scenes

    Living and traditional nativity scenes, like the one at Għajnsielem on Gozo.

What not to do in Malta

First-trip mistakes that are easy to avoid.

  • Don’t enter churches with bare shoulders or knees.
  • Don’t swim in Comino’s Blue Lagoon at midday in August if you’re after calm: it’s packed.
  • Don’t forget to book the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum well in advance: very few people get in each day.
  • Don’t underestimate the summer sun.
  • Don’t hire a car if you’re not comfortable driving on the left: there are good buses and ferries.
  • Don’t miss a village festa if you’re there for one: it’s Malta in its purest form.

Before you go

Entry requirements depend on your passport and change: always check them with official sources before travelling.

  • Entering the country

    Visas, electronic authorisations and health requirements for Malta depend on your nationality. Check your government’s official travel advice and the embassy before you book.

    UK: foreign travel advice (GOV.UK) US: travel advisories (travel.state.gov)
  • Traveller tips

    The Tallinja Card makes buses cheaper; paying on board costs more.

    The Ċirkewwa–Mġarr ferry links Malta and Gozo throughout the day.

    Churches require covered shoulders and knees.

Frequently asked questions about Malta

What people search for most before travelling to Malta.

What’s the best time to travel to Malta?

Any time of year is good to travel to Malta: our data shows no months with weather, closure or crowd warnings.

What to see in Malta in a week?

The essentials of Malta: Valletta, Mdina, Victoria, Sliema and St Julian’s. How many places fit into your days, and in what order, depends on your dates and how you get around: the Bagintravel app plans your trip day by day in a minute.

What to eat in Malta?

Pastizzi, Fenkata, Ftira, Lampuki pie, Ġbejniet, Kinnie. To eat like a local: the pastizzeria.

What is the typical dish of Malta?

Pastizzi. Diamond-shaped flaky pastries filled with ricotta or peas, Malta’s street snack. They’re bought hot from the pastizzerias in every town.

What should you not do in Malta?

Don’t enter churches with bare shoulders or knees. Don’t swim in Comino’s Blue Lagoon at midday in August if you’re after calm: it’s packed. Don’t forget to book the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum well in advance: very few people get in each day.

Is it worth travelling to Malta in November?

Yes: November is a good time to travel to Malta. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

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More guides

Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Seasonal data, places and areas: the same ones the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.

Photos: cover, Unsplash. Valletta, Mandyy88 (CC BY-SA 4.0). Mdina, Frank Vincentz (CC BY-SA 3.0). Victoria, Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0). Sliema, Mike McBey (CC BY 2.0). St Julian’s, Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0). Comino, Picman (Public domain). Marsaxlokk, Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0). Three Cities, No machine-readable author provided. Bulbul assumed (based on copyright claims). (Public domain). Mellieħa, Frank Vincentz (CC BY-SA 3.0).