Explore Malta’s rich heritage
Malta is known for its historical sites, and exploring them in autumn can be an enriching experience. From the ancient Megalithic Temples to the medieval city of Mdina, you can enjoy the island’s fascinating history and architectural heritage without feeling overwhelmed by large crowds.
Although there are numerous attractions in Malta, one must not miss the opportunity to explore the spectacular sights this beautiful island offers. From its ancient temples, such as the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, to the picturesque capital city of Valletta, Malta is full of history, culture, and natural beauty.
Before our trip and during the planning we made the list of all the attractions in Malta that we found in various sources. From there we picked the ones we found to our liking and fitted them into our 6 days itinerary.
Next to the name is a note what type of attraction it is and do you need a ticket for the entrance or not. Following column is with information about opening hours for autumn and winter season.
NOTE: That is very important because most of them close very early. That has an impact on the daily schedule. We suggest visiting those attractions in the morning and in the afternoon leaving those open all the time. See our itinerary at the bottom.
For the attractions that have their website, we put the link to it so you can get more information. We’ve included more practical info in our post Visit Malta in Autumn.
TOP ATTRACTIONS IN MALTA
| Attractions in Malta | Type | Need ticket | Opening hours for autumn/winter season | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valletta city gate Renzo Piano | gate | no | / | / |
| Valletta St John’s Co-Cathedral | church | yes | Mon-Sat 09.30 –16.30 | https://www.stjohnscocathedral.com/ |
| Valletta Grandmaster Palace | palace | yes | Mon-Fri 10:00-16:00, Sat-Sun 09:00-17:00, Thursday closed | https://heritagemalta.mt/explore/grand-masters-palace/ |
| Fort St Elmo – National War Museum | museum | yes | Mon-Sun 09.00-16.30 | https://heritagemalta.mt/explore/fort-st-elmo-national-war-museum/ |
| National Museum of Archaeology | museum | yes | Mon-Sun 09.00-16.30 | https://heritagemalta.mt/explore/national-museum-of-archaeology/ |
| Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra temples | megalith | yes | Sun-Sat 09:00-16:30 | https://heritagemalta.mt/explore/hagar-qim-and-mnajdra-archaeological-park/ |
| Hal Saflieni Hypogeum | temple | yes | Mon-Sun 09.00-17.00 | https://heritagemalta.mt/explore/hal-saflieni-hypogeum/ |
| Tarxien Temples | temple | yes | Mon-Sun 09.00-16.30 | https://heritagemalta.mt/explore/hal-tarxien-prehistoric-complex/ |
| Marsaxlokk fishing village | town | no | / | / |
| Għar Dalam | megalith | yes | Tue-Sun 09.00-16.30, Monday closed | https://heritagemalta.mt/explore/ghar-dalam/ |
| Birgu | town | no | / | / |
| Inquisitor’s Palace | museum | yes | Tue-Sun 09.00-16.30, Monday closed | https://heritagemalta.mt/explore/the-inquisitors-palace/ |
| Fort St. Angelo | fortress | yes | Mon-Sun 09.00-16.30 | https://heritagemalta.mt/explore/fort-st-angelo/ |
| Cospicua | town | no | / | / |
| GOZO Ġgantija Temples | temple | yes | Mon-Sun 09.00-16.30 | https://heritagemalta.mt/explore/ggantija-archaeological-park/ |
| GOZO Citadel | fortress | no/ yes | Tue-Sun 10:00-16:30, Monday closed | https://gozointhehouse.com/cittadella-gozo/ |
| GOZO Salt Pans | saltpan | no | / | / |
| Popeye Village | attraction | yes | Mon-Sun 10.00-17.30 | https://popeyemalta.com/index.html |
| St Paul’s Catacombs, Rabat | cemetery | yes | Mon-Sun 09.00-16.30 | https://heritagemalta.mt/explore/st-pauls-catacombs/ |
| Mdina Silent City | town | no | / | / |
| St Paul’s Cathedral, Mdina | church | yes | Mon-Sat 09.30–16.30, Sunday 15.00–17.00 | https://www.metropolitanchapter.com/mdina-metropolitan-cathedral/ |
| Ħad-Dingli, Dingli Cliffs | cliffs | no | / | / |
| Mosta Rotunda, Mosta | church | yes | Mon-Fri 09:30-17:00, Sat 09:30-16:30, Sun 12:00-16:00 | https://mostachurch.com/?lang=en |
| Blue Grotto | cave | yes | Mon-Sun 09.30-16.30 | https://www.maltainfoguide.com/blue-grotto-malta.html |
| Aviation Museum | museum | yes | Mon-Sun 09.00-17.00 | https://www.maltaaviationmuseum.com/ |
TOP 10 TO SEE IN MALTA
After the trip, we made this choice of Top 10 attractions that are worth visiting in Malta. But you can’t make a mistake with choosing any other place or site. The whole of Malta is absolutely wonderful.
1. Valletta
The capital city of Malta Valletta is a fortified city located on a hilly peninsula between two natural harbours. The city was established in the 1500s by the Knights of St. John, a Roman Catholic order. It has a status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You enter the old city through the huge city walls with the St. John Bastion on the left from the wide plateau with the beautiful Triton fountain. A pair of giant sloped stone blocks designed by famous architect Renzo Piano open the city walls. Visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the Grand Master’s Palace, and Fort St Elmo
St John’s Co-Cathedral is a Roman Catholic co-cathedral dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. It was built by the Order of St. John in the 16th century. The highly decorative interior of the cathedral is home to the Caravaggio masterpiece “The Beheading of Saint John.”
Take a stroll along the main street and steep side streets between many shops, cafes and restaurants and visit Lower and Upper Barrakka Gardens for panoramic views.
The Lower Barrakka Gardens is located on the bastion edge on the northeast side of the city. The garden overlooks the entrance to Grand Harbour.
The public garden of Upper Barrakka Gardens is the highest point of the city walls. It can be reached also by a 58 m high elevator called The Barrakka Lift. The Garden offers a panoramic view of the Grand Harbour. And a breathtaking view of the three fortresses on the opposite side of the bay, a location known as The Three Cities.
2. Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra temples
These prehistoric temples are UNESCO World Heritage sites and are among the oldest religious structures in the world. They offer a fascinating glimpse into Malta’s ancient history.
The late-Neolithic site of Ħaġar Qim is over 5000 years old and is located on the southern edge of the island of Malta. The site consists of a group of monumental megalithic buildings. The name Hagar Qim means “standing stones“.
500m downhill from Ħaġar Qim is Mnajdra, a prehistoric site consisting of three buildings. They were probably used by the same community as Ħaġar Qim. The UNESCO committee describes the sites as “unique architectural masterpieces.”
Both Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra are protected from the weather conditions by shelters that resemble “UFOs”.
3. Hal Saflieni Hypogeum
The Hypogeum at Ħal Saflieni is an outstanding underground burial complex that bears testimony to a civilization that has disappeared. It was in use between 4000 BC and 1500 BC. It covers a remarkable 500 square metres a unique monument, consisting of halls, chambers and passages cut out of the limestone. The complex is divided into three levels: the upper level, the middle level, and the lower level. This unique monument is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
TIP: Buy tickets months ahead!!! Reason: To protect its unique wall paintings, the site’s microclimate is strictly regulated and only 80 visitors can access it daily. A group of 10 people are admitted to each tour. That results in the necessity to buy tickets (online) far in advance or you might not get in. We didn’t! We tried to buy tickets one month ahead and they were all sold out!
4. Mdina
Also known as the „Silent City“ is a medieval walled town with narrow streets, historic buildings, and a charming atmosphere.
Be sure to visit the St Paul’s Cathedral and Bastion Square for panoramic views far away. The city is well known as a real-life location where they filmed Game of Thrones.
5. St Paul’s Catacombs
They are situated in Rabat and were serving as a burial ground from Punic, Roman and Byzantine times. They represent the earliest and largest archaeological evidence of Christianity in Malta. The catacombs form a typical complex of interconnected underground Roman cemeteries. Rabat and Mdina are two cities next to each other.
6. The Three Cities
Historic towns Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua, are known as the Three Cities. They are filled with narrow streets, churches, and forts.
Birgu, also known by its title Città Vittoriosa, is an old fortified city on the south side of the Grand Harbour. At the end of the Birgu peninsula lies a magnificent fortress, Fort St. Angelo. It offers spectacular panoramic views of the Grand Harbour and surrounding fortified towns.
Inquisitor’s Palace in the centre of Birgu was the seat of the Maltese Inquisition from 1574 to 1798. Later the palace was used for many purposes, including as a military hospital, a mess hall and a convent. It is a fantastic palace and a must-see place in Malta.
From the Birgu waterfront, you can take a small taxi boat to the next peninsula and a walled city Sanglea. Walk through its lovely narrow streets towards the end of the fortress and visit charming Gardjola gardens.
7. Marsaxlokk
Marsaxlokk is a fishing village. This traditional fishing village is famous for its colourful boats, known as luzzu. Along the seafront, there is a market with souvenirs and food specialities of the region. market. It’s a great place to experience local culture and enjoy fresh seafood.
8. Għar Dalam Cave
Ghar Dalam is the oldest prehistoric site on Malta. The museum contains Paleolithic art, human remains and Ice Age artefacts. The cave contains the bone remains of animals that became extinct in Malta.
9. Gozo Island
Take a ferry to Gozo, Malta’s sister island and explore its best locations.
Visit the Ġgantija Temples a unique megalithic temple complex from the Neolithic era. The earliest of the Megalithic Temples of Malta and older than the pyramids of Egypt.
Victoria the capital of Gozo Island is the centre of its commercial, social and cultural life. Its medieval Citadel, with fortified walls, is worth visiting. From the walls, one can see a 360° panorama of the big part of the island and far away to the sea.
Ta’ Pinu Roman Catholic Basilica of the Blessed Virgin is a national shrine. The Basilica is striking from the outside. And being almost in the middle of nowhere dominates the local area. The sanctuary was constructed in front of the original chapel.
The Inland Sea and Fungus Rock are two natural wonders located within a few metres from each other in Dwejra on Gozo.
Salt Pans Salt Pans are one of the Gozo highlights. It gives visitors an insight into the traditional way of collecting salt. Consisting of groups of shallow, square pails, the seawater is exposed to the elements. A combination of the water and wind evaporates the seawater, leaving only salt. The salt is then collected and packed manually, using traditional methods.
10. Blue Grotto
Blue Grotto is a stunning complex of sea caves along the southeastern part of Malta. With its crystal-clear waters in a cave system on sunny days, the reflection of sunlight on the white sandy seafloor lights up the caves in bright blue hues. Which is a true spectacle to admire.
What else to do on malta
Malta offers something for every visitor with its rich history, charming towns, and breathtaking coastal landscapes. It is important to take time in every place to enjoy all its offers.
Besides going around it is nice to take a rest on some of the many beautiful beaches and explore the unique cuisine of the country.
Beaches
It is hard to mention all the amazing beaches but instead, let us pick the most unique ones.
Blue Lagoon on the island Comino wears the title of Malta’s top swimming spot.
St Peter’s Pool is a natural swimming pool, sea-sculpted from the coastal rock.
Ramla Bay is known for its unique reddish-golden sand and is one of the most beautiful beaches in Gozo.
Food
Try local Maltese cuisine influenced by Mediterranean and North African flavours. Explore the local markets and restaurants to savour traditional dishes like pastizzi, rabbit stew, and Ftira.
Stuffat tal-Fenek is a rabbit stew, the national dish of Malta which dates back to the time of the Knights of St John. This traditional recipe is slow-cooked to make the meat so tender it falls off the bone.
Pastizz is a traditional savoury pastry that usually has a filling either of ricotta or curried peas.
Ftira is a ring-shaped Maltese bread eaten with fillings such as sardines, tuna, potato, fresh tomato, onion, capers and olives
Travel itinerary for Malta with Gozo
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We were sure glad we finally visited Malta last year and got to visit Gozo twice. We saw a lot on our 15 day stay. But from your post I can see there are a few more spots to enjoy on a return visit later this year. We think we would plan to stay a few days on Gozo if we went back for a longer visit.
So glad that you find our article helpful. We have to say that although we saw a lot of Malta and Gozo, there are still some places we didn’t have time to visit this time. And it feels good to know that we should visit it again. 😃
Malta has been on my wishlist for some time and this is a really useful resource for planning a trip. Do you think a day trip to Gozo is sufficient to appreciate it? Is it possible to stay on Gozo or is it preferable to just return to Malta after a day trip?
Thank you very much for your very kind feedback on our post. Our honest opinion is that one day is not enough to visit and admire all the beautiful places on Gozo.
We unfortunately didn’t succeed in doing it in one day although we took Hop on buses. We suggest you stay at least two days on Gozo and do tours with Hop on buses. There are two circle lines Blue and Purple that cross in Victoria. Each line does one side of the island. So it would be best to search for accommodation in Victoria for at least one night.