3 Days in Malta
Simply put: Malta is awesome. The tiny island nation south of Italy and north of North Africa is a dry island paradise with coastal waters, a 6000 year history, and amazing culture to go with it. If you’ve been lucky enough to visit, you know how great a trip to Malta can be. If you’re thinking about travelling to Malta for the first time – consider going soon! Why, you might ask?
Many people ask what there is to see and do in Malta since knowledge of the country doesn’t typically run as deep as with other European counties. In all honesty, there is no such thing as the “best Malta itinerary”. There is just so much to see to suit everyone’s needs.
So, whether you’re looking for a weekend break in Malta or planning on staying in Malta for 5 days, 11 days, or for much longer, there are lots of cheap holidays to be had in Malta if you know where to look and how to plan. You can even piece one together yourself!
Malta is really TINY.
Driving a car – you can travel from the southernmost tip of the main island to where the ferry heads to Gozo in the northwest in about one hour. That’s the entire length of the main island. One hour.
That said, it makes getting around the island very easy. Many places and sights can be done in a half-day or even a day trip from where you are based. With a lot of things accessible from the towns which are the “centers”, you can easily walk to sights and attractions if you’re in Valletta or Sliema.
Walking around that entire area will allow you to see all of the capital and where the busiest parts of Malta generally are if you don’t have a ton of time.
Public Transport (Bus) Around Malta
Ah, the bus in Malta. If you’ve been before, you’re probably laughing as well. If you haven’t been – know that the bus is a great, cheap way to experience the entire island. BUT – it’s an experience, to say the least.
What we mean is – they are new buses and totally safe – but often you’ll be amazed at the speed and tight turns these drivers make and somehow NOT get into accidents. If you’re sitting, you’re fine. If you’re standing with all the other locals and tourists heading for the beach, hold on tight!
The other aspect of the buses worth mentioning is a more cultural thing about Malta. “Malta time” is a relaxed pace and your bus will not be on time. This is obviously route dependent – but in our experience not a single bus came when it was posted on the schedule.
But they always DO come either 10 minutes before or 15 minutes late. Our rule of thumb was head for the bus stop 15 minutes before you want to leave and then just get on the one shows up next.
In short, if you can be relaxed with your times and itineraries, then the bus is a great option. There’s the official website of Malta Transportation – they offer a variety of passes for various trip lengths and usages.
Private Car/Taxi
Malta Itinerary – 3 Days
Since people seem to be passing through Malta on the way to someplace else or they have found a cheap flight in and out and are just going for a short trip, there’s a need for a quick “3 day Malta itinerary”.
Of course, to get the best bang for your buck and see the most that you can – it’s wise to stay in the capital of Valletta, or close by in Sliema or St. Julian’s. You’ll be able to see the most “stuff” by simply walking around.
From those places, you will be well connected by buses to make a day trip or two to see other sites before you leave. We will get into what these sites might be down below.
As for 3 days in Malta, while staying in Valletta or Sliema, here’s one itinerary to help you see the most that you can:
Day 1: A day in Valletta and/or Sliema
Day 2: A day trip to Gozo and back.
Day 3: A half day trip to Golden Bay or Mdina + fly home.
If the beach doesn’t interest you, then skip Golden Bay and head for the medieval city of Mdina. We’ll cover each of the above places with a little more detail and tell you what you can see and do if you do head there! Let’s start with the capital of Malta, beautiful Valletta.
You know how people sometimes describe a place by saying, “it’s like stepping into a time capsule and going back in time”? Well, that’s Valletta. You walk through the city’s main gate and into the walled fortress of a city and it is like time froze.
The further you go towards the end (where you’ll find St. Elmo’s Fort) the quieter and older the place becomes. The shutters are all coloured brightly. There’s so much to do and see in Valletta we wouldn’t even try to name anything. For the smallest European capital, you might feel overwhelmed!
Saint John’s Co-Cathedral is just one of the many churches and/or basilicas in Valletta. There’s many little shops and cafes to stop in for a snack or a coffee. When you first enter the city, you’ll find the Upper Barrakka Gardens overlooking the Grand Harbour towards the Three Cities.
We were lucky enough to catch the firing of the cannons which was a spectacle to see! Being war history buffs, we visited St. Elmo’s Fort which we thought to be well worth the money. Another cool find near the Barrakka Gardens was the Lascaris War Rooms – a museum comprised of the underground rooms and tunnels used for defensive strategy in World War II.
Accommodation in Valletta
There are lots of hotels to choose from in Valletta so to get you started here are some that are well-rated and regarded as being the best value for money on travel website.
Sliema
Sliema is popular among people visiting Malta for a reason. It’s beautiful, it’s not the centre of Valletta (which can get busy), and you have everything you need. Most importantly, you can walk the boardwalk for ages and ages discovering new places and restaurants along the way.
Most of the shore is lined with large flat rock and technically this is the Sliema Beach – where you just bring a towel and sunbathe like a local. It’s very, very peaceful – and there are attractions like the Torri ta’ San ?iljan (a historical watch tower that you can go up and in). It’s also important to note that the road along the sea is the major bus route so getting anywhere from Sliema is very easy.
As you walk towards St.Julian’s, the scene will get livelier. The bars and restaurants increase in frequency as you near Spinola Bay and the further you go you’ll be in the famous St. Julian’s which has all the best clubs and bars in one area. There’s a lot of activity in St. Julian’s from the casinos to the massive hotels and resorts that line the water.
Malta Tip: Take the ferry from Sliema to Valletta and back. They run every 30 minutes (from one of the sides) in the summer and it takes about 10 minutes to cross with a nice view of the neighbourhoods from the water. It’s only 2.80 euro for an adult return ticket.
Mdina
Mdina, close to Rabat (it’s technically the same town/area) has plenty of things to do. This is why a day trip out there could easily be worth your time. Of course, there’s the actual walled medieval town of Mdina. As the former capital of Malta way back when, there’s history around every corner. From up high on the walls, you can get a great view of the surrounding area.
There’s a great attraction/museum at St. Paul’s Catacombs – the largest Roman underground cemetery in Malta. We checked them out and it was great to learn about the Roman influence and the history of Malta, in general. The tunnels and underground caverns aren’t for everyone, though! Tickets can be purchased onsite but click the above link to learn more.
Another thing you can do from Mdina is to hop on another bus and head out to explore the Dingli Cliffs – the highest point above sea level in Malta! You’ll get stunning views and photos at sunset. You can take the 52 from Mdina to Dingli and walk another 10 minutes or the 201 makes its rounds right by the road on the cliff edge. You can see the details below!
The Dingli Cliffs
You’ll get to the Dingli Cliffs by taking the bus from Mdina. While there’s not a ton to do when you actually get there – there’s a few places to grab a drink or food. Naturally, you walk along the paths and admire the views from 253 metres above sea level. As mentioned, this is actually the highest point in Malta! The area is a go-to spot for sunsets.
he beach at Golden Bay was simple to get to by bus as the area is well developed with its own hotel and resort nearby. The beach is very popular so it can get a bit busy but it is easy to see why: the sand is golden, the water is clear, and the shore drops off quickly so that you can swim without going too far from the beach.
The beach itself is Blue Flag Certified meaning there’s a high level of safety and amenities available.
The Island of Gozo and Comino
If you’re heading to Malta for three days or less, then often Gozo and Comino get cut from the itinerary simply because there is just so much to see in the cities/areas surrounding Valletta on the main island. Understandably so. A traveller passing through might not want to navigate the ferry and the bus/taxi once you’re there to get to the capital of Gozo, called Victoria.
We would argue otherwise. While in Malta for a few days, it became a must-do for us and we’d argue that one whole day could be committed to seeing Gozo since there are many attractions on the island (which you can read about below).
The Island of Comino has St. Mary’s Tower and is very, very small. You’ll find some of the most popular sites for swimming and diving called the Crystal Lagoon and the Blue Lagoon. These beautiful public swimming spots can be a trek to get to but it’s worth the tranquility as many of the tourists stay to the main bus routes and beaches accessible on Malta or Gozo.
As mentioned above, there are many things to see on the Island of Gozo. If you start in the capital of Victoria, you’ll be treated to the Citadel and the Gozo Cathedral.
The Citadel in Victoria, Gozo.