Malta in Winter: 14 Reasons This Mediterranean Gem Is the Perfect Winter Escape

Written By Matthew Cogossi

If you haven’t heard of the beautiful island of Malta, consider this your official sign to book a flight to this Mediterranean island. Floating in the Mediterranean between Europe and Africa, Malta is the rare blend of sunshine, centuries of history, cinematic coastlines, and an easygoing vibe that instantly wins you over.

We visited Malta in November and loved it — clear skies, warm sunshine, and a landscape that was rugged and authentic. While Malta is dry in summer (when Ash visited at the end of August, it was a completely different look - sun-dried brown), winter brings a lush pop of green to the countryside and coast and cooler temps that make exploring a delight. While Malta doesn’t receive much rain throughout the year, the fall and winter tend to be rainier giving it that glorious green landscape.

Winter is when Malta feels authentic — less crowded, more local, and relaxed. While you may not quite get the hot summer weather, you will get pleasant temps, sunshine (maybe some rain), and those chill Malta vibes.

Below you’ll find the top 14 reasons Malta is the perfect winter getaway, plus tips on where to stay, how to get around, what to pack, and how long to stay.

Top 14 Reasons to Visit Malta in Winter

1. Explore the Capital: Valletta

Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage site packed into the world’s smallest capital city — and trust us, while compact, the city has a ton to offer. Think honey-colored stone buildings, cozy cafés, sea views in every direction, and alleyways that look like someone designed them specifically for long morning and evening strolls. We loved getting lost in the old town and seeing the colorful gallarija (or enclosed wooden balconies). The architecture around Valletta is beautiful and baroque giving it the old world vibe. We adored sitting outside on a restaurant patio or old town steps enjoying a coffee or a beer while staring out at the water. Valletta has a fun-loving vibe and is a great place to base yourself to explore the rest of Malta.

Be sure to take a guided walking tour to see some of the city highlights and learn about this incredible and culturally diverse city.

2. Visit the Historic Town of Mdina (the “Silent City”)

This walled medieval city is straight out of a fantasy novel. Wander the narrow streets, pop into hidden courtyards, or just marvel at the architecture. During winter time, you will find fewer crowds, making this a great place for pictures. The historic town was one of our favorites to wander through. The old walls overlooking the island made for some wonderful views and wandering along the old fort walls felt like traveling back in time. The city is quite charming and the decorated churches are wonderful to see. Don’t leave without checking out St. Paul’s Cathedral and strolling through the Mdina museum.

3. Catch a Sunset in Floriana

Floriana often gets overshadowed by Valletta — which is your cue to swoop in and enjoy one of the most peaceful sunset spots on the island. Sunsets in winter are colorful and dramatic. Floriana is located right next to Valletta and is part of the port area. The sandstone buildings with their brightly colored wooden balconies and shutters. Be sure take some time to wander around Floriana, grab a coffee or beer, and grab a spot by the harbor to watch a beautiful sunset.

4. See the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Its iconic dome is the signature piece of the city skyline. Visit inside, walk around the surrounding neighborhoods, and grab coffee and pastizzi (filled pastry enjoyed any time of day) nearby for the perfect winter morning.

5. Malta’s Famous Balconies

If you love color and character, Malta’s balconies are your new obsession. You'll find them throughout the country — wooden, brightly painted, ornate, mismatched in the best way possible. The beautiful gallarija make Malta, distinctly Malta!

6. Discover the Valletta Fortress

Fort St. Elmo is a must for history lovers. Winter is the perfect time to explore — cooler temps mean you can enjoy the fortress walls, museum, and sweeping harbor views without melting or the crowds.

7. See the Colorful Boats in Marsaxlokk (+ Visit the Market)

The luzzu fishing boats are pure Malta magic. Come on a Sunday for the market, or come any weekday for a quieter version — winter keeps things relaxed and photogenic. This was one of our favorite things to see in Malta. The beautiful colored boats in the harbor made for some amazing photo opportunities. We highly recommend visiting and enjoying the wonderful harbor, plus there are some great seafood restaurants along the harbor (with fabulous lobster linguine) - great for staring out at the beautiful harbor and brightly colored scenery! Be sure to take a tour to visit this beautiful town!

8. Visit Popeye Village

Yes, that Popeye from the movie. This film set turned quirky seaside attraction is a must see and one of the tourist highlights in Malta. Even if you don’t step inside, the overlook alone is worth the detour. The water here glows turquoise even in winter & the boat ride to see the caves along the coast is phenomenal. This is a great attraction for adults and kids alike, the mini golf and wandering around the film set is a really cool experience. Be sure to book your tickets in advance as the queues can get quite long, especially in the summer.

9. Take a Boat to the Blue Lagoon on Comino

We rank this as a must do while you are in Malta. The Blue Lagoon is famous for a reason and is a great place to lounge, swim, or just to admire the beautiful scenery. While winter can be a little finicky with the weather, in November we were still able to lay out and swim. One of the cool things is there were small drink stations or mobile bars set up where you could grab a cocktail and enjoy the amazing scenery. While visiting the Blue Lagoon is better from late Spring to late Fall, Winter trips mean fewer boats, fewer people, and a more peaceful (but still bright blue!) experience. The experience is still completely worth it whether you can jump in the water or not. If you want a more personalized experience, take a private boat tour to relax at the Blue Lagoon and tour around the island of Comino with its beautiful sea caves.

10. Wander Through Rabat

Just outside Mdina, Rabat is full of local shops, bakeries, and historical gems like St. Paul’s Catacombs. This was another one of our top towns to visit in Malta. Rabat has the striking St. Paul’s Cathedral, which was one of our favorites to visit. The striking colors and beautiful interior are a sight to see and one of the prettiest Cathedral’s in Malta. The medieval sandstone walled city of Rabat is a wonderful place to explore its winding streets and feel transported back in time. Plus, no visit to Rabat is complete without trying one of the amazing bakeries. We recommend Marie Boutique Patisserie, which has fantastic bread and cakes.

11. The National War Museum in Valletta

Located at Fort St. Elmo, this museum tells Malta’s story from antiquity through World War II. It’s unexpectedly fascinating — and a great indoor option if you get a chilly day. We were surprised at how well the museum tells the story of Malta and its intriguing history and how different cultures have influenced Malta and its identity. Whether you are a history buff or just interested in learning more about this strategic island in the Mediterranean, we highly recommend spending a few hours exploring the National War Museum.

12. Explore Sliema

If Valletta is historic charm, Sliema is Malta’s modern, energetic side — shopping, cafés, sea-side promenades, and ferry access back to Valletta. A great place to stay or wander. If you are looking for a modern beach side port town, Sliema is it. It has bustling restaurants, a wonderful promenade to explore, and offers some great night life. While Valletta has the more historical charm and old world feel, Sliema is more fun and modern with more of a party vibe. You can find great restaurants with views from the harbor, to bars, and nightclubs, but more laid back then the more popular nightlife area of St. Julian’s. We recommend taking a guided boat tour from Sliema that will take you around the beautiful coves and harbors and see the beautiful architecture against the bright blue water.

13. Take a Hike

Malta has some fantastic hiking and walking trails throughout the main island and on Comino. The milder weather in the winter makes for some great hiking weather (but still remember to bring plenty of water!). With fewer crowds and comfortable weather, you can explore popular hikes like the Dingli Cliff walk or the Comino island loop hike (really more of a walk) from the Blue Lagoon and have more time to stop and admire the scenic beauty. Malta has plenty of walking and hiking trails to explore for all levels of fitness.

14. Wander Grand Harbour

It’s one of the most spectacular natural harbors in the world. Take a ferry, join a harbor cruise, or walk along the waterfront. You can feel history in the stones, and winter gives it a calm, cinematic atmosphere. We absolutely loved wandering around the large sandstone walls at Grand Harbour. There are plenty of great seafood restaurants, shops, and bakeries with stunning views across the harbor. We highly recommend getting out on the water to see the impressive fortifications to truly get a sense of size of the Grand Harbour and its imposing walls. Check out this guided tour from Sliema that will take you around the Grand Harbour.

Why Visit Malta in Winter?

Fewer Crowds

You’ll get popular attractions nearly to yourself, better photos, and more relaxed vibes. The summers can be really busy and quite packed, but the winter (or end and beginning shoulder seasons of November and April) will make exploring feel more intimate. When we visited in November there were times where we had whole overlooks to ourselves.

Pleasant Weather

Think 60–70°F (15–21°C) and sunny days — perfect for walking, exploring, and outdoor cafés. While you may be able to squeeze out a pool or beach day, expect more exploring and dining al fresco. If you like to hike, this is the perfect time for hiking around Malta’s rugged coast. If you want to visit the Dingli cliffs without crowds, this is a perfect time to go.

Lower Prices

Hotels, tours, and flights drop in winter. If you are a budget traveler or just looking to maximize your travel budget, winter is a great time to visit!

Greener Landscapes and Sunny Days

While Malta is known for its sunny days (over 300 sunny days), the winter rain brings the island back to life. The countryside gets a fresh, emerald glow that gives Malta that polished countryside look. Even with a little rain, Malta is still considered one of the sunniest destinations in Europe. Expect lots sunshine, even in the winter time, which makes it a great outdoor destination.

Delicious Food Without the Wait

Malta’s food scene is fantastic — seafood, pastizzis, Italian influences, North African spices — and winter means no reservations required (mostly). We found it very easy to find tables when we visited in November with next to no waits. Although we would still consider making reservations for the most popular restaurants in Valletta, Sliema, and St. Julian’s, you will be able to find and dine at great eateries.

How Long Should You Stay?

We recommend:

  • Minimum: 3-4 days. If you take some day tours and pack it in, 3 full days will give you enough time to explore Valletta and the surrounding area, take a day trip to see the Blue Lagoon and wander around Comino, and have a little extra time to explore towns like Mdina and Rabat.

  • Ideal: 5 days. If you plan on hiking and want a more leisurely time exploring the island, we would recommend spending 5 days, which will give you time to enjoy the smaller towns, where we think Malta really shines.

Malta is compact, but there’s a surprising amount to explore. A long weekend is perfect for the highlights, but 5 days let you add in some other wonderful towns and coastal walks/hiking at leisure.

If you don’t want to drive (more on that below), consider booking some day tours or guided trips — winter availability is great, and tours help you get beyond Valletta easily.

How to Get to Malta

Flying

This is the easiest and most common way. Malta International Airport (MLA) has frequent flights across Europe.

Compare flights here to find the right one that works for you.

Cruise/Ferry

Many Mediterranean cruises include Valletta as a port stop — and honestly, arriving by sea? Iconic. If you are looking to just get a taste of Malta, a cruise is a good option, but you will be rushed.

If you are island hopping, you can also take a ferry from Sicily (an easy 2 hour ferry ride from Pozzalo). Check Ferry pricing and schedules here.

How to Get Around Malta

Driving (Not Recommended)

First things first, for our travelers coming from the USA and Canada, just know that Malta drives on the left. For our friends from the UK, driving will be much easier. We don’t generally recommend driving because parking is limited in many towns, roads can be extremely tight (holding your breath tight if you encounter a bus coming from the opposite direction), and traffic gets congested. Plus if you aren’t used to driving on the left, this is not exactly an easy place to learn and we saw a few accidents, especially at traffic circles from a mix of tourists, tight roads, and traffic near the main cities. If you really want to, give it a go, but we’d recommend taking a different approach for piece of mind.

Better Options:

  • Buses (cheap and reliable)

  • Bolt & local taxis

  • Guided day tours (great year-round)

  • Ferries between Valletta, Sliema, and the Three Cities

Where to Stay in Malta

We recommend basing yourself in or near Valletta for easy access to restaurants, museums, and ferry connections.

Our Stay: Grand Hotel Excelsior

We thoroughly enjoyed this hotel. It was grand upon entering and easy walking distances to many of the attractions and restaurants in Valletta.

What we loved the most:

  • Large rooms

  • Harbor views

  • A pool + hot tub (the pool was chilly in November, but the hot tub was perfect)

  • Short walk to Valletta’s gates

Great for convenience + comfort.

Other Recommended Areas

  • Sliema – modern, walkable, ferry to Valletta

    • Check out: Verdi Gzira Promenade

      • This hotel offers a beautiful infinity pool, amazing views of the harbor, large rooms, and is close to some of the best shopping and restaurants in Sliema

  • St. Julian’s – great for nightlife + restaurants

    • Check out: Hyatt Centric Malta

      • This hotel is located right in St. Julian’s, close to the beach, and close to great restaurants. Plus the pool overlooking the ocean is amazing. While a little more expensive, this hotel is a great choice if you are looking for artsy luxury in St. Julian’s.

  • Mdina or Rabat – perfect if you want charm + quiet village vibes

  • The Three Cities – historic, scenic, and more local

    • Check out: The Lodge

      • This hotel is within walking distance to the Grand Harbour and will give you that intimate boutique feel.

Weather & Packing for Winter in Malta

While weather can be beautiful and mild, winter weather can also be unpredictable, so definitely pack layers!

Average Winter Temps

  • Highs: 60–65°F (15–18°C), although you can have some days in the 70s (22-23 Celsius)

  • Lows: 50–55°F (10–13°C)

Does it rain?

Yes — winter is Malta’s rainy season. Expect occasional showers. In our experience the rain showers didn’t last very long and often times we would have a small downpour followed by sunny weather and hour or two later. While that doesn’t mean you can’t have days of persistent rain, Malta is known for its sunny days. Be sure to bring a rain jacket, just in case.

Is it warm enough to swim?

Possibly! The water is chilly but many people swim year-round. Pack a swimsuit and a rash guard. When we went in November you could swim, but deeper in winter time (like February), expect much colder water temperatures.

Packing List

Excursions & Day Tours We Recommend

Final Thoughts

Malta in winter hits the sweet spot of sunshine, culture, history, affordability, and stunning Mediterranean views — without the summer crowds. If you love mild weather, historic cities, incredible food with Mediterranean, North Africa, and British flavors, and a relaxed, authentic vibe, Malta should absolutely be on your winter travel list.

We loved our November trip and would go back in a heartbeat — and we think you’ll feel the same.


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Matthew Cogossi
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