6 Days in Malta: A Relaxed Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Malta may be small, but there is a lot to see. Historic cities, colourful fishing villages, old churches, waterfront walks and traditional craft centres are spread across the island. We spent six days exploring Malta and stayed at Lady Todd Hotel in Sliema for the whole trip. 

We used Malta’s public transport each day and found it very convenient. There were roadworks in several areas during our visit, so driving would have been more stressful than useful. The buses worked well for our plans, and we did not feel that we needed to hire a car. You can read more about routes, tickets and our experience in our guide to using Malta Public Transport.

We kept this itinerary fairly relaxed. Rather than trying to fit too much into each day, we focused on one or two main areas. This gave us time to walk around, take photos, stop for food and enjoy each place properly. Breakfast was at Lady Todd Hotel, while lunch and dinner were usually wherever we happened to be sightseeing that day.

This six-day Malta itinerary is a good option for first-time visitors who want to see the main highlights without rushing. It covers Valletta, Mdina, Rabat, the Three Cities, Sliema, St Julian’s, Mosta and Marsaxlokk, along with time for crafts and shopping.

Day 1: Exploring Valletta

We began our Malta itinerary with Valletta, the island’s capital. It was one of the places we were most looking forward to visiting, and it did not disappoint. Valletta is compact enough to explore on foot, but it is packed with historic buildings, churches, viewpoints and narrow streets.

We travelled from Sliema by bus. The journey was straightforward, and once we arrived, most of our sightseeing was done on foot. Valletta is walkable, but some streets are steep and there are quite a few steps. We took our time and used the local bus around the city when we wanted a break from walking.

One of the main highlights was St John’s Co-Cathedral. The outside looks fairly plain compared with some European cathedrals, but the interior is very grand. It is worth allowing enough time to look around rather than treating it as a quick stop.

We also visited the Upper Barrakka Gardens. The gardens are free to enter and offer wide views across the Grand Harbour and towards the Three Cities. It is one of the best viewpoints in Valletta and a good place to sit for a while. The gardens are well kept, and there are benches where you can rest.

The Lower Barrakka Gardens were quieter during our visit. They also have lovely harbour views, along with the Siege Bell Memorial nearby. The walk between the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens gives you a chance to see more of Valletta’s streets and buildings.

Much of the enjoyment came from simply walking around. Valletta is known for its limestone buildings, enclosed wooden balconies and colourful doors and windows. We often stopped to take photos of small details that caught our attention. Republic Street and Merchant Street are among the main roads, but the quieter side streets were just as interesting.

We saw Valletta both during the day and in the evening. The city felt different after dark, with many of the buildings and streets lit up. It was quieter in some areas, and the evening lights gave the old streets a warmer feel. Seeing Valletta at two different times was worthwhile, so consider staying until the evening or returning later in your trip.

You can see the main sights in a few hours, but Valletta is better enjoyed at a slower pace. We would suggest allowing most of the day, especially if you plan to visit St John’s Co-Cathedral, both Barrakka Gardens and the waterfront. A full day also gives you time to stop for food, explore the quieter lanes and enjoy the harbour views without rushing.

Day 2: Mdina and Rabat

Day 2 took us to Mdina and Rabat, and it turned out to be our favourite day of the trip. The two places sit next to each other, so they are easy to visit together. We started in Mdina before walking into Rabat later in the day.

Mdina is often called the Silent City, and it is easy to see why. Once you pass through the grand Mdina Gate, the streets feel calm and quiet. Cars are limited in the old city, so most people explore on foot.

We began by walking through the narrow lanes and taking in the honey-coloured buildings. The colourful doors, balconies and windows stood out against the pale stone walls. Some streets were almost empty, which made it a lovely place to slow down and take photos.

Mdina is quite small, but there is a lot packed into its narrow streets. The bastion viewpoints were another highlight. From here, you can look out across a large part of Malta. The wide views were very different from the enclosed lanes inside the city.

Horse-drawn carriages are a common sight in Mdina, and we could hear them moving through the streets before we even saw them. They add to the old-world feel of the city, although we chose to explore on foot.

You can read more about what we saw and did in our full guide to visiting Mdina.

After exploring Mdina, we walked into nearby Rabat. The two places are very close, and there is no need to use public transport between them.

We spent around an hour walking through Rabat’s quiet streets. It felt more like a lived-in town than Mdina and had a very different atmosphere. We stopped at a local bakery and picked up a few snacks before continuing our walk.

A freak hailstone storm had hit Rabat the previous evening. Some of the hailstones were still visible in places when we visited, which was not something we expected to see in Malta. It made the visit even more memorable.

Rabat is often treated as a quick add-on to Mdina, but we felt it was worth taking the time to look around. Even a short visit gives you a chance to see another side of the area. You can find more details in our separate guide to visiting Rabat.

Mdina and Rabat work very well as a full-day trip. Mdina has the grand buildings, bastion views and historic feel, while Rabat feels quieter and more local. Together, they made one of the most enjoyable days of our six-day Malta itinerary.

Day 3: Exploring Malta’s Three Cities

We set aside Day 3 to explore Malta’s Three Cities: Cospicua, Vittoriosa, also known as Birgu, and Senglea. We took the bus from Sliema to Cospicua and then explored all three cities on foot.

There was a lot of walking involved, but we kept the day easy-going and took regular breaks. Walking was a great way to explore the old streets, waterfront areas and small lanes connecting the three cities.

Our main interest was in the historic streets, harbour views, old forts, churches and traditional Maltese balconies. Each of the three cities had its own feel, with plenty of lovely details and viewpoints to discover along the way.

We absolutely loved our time in the Three Cities. The area felt quieter than Valletta, but it was just as rich in history and character. It was easily one of the most enjoyable days of our Malta trip.

Day 4: Sliema to St Julian’s Walk

After a few busy sightseeing days, we kept Day 4 slower and stayed closer to our hotel in Sliema. We decided to walk along the coast from Tigné Point towards St Julian’s, ending near Portomaso Marina.

The route follows the seafront for most of the way and is mostly flat, which made it an easy walk. There were benches along the route, as well as plenty of places to stop for a drink, a snack or simply to enjoy the sea views.

It was a good chance to see a different side of Malta. Instead of visiting major sights, we took our time, watched the activity along the waterfront and enjoyed the changing views as we passed through the bays between Sliema and St Julian’s.

The walk can be done at your own pace, and there is no need to rush. Once we reached Portomaso Marina, we took the bus back to Sliema, which made the day even easier.

We have written a separate, more detailed guide to the Sliema to St Julian’s walk. It includes the full route, the main stops along the way and practical tips for planning the walk.

Day 5: Mosta Rotunda and Ta’ Qali Crafts Village

We wanted to keep Day 5 also fairly relaxed, so we chose just two places to visit. We began at the Mosta Rotunda, one of Malta’s best-known churches. Its huge dome is the main feature and looks impressive from both outside and inside. The church interior is grand, with detailed decoration and plenty to take in as you walk around.

We also went up to the upper gallery for a different view of the church. Another key part of the visit was the replica of the Second World War bomb that fell through the dome but did not explode. We then visited the underground air-raid shelters, which gave us a glimpse into what life was like during the war.

From Mosta, we took the bus to Ta’ Qali Crafts Village. We spent around an hour there, looking around the workshops and shops. These included pottery and ceramics, woodwork, jewellery and other local crafts.

The village was still a work in progress when we visited. Many workshops and shops were at different stages of completion and had not yet opened to the public. Even so, there was enough to see, and we watched a few artisans at work. We also bought some accessories and souvenirs for family back home.

 

Day 6: Marsaxlokk and Shopping in Valletta

You could spend Day 6 visiting Marsaxlokk, followed by some shopping in Valletta. We took the bus to Marsaxlokk and spent time exploring the fishing village and walking around the harbour. The colourful traditional fishing boats on the water are the main highlight and make this one of Malta’s most photogenic places.

From Marsaxlokk, we took the bus back to Valletta. We spent the rest of the day shopping for souvenirs and walking around the city centre. Staying into the evening also gave us another chance to enjoy Valletta after dark, when the streets and historic buildings were lit up.

These were the places we chose based on our own interests, which include historic streets, old churches, harbour views, local crafts and leisurely walks. We had also hoped to visit Gozo, but the ferry service was not running during our stay after severe storms damaged the landing area there. 

Malta has many other places that could be added to this itinerary, including Comino and the Blue Lagoon, the Blue Grotto, Dingli Cliffs, the Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra temples, Mellieħa and Golden Bay. Six days gave us a good introduction to Malta, but we came away feeling that two weeks would be even better for exploring the island at a slower pace and discovering more of its quieter places. We would certainly like to return one day.