One Week in Malta: The Best 7-Day Itinerary For First Timers

One week in Malta is an awesome amount of time to experience this tiny Mediterranean island. I spent seven days exploring Malta’s stunning coastline, historic cities, and luxurious beaches, and I still didn’t see it all.

Malta gives you a chance to explore gorgeous turquoise water that rivals Greece and learn about fascinating history dating back thousands of years, all at shockingly affordable prices.

If it’s your first time visiting Malta, prepare to fall in love.

Whether you’re wondering if one week in Malta is enough time or trying to figure out exactly what to do, here’s a 7-day guide of exactly how I’d plan a week (including mistakes I made and what I’d do differently!).

One Week in Malta: Quick Guide + Map

Scuba diving is pretty huge in Malta as well. The visibility is incredible and there are tons of dive sites including underwater caves and WWII wrecks.

The island was a British colony until 1964, so everyone speaks English alongside Maltese, which makes traveling here super easy.

Where to Stay in Malta:

I have an entire guide to this right here! I stayed in Mellihia to optimize beach time and highly recommend it. 

If you’re looking to be in the old city with more history and walkability, go for Valetta.

Looking for nightlife? Head to St. Julians. 

Overall, Malta is so compact that there’s no “wrong” place to stay (though a friend I made on our food tour did tell me she thought Silema had too much construction to feel like a vacation).

Getting Around Malta:

I rented a car for the week and loved having the freedom to explore on my own schedule. It only cost about $60 for the entire week, which is cheaper than taking taxis everywhere.

You drive on the left side of the road (like the UK), but it’s way easier to adjust than you’d think. After 30 minutes it felt totally natural.

If you don’t want to rent a car, the bus system in Malta is excellent. Buses connect all the major towns and tourist sites, and fares are super affordable at €2-3 per ride. You’ll have to wait for the bus, but a lot of travelers see Malta solely via public transportation.

Morning: Arrival! ☕

Land at Malta International Airport and either pick up your rental car or take a taxi to your hotel. If you’re renting a car in Malta, I used DiscoverCars to find a good deal (it was only $60 for our whole weeklong rental!) and had a great experience with Routes Car Rental. Highly recommend the service (even though the office is small, they were efficient and helpful! Plus they laughed at my boyfriend’s jokes, which he loved).

Then head to your hotel, get checked in, unpack, and take it easy. You’re on vacation and I prefer spending the first day getting settled rather than jam-packing in activities.

Afternoon: Explore your Area 🚶‍♀️

Spend the afternoon exploring the area around your hotel. Walk to the beach if you’re in Mellieha, or wander the streets if you’re in Valletta or St. Julian’s.

Evening: Dinner, Wine & Ice Cream 🍽️🍷🍨 

Find a restaurant nearby for dinner. Don’t overthink it on your first night! Just pick somewhere that looks good and has outdoor seating and try some Maltese wine (I enjoyed it!).

Be sure to snag gelato for dessert 🍨 (to be honest, you should eat it every day during your week in Malta)

Optional: Food tour in Malta 🍴

If you want to dive deeper into Maltese food and culture, I highly recommend this Valletta food tour. Our guide took us to local spots I never would have found on my own, and we tried everything from traditional pastizzi to rabbit terrine.

I’ll warn you, Maltese food is…unique, but I’m still glad I tried it!

The tour runs about 3 hours and gives you great context on Malta’s food culture and history.

Afternoon: Marsaxlokk fishing village 🐟

After Valletta, drive about 30 minutes south to Marsaxlokk, a traditional fishing village with colorful boats lining the harbor.

This is a great spot for swimming in the afternoon. The water here is calm and clear, and there are a few beach areas where you can jump in.

The village has tons of waterfront restaurants serving fresh seafood. Grab lunch or an early dinner here before heading back to your hotel.

Morning: Blue Lagoon Boat Tour (This is a MUST-DO!) ⛴️

My boat tour of the Blue Lagoon was the absolute highlight of my week in Malta. Being able to swim right next to fish in this gorgeous water is stunning and you cannot skip it.

You’ll want to book an early morning tour (trust me, it’s worth it) which will probably leave around 8:30am. This timing is crucial because you’ll beat the massive tour boats that arrive later and have the Blue Lagoon almost to yourself.

This is the exact tour I took and I can’t recommend it enough. It was about €30 per person, included stops at the Blue Grotto, Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and Paradise Bay, and had a small boat (max 30 people) with sunbeds on deck.

The water at the Blue Lagoon is a truly unbelievable turquoise color that I could’ve spent a whole week floating in. You’ll get about an hour to swim, snorkel, and use the boat’s waterslide.

Afternoon: Exploring the Mdina in Malta 🏛️

After your boat tour, drive to Mdina, the ancient walled old town that served as Malta’s capital until the 16th century.

Mdina is called “The Silent City” because cars aren’t allowed inside the walls and very few people actually live there. It feels like stepping back in time and you’ll appreciate it whether you’re a history buff or not.

Walk through the narrow medieval streets, visit St. Paul’s Cathedral (I think it’s worth it to pay the entrance fee), and enjoy the views from the city walls.

Since you’ll be there in the late afternoon,you can watch the sunset from the Mdina ramparts. The golden light on the honey-colored stone buildings is something else.

You can also head to nearby Rabat and try some pastizzi (local savory pastry!). 

Evening 🍽️

There are several restaurants inside Mdina if you want to have dinner there, and you can find a solid happy hour as well.

Drive Time / Transport 🚗

Boat tours typically return by 2–3pm. Driving from the northern coast to Mdina takes about 25–35 minutes.

Quick Swaps ✨

• If you’re feeling tired after the boat tour, skip Mdina and head back to your hotel for some R&R.
• If you’re really not into boats you could head to Paradise Bay directly instead and relax at the beach.

Evening: Blue Frog Indian Restaurant 🍽️ 

For dinner, try Blue Frog in St. Paul’s Bay (about 10 minutes from Mellieha). It’s very unassuming but the food is great, cheap, and they were really nice.They also have a nice outdoor terrace. I would recommend making a reservation.

Malta has a lot of British influence, which means there are some genuinely good Indian restaurants on the island.

Gozo is Malta’s sister island just a 20 minute ferry-ride away, and it’s worth spending a day exploring! The island is even more rural and relaxed than Malta, with beautiful beaches and countryside.

I debated a lot whether or not I should spend a night on Gozo, and to be honest I don’t really think you need to. I’d rather do a day trip than pack and unpack just to spend a night on the island.

That being said, if you’re staying in a busy party area like St. Julians and want some beach getaway, you could opt for a few nights on the island. But I wouldn’t kill yourself to do it. 

Getting to Gozo:

It’s incredibly easy to hop over to Gozo. Drive (or Uber or bus) to the Cirkewwa ferry terminal in northern Malta and take the ferry to Gozo. The ferry runs every 45 minutes, takes about 25 minutes, and you can drive your rental car right onto the ferry.

The ferry costs about €25 round trip for a car with passengers.

What to see in Gozo:

• Start with the Citadel in Victoria (Gozo’s main town). This medieval fortress sits on a hilltop with views over the entire island.
  
• You absolutely must explore the Salt Pans near Xwejni Bay. These ancient salt harvesting pools have been used for over 350 years and they’re fascinating to see.
  
• Visit Ramla Bay, Gozo’s most famous beach with reddish sand. The water here is beautiful and the beach is much less crowded than Malta’s beaches. We kicked back here and read for about an hour.

Dinner 🍽️

Many hotels in Malta actually have excellent restaurants. Depending on where you’re staying, eat at the hotel or ask for a nearby recommendation! I always like to hear what locals like.

We had the most delicious mussels at our hotel, I’m still dreaming about dipping my bread in the broth 🤤

Airport tip!

If you have Priority Pass (which comes free with cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve), definitely visit the La Valette Club Lounge at Malta Airport. The outdoor patio is great for a final glass of Maltese wine before your flight.