Explore — Things to do in Malta
Malta is small enough to cross in an afternoon and old enough to have temples that predate the pyramids. That combination is the whole appeal: curiosity is cheap here, and it pays out fast.
This section is for filling free time well — whether you're here for a week or you're a language student with a Saturday and no plan. Gozo and Comino and whether the day trip is worth it in the season you're actually here. Mdina, quiet in a way few walled cities still manage. The village festas that turn summer evenings into a fireworks contest between parishes. Swimming spots that never make the brochures, and a few that do and shouldn't.
We only write about places we've actually been, and the photographs are our own, which keeps us honest: if a "hidden gem" turns out to be a queue, we'll say so.
You'll find realistic day plans — what genuinely fits between the first ferry and the last — the off-season case for Malta that tour operators undersell, and the food worth crossing the island for. None of it requires a rental car unless we say so; most of Malta's best days out run perfectly well on a Tallinja bus and a decent pair of sandals.
All guides
'When to rock climb in Malta: the real season, and where to climb once summer
October to December is peak climbing season on Malta's limestone; the season runs Oct–May. In summer, try shady crags or deep water soloing.
Learn to sail in Malta: the RYA course pathway (and is a weekend worth it on a study trip?)
Learn to sail in Malta via the RYA ladder: a 2-day Start Yachting taster from ~€450 up to Day Skipper. Which course suits you, and is a weekend worth it?
'Trail running in Malta after dark: beating the summer heat with a headlamp
Night trail running in Malta beats the 5am heat: August lows near 22°C. Which Mellieħa paths work after dark, headlamp lumens and the hunting-hours catch.
'Vegan and gluten-free dining in Malta: the real restaurants, not just a directory
Coeliac in Malta? NVKED and Anurakti in Qawra are 100% gluten-free kitchens; Bistro516 in Valletta runs dedicated GF prep. Vegan and GF picks by area.
'What to actually wear on Malta''s trails: trail running shoes and gear for
Malta's polished limestone and loose rubble need sticky-rubber outsoles, 4–5mm lugs and a rock plate, plus 1.5–2L of water.
Camping in Malta: where you can legally pitch a tent
Wild camping in Malta means designated sites and a permit, not pitch-anywhere. The legal spots, the ~€10 Mellieħa permit, and when you can actually go.
'Comino beyond the Blue Lagoon: the quiet half of the island almost nobody
Only the Blue Lagoon beach needs a booking; the rest of Comino doesn't. A quiet half-day walk to Crystal Lagoon, St Mary's Tower and Santa Marija Bay.
Malta's autumn hunting and trapping season: what hikers and trail runners should actually know
Is it safe to hike Malta's countryside from September to January? Hunting season on the trail: the dates, the protected reserves, and what to wear.
Hiking the Gozo Coastal Trail: how many days it takes, and where you actually sleep
The Gozo Coastal Trail is a ~50km loop, usually 2–4 days. With no legal campsite on Gozo, here's where hikers sleep: Xlendi, Marsalforn or Victoria.
'Why September to November is Malta''s best season: the shoulder months that
Planning the best time to visit Malta? Autumn wins: sea still ~25°C in September, ~16% fewer visitors than August, and Notte Bianca on 3 October.
Farmers markets in Malta: where to shop like a local (Ta' Qali & the others)
Malta has two approved farmers markets: Ta' Qali (Tue & Sat) and Cottonera (Sat). When to go, what you'll find, and proof they beat the supermarkets.
'Loggerhead turtles are nesting on Malta''s beaches: where, when, and how to
Loggerhead turtles nest on Malta's beaches from June, hatching about 50 days later. Where to look, how to watch responsibly, and the €500+ per-egg rule.
'Malta''s record July 2026 heatwave: is an August trip still worth it, and
Malta's record 43.3°C July heatwave has eased. The honest August 2026 picture: is it too hot to visit, will power cuts hit hotels, and how to cope.
'Malta''s 2026 Michelin Guide: is fine dining worth building a trip around,
Malta's 2026 Michelin Guide kept all seven stars, but two-star ION Harbour shuts 10–27 August. Which starred table to book, by occasion, and the real costs.
'Trail running the coast from Xemxija to Għajn Tuffieħa and Golden Bay: a first-person
A first-person Malta coastal trail run: 15.72km and 340m of climb from Xemxija's Roman road to the Golden Bay ridge, with no water tap the whole way.
Malta's best coastal walks: the Dingli Cliffs and the Victoria Lines
Two Malta coastal walks done properly: the Dingli Cliffs (253m, Malta's highest point) and the Victoria Lines, with bus routes and why to skip July.
Majjistral Nature Park: Malta's only nature reserve, and the coastal walk from Golden Bay to Għajn Tuffieħa
Walk Malta's only nature park: Golden Bay to Għajn Tuffieħa through Majjistral, about 30 minutes one way, past 1637 watchtowers and endemic wildlife.
'Trail running in Malta: routes, the heat, and the races worth planning a trip
Trail running in Malta means treeless, shadeless coast — so run October to May, carry 2.5–3L of water, and time a trip to XTERRA Gozo on 8 May 2027.
Bugibba Square, Malta: the new square and the sea out front
Bugibba's main square reopened in 2026, brighter and greener, with the sea right out front. A resident on the swim, the 5pm-to-sunset hour, and where to sit.
Dwejra salt pans, Gozo: the sea salt and the wild coast
At Dwejra on Gozo's protected coast, sea salt forms in old rock pans by the Blue Hole. See the pans, the story, and where to buy real Maltese salt.
Malta has wineries? Marsovin, Meridiana and whether a vineyard tour is worth an afternoon
Three Malta wineries take visitors: Marsovin at €60, Delicata at €25, Meridiana by phone only. What each buys you — and whether it's worth an afternoon. *(152 c
Comino Blue Lagoon Visitor Cap 2026: The Rules That Actually Apply to Your Trip
The Blue Lagoon cap is still 4,000 per slot — the 2,000 halving is only a proposal. What is in force, what is not, and how to book. Checked 11 Jul 2026.
Beginner Wreck Diving in Malta: Your First Three Wrecks
Which Malta wrecks can Open Water divers dive? Compare P31, Tug 2 and HMS Maori by depth, plus course costs and the best months to go.
Hypogeum Malta tickets: how to book Ħal Saflieni before it sells out (and the last-minute back door)
Hypogeum Malta tickets sell out months ahead. How to book Ħal Saflieni online, the €50 last-minute trick, and why Fort St Elmo at 09:00 wins.
Authentic Maltese Food: Where Locals Actually Eat
Skip the €3 tourist pastizzi. Where locals really eat pastizzi, ftira and fenkata in Malta — with dishes, venues and honest prices.
Malta to Sicily Day Trip by Ferry: Is It Really Worth It?
Can you day-trip to Sicily from Malta? Ferry times, real 2026 fares, what you can actually see in a day, and an honest worth-it verdict.