How long should I visit Malta? For what budget? What are the things to do? I answer all of your questions in this detailed article!
In my opinion, 7 days on the island is perfect for discovering all it has to offer: between the main island and Gozo, you can enjoy city visits, cliff hikes, as well as try Maltese specialties!
On the program, I will detail my complete itinerary, my numerous tips and the budget that it cost me. At the end, you will have all the information you need to plan your trip to Malta with peace of mind!
7-day Malta itinerary
In this 7-day Malta itinerary, I am going to cover mainly Things I've personally done, and you give me my best things to see, do, and taste. I made sure that the trips were optimized to facilitate your visits!
On the program, you will visit the main island and Gozo. On the other hand, I did not include Comino Island, because I did not. If time permits, I invite you to include it in your itinerary if you wish, as it is a must see.
NB : For my part, I stayed in the city of Il-Gżira, a city close to the capital and very lively day and night, with really cheap accommodations. It is 10 minutes by bus from the capital, Valletta. I'm going to assume you're going to stay there for my itinerary.
Day 1: First exploration of the island of Malta
🍽️ BREAKFAST
• Recommended coffee: Brillace Cafe
Address: 61 Triq il-Gzira, Il-Gzira GZR 1314, Malta
Budget: 5-10 €
My dish: A chicken toast with white sauce + Flat White Coffee. → The setting is really charming, the staff is very pleasant in addition to having good coffee and good toast!
🌅 MORNING
• Walk from Il-Gżira to Valletta along the quays - Duration: 2 to 3 hours
→ If the weather is nice, it's a good way to discover the surroundings to get familiar with the Maltese decor!
🍽️ BREAKFAST
• Recommended restaurant: Old Bakery's Pizza e Pasta
Address: 28 A South Street Valletta, Malta Valletta, Malta Valletta, VLT 1212, Malta
Budget: 10-15€
My dish: Pizza Capricciosa & pizza Salmone e Gamberetti → We had two pizzas that are very good, and at a more than fair price. The setting is friendly with a lot of choices on the menu!
🌆 AFTERNOON
• Valletta Tour - Duration: 3 to 4 hours
→ Here are some historical places that I recommend you visit: A visit to the Saint John's Cathedral (admission at €15), the garden Upper Barrakka, the Indipendenza Square and its St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral, The Valletta Food Market. Then, I invite you to lose yourself in the streets of the capital!
🌙 EVENING
• Return by boat to Il-Gżira via the town of Tas-Sliema - Duration: 10 min - Price: €3 one way during the day, and €3.50 in the evening (from 19:30)
→ It is the fastest and most optimized mode of transport to return to our accommodation.
• Walk around the Sliema coast - Duration: 1 hour
→ Take the opportunity to take a stroll along the coast to soak up the fairly relaxed atmosphere of the area
🍽️ DINNER
• Recommended restaurant: Ta' Kris Restaurant
Address: 154 A/B, The Strand, Triq Ix - Xatt, Gzira, Malta
Budget: 10-20€
My dish: A Maltese platter as a starter & Majjal Il-forn as a main course to share → we chose them in order to test local culinary dishes for a first immersion in the culture. We recommend them without hesitation because they are really delicious!
Day 2: Exploring L-Imdina Village and Dingli Coast
🍽️ BREAKFAST
• Recommended coffee: Kokō experience
Address: Triq Manoel De Vilhena, Il-Gzira GZR 1401, Malta
Budget: 5€ My dish: A Flat White & Matcha Latte
→ Since I am a big fan of coffee, I always start my day with a hot drink! In the morning, you can also make yourself a simple breakfast at home (if a kitchen is available) by shopping at a local supermarket.
🌅 MORNING
• L-Imdina & Ir-Rabat Village Tour - Duration: 3 hours
→ Get lost in the L-Imdina fortress to discover picturesque houses, take part in some museums that may interest you as well as a splendid view of Malta from the heights! Then, head to the village of Il-Rabat located just next door to discover two ancient religious buildings: St. Mary of Jesus Church and Saint Paul's Basilica. By the way, you can also participate in a descent to the Catacombs of Saint Paul!
🍽️ BREAKFAST
→ Unfortunately, we did not have the opportunity to eat in a restaurant in L-Imdina or Il-Rabat, except for having a small coffee at Coffee Circus Smile. Instead, we bought snacks and sandwiches at a local supermarket for lunchtime. If you want to eat something more consistent, I invite you to take a look at the following restaurants/cafes: CHALK Cafe Eatery Wine and Yana's.
🌆 AFTERNOON
• Hike along Dingli Cliffs - Duration: 2 to 3 hours
→ Take bus 52, 56, 181, or 201 at the station Dumnikani then get off at the station Carruta to get closer to the coast. Then, hike south to the Dingli View observation point for a magnificent view of the high cliffs of Malta, and the sunset if you are lucky!
🌙 EVENING
• Return to Valletta for a night stroll - Travel time: ~1h - Price: €2 per one-way ticket
→ From Dingli View, take bus 201 to get off at Dumnikani for example, then bus 56 back to Valletta. I invite you to really spend your evening in the capital, to discover another facet of the city, much more festive and which hides very nice places to have a drink!
• Have a drink at Why Not? Lounge Bar & Dine - Price: €5
→ Let yourself be tempted by a glass of white wine, red wine or Maltese beer to discover new flavors! For my part, I chose local white wine to try the experience, a particular but delicious taste!
🍽️ DINNER
→ We chose to eat in our Airbnb and cook food for ourselves, because we were very tired after this day! There is nothing better than a salad to end the evening. But if you still have energy and want to eat out, you will find plenty of restaurants on the banks of the city of Il-Gżira! I am thinking in particular of Posh Turkish - Gzira, a Turkish restaurant where we saw a lot of people going to eat there.
Day 3: Head to Gozo Island for a first discovery
🍽️ BREAKFAST
→ Before heading to Gozo, you can either make your own breakfast or go have it at a local café. Why not go back to Kokō Experience or Brillace Cafe if you really enjoyed it!
🌅 MORNING
• Travel to Gozo Fast Ferry - Duration: 40min - Price: 2€
→ Take the bus to Valletta, then get off at Valletta Bus Station. Then walk 10 minutes to reach the port where the speedboat will take you to Gozo Island.
• Take the Gozo Fast Ferry to the island - Duration: 45min - Price: €7.50 one way
→ Book your ticket in advance directly on their official site here. Be careful, however, for those who are seasick, because it can sometimes shake!
• Walking around the city Għajnsielem - Duration: 1h to 1h30
→ Upon arrival, I invite you to explore the surroundings of the port as well as take a tour in the heights of Għajnsielem. In particular, we will find many spots to admire the landscape of Malta at every street corner. Don't forget to stop by Ghajnsielem Parish Church !
• Take a short trip to Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church in Xewkija - Duration: 20min - Price: Free
→ From Għajnsielem, you can take bus 301 or 323. It is certainly the biggest church on the island with a huge dome inside! When I went inside, everything was renovated and painted white, which makes the place very impressive to see.
🍽️ BREAKFAST
• Recommended restaurant: Casa Vostra
Address: 62 Republic Street Rabat, Gozo VCT 1017, Malta
Budget: 10-15€
My food: Pizza “Pork Fiction & Calzone”
→ I chose the chef's recommendation to test, and to my surprise, it was really delicious!
🌆 AFTERNOON
• Citadella Tour & Victoria City Walk - Duration: 1 hour - Price: Free
→ For my part, I did not spend money to enter churches or museums. But if you are interested, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Gozo may be interesting, as well as the Old Prison of the Citadella. Count €5 for the entrance each.
• Have a coffee in Victoria Central - Price: 5-10 €
→ It's one of my favorite coffees! It is the only place to roast coffee in Gozo. I really recommend that you try their Maltese coffee (a mixture of coffee, anise and clove), a pure delight!
🌙 EVENING
• Travel in the direction of the city Marsalforn - Price: €2
→ From Victoria city, take bus 310 to Marsalforn.
• Marsalforn city walk - Duration: 30 min
→ Given the size of the city, I invite you to stroll along the coast. Because around, there are not much things except a few small shops. By the way, I invite you to make some provisions for the following day at Lighthouse Supermarket.
🍽️ DINNER
• Recommended restaurant: Qbajjar Restaurant Gozo
Address: 37G2+QHM, Triq Ix-Xwejni, Iz-Zebbug, Malta
Budget: 15-25€ Menu: available here
My dish: Garlic-fried octopus & grilled sea bass - two sure values when I eat seafood. They were very good!
→ With my girlfriend we chose this restaurant for New Year's Eve, because it is located right next to our hotel, and highly rated on Google. Prices vary from dish to dish depending on what you choose.
💤NIGHT
• Recommended accommodation: Sunset Seaview Accommodation - Ideal to be isolated from tourists, in addition to being located right in front of the sea!
Address: 37H2+73F, Triq Il Batterija Qbajjar Marsalforn, Gozo MFN 1620, Malta
Budget: ~50€ per night
→ For New Year's Eve, we chose to stay here to spend New Year's Eve. Even though there was nothing around, it was a quiet place where we could unwind after a long day. The room is simple, but sufficient for one night only!
Day 4: Hike on the North Coast of Gozo Island
🍽️ BREAKFAST
→ We made the choice to only have a coffee at Corto Cafe, because the other shops were closed during the New Year. But with luck, you may find better people around than us! If not, I invite you to go through Lighthouse Supermarket to provide you with snacks, and other foods that you can eat along the way.
🌅 FULL DAY
• Hike along the northwest coast of Gozo Island - Duration: 5 to 6 hours
→ We chose to spend a whole day along the coast starting from our hotel. It was clearly our biggest favorite part of our trip to Malta. If you want breathtaking picturesque landscapes, then this is a recommendation you should make at all costs!
🍽️ BREAKFAST
→ We ate at the tourist point Wied il-Għasri, a rocky gorge where you can swim in turquoise water. We had some tomatoes, olives, slices of bread and hams from the region for our lunch break. Unfortunately, you won't find any restaurants along the way, so my advice is to really do your shopping first!
🌙 EVENING
• Return to Victoria City by bus - Price: €2
→ From L-Għarb city, take bus 312 back to Victoria
🍽️ DINNER
• Recommended restaurant: Ottavo Senso
Address: Triq IR-Repubblika, Ir-Rabat Ghawdex VCT 1012, Malta
Budget: 10-15€
My dish: Carbonara pasta & bolognese pasta - two sure values when eating Italian food. They were very good!
→ To end the day, we had pasta to take away to eat in the room, because we were very exhausted that day!
💤NIGHT
• Recommended accommodation : Windjammer - Gozo Seaview & Citadel Charm - A large shared apartment where we stayed for one night
Address: Triq Wied is-Seqer Windjammer, VCT 1777 Victoria, Malta
Budget: ~30€ per night
→ I found the accommodation very comfortable with plenty of space in the room. As this is a shared apartment, we shared the kitchen and bathroom with other travelers. The advantage is that we are right next to the citadel!
Day 5: Last day on Gozo Island
🍽️ BREAKFAST
• Recommended coffee: Victoria Central
Address: Pjazza l-Indipendenza Ir-Rabat, Ghawedex VCT 1022, Malta
Budget: 5-10 €
My dish: Shakshuka & Breakfast Sarnie - Two savory breakfasts that are really great for a great start to the day!
🌅 MORNING
• Direction to the Blue Hole with the bus - Price: €2
→ From the café, take bus 311 to take you directly to the venue.
• Walk to the Blue Hole and its surroundings - Duration: 1 hour
→ It is a tourist place where you can see a cave digging into the cliff, and giving way to a spectacular view of the sea through it!
• Direction to the Basilica of Our Lady Ta' Pinu in Gharb with the bus - Price: €2
→ From the Blue Hole spot, take the 311 bus again and get off at Wilderness station. Then walk for about 15 minutes to get to the place.
• Visit to the Basilica of Our Lady Ta' Pinu in Gharb - Duration: 30 min
→ Even though I didn't do it personally due to lack of time, the basilica was on the list of things I wanted to do. I still recommend that you go there to admire its neo-romantic architecture and a view of the sea!
• Direction to Mixta Cave with Uber - Price: 15-20€ - Duration: 20 min
→ I chose to take the Uber this time to optimize my trip. The travel time was about 20 minutes instead of 1h30. Note that if you take the bus, you will have to change 2 times to get to your destination
• Discover Mixta Cave & Descent to Ramla Bay - Duration: 1 hour
→ You enter a small passage that takes you into a cellar, large enough for a few people. Surely one of the most beautiful views of the Gozo coast that I have ever seen! Then, you will find a small passage to access the descent to Ramla Bay.
🍽️ BREAKFAST
→ That day, as we had already had a good breakfast at the Victoria Central Café, we had simply passed lunch! Again, I invite you to buy some groceries if you want to eat along the way.
🌆 AFTERNOON
• Return to Gozo Ferry Terminal - Price: 15€ - Duration: 15 min
→ Here we took the Uber, again for its convenience and speed. Alternatively, you can also take bus 322, which will take you directly to the ferry.
• Getting to Comino Island (Optional, but highly recommended) - Price: 13€ - Duration: 20 min
→ With Comino Ferry Service, you can go directly to the island.
• Comino Island Tour - Duration: 1h to 1h30
→ As I told you, I was not able to go to the island in person. But according to what we were told, the island being small, we can quickly go around in 1 hour. But if you want to stay for the beach, then you can stay longer!
• Return to the island of Malta from Comino - Price: Free, as included in the ticket to Comino Island - Duration: 20 min
→ To make it easier for you to travel, choose the option of returning to the island of Malta rather than to Gozo Island.
🌙 EVENING
• Return to Valletta by bus - Price: 2€ - Duration: 1h15
→ Take the X300, 41 or 42 bus in the direction of Valletta.
🍽️ DINNER
→ For my part, I did a few errands to prepare food in my apartment. On the other hand, if you really want to go out to eat, you can look at Valletta Food Market located in the very heart of the capital, a food court that offers several food stalls from around the world!
💤NIGHT
• Recommended accommodation : I recommend that you look in the city Il-Gżira on Booking.com, as the prices are much cheaper. You can find highly rated accommodations for less than €40! So, I booked in this city again, and until the end of my stay.
Day 6: Exploring the city Il-Mosta and hiking on the west coast of Malta
🍽️ BREAKFAST
• Recommended coffee: Kokō Experience or Brillace Cafe
Budget: 5-10 €
→ As I really liked these 2 places, you can go back to the same café for breakfast!
🌅 MORNING
• Direction to the city Il-Mosta - Price: 2€ - Duration: 30 min
→ From the café, take bus 203 to take you directly to the city.
• Visit to the Shrine of Saint Mary of the Assumption in Mosta - Price: 5€ - Duration: 30 min
→ Don't forget to climb up to the roofs of the shrine for a splendid view of the city, and it's included in the admission price!
• Direction to Popeye Village - Price: 2€ - Duration: 1h10
→ You can take bus 41 or 42 from the sanctuary. Then, you will have to walk about 10 minutes to get there.
• Walk around Popeye Village - Duration: 20 min
→ Personally, I do not recommend that you go inside the village. In fact, access is chargeable and costs €15. From a distance, it is in fact an entertainment place about the world of pirates with some entertainment for children.
🍽️ BREAKFAST
→ That day, I had not eaten lunch. Instead, I preferred to have some snacks to take along the way and to sit down somewhere to eat them. I invite you too to do the same, because in the area where you will be, there is almost nothing around!
🌆 AFTERNOON
• Hike along the cliffs to Għajn Tuffieħa Bay - Duration: 2h30
→ Surely one of my favorite hikes on the island of Malta! In 2.5 hours, we were able to see different landscapes while taking the time to contemplate the sea, the cliffs and the Maltese lands. The roads are unmarked with trails accessible to everyone, even children.
• Relaxing time on Għajn Tuffieħa Bay - Duration: 1 hour
→ After a good hike, take a well-deserved break on the beach. Don't forget to have a coffee while you pass by at Coffee Circus, which offers hot drinks and snacks to boost your energy!
• Watch the sunset from Clay Cliffs - Duration: 1 hour
→ Right next to the bay, you will find a small path that will take you to Clay Cliffs. From the heights, you will have a magnificent view of Qarraba Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa. On this occasion, we were able to admire the sunset which was really magnificent!
🌙 EVENING
• Return to Valletta by bus - Price: 2€ - Duration: 1 hour
→ Take bus 44 in the direction of Valletta.
🍽️ DINNER
• Recommended restaurant: ANTIOCHIA DONER
Address: 5 Vincenzo Dimech Rd, Floriana FRN 1504, Malta
Budget: 10-15€
My dish: Chicken Shish & Mixed Doner - two dishes that we definitely recommend because they are quite filling and great!
→ There are only a few tables on site. The setting is very rustic, but friendly.
Day 7: Last day of exploration on the island of Malta
🌅 MORNING
• Direction to the city Marsaxlokk - Price: €15 in Uber - Duration: 20 min
→ I personally took the Uber to get there. With the bus, you would have had to change to another one, and it would have taken a total of 50 minutes to get to the city.
• Marsaxlokk Open Market Tour - Duration: 30 min
→ It is the open market where you can find all sorts of local products, including fish straight from the sea. The trip was interesting, because you can also see the small colorful boats, typical of Malta. If you feel like it, you will also find people who offer you to take a tour around the zone for €5.
🍽️ BREAKFAST
• Recommended coffee: Xirokk. Menu
Address: Triq Tat Trunciera, Marsaxlokk, Malta
Budget: 5-10 €
→ I had a coffee and a smoothie, but nothing to eat. The setting is very nice, especially when the weather is nice because you can eat on their terrace overlooking the sea!
• Direction to Blue Grotto - Price: €15 in Uber - Duration: 20 min
→ Again, I preferred to take the Uber for reasons of simplicity. But if you want to take the bus, you can take bus 199 to the airport and then bus 201. Then go down to the Grotto station.
• Walk along the cliff to Blue Wall and Grotto Viewpoint - Duration: 30 min
→ Walk up the cliff to reach Grotto Viewpoint. From there, you will see the famous Blue Cave, a cliff dug by the sea and the wind to make way for a wonder of nature!
🍽️ BREAKFAST
→ Again, I preferred not to eat. Since there is little to eat around the Blue Cave, I invite you to come back to Valletta to find a good restaurant!
🌆 AFTERNOON
• Full half-day to visit Valletta : 4:00
→ Take the time to stroll and get lost in the various alleys. If you haven't already done so, be sure to visit the Saint John Cathedral Museum and Barrakka Gardens, which are definitely worth a visit!
• Coffee break at Lot 61 Coffee Roasters - Duration: 30 min
→ In the meantime, if you want to find a nice coffee for a break, I recommend this one!
🍽️ DINNER
• Recommended restaurant: Sally Port Pizzeria
Address: 102 St. Nicholas Street, Il-Belt Valletta, Malta
Budget: 10-15€ My dish: Pizza Bufalina & Pizza Capricciosa - two excellent pizzas that I recommend if you plan to eat here!
→ Located at the end of Valletta, it is a very cozy restaurant with a variety of Italian dishes.
💡 MY OPINION ON THE 7-DAY ITINERARY : In my opinion, this itinerary that I have detailed covers everything there is to see and know about Malta without leaving anything out. 7 days is the ideal number to really take your time each time you visit and make the most of your stay here.
Where to sleep in Malta? Best neighborhoods
Looking for accommodation in Malter is quite simple, because the cheapest and most dynamic areas are concentrated in the same point: around Valletta.
For reasons of convenience, the capital remains, in my opinion, the best place to stay. We can very well get by with 50€ per night.
On the other hand, if you want to get away from the capital a bit, then The good compromise remains Il-Gżira and Tas-Sliema.
On Gozo Island, I invite you to look at the City Victoria which is the main city.
🏨 MY CHOICE (personally tested)
• Neighborhood: Il-Gżira
• Type: Airbnb
• Price: 30€/night
• ✅ Highlights: Location, next to public transport, a variety of choices of restaurants and cafes
• ❌ Weak point: Apartment shared with other travelers
💡 MY OPINION : I do not recommend the Airbnb where I stayed because the host was not honest in describing the accommodation. There was no Wi-fi, especially since the people who shared the same apartment with us had in fact lived for several months, something that had not been mentioned.
🚶 BUDGET BACKPACKER OPTION
📍 224 Boutique Hostel
• Neighborhood: Tas-Sliema
• Type: Hostel
• Price: around €20/night
• ✅ Strengths: Location, clean, next to a supermarket
• ❌ Weak point: Hostel with no reviews yet
• Book: Via Booking.com
💰 MEDIUM BUDGET OPTION
📍 Strand Suites by NEU Collective
• Neighborhood: Il-Gżira
• Type: Hotel
• Price: around 50€/night
• ✅ Strengths: Location, clean, highly rated
• ❌ Weak point: RAS
• Book: Via Booking.com
💎 COMFORT BUDGET OPTION
📍 The Londoner Hotel Sliema
• Neighborhood: Tas-Sliema
• Type: Hotel• Price: around €100/night
• ✅ Highlights: Located on the seafront, clean, highly rated
• ❌ Weak point: RAS
• Book: Via Booking.com
Where to eat in Malta? My best addresses
There is a diversity of dishes in Malta, especially from Italy, Turkey and India at very affordable prices.
As for the Maltese culinary specialty, there are several restaurants in tourist areas. On the other hand, in terms of price, we are more around 20€ for a real dish.
In this part, I will mainly give you a list of the restaurants I have tasted, and a few that may be worth a visit.
🥘 A MUST TRY
1. Fenkata - A rabbit stew stewed in wine and herbs, considered to be the national dish. Rabbit is a very popular meat in Malta. - Where: This dish is found almost everywhere in Maltese restaurants.
2. Gbejniet - Small goat or sheep cheeses, served fresh, dried or peppered. - Where: Ta' Kris Restaurant (included in the Maltese platter as a starter)
3. Imqaret - Fried donuts filled with dates, served hot, perfect as a dessert or snack. - Where: They are mostly found in Maltese bakeries
4. Traditional Maltese coffee - A particular taste that combines anise and clove as a spice in a hot drink. - Where: Victoria Central offers to let you try their famous coffee!
My advice for a successful trip to Malta
✅ TO DO
• Gozo being the second largest island, but also the most local, I recommend that you pass minimum 2 days on site to appreciate the wild landscapes, and to hike along the North-West coast of the island.
• For a 7-day trip, Malta Public Transport offers you a card called Explore Flex Travel Card, and which allows you to explore the country by bus in an unlimited way at the rate of €27 per person. For children, the price is €7.
• There is a Ferry to Gozo from Valletta, and who takes you to 45 min to the island for a price of €7.50. Rather than having to take a bus to Cirkewwa and then take the ferry, it's the easiest and quickest solution.
❌ TO AVOID
• If you don't like tourist traps, then don't pay admission to Popeye Village. Instead, prefer to see it from the heights of the cliffs, which in my opinion is much more worth it, and saves you from paying €15.
My final opinion on Malta
For a 7-day trip to Malta, I ended up spending a total 438€ (plane ticket not included in the price). This is clearly a low expense, considering the cost of living in Malta.
What I really liked about this country was the beauty of the landscape, and the numerous spots to admire the heights of the great cliffs. As someone who likes nature walks, I was quite well served!
The culture itself is particular, because I had the impression that Malta does not have one of its own, unlike other countries. It is a mix between Italian, Maghreb, English and French culture. Beyond that, the infrastructures are also intriguing depending on whether you are in the heart of a big city or in a rural environment.
Finally, Malta is a country that is needed Do at least once in a lifetime, regardless of whether you are traveling alone or with family!
