How to Spend 5 Days in Malta: The Ultimate Malta Itinerary

Last updated on March 31, 2026

From where to eat, what to do, and where to stay—this Malta itinerary will help you have the dreamiest 5 days in Malta.

Despite being the eight smallest country in the world, Malta has a lot to offer visitors. From incredible restaurants, great wine, beautiful vistas, epic swimming spots, and literally 6,000 years of history.

Thankfully, 5 days in Malta is the perfect amount of time to get a taste of the island without feeling too rushed on your vacation. Although, there will definitely be more to experience on your next trip.

This Malta itinerary will help you discover the best of the island. Based on our own experiences from our six-day trip, we’ve made what we feel is the perfect itinerary for spending 5 days in Malta.

Things to Know About This Malta Itinerary

Below are things to know about our 5 day Malta itinerary to ensure you have a hassle free vacation.

Book tours well in advance

Tours will sell out in advance, especially for popular activities or destinations. For example, visiting The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is one of the top things to do in Malta.

But you need to buy tickets at least 2 months in advance or you’ll be stuck paying a €50 ticket (instead of €15) and queuing up in the early morning the day before to get last minute tickets.

Other Malta tours, like visiting Comino Island, going on a food tour in Valletta, or visiting Rabat and Mdina, can be booked two to three weeks before traveling. Don’t wait until the last minute to book any activities of interest to you.

You’ll also want to plan ahead for restaurant reservations during the busy season. I’d call the restaurant or see if you can book online at least one to two weeks prior to traveling.

Below are a few of the most popular things to do in Malta bookable on GetYourGuide.

Add in transportation time

How you get around during your 5 days in Malta will impact your itinerary. You’ll need to add more time in between activities and destinations if you plan to take public transportation. Alternatively, if you take Bolt or rent a car you likely won’t need as much time in between.

🚖 I compare the main ways of getting around the island with pros and cons for each if you aren’t sure what the best way to get around Malta for your budget and needs are.

Plan your days based on weather and avoid the busy season

This 5 day Malta itinerary lumps together the top things to do in the island by region to maximize your time, but it doesn’t account for crowds and busy weekend traffic. If you can, try to avoid visiting popular destinations on weekends.

May, June, and early October are considered the shoulder season for Malta. The weather is warm enough to enjoy outdoor activities and swim, but aren’t nearly as hot (or busy) as peak summer.

If you do visit during peak summer season (July – September) expect major crowds and intense heat! And make sure you have sun protection with you.

How to Spend 5 Days in Malta

Now that we have these tips out of the way, let’s dive into our 5 day Malta itinerary. If you want to see the sights through video check out our Malta travel vlog. This highlights a lot of the spots shown here and gives tons of helpful tips for planning your trip!

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Day 1: Arrive in Malta, get settled, and have dinner

Mid-day/afternoon

Most flights to Malta from the USA arrive mid-day, between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm. Thankfully, the Malta airport is well located in the center and you can reach virtually any part of the island in roughly 20 minutes.

So, once you land and go through customs you should be settled in your final destination quickly! You can book a private airport shuttle, take the airport bus, or hail a Bolt once outside.

We opted for a Bolt because our flight from London arrived at 10:30 pm and we were tired! If this was a big international flight for you, not just a hopper plane from another European destination like it was for us, I recommend taking the afternoon to reset.

Shower, grab a meal at your hotel, and relax by the pool or head to a beach nearby your hotel. If you aren’t sure where to stay check our guide to the best places to stay in Malta here.

top 3 hotels in Malta

• Best Western Premier Malta ⭐⭐⭐⭐, 9.3 rating
• Courtyard by Marriott Sliema ⭐⭐⭐⭐, 9.3 rating
• 9020 Boutique B&B ⭐⭐⭐, 7.9 rating
  Explore all hotels >

Dinner by your hotel

While there are loads of amazing restaurants across the island. Tonight, don’t travel far for food! Stay close to your hotel for dinner on your first night.

If you’re staying at a nice hotel, they likely have a restaurant on site for you to dine at. However, if you’re in a great area like Sliema, Mellieha, or Valletta, I recommend going out. While not always the case, dinners out are typically more economical and better quality.

Day 2: Explore Valletta and Sliema or the Three Cities

Day two of your 5 days in Malta will take you to Malta’s capital city, Valletta. You’ll explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site on a food and history walking tour, before exploring some freely.

Then, spend the afternoon at the beach (bring a bathing suit) in Sliema or head to the Hypogeum in the Three Cities. For dinner you can return to Valletta or dine in The Three Cities or Sliema.

Morning: Explore Valletta on a food + history tour

Valletta is the capital of Malta. It’s a tiny, walled city packed with history, charming streets, and great restaurants. It’s a must-visit destination on any Malta itinerary.

You can walk through the steep alleys on your own, but I think the best way to explore Valletta is on a food and walking history tour.

The tour was incredible and took us virtually through the entire walled city. Some highlights were:

• Learning how the city was fortified by The Knights of St. John.
• Getting to try traditional dishes like pastizi, Hobz Biz-Zejt, and Imqaret.
• Discovering the influences of former reigning civilizations on Malta today.
• Getting lay of the land and finding out what sites are worth visiting in Valletta.
• Seeing evidence of Malta’s pivotal role in WWII.

After finishing the tour, I recommend going inside St. John’s Co-Cathedral. The interior is covered in massive frescos from floor to ceiling and is absolutely stunning! Tickets are required, but our pro-tip is to buy them online rather than having to wait in the long lines at the door.

Then, head to Republic Street for drinks and lunch with a view. You can grab lunch from almost anywhere on the side streets, but I doubt you’ll be hungry after the food tour.

From there head to the Upper Barrakka Gardens at noon for the shooting of the cannons. The Lower Barrakka Gardens (opposite side of Valletta) are also worth visiting. Both sites are small, and aside from the shooting of the cannons, would be a quick 10 – 15 minute visit to admire the views.

You have three options for the afternoon—continue exploring in Valletta, visit Sliema, or visit the Three Cities and the Hypogeum (if you got tickets already). If you stay in Valletta, some unique and fun things to do are:

• Walk the underground tunnels on a tour with The Malta National Community Art Museum
• Visit the National Museum of Anthropology (super cool with loads of artifacts from important sites)
• Walk through the Grand Master’s Palace and see where the Grand Masters from the Knights of St. John once lived.
• Learn about Malta’s ties with WWII and visit a historic fort at Fort St Elmo And National War Museum.

Afternoon: Explore Sliema or visit the Hypogeum in the Three Cities

If you feel like you’ve seen enough in Valletta, hop on a historic dgħajsa water taxi or the larger ferry to Sliema or the Three Cities, which runs every 30 minutes. It’s €3 round-trip making it super affordable and scenic.

Sliema was one of our favorite cities. It felt less touristy than Valletta, but equally as charming. It also had loads of great restaurants and beaches. Good beaches to visit are Exiles Bay Beach or the Victorian Reproduction of Roman Baths, but honestly there are swimming spots all throughout Sliema.

Hopefully, you packed your bathing suit and are ready for a dip! We always have a packable towel with us and saw several people strategically slip in and out of suits on the beach post swim.

Pro Tip: Don’t miss a pit-stop at Amorino across from the ferry to Valletta. This was the best gelato we had on our three week Euro trip. It was delicious!

Alternative to Sliema: Visit the Three Cities and the Hypogeum

Hopefully, you were able to secure tickets to the Hypogeum. And hopefully, you timed it to be after your morning in Valletta. Even if timing doesn’t align, you can always swap your morning for an afternoon food tour in Valletta visiting the Hypogeum and exploring the Three Cities in the morning.

The Hypogeum is a subterranean burial complex more than 5,000 years old! Built by an unknown civilization, this area is a modern mystery to archeologists and revere this area as one of the most prominent discoveries of the 20th century.

The site itself isn’t massive, so you should expect to spend two hours tops there. The ticket includes an audio guide but know photos and video are not permitted inside at all. Other unique and interesting places to visit in the Three Cities are:

• Walk through one of the Knights of St. John’s original forts, Fort St. Angelo.
• Learn about the Spanish Inquisition at the Inquisitor’s Palace to discover what could have put you in jail or on the “wall of shame” in Medieval times.

Evening: Dinner in Sliema or Valletta

For dinner you can stay in Sliema and eat at BeruitBay (our favorite restaurant of the trip) or Ayu for a more approachable but delicious meal. Alternatively, you can visit Azar for an upscale meal.

If you prefer to return to Valletta, I recommend making reservations at Rubino or Legligin for a Michelin-quality Maltese meal. They were affordable (especially for what you get) and super high quality. Don’t miss out getting a post-dinner drink on a patio on Republic Street. The area is truly so charming at night.

Day 3: Comino Island day trip

Day 3 takes you to Comino Island and the Blue Lagoon. You’ll hop on a boat cruise from the nearest port, and spend four to six hours on the water and exploring the islands incredible beaches before returning home for dinner.

Morning into the Afternoon: Comino Island boat trip

Comino Island is a small, mostly uninhabited island between Gozo and mainland Malta. The island is home to crystal clear coves, gorgeous beaches, and a few historic sites. Visiting Comino Island and it’s famous Blue Lagoon is a must on a Malta itinerary!

We explain how to visit Comino Island and all the things you can do there in this post. But for time’s sake, we recommend booking a boat tour over taking the ferry.

The boat tours are really affordable, costing under $35 per person and take you on a four to six hour cruise to three different areas of the island. Boat is the only way to reach several of the incredible coves and how we got to swim into the cave you see below!

Comino boat tours leave from several locations, including Valletta, Sliema, Mellieha, and St. Paul’s. So, triple check the tour you book leaves from the closest city to you! This post shares tips about what to look for before booking a Comino boat tour and what to expect while you’re on the water.

Pro Tip: Pack a lunch! There is food at Blue Lagoon Comino Island but it’s not the best quality (mostly fast-food). We brought sandwiches from Bread and Beyond in Sliema which slayed.

Evening: Dinner

Our boat tour returned to shore around 4:00 pm. So, it gave us time to get home, and freshen up before dinner. I highly recommend getting dinner at one of the other areas in Malta this evening.

Have a fancier meal in a 300-year old building at Commando in Mellieha or have a casual (but delicious) pizza dinner at Made in Sud in St. Paul’s.

Day 4: Visit Rabat, Mdina, Hagar Qim, and Sunset at the cliffs

Day 4 of your 5 days in Malta takes you to the center of the island, visiting the first capital city, Mdina and the neighboring town of Rabat.

You’ll walk through old Catacombs from Roman times, have lunch overlooking the city, and then cool off at a nearby swimming hole. To finish the evening, you’ll watch the sunset over the cliffs and have dinner in Rabat nearby.

Morning: Explore Rabat + Mdina

After grabbing coffee and having breakfast in or near your hotel, hop on the bus or hail a Bolt to Mdina and Rabat. Mdina was the original capital of Malta dating back to Roman times. The fortified city you see today was rebuilt in the 16th century and instantly transports you back to Medieval times.

Like Valletta, you can certainly walk through Mdina on your own (it’s small and should only take an hour), but to understand what you are seeing you need to go on a walking history tour.

This tour takes your through Mdina and Rabat, the “suburbs” of historic Mdina and a thriving city today. On top of that it also includes entry and a history tour of the WWII bunkers and the catacombs below St. Paul’s Church.

I was originally hesitant to visit the Catacombs because reviews said there wasn’t much to see. But I think it’s because the reviewers didn’t do a walking tour where they had a guide explaining what they were seeing.

There was very little signage throughout and it was honestly, a big maze so I could see how you might feel disappointed if you aren’t on a tour like we took.

Our tour lasted two and a half hours and was plenty of time to get a feel for both Mdina and Rabat while adding so much helpful context to what we were seeing.

Get Lunch in Rabat and tea and cake in Mdina

After the tour is over grab lunch in Rabat. Even if you want a proper sit down meal, don’t skip Is-Serkin Crystal Palace Bar. It’s across from Mdina at the entrance to Rabat and will be packed with locals.

They make several fresh-baked Maltese pastries, but they are widely considered the best pastizzi in Malta.

Have small coins on you, because they are cash only and the pastizzi are only €0.50. We loved them so much we went back for seconds!

If you prefer, you can get a heartier meal at one of the lovely restaurants in Rabat. We sat on the rooftop terrace of Yana’s and enjoyed fresh made pasta and wine al-fresco. It was beautiful!

You’re not done in Mdina or Rabat yet though. Next, venture back into Mdina to get a table at Fontanella Tea Garden. This historic restaurant is known for their extravagant cakes and tea with gorgeous views over the island.

Reservations are not accepted, so you’ll likely have to wait in line. But I definitely think you shouldn’t skip this!

Afternoon: Visit Hagar Qim

While you’re in the area, I recommend spending the afternoon at Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Archaeological Park. Even if you went to the Hypogeum already, these archeological sites have a completely different feel and history. To start, they are much larger, and overlook the ocean giving you a glimpse at how massive their city would have been.

Tickets cost between €5.50 to €10.00 and include access to both sites, plus there is a very small museum with a 10 minute 3D movie to bring the history of the site to life. We spent about two hours there in total and loved that they had a free audio guide we could follow on our phones.

Afternoon: Check out Blue Lagoon + Go for a Swim

Once you’re done at Ħaġar Qim hop on a bus, grab a Bolt, or walk the roughly 20 minutes to the Blue Grotto overlook. It’s rediculously close to the archeological zone when driving (roughly 4 minutes), but walking there is a bit tricky.

The sidewalk eventually ends and you are left on a very narrow, windy road that people fly down in vehicles. We ended up walking on cement barrier which was pretty sketchy and not advisable for everyone!

The Blue Grotto is a beautiful arch that create a cavern or grotto inside the cliffside. In the morning you can take a boat ride into the grotto, but in the afternoon you can just admire it from above. It’s honestly just as pretty as it looks in the pictures and is worth a pit stop!

If you’re hot, head into the town behind the Blue Grotto and walk down what feels like a million stairs to the a swimming hole. This spot had lots of locals going for an afternoon dip and was so refreshing and fun. It was one of our favorite swimming stops of the trip.

Evening: Watch the Sunset at Dingli Cliffs

After, you’ll stay in this area, heading around 10 minutes by car or bus toward St. Mary Magdalene Chapel on the Dingli Cliffs. This rural part of Malta is one of the highest points with westward facing views making it an epic spot for a sunset.

Evening: Dinner in Rabat or by your Hotel

If you’re absolutely wrecked after this jam packed day, feel free to go back to your hotel after the sunset and have dinner at a restaurant nearby. However, if you have a bit more energy in you, hop on a bus or hail a Bolt back to Rabat to have dinner at Meraki Wine and Dine.

This restaurant is so charming. It’s super small and focuses on sustainable and local ingredients. They have an incredible steak but several pasta and seafood dishes too!

Day 5: Day trip to Gozo Island

On the last day of your 5 days in Malta, you will explore Gozo Island. Widely considered one of the best areas to visit in Malta, it’s rural and a look at what Malta used to look like before it grew rapidly over the last few decades.

You can explore the beautiful beaches, go to a swimming hole, hike, or go on an adventurous jeep tour before watching the sunset and having an amazing seafood dinner on the island.

Morning into afternoon: Take a ferry to Gozo

Gozo Island is just north of Malta’s mainland and accessible by a 15 minute ferry from Cirkewwa (Mgarr Harbor). Alternatively, you can get to Gozo on the fast ferry from Valletta. The high speed ferry has a set schedule, with boats leaving harbor every hour starting as early as 5:45 am and as late as 9:30 pm.

Fares are really affordable, costing €7.50 per adult one-way and don’t require advance booking. The ferry at Mgarr Harbor is a car ferry, so if you rented a car this is the best option for you!

I recommend getting to Gozo fairly early, around 10 am at the latest. You’ll want a full day to explore the island before the sunsets! The bus system operates on Gozo, so if you don’t have a car you can get around on public transit or hail a Bolt.

Another option is to go on an “adventure jeep tour” that takes you across the island and includes a stop for lunch, which is super nice! They’ll take you to a lot of the places I’m sharing next, and will take you to some harder to reach spots while sharing fun facts along the way.

If you’re up for a brief, but uphill hike start your day on Gozo Island at Mixta Cave. It’s a beautiful “window” that looks over an orange sand beach. After walk about 20 to 30 minutes down to Ramla beach to hang out on the shore or go for a swim.

If you prefer a swimming hole you can jump into, head over to the Blue Hole or Wied il-Għasri. When you get hungry, get a sandwich or pastizzi from a nearby shop, or if you’re near the Blue Hole you can get lunch at Terrazzo – Restaurant & Beach Bar.

Evening: Dinner and sunset in Gozo before returning home

The best spot to watch the sunset in Gozo is ironically named, Sunset Cliffs. Like Dingli Cliff it’s westward facing and one of the highest points of the island. The views of the cliffs towering over the ocean are incredible!

Once the sun has set head back toward the ferry port in town for dinner at Tmun Restaurant. This is a more upscale restaurant, so ideally you’ll have a dress, brush, and makeup or deodorant to freshen up after your day of exploring. They are known for their seafood and have a beautiful outdoor terrace to take in the views as you dine.

There you have it, the perfect 5 day Malta itinerary! Hopefully, this guide has helped you make the most of seeing Malta in 5 days and has taken the guesswork out of where to stay, what to do, and where to eat. If you enjoyed this post, please Pin it, share it with a friend, or let me know in the comments below!

Also, don’t forget to explore our other Malta posts to help you answer common questions and plan more details for your trip.

• Best Way to Get Around Malta: Car Rental vs Bolt vs Bus
• Where to Stay in Malta: Best Areas & Hotels for All Travelers
• Complete Guide to Comino Island (Blue Lagoon + Beyond!)
• Is a Comino Boat Tour to Blue Lagoon Worth It?
• 20 Best Restaurants in Malta and Must-Try Maltese Dishes
• What to Do in Malta: 15 Can’t-Miss Things to See and Do
• What to Pack for Malta in Summer: Complete Packing Guide