Home » Malta Itinerary » 3 Days in Malta
3 Days in Malta isn’t an awful lot of time to spend, considering how much there is to see and do within a small area.
So spending your time wisely while avoiding being exhausted at the end of your trip is important to most travellers.
For that reason, I’ll offer you a different approach to most other guides.
In this guide, I offer you:
Let me introduce myself first…
Hi! My name is Edward, and I’m the author and editor here at Malta Uncovered. Having Maltese roots, I’ve experienced Malta both as a tourist and a local and know the islands inside out. I’ve written and published two guidebooks and live in Malta.
I’ve helped thousands of travellers experience a trip to remember in Malta, and I’d like to do the same for you.
Based on the feedback of hundreds of readers (of my site and my guidebooks on Valletta and Malta & Gozo) over the years, I’ve carefully crafted a few itineraries:
This guide is designed to help you maximise 3 days in Malta and is focused on where to go and what to do and see, with tips for on-the-go. I’ll take you through several UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malta and Gozo, several museums and attractions and hidden gems along the way, providing you with a hassle-free Malta trip plan.
If you need help deciding where to stay, whether to rent a car or not, etc., you can find my recommendations on those topics towards the end of this guide: Planning your trip: Additional tips and advice.
So when you’re done going through the itinerary, there’s a lot more I can help you with!
You’ll find a few links to recommended tours and services within this guide. I will earn a small commission if you book via these links, but:
If that’s all fine with you, I greatly appreciate your support!
Malta’s capital city Valletta, is a must-see on a short trip visiting Malta.
A prime example of Baroque architecture, this walled city was built in the late 17th century by the Knights of the Order of St. John (also referred to as the Knights of Malta) and is steeped in history.
The city as a whole is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and there’s a lot to discover within one of the smallest capital cities in Europe. Having survived World War II mostly intact, you can admire dozens of age-old buildings in Malta’s capital.
With just 3 days in Malta, visiting Valletta is an absolute must.
The Three Cities, just a stone’s throw away across the Grand Harbour, are three small harbourside villages (Senglea, Birgu and Bormla) that are also rich in historical sites but also offer a glimpse of daily life in Malta.
While you can easily fill a day or more (my guidebook on Valletta lays out sightseeing walking routes to spend three days exploring), you can opt to spend time in the Three Cities as well. It’s a short 7-minute – yes, I timed it – ferry ride away.
For day 1 of this 3-day plan of what to see in Malta, I’ll lay out the highlights of both places in order of priority. That way, you can decide what works best for you and your travel companions.
If you plan on visiting multiple museums on your trip, consider getting a Heritage Pass from iSeeMalta. You can save on multiple entrance fees with this combo pass.
Prefer taking a guided tour? These are a few great options to consider:
If you decide to visit The Three Cities as well, head to Lascaris (on the eastern side of the capital city – Google Maps location) to hop onto the ferry. A short ride will take you across to Bormla (Google Maps location). A return ticket for adults costs just €2.80, and ferries depart every half-hour. More info and schedule here.
Although “Three Cities” sounds like you’ll need a lot of time to cover all, in reality, they’re three small towns across the harbour from the capital city Valletta. Of the three, Senglea and Birgu offer most of the places of interest (and dining options) to visit. Bormla, while quaint and interesting to wander around in just as well, offers fewer things to do and see.
You can easily get around on foot if you don’t mind a good walk, but you can always use a cab-hailing service to take a shortcut here and there.
Either way, here’s what I suggest seeing in The Three Cities:
Malta’s sister island Gozo is the second-largest island of the three that make up Malta as a country (- the third being Comino Island), and I highly recommend dedicating a whole day to your 3-day trip plan to visit Gozo.
While the main island of Malta is the most densely populated, Gozo Island is still a lot quieter and more rural, with a lot of natural beauty. So while there may be fewer attractions, it’s the perfect place to have a more balanced trip with rugged landscape and beautiful beaches.
Having seen Malta change over the past couple of decades, I’d say Gozo is a reflection of what Malta was like maybe 40-50 years ago. And while there’s a lot on offer that’s worthwhile seeing in just 3 days in Malta, staying in places like St. Julian’s and Sliema will only offer traces of the country’s unique character and charm.
Gozo, on the other hand, has still retained plenty of that. That’s why I recommend paying the island a visit, even if you’re only in Malta for 3 days.
Comino is mostly known for its beautiful Blue Lagoon Bay, which attracts thousands of visitors who want to swim in its crystal-clear waters.
Getting to Gozo is easy but takes a fair bit of time to do on your own.
Two ferry services can get you there, one from Valletta (“fast ferry” for foot passengers only) and one from Ċirkewwa (at the very northwestern point of Malta, which you can also board with a rental car).
The fast ferry takes around 45 minutes to reach Gozo. While the main (and larger) ferry takes around 20-25 minutes, getting to Ċirkewwa can take 1-1.5 hours using public transport. With a rental car, it’ll be around 45-60 minutes from places like Sliema and St. Julian’s and perhaps around 30 minutes from Buġibba.
Both ferries arrive at Mġarr Harbour, on the southeast of Gozo, from where you can:
Whether you take the DIY route or the organised tour option, you’ll likely visit some of these amazing places to give you a good introduction to Gozo:
If you’re interested in visiting Comino and its famous Blue Lagoon, I would advise against a DIY visit by ferry.
The same advice applies whether or not you want to combine a visit with Gozo on the same day, and for two reasons:
Instead, I highly recommend two types of tours:
The best Gozo/Comino combo tours are these options, including transport and food (15 May – 15 Oct only):
The best boat trips to visit just the Blue Lagoon are the following:
I recommend visiting the ancient city of Mdina and its neighbouring town of Rabat on day 3 of this itinerary. The area offers a nice balance between historical interest, architectural beauty, local village life and natural surroundings to take in.
Mdina is a small bastioned town with Medieval roots that is located on top of a hill to the West of the main island of Malta. Known as the Silent City, this beautifully preserved place is unique in its ability to take you back in time. Apart from popular tourist attractions, you can find several hidden gems while wandering around, despite its small size.
Once Malta’s capital city, its foundations are known to have been a focal point for early settlers in Malta and traces of several civilisations (including the Phoenicians, Arabs and Romans) can still be found here.
Its neighbouring town of Rabat shares some of Mdina’s historical significance but is more of a typical quaint Maltese village. Being home to a few interesting museums, I always enjoy “getting lost” in some of the streets and alleys in the old village core. You can also have a coffee and snack at the main square and observe the serenity of the town, together with some of the old architecture that Malta is known for.
It’s easy to explore both towns on foot if you can do some walking since both places are fairly small.
On the outskirts of Rabat, you can also find:
The South of Malta is a much less popularly-recommended part of the islands. Nevertheless, if you have an adventurous spirit, it still offers a few interesting places to visit.
This swap day is a good option for around the year.
What makes this day a bit tricky is transport. Unlike the more popular places of interest, these are a little further apart, and there isn’t a single public transport bus route that can take you past all.
Alternative options are:
Considered a natural wonder for centuries, the Blue Grotto is a sea cave along the southern coastline of Malta, on the outskirts of Żurrieq. Here, you can get a short boat trip that takes you inside the cave to witness a spectacle of blue light when the incoming sunlight reflects off the white sandy sea floor inside the cave.
It’s a short trip but a fun one and fairly cheap too. You can grab a bite and enjoy the views from one of the nearby restaurants as well. There’s also a good vantage point for photos further up the road (right near the bus stop).
The small fishing village of Marsaxlokk has been featured on postcards of Malta for decades, featuring its iconic brightly-coloured fishing boats.
A local favourite for a Sunday lunch with freshly caught seafood, and its local marketplace, the village has a friendly, easygoing nature and is worth a visit (and sitting down for lunch).
TIP: Have lunch at Tartarun. This amazing restaurant serves high-quality seafood dishes and is one of my favourite restaurants in Marsaxlokk.
Over the past centuries, a number of ancient temples were found across Malta and Gozo, some dating back to 3600-3200 BC (older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza!).
Although archaeologists have just about scratched the surface of what these temples tell us about early civilisation in Malta, some of the finds are intriguing and worthwhile to understand.
On the main island of Malta, the Mnajdra and Ħaġar Qim Temples are a few of the best examples to visit. Here, you’ll find a modern visitors’ centre with detailed info on what we know about the people who built these structures.
If you’re planning to visit in summer and love the sun and the sea, taking out one of your 3 days in Malta to enjoy that side of the islands is a good idea.
If you just want a lazy day by the sea, these are my favourite of Malta’s best beaches I would recommend.
Għajn Tuffieħa (or Riviera Beach) is my favourite beach in Malta. With its raw natural surroundings and reddish-coloured sand, it’s a beautiful place to swim and do absolutely nothing while enjoying the sun.
Although public parking spaces are limited in the area, this beach is easy to reach by public transport from various places around Malta. There’s also a kiosk/small restaurant to the side of the beach for refreshments.
A little further up North from Għajn Tuffieħa (within walking distance), you can find Golden Bay, which is a slightly busier beach also thanks to the hotel that was built on one of its cliffsides. Nevertheless, it’s a beautiful bay and another good spot to enjoy the summer sun and sea.
There’s more choice for food and refreshments here, and you can rent deck chairs and umbrellas. There are more parking spaces available here as well (a little further inland from the bay), so although it’s a little busier in summer, it can be more comfortable to get here if you’re not planning to go early in the day.
An itinerary is a very personal thing to decide on, with everyone having their personal preferences (and those of your fellow travel companions). Things like accommodation and where to stay, when to go, whether to rent a car or not, even more so.
I’ll give you the basics of some of these considerations here, but you can click through for more detailed guides to help you with everything you need.
Generally speaking, the best time to visit Malta is normally around May/June and October – just before and just after the high season. Weather-wise, you avoid the worst of the heat that way, as well as peak tourism crowds.
April is normally also a great month to visit, also because of Easter Week, and normally early spring weather means the weather is already warm enough for short sleeves.
July-September are obviously more attractive to enjoy the sun and the sea and for family holidays.
November through March are the coldest (and most unpredictable) months of the year regarding the weather, but Malta’s winters are mild. Over and above, for culture-seekers, it’s a good time to visit to do lots of sightseeing without having to worry about the heat.
Deciding on the best location for your holiday can be tricky but is worthwhile researching. Roughly, I usually provide recommendations based on finding the right balance between wanting to be in a central location, close to the main sightseeing spots, versus being close to the better sandy beaches.
Most travellers I help find the right balance for them based on my recommendations here: The best places to stay in Malta.
There’s a lot to choose from when it comes to hotels in Malta, whether you’re on a budget or looking for a luxury hotel. However, value can be hard to get if you don’t book early enough.
In these guides, you can find my best recommendations for hotels in specific destinations in Malta.
3 Days in Malta are enough if you want a quick escape, but there’s so much to see and do that 4-5 full days is a much better choice for a first-time visitor, and many choose to go to Malta for a full week.
10 Days in Malta is too long for most travellers, even though there’s plenty to see and do to fill 10 days without scraping the bottom of the barrel. Normally, 7 days in Malta is a good amount of time to spend on a first visit, while you can also see most of the popular sites in 4 or 5 days.
No, 5 days isn’t too long in Malta; in fact, most travellers choose to visit Malta in 5-7 days. Some people even just spend 3 days in Malta just to get a feel for the place. Get my perfect travel plan for 4-5 days here: Malta 4 to 5 Day Itinerary.
Edward is the Founder and Editor of Malta Uncovered and author of two guidebooks on Malta and Valletta.
As a tourist-turned-expat with Maltese roots, he knows the islands inside out and helps thousands of visitors enjoy a memorable trip every year.
Check out my two guidebooks full of local knowledge and my best recommendations for your trip, and up-to-date for 2024!
Malta & Gozo guide book
Valletta: An Insider’s Guide to Malta’s Capital
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