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Although the Maltese Islands are well known for their sunny skies, azure waters, and rich history, there’s also some excellent nightlife to enjoy in Malta.
Malta is well known for its nightlife and party scene, and with a vast array of nightclubs, bars, restaurants, and wine bars, you’ll never be far from a good time.
Wondering what to do in Malta after the sun sets?
You’ve come to the right place.
On this page, I’ll show you where the action is at, so you can look forward to a few nights to remember.
There’s also a lively art and music scene, with lots of festivals to attend, during the summer season, as well as during the quieter winter months.
In this article I’ll help you with:
You’ll find the main areas for nightlife in these areas:
Paceville is pretty much THE place to be for going out in Malta.
With the highest concentration of nightclubs, dining venues, gentlemen’s clubs, pubs and bars on the island, you’re sure to find something to peak your interests in Paceville and its surroundings.
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These are some of the hot spots in the area:
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BONUS: If you’d like to try your luck whilst on the island, you can also head over to the Dragonara Casino (Address: Westin Dragonara Resort, Paceville). This is the islands’ leading casino and boasts 19 live tables for playing blackjack and poker, roulette tables, and nearly 200 slot machines to choose from. Admission to the casino is free of charge and the legal gambling age limit is over 18 years for foreigners and over 25 years for locals.
Malta’s magnificent capital of Valletta is absolutely stunning by day, but wait to till you experience it by night! Make sure to have a walk through the recently revived Strada Stretta (Strait Street), which is reminiscent of the more nostalgic decades of the 1940s and 1950s.
BONUS: You can also visit the Valletta Waterfront for a nice stroll along the water’s edge, as well as to dine at a variety of restaurants and bars housed in the restored grand stores with their colourful doors along the beautiful front.
The city has a more laid back vibe than Paceville, which makes it popular with a more mature crowd (25 years+) whilst younger clubbers between 14 to early 20s usually tend to move towards the nightlife scene offered by the Paceville and St. Julians area.
Getting to Valletta is easy as it’s Malta’s capital city, so nearly all public transport buses end their journey at the city terminus. Taxis are also readily available outside the Valletta gates. Parking within the city can be a real challenge because spaces are very limited, but parking outside the city and walking in is an easy affair.
Located in the northern region of the island of Malta, Buġibba has a seaside promenade stretching from Salina Bay to St Paul’s Bay, very popular among tourists and locals alike.
Buġibba and Qawra are both very popular tourist areas, containing numerous hotels, restaurants, pubs, clubs, and a Casino. The area popularity soars during the summer season due to its seaside location, which might prove a little too windy and cold during the winter months.
A few recommended addresses for nightlife in this area are:
Other places of interest include Sliema a great place to find bars and restaurants by the sea, Birgu, which is growing ever more popular for its authentic atmosphere and nicely decorated wine bars and Mdina, for a more refined evening experience in the island’s Silent City.
Several open-air venues open their doors during the late spring and summer season. These include:
Admission to these complexes usually comes with a fee, depending on the events and parties held.
Malta Public Transport operates a special bus route during the summer months on Friday and Saturday evenings (and into the night) with a direct route between Gianpula Village and Uno Malta and St. Julian’s/Sliema. More info here.
During the spring and summer months (Apr-Sep) a few operators organise boat parties that depart from Sliema (close to St. Julian’s) and sail out along the northern coastline of Malta.
It’s a clubbing experience fuelled by great music, an open bar and food, with the option to go for a swim at different stops that are made on the way.
Good to know:
There are a number of seasonal festivals and activities, which are worth experiencing during your visit. (Some of these are part of my list of 25 Annual events held in Malta and Gozo!)
Isle of MTV is a huge annual music festival (around 50000 people attend!) held by MTV Europe. Famous artists such as Lady Gaga, Maroon 5, Snoop Dogg, Rita Ora, and the Black Eyed Peas, amongst many others, have taken part in this festival, usually held at the Floriana Granaries (a large square that lies within a short distance of Valletta’s City Gate).
The festival is organised annually on one day in June or July and the last editions were attended by an estimated 50,000 people. The party begins at 18:00 and ends close to midnight. Entrance is free of charge and there are no age limits.
Malta Public Transport runs special bus routes on the day to facilitate travel, even so, getting there and leaving can be tricky, especially if you’re in a hurry. That’s no surprise really, considering the area’s infrastructure and public transport weren’t designed to cope with that large a number of people trying to find their way home.
This spectacular event takes place at the end of April to commemorate Malta’s accession into the European Union. The festival includes fireworks displays designed by foreign pyrotechnic companies as well as some of the best local fireworks factories and is held at various locations around the islands.
Each year, some of the locations are different, although the main, most spectacular show is always held at Valletta. It’s a public event so there’s no entrance fee.
Another annual festival takes place in the month of July, boasting a line-up of top international and Maltese artists, presenting an eclectic mix of jazz styles from the current art scene. Entrance to the festival is at a nominal charge with concessions for students and elderly citizens, as well as block ticket offers.
Both held in October, these events create a spectacular nocturnal celebration within the capital city, Valletta (Notte Bianca is held here), and Birgu. State palaces and museums open their doors to the public for free, or at greatly reduced prices, while the open-air streets and piazzas showcase some of the finest local and international musicians and dancers.
Restaurants, cafés and bars stay open till late, and if you prefer a quick snack whilst strolling through the old cities, there are plenty of food stalls and vendors to meet your needs.
Birgu is one of the island’s oldest cities and was once the seat of power of the Knights of Malta. Combine the old, authentic feel of Birgu with its narrow alleys and streets being lit with hundreds of candles and lanterns and it all makes for a special (and romantic!) experience.
These so-called wine festivals are held in Valletta (Upper Barrakka Gardens and Hastings Gardens respectively), and also recently held in Malta’s sister island, Gozo. Being a very popular event among the locals, these wine festivals are organised by local vineyards, Delicata and Marsovin, and offer the public a chance to sample a variety of their wines as well as local and foreign foods.
The festivals are usually held in July and August and entrance to both comes with a fee, which usually includes a few free glasses and souvenir wine glasses. Also of note is the Farson’s Beer Festival, Malta’s largest beer festival, held annually over a two-week period (between July and August) by the islands’ main brewery, Farsons, at ta’ Qali National Park. It’s a great opportunity to sample Malta’s finest beers, see musical performances by local artists and bands, and eat lots of tasty Maltese, and international grub!
With the local festa (feast) season starting off two weeks after Easter, the sound and sight of fireworks is a common occurrence on weekend summer nights in Malta and Gozo.
Each village celebrates a different patron saint; each features tonnes of activities during the festa including concerts, firework displays and parties. The village band clubs are always a great place to start off, with alcoholic drinks and spirits being sold at cheap prices and just loads of atmosphere and celebration.
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i have visited malta before and it’s really amazing island and it’s the best place i have ever visit .. coz it has alot of places to go and you can relax and have a lot of fun in there .. and the most important thing the people are so friendly and helpful ….. miss malta!