A weekend in Malta is hardly enough to call it a proper vacation, right? Nevertheless, you know how some places resonate with us while others don’t. In this case, two days was more than enough for me to fall in love with Malta. It was one of the shortest international trips my husband and I have taken spontaneously over the years. We had a Monday off work, found last-minute cheap tickets, booked a hotel, packed a small carry-on suitcase, and landed on the sunny island of Malta.

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Things to Do on a Malta Weekend

One weekend in Malta: Yes or no?!

Only for a weekend?! Most people would say it’s not worth traveling somewhere for such a short period of time; you end up spending more hours on the road and don’t really get to experience a new place properly.

Fair point.

However, for me, when it comes to visiting new places and experiencing new cultures, a day in a new location is definitely better than nothing! Looking back on this short weekend in Malta, I still can’t believe we made so many wonderful memories in just 48 hours. Malta definitely has a special vibe! It’s one of those unique Mediterranean islands that people tend to revisit often. Now I completely understand why!

Useful info about Malta

The Republic of Malta consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino. Valletta is the capital. The official languages are Maltese and English, and the official currency is the euro. You may also need a power plug adapter, as Malta uses 3-pin British-style sockets. Of course, we didn’t bring one (who thinks of sockets while planning a spontaneous trip?!), but fortunately, our hotel provided us with an adapter.

A Weekend in Malta: What not to miss

A bit of history

One of the most interesting aspects of visiting Malta is its rich history. The island is known for traces of various cultures, including the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, French, and British. From 1530 to 1798, Malta was ruled by the Knights of St. John (the Sovereign Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem). During this time, Malta also faced constant threats from the Ottoman Empire, culminating in the famous Great Siege battle. From 1800 until 1974, Malta was under British rule, leading the Maltese to adopt British legislation and educational practices. The island somehow reminded me of Cyprus.

The blend of architectural styles and the impressive buildings throughout the island clearly indicate that Malta has held significant strategic importance over the centuries. While you are often surrounded by stunning Mediterranean landscapes, you occasionally realize that Malta is a cornucopia of history.

Weather in Malta

One of the coolest things about Malta is its sunny weather all year round. In the summer months, it gets quite hot, with temperatures reaching 86-95°F (30-35°C). The lowest temperatures from December to February rarely drop below 57°F (14°C). This mild climate makes exploring the island comfortable and also positions Malta as one of the best places for winter sun in Europe.

Rotunda of Mosta
Rotunda of Mosta

Where to stay in Malta

I won’t lie! When you have only 48 hours, you secretly crave a carefree, luxury hotel getaway, just like we did at the Riviera Maya in Mexico. I often mention on my blog that the best stays of my life were usually at local, family-owned places – hotels almost never have that kind of personal touch. For example, take my trip to Crete, where the place we stayed at truly made the whole experience. However, my criteria for Malta were slightly different: flexible check-in, a good breakfast, a nice room, a central location, and access to the sea. Plus, since we booked everything so last minute, our choices were quite limited!

We ended up choosing the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Valletta. Even though the hotel was huge, every staff member was incredibly nice. It was my husband’s birthday, and they left a bottle of wine and a card signed by most of the staff in our room. No one knew I had a blog, so I assume they do this for all their guests – which is fantastic! Another thing I loved was their personal taxi service (at a reasonable price), which allowed us to have a romantic dinner in Mdina. We simply asked at the reception if they could call a taxi for us, and within a minute, we were already on our way to the other side of the island. After our dinner with stunning views, the same driver picked us up and brought us back to the hotel. It’s all about the little details, but these small touches can often make or break your trip!

You can probably imagine what breakfast is like at this kind of hotel: with so much food and so many guests, it’s usually quite chaotic. So, I didn’t expect the staff at the Grand Hotel Excelsior to be so quick at seating guests and clearing tables, especially with all the tourists rushing around to refill their plates. We were no different, by the way. At one point, we both went to the buffet for something, and for some reason, the waiters thought we had left. It was only a minute, but guess what?! Not only did they clear everything, but they had already seated someone else at our table! Luckily, when we came back, they quickly sorted it out, apologized, and gave us our table back. I still don’t know how they managed to do everything so fast. I guess the lesson here is that we should eat less… [lol] But hey, it’s the weekend! Calories don’t count on weekends!

It’s funny because at home, in Spain, we usually have simple breakfasts like toast with tomato and espresso, maybe a tortilla on weekends. Big breakfasts aren’t typical for Spaniards. But when you see so many “delicacies,” it feels like the only goal of your trip is to try everything! [lol] Does this happen to you too, or do you somehow manage to resist?

Even though our stay was great, next time I think I’d prefer a small, charming local hotel, maybe in the northern part of the island (like Deep Blu Boutique Hotel or South Wind Guesthouse) or even on Gozo (like Ta Gilarda).

Traditional Maltese Date Pastries
Imqaret – Traditional Maltese Date Pastries

A weekend in Malta: What can you do in 48 hours?

A bus tour around Malta

Malta is so small that the same hop-on/hop-off buses you find in every big city here circulate around the entire island. I loved that we were able to see villages and landscapes outside of Malta’s capital, even though we didn’t have the chance to fully explore them in 48 hours. However, if it’s your first time in Malta, it’s an amazing opportunity to get a general feel for the place. Another popular alternative would be a private chauffeur service to explore the island.

A Weekend in Malta: What not to miss

Discover the Maltese cuisine in Valetta

Any Malta itinerary should start with a visit to Valletta, the island’s capital. This fortified city offers a maze of charming narrow streets full of history and culture. As you wander through Valletta, you’ll be captivated by its impressive Baroque architecture, stunning fortifications, and breathtaking waterfront views. Despite its small size, Valletta is packed with historical landmarks, including St. John’s Cathedral, Monastery & Secret Garden, Lascaris War Rooms, Upper Barrakka Gardens, Casa Rocca Piccola, Fort St Elmo, and the Grandmaster’s Palace. Also, this budget-friendly guided tour is a popular way to discover the city’s gems with a local expert.

While in Valletta, don’t miss the chance to experience authentic Maltese cuisine. The island’s culinary traditions are influenced by both Mediterranean and North African flavors. Try local specialties like pastizz (savory pastries filled with ricotta or peas), fenkata (rabbit stew), and aljotta (a traditional fish soup). For dessert, try imqaret, deep-fried date pastries, and enjoy a glass of Kinnie, Malta’s signature bittersweet soft drink. Overall, I absolutely loved eating in Malta because the local cuisine felt so versatile – it reminded me of Spain, Greece, Cyprus, and even Turkey all at once. A food tour is a great idea if your time in Malta is limited, as a local guide can take you to all the best spots in Valletta:

Valetta in the sunset light
Valetta in the sunset light

Dinner with views in Mdina

Mdina was the only place we explored outside of Valletta. It’s such a quiet and peaceful town – hard to believe it’s on the same island! Interestingly, it was one of the filming locations for Game of Thrones. If you’re a fan, you’ll immediately recognize the Main Gate (also called the Vilhena Gate). We chose De Mondion for our dinner with views – it was quite pricey, but really worth it.

Swimming and beaches

My only regret from this weekend in Malta is that we didn’t get to visit any of the paradise beaches. A day trip to Comino or Gozo would be a dream come true, but we’d need more than just a weekend in Malta to make that happen. Nevertheless, our hotel had direct access to the sea (via stairs), as well as a pool with stunning views, so we ended our brief sightseeing experience on the island with a relaxing swim. Popular beaches in Malta are Mellieha, Ghajn Tuffieha, Blue Lagoon in Comino, and Ramla Bay in Gozo.

More sightseeing ideas in Malta

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