Malta is a small archipelago with a vast story—megalithic temples older than Stonehenge, crusader fortresses, and sun-polished limestone towns gazing out over the Mediterranean. Across 12 days, you’ll weave through Valletta’s golden bastions, the silent streets of Mdina, Gozo’s terraced hills, and the translucent coves of Comino.

Expect a blend of culture and coast: Baroque churches, Knights of St. John heritage, wartime tunnels, and fishing villages—balanced by Blue Lagoon swims, red-sand beaches, and cliff walks. Maltese cuisine is hearty and hybrid (Sicilian, North African, British), with staples like rabbit stew, ftira, lampuki pie (in season), gbejna cheese, and pastizzi.

Practical notes: The euro is used, English and Maltese are official, and driving is on the left. Public buses reach most sights; ferries connect islands. Summer is hot; April–June and Sept–Oct are ideal. Pack reef-safe sunscreen, water shoes for rocky swims, and a light layer for breezy evenings by the bastions.

Valletta & The Grand Harbour (Base 1)

Valletta, a UNESCO city built by the Knights after the Great Siege of 1565, is compact yet museum-rich. Honey-colored palazzi open to narrow streets where balconies glow green at sunset. Across the water, the “Three Cities”—Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua—hold older lanes, shipyards, and storied taverns.

Use Valletta as your springboard to the south coast temples, the Blue Grotto, and Marsaxlokk’s Sunday fish market, or simply linger in cafes under the Upper Barrakka arcades watching the saluting cannon roar.

Days 1–4: Valletta, Three Cities, and Southern Highlights

• Arrival & logistics: Fly into Malta International Airport (MLA). For intra-Europe flights, compare on Omio. From outside Europe, check Kiwi.com or Trip.com. Valletta is 15–20 minutes by taxi from MLA (~€20–€25) or 25–35 minutes by bus.
• Walk Valletta’s icons: St. John’s Co-Cathedral (Caravaggio), Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens, Strait Street’s revived bars, the Grand Harbour lift, and the WWII tunnels beneath the Saluting Battery.
• Cross to the Three Cities: A short harbour hop lands you in Vittoriosa’s Collachio quarter—mansioned lanes where the Knights once lived. Sunset along Senglea Point is postcard-perfect.
• South coast circuit: Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra megalithic temples (prehistoric and sublime at golden hour), Dingli Cliffs, Marsaxlokk’s luzzus, and a peek at the Blue Grotto sea arch.

Curated activities:

• The Original Valletta Walking Tour

  

  Start your trip with context—Baroque masterworks, military history, and hidden lanes in 2–3 hours.

• Malta Private Tour—Fully Customizable

  

  Design a day around your interests—temples, fishing villages, or hidden coves—with a local driver.

• The Three Fortified Cities of Malta (Half-Day, incl. boat)

  

  Guided stories of Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua with a classic harbour cruise.

• Valletta Food Tour

  

  Nibble your way through pastizzi, gbejna, and local wines while learning the city’s stories.

Where to eat & drink (Valletta/Three Cities):

• Caffé Cordina: Classic marble-and-mural café for kwarezimal sweets and morning cappuccino in Republic Square.
• Lot Sixty One: Specialty coffee roaster—grab a flat white and a cinnamon bun before museum hopping.
• Nenu the Artisan Baker: Traditional ftira baked in a stone oven; try the tuna-caper-olive combo with local tomatoes.
• Legligin: Intimate wine bar with tasting-menu plates—slow-braised rabbit, octopus stew, and seasonal meze.
• Rubino: A Valletta institution; order the baked ricotta-and-chocolate “cassata” dessert and a plate of fresh fish.
• Birgu’s waterfront: For sunset, try Tal-Petut (Maltese slow food) or a harbor-view seafood spot along the Marina.

Stay in or near Valletta:

• The Phoenicia Malta — Grand-dame with gardens by the City Gate.
• Osborne Hotel — Solid mid-range inside the walls.
• Grand Hotel Excelsior — Resort-style pool right on the harbor.
• Grand Harbour Hotel — Terraces with sweeping bastion views.
• AX The Victoria Hotel — In Sliema, handy for ferries and nightlife.
• Browse more stays: VRBO Valletta | Hotels.com Valletta

Day trip possibility: For a special night inside the medieval walls of Mdina, consider The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux (or nearby Point de Vue Guesthouse and Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa in Attard). It’s the “Silent City” after dusk.

Getting to your next base (Gozo): From Valletta, bus or taxi to Ċirkewwa (50–75 minutes by bus, ~€2–€2.50; 35–45 minutes by taxi, ~€30–€40). Passenger ferry to Gozo’s Mġarr takes ~25 minutes (~€4–€5 return). Check ferry options on Omio (Ferries). From Mġarr, it’s ~20–25 minutes by bus/taxi to Victoria (Rabat).

Gozo (Victoria as your hub)

Gozo is Malta’s greener, sleepier sister: terraced fields, domed hilltop churches, and coves pocketed between honeycomb cliffs. Victoria (Rabat) sits at the island’s heart under the Citadel, perfect for radiating out to beaches and sea arches.

Days here are slower—swim at Ramla Bay’s red sands, cliff-walk at Dwejra, sip prickly-pear liqueur, and dine overlooking Mġarr’s harbor lights.

Days 5–8: Gozo’s coasts, villages, and boat time

• Coastal highlights: Dwejra Bay (Inland Sea boat ride if seas are calm), Wied il-Mielaħ arch, Xlendi cliff path at sunset, and San Blas or Ramla Bay for a long swim.
• Culture & craft: The Citadel’s bastions and cathedral, Ta’ Pinu Basilica, salt pans near Marsalforn, and local farms for gbejna and olive oil.
• Comino Blue Lagoon hop: Pair a Gozo day with a swim stop at Comino’s Crystal Lagoon and caves.

Curated activities:

• Gozo Full Day Jeep Tour (with Comino stop)

  

  Off-road shortcuts to coastal viewpoints and villages—great if you want to see “all of Gozo” in one day.

• Gozo All-Inclusive Chauffeured Tuk Tuk Day Tour + Blue Lagoon

  

  A breezy, small-group circuit that slips into narrow lanes big buses can’t—ideal for photos and stories.

• Comino, Gozo, Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon & Caves Cruise

  

  Family-run boat since the 1980s; mix of swim stops and island time with a fun local crew.

Where to eat & drink (Gozo):

• Country Terrace (Mġarr): Harbor-view terrace for line-caught fish and local white wines—arrive at twilight for ferry-lights sparkle.
• Tmun Mġarr: Creative seafood—try the prawn carpaccio and whatever whole fish the chef recommends.
• Ta’ Karolina (Xlendi): Waterside plates of octopus and shellfish pasta, followed by a stroll along the promenade.
• Il-Kċina Ghawdxija (Victoria): Gozitan recipes—rabbit, beef olives (bragioli), and honey-ring desserts.
• The Black Cat Café (Victoria): Breakfast toasties, salads, and cakes between Citadel visits.

Stay on Gozo:

• Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz — Resort chill with a spa, handy for Dwejra.
• Ta' Cenc Hotel & Spa / Ta’ Cenc Hotel & Spa — Cliff-perched hideaway and nature paths.
• Downtown Hotel — Simple, central base in Victoria.
• More stays: VRBO Victoria (Gozo) | Hotels.com Victoria (Gozo)

Optional Comino overnight (seasonal): When open, Comino Hotel & Bungalows offers the rare chance to wake up by the Blue Lagoon. Alternate booking page: Comino Hotel & Bungalows (Family Rooms).

Transit to your next base (Mellieħa): Ferry back to Malta (~25 minutes), then bus to Mellieħa Bay ~20–30 minutes or taxi ~15–20 minutes (~€20–€30).

Mellieħa & Northern Malta (Beaches, Blue Lagoon, Popeye Village)

Base yourself in Mellieħa for long sandy beaches, family-friendly swimming, and easy boat access to Comino’s limpid lagoons. The headlands above Għadira Bay glow pink at dusk; look for WWII pillboxes and migrating birds at the nature reserve.

It’s also a great springboard for Mdina & Rabat, the Dingli Cliffs, and Mosta’s giant rotunda—classic inland highlights with short travel times.

Days 9–12: Beach days, Blue Lagoon, and Mdina & Dingli

• Beach time: Mellieħa (Għadira) Bay for sand and shallow entry; Golden Bay & Għajn Tuffieħa for sunset and hiking the cliff-top trail between bays.
• Blue Lagoon day: Snorkel the electric-blue shallows of Comino’s Blue and Crystal Lagoons; go early or late to dodge peak crowds.
• Mdina & Rabat: Walk the Silent City’s lanes to bastion views, then pastry and tea at Fontanella; explore St. Paul’s Catacombs in Rabat.
• Dingli & countryside: Highest sea cliffs in Malta, breeze-swept and dramatic—pair with Ta’ Qali Crafts Village or San Anton Gardens.

Curated activities:

• Sliema Cruise to Gozo, Comino & Blue Lagoon

  

  Full-day island-hopping with swim stops and free time—ideal if you’d like a relaxed boat day from the main island.

• Mdina & Highlights of Malta (Full Day, incl. lunch)

  

  A well-paced way to cover Mdina/Rabat, Mosta, Dingli, and gardens with context and no driving stress.

• Half-Day Private Tour Around Malta

  

  Customize a half-day—ideal for sunset at Golden Bay or a south-coast temples dash.

Where to eat & drink (Mellieħa/North):

• Debbie’s Café: Excellent breakfasts, smoothies, and baked treats after an early swim.
• One80 Kitchen at Mellieħa Bay: Mediterranean plates with bay views—order crudo and a local Girgentina wine.
• Commando Restaurant: Contemporary Maltese cuisine in the village core—rabbit ravioli and seasonal fish are standouts.
• Munchies Mellieħa Bay: Casual beach burgers, salads, and sundowners with your toes in the sand.
• Popeye Village (Anchor Bay): Drop by for a photo stop; nearby coves are good for snorkel dips when the sea is calm.

Stay in Mellieħa (beach base):

• db Seabank Resort + Spa — Beachfront, family-friendly, with multiple pools.
• Browse more: VRBO Mellieha | Hotels.com Mellieha
• Prefer urban buzz near Valletta at trip’s end? Consider The District Hotel for nightlife access.

Local tips & transport between bases:

• Valletta ⇄ Mellieħa: Bus is ~50–70 minutes (~€2–€2.50), taxi ~30 minutes (~€30–€40). For ferries and flights elsewhere in Europe, use Omio; for ferries specifically, Omio (Ferries).
• Driving: On the left; roads are narrow, parking can be tight in summer. A small car helps; go early to popular bays.
• Sea & sun: Bring water shoes for rocky entries; check wind/swell forecasts for Dwejra and Blue Grotto. Jellyfish can drift with currents—ask locals which side of a bay is clear.

One more option (if you crave Sicily for a day): When seas and schedules align, there’s a high-speed catamaran to Sicily. If you’d like a guided version from Malta, see Mount Etna and Catania Full-Day Excursion

—volcanic vistas and Sicilian baroque in one long but memorable day.

Across twelve days, you’ll have traced Malta’s essential arc: fortress cities, Bronze Age stones, fishing coves, and waters so clear they seem backlit. Save room for one last pastizz before you go—the best souvenirs here are edible, sunlit, and dipped in sea salt.