Malta may be small, but it reads like a layered epic. Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, the Knights of St. John, and the British all left their mark—especially in Valletta, the 16th‑century fortress capital. Across the channel, Gozo moves to a gentler rhythm, with honeycomb villages, terraced fields, and a coastline chiselled by time.

Older than Stonehenge, Malta’s megalithic temples are a highlight of any itinerary, as are the Blue Lagoon’s luminous waters and Valletta’s Caravaggio masterpiece in St. John’s Co‑Cathedral. WWII history is palpable too: Malta was awarded the George Cross for its bravery, and the Grand Harbour still frames daily life like a theater set.

Practicalities are friendly for travelers: English is widely spoken, the euro is used, and buses are inexpensive. Malta drives on the left and uses UK‑style Type G plugs. Book headline sights (Hypogeum, St. John’s) and boat days early in summer; pack reef‑safe sunscreen and water shoes for rocky coves.

Valletta

Valletta is compact yet cinematic: limestone bastions glowing at golden hour, narrow streets draped with gallarija balconies, and harbors alive with dgħajsa boats. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage city that rewards slow wandering: Upper Barrakka gardens, side‑chapel glints, wine bars tucked into storied lanes.

Top sights include St. John’s Co‑Cathedral (don’t miss Caravaggio’s “Beheading of Saint John the Baptist”), the Grand Master’s Palace State Rooms, MUŻA National Community Art Museum, and the Three Cities across the water. Evening belongs to Strait Street—once a sailors’ strip, now a sociable thread of eateries and bars.

• Stay (Valletta & surrounds): Classics include The Phoenicia Malta (iconic gardens at the City Gate) and Grand Hotel Excelsior (harbor views). For boutique value: Osborne Hotel or Grand Harbour Hotel. Nearby Sliema’s AX The Victoria Hotel adds a rooftop pool and easy ferries.
• Browse stays: VRBO Valletta | Hotels.com Valletta
• Getting there: Fly into MLA. From Europe, compare fares on Omio. From outside Europe, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com. A taxi to Valletta takes ~20 minutes (€20–25), buses ~25–35 minutes.

Gozo

Gozo is Malta’s green twin—slower, rural, and wonderfully scenic. The Cittadella crowns Victoria, while the Ta’ Pinu Basilica rises from fields. Ramla Bay glows red‑gold at sunset, salt pans checker the coast, and Dwejra’s limestone theatrics frame the famed Blue Hole dive site.

Food is farmhouse‑fresh: sheep’s cheese (ġbejna), sun‑dried tomatoes, capers, and ftira baked in wood‑fired ovens. It’s great for walks, swims, and cliff‑edge views, with villages like Xlendi or Marsalforn perfect for seaside dinners.

• Stay (Gozo): Country‑style polish at Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz (spa, pools) or clifftop calm at Ta' Cenc Hotel & Spa. For value in Victoria, Downtown Hotel puts you steps from the Cittadella.
• Browse stays: VRBO Gozo | Hotels.com Gozo
• Getting there: Ferries run from Ċirkewwa (Malta) to Mġarr (Gozo) in ~25 minutes; foot passenger return is about €4.65. The fast ferry from Valletta is ~45 minutes (€7.50–12). Check options on Omio ferries.

Day 1 — Arrive in Malta, Valletta First Impressions

Morning: Fly into MLA (compare flights on Omio for Europe, or Trip.com/Kiwi.com for other regions). Taxi or bus to your Valletta hotel and drop bags.

Afternoon: Stroll to Upper Barrakka Gardens for your first look at the Grand Harbour. Wander Republic and Merchants Streets, ducking into side lanes to admire carved stone door knockers and balcony shadows. For a pick‑me‑up, LOT61 pours excellent flat whites; classicists should try the almond pastries at 19th‑century Caffe Cordina.

Evening: Aperitivo on Strait Street at Yard 32 (Mediterranean tapas and a wall of gins), then dinner. For Maltese tasting menus, Legligin serves seasonal small plates in a vaulted cellar; seafood lovers book Palazzo Preca for local catch and handmade ravioli. Nightcap on St. Barbara Bastion with the harbor twinkling below.

Day 2 — Valletta’s Icons, With Local Guides

Morning: Join a guided city walk to unlock Valletta’s stories, fortifications, and quiet corners.

The Original Valletta Walking Tour

Afterward, visit St. John’s Co‑Cathedral to see Caravaggio’s masterpiece, then the Grand Master’s Palace Armoury for glittering parade armor. Coffee stop: Kantina Café on St. John’s Square.

Afternoon: Taste Valletta as you walk—ftira, pastizzi, and sweet imqaret—while hearing how food threads through Maltese history.

The Valletta Street Food and Culture Walking Tour

If you prefer to go solo, lunch at Is‑Suq tal‑Belt (food market) and browse stalls for ftira stuffed with tuna, capers, and tomatoes. Pop into MUŻA for Maltese art across centuries.

Evening: Book a table on the bastions at Rampila for rabbit ravioli or fresh fish, with lantern‑lit arches framing the night. For a splurge, Michelin‑starred Noni or Under Grain offer refined, Malta‑rooted tasting menus—advance reservations essential.

Day 3 — South Malta: Marsaxlokk, Temples, Mdina, and Clifftop Sunset

Morning: Head to Marsaxlokk (40–45 minutes by bus) to see the luzzu fishing boats bobbing in the bay; on Sundays the market hums with seafood and local produce. Walk the coast path to St. Peter’s Pool for a swim in a natural limestone amphitheater. Coffee back in the village and an early seafood lunch—La Nostra Padrona plates excellent grilled octopus; Roots Restaurant is great for local catch and crudo.

Afternoon: Continue to the Hagar Qim and Mnajdra temples, a windswept complex older than the pyramids. Detour to the Blue Grotto viewpoint for cobalt‑blue sea caves. Drive on to Mdina, the “Silent City,” to wander golden lanes and the cathedral square; for a sweet pause, order cake at Fontanella Tea Garden with sweeping island views.

Evening: Time sunset at Dingli Cliffs, Malta’s highest point, as the Mediterranean turns to molten copper. Dine at Diar il‑Bniet in nearby Dingli for farmhouse Maltese—think slow‑braised beef olives (bragioli), rabbit stew (fenkata), and ġbejna cheese—before returning to Valletta.

Day 4 — Full-Day Catamaran to Comino’s Blue Lagoon

Set sail for a swim day around Comino’s Blue Lagoon and hidden coves—the water really is postcard‑blue. Bring reef‑safe sunscreen, water shoes, and a light layer for the sail home; aim to board early for net seats at the bow.

Blue Lagoon, Beaches and Bays Catamaran Sailing Tour

After docking, head to Tigné Point for aperitifs and skyline views—The Chophouse has one of the best panoramas back to Valletta’s bastions. Dinner in Valletta: Sotto Pizzeria for Roman‑style pies if you want casual, or keep it Maltese at Nenu the Artisan Baker for wood‑fired ftira and slow‑cooked fillings.

Day 5 — To Gozo: Cittadella, Dwejra, and Xlendi

Morning: Travel to Gozo. Bus or taxi (~45–60 minutes) to Ċirkewwa, then the Gozo Channel ferry (25 minutes; passenger return ~€4.65). Alternatively, the fast ferry from Valletta takes ~45 minutes (€7.50–12). Check timings on Omio ferries. On arrival in Mġarr, drop bags and continue to Victoria.

Afternoon: Explore the Cittadella’s ramparts and the Cathedral Museum. For a light lunch, Ta’ Rikardu inside the citadel serves platters of house‑made ġbejna, sun‑dried tomatoes, olives, and local wine. Continue to Dwejra Bay for the Inland Sea and Blue Hole; if seas are calm, take the small boat ride through the sea caves (cash).

Evening: Unwind in Xlendi Bay. Sunset drinks by the water, then dinner at The Boathouse for seafood pasta or grilled swordfish. A promenade stroll caps the night.

Day 6 — Gozo Off-Road Adventure (All Day)

Trade lanes for limestone tracks on a guided quad bike adventure covering Gozo’s coastal cliffs, valleys, and villages; many tours ferry you to the Blue Lagoon, too. Bring a valid driver’s license and follow your guide—terrain can get bumpy.

Gozo Quad Bike Day Tour - All-inclusive + Blue Lagoon

Post‑ride, celebrate with harbor‑view dining at Country Terrace in Mġarr—order the local fish of the day or slow‑braised rabbit—and a glass of Maltese Girgentina or Ġellewża. For a modern twist, One80 Kitchen & Lounge at the marina pairs craft cocktails with seasonal Mediterranean plates.

Day 7 — Ramla Bay, Ggantija Temples, and Departure

Morning: Swim at Ramla Bay’s red‑sand arc or visit the UNESCO‑listed Ġgantija Temples, among the world’s oldest free‑standing structures. Coffee and a flaky pastizz at The Black Cat Café in Victoria or Café Jubilee set you up for travel.

Afternoon: Ferry back to Malta and continue to the airport. If you have time before your flight, grab a fresh salad, ftira, and excellent espresso at Talbot & Bons near the terminal. Safe travels—u narawkom dalwaqt (see you soon)!

Optional Add‑Ons & Insider Tips

• The Three Cities by boat: Take a traditional dgħajsa across the Grand Harbour to Vittoriosa for maritime history and shady lanes.
• Hypogeum of Ħal‑Saflieni: This prehistoric underground necropolis is extraordinary; book weeks ahead in peak season.
• Mdina overnight: If you’re tempted to swap a night, sleep inside the walls at The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux for a storybook stay.

Where to stay (quick links)

• Valletta: The Phoenicia Malta, Grand Hotel Excelsior, Osborne Hotel, Grand Harbour Hotel, AX The Victoria Hotel, VRBO, Hotels.com
• Gozo: Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, Ta' Cenc Hotel & Spa, Downtown Hotel, VRBO, Hotels.com

Transport bookmarks

• Flights (Europe): Omio
• Flights (non‑Europe): Trip.com, Kiwi.com
• Ferries (Malta–Gozo): Omio

In one week you’ve walked bastions where knights once stood, slipped into turquoise lagoons, and tasted farmhouse flavors in Gozo’s sunlight. Malta rewards both curiosity and idleness—come back for another season, another swim, another sunset over the Grand Harbour.