How to Spend 3 Days in Malta: Our Complete Travel Itinerary

Malta Itinerary: How to Spend 3 Days in Malta

A long weekend in Malta was our excuse to trade the colder days at home for Mediterranean sunshine, winding streets and a little island adventure. We arrived with three days ahead of us and a list of places we were eager to see, from Valletta’s honey-colored streets to the island’s quieter corners. There is something wonderfully different about exploring Malta in winter, when the pace feels slower, and there is more room to wander. Here is how we spent our three days and the places we’d recommend adding to your Malta itinerary.

How Many Days in Malta Are Enough

We visited Malta for a long weekend, which gave us a lovely introduction to the island, but honestly, we could have stayed longer. We’d recommend spending at least 5–7 days in Malta to explore Valletta, Mdina, the Three Cities, coastal villages, and the neighboring islands of Gozo and Comino without rushing. Three days are enough for a taste of Malta, but a full week gives you the freedom to discover its many different sides.

Our Malta Itinerary at a Glance

Our Malta Itinerary: Day by Day

Day 1 in Valletta: Exploring Malta’s Historic Capital and Colorful Balconies

We arrived in Malta in the morning, checked into our hotel, and wasted very little time before heading out to explore. With only a long weekend ahead, we wanted to squeeze as much as possible into our first day. Luckily, Valletta is compact enough to explore on foot, with historic landmarks, beautiful balconies, and little surprises around almost every corner. Here is everything we managed to fit into our first day:

• Arrival and hotel check-in. We checked into HPM Pjazza Merkanti, a charming hotel tucked away in the heart of Valletta. Its central location made it an ideal base for exploring the capital on foot. We enjoyed our stay and have put together a separate hotel review covering the rooms, facilities, location, and our overall experience if you’re considering booking it for your own Malta getaway.
• St. John’s Co-Cathedral. Our first major stop was one of Valletta’s most impressive landmarks, famous for its lavish Baroque interior, intricate marble floors, and Caravaggio’s masterpiece, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. There is so much to admire inside that we dedicated a separate article to our visit, Gold, Marble and Masterpieces: Stepping Inside St. John’s Co-Cathedral, where we share more about this extraordinary place and what makes it one of Malta’s must-see attractions.

• Wembley Store. We stopped at this well-known corner shop at the junction of Republic Street and South Street for a quick shop during our city wander.
• Tritons’ Fountain. Just outside Valletta’s City Gate, we stopped at one of the capital’s most recognizable landmarks. The monumental fountain features three bronze Tritons holding up a large basin, with water cascading around the sculptural figures. Designed by Maltese sculptor Vincent Apap and architect Victor Anastasi, it was inaugurated in 1959 and has since become a popular meeting point and one of the first sights greeting visitors arriving in Valletta. It’s particularly photogenic when the water is flowing, with the modern City Gate and historic city walls providing an interesting backdrop.
• Auberge de Castille. We admired this grand historic building, which houses the Office of the Prime Minister. During our visit, the square also had a festive Christmas tree and the Manwel Dimech Monument.
• Upper Barrakka Gardens. One of our favorite stops for panoramic views over the Grand Harbor and the Three Cities. We explored the gardens, admired the monuments, and enjoyed the peaceful setting above the harbor.

• Barrakka Lift. We took the panoramic lift connecting the Upper Barrakka Gardens with the Valletta Waterfront, saving our legs a little while enjoying the change in scenery.
• Valletta Waterfront. At the bottom of the lift, we explored the waterfront, known for its colorful historic warehouses, restaurants and harbor views.
• Streets of Valletta. Naturally, we spent plenty of time simply wandering. The traditional Maltese balconies, honey-coloured limestone buildings, narrow streets and unexpected viewpoints are a big part of what makes Valletta so special.
• Monument to Sir Alexander Ball. We stopped to admire this neoclassical monument dedicated to Sir Alexander Ball, Malta’s first British Civil Commissioner.

• Lower Barrakka Gardens. Another lovely green corner of the capital, with beautiful harbor views and a quieter atmosphere than its upper counterpart.
• Siege Bell War Memorial. We visited this striking memorial overlooking the Grand Harbor, dedicated to those who lost their lives during the Siege of Malta in the Second World War.
• The beach. We also squeezed in some time by the water, a little Mediterranean pause in an otherwise busy day of sightseeing.
• Fort Saint Elmo. We explored the area around the historic fort and admired its imposing limestone walls overlooking the sea. The fort played an important role during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565.
• Casa Rocca Piccola. We stepped into this historic 16th-century palace to glimpse aristocratic Maltese life, its beautifully decorated rooms, and its fascinating family history.

• St. George’s Square. We wandered through Valletta’s main square, surrounded by impressive architecture and the Grandmaster’s Palace.
• National Library of Malta. We finished our sightseeing with a stop at this beautiful historic library, known for its impressive neoclassical architecture and important collection of Maltese historical records.
• Dinner at Cincin. After a very full day, we sat down for dinner and finally gave our feet a well-deserved rest.

Day 2 in Gozo: Exploring Malta’s Sister Island and Returning to Valletta

We set off early from Valletta, taking the fast ferry to Gozo for a full day of island exploration. With limited time, we opted for the Hop-On Hop-Off bus, which proved a convenient way to visit several of the island’s main attractions. Here are the places we managed to see along the way:

• Fast ferry from Valletta to Gozo. We started the day with a ferry crossing from Valletta to Mġarr Harbor, enjoying the views as we made our way to Malta’s sister island.
• Rotunda of Xewkija. One of the first landmarks we spotted was this enormous circular church, famous for its impressive dome, which dominates the village skyline.
• Gozo Aqueduct. We passed the historic stone arches of this 19th-century aqueduct, once used to transport water towards Victoria.
• Dwejra Bay. Our first major stop was the rugged western coastline, home to some of Gozo’s most fascinating natural landmarks.
• Inland Sea. We admired this beautiful natural lagoon, connected to the Mediterranean through a narrow tunnel in the limestone cliffs.
• Blue Hole. We explored the area around this famous natural rock formation, one of Gozo’s best-known diving spots.

• Cittadella. Next, we headed to Victoria to explore Gozo’s historic fortified city. Its narrow streets, impressive walls, and panoramic views quickly made it our favorite stop of the day.
• Victoria (Rabat). We also wandered through the surrounding town, passing traditional limestone buildings, little shops, and lively squares. Independence Square and St. George’s Basilica are particularly worth seeing.
• Ġgantija Temples. We finished our sightseeing at these prehistoric megalithic temples, dating back more than 5,500 years and older than the Egyptian pyramids.
• Basilica of St Peter and St Paul. On our journey back towards Mġarr Harbor, we spotted this impressive church in Nadur, another example of Gozo’s striking religious architecture.
• Return ferry to Valletta. After a full day of exploring, we made our way back to the harbor and caught the ferry to Valletta, bringing our Gozo adventure to an end.
• We also wrote a separate guide with all the details of our route, transport, and stops: How to Spend One Day in Gozo: A Complete Day Trip Itinerary.

After a full day of exploring Gozo, we take the fast ferry back to Valletta and return to the same busy pace. There is still plenty to see, so we make the most of our remaining time on the island, squeezing in a few more sights before ending the day with dinner and a well-deserved rest.

• Cannon firing at Upper Barrakka Gardens. We return to Upper Barrakka Gardens to watch the traditional midday cannon firing from the Saluting Battery below. The ceremony is one of Valletta’s best-known sights, and the gardens offer a lovely viewpoint over the Grand Harbor.
• Valletta Food Market. We make a stop at the Valletta Food Market, also known as Is-Suq tal-Belt. Housed in a historic market building, it brings together food stalls and places to eat, making it a good spot to browse local flavors and take a break from sightseeing.
• Dinner at LaPira. We finish the day with dinner at La Pira, enjoying a relaxed meal in the heart of Valletta after another busy day of exploring Malta.

Day 3 in Malta: One Last Day of Exploring Before Heading Home

Our final morning in Malta is a little more relaxed. With an afternoon flight ahead, we take the opportunity to enjoy a few last moments in Valletta, admire its beautiful architecture, and soak up the Mediterranean atmosphere before heading to the airport.

• Exploring Valletta’s colorful balconies. We spend our last hours wandering through the streets, looking up at the traditional Maltese balconies in all their shapes, colors, and details. They are such a distinctive part of the city’s character and make for some lovely final photographs.
• Relaxing at Hastings Gardens. We take a break at Hastings Gardens, enjoying the greenery, peaceful atmosphere, and views over the surrounding city and harbor. It is a lovely spot to slow down before saying goodbye to Valletta.
• Back to the airport. With our afternoon flight approaching, we head back to Malta International Airport, bringing our three-day island adventure to an end.

Our Malta Itinerary on a Map

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How We Got Around Malta

Valletta is a city best explored on foot, and that’s exactly how we spent most of our time there. Its streets are compact, the main sights are never too far apart, and half the fun is turning down a little side street to see where it leads. For our day in Gozo, we hopped on the fast ferry from Valletta, making the journey between the islands quick and easy. Once we arrived, we switched to a hop-on hop-off bus, which took us around Gozo’s main sights and made it easy to see more of the island in a single day. It was a busy itinerary, but having transport sorted meant we could focus on enjoying the views rather than figuring out the next connection.

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What We Would Change About Our Malta Itinerary

As usual, we would love a few extra days. Malta has so much to offer, and three days only give you a glimpse of what the islands are all about. We’d happily spend more time exploring Gozo, discovering some of Malta’s quieter coastal spots and visiting places we had to leave for another trip. That said, we wouldn’t change the way we planned these three days. It was a busy itinerary, but it gave us a wonderful mix of Valletta, Gozo, history, coastal views, and good food. Sometimes a little bit of rushing around is part of the adventure, and this trip was exactly that.

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Three days in Malta gave us a taste of everything we love about traveling: beautiful historic streets, island adventures, coastal views, and plenty of good food. From wandering around Valletta to exploring Gozo, every day brought something different. We left with a camera full of memories, a few places still on our list, and every reason to come back for another waddle!

Travel Bold. Eat Well. Waddle Wild.

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