Malta & Gozo
Five days between golden limestone cities, turquoise lagoons and seven thousand years of history, from Valletta’s baroque streets to the slow, wild beauty of Gozo.
“The colours of the sunset and the view from Mixta Cave over Ramla Bay are something I will never forget”
A small archipelago with a huge story: knights’ fortresses, prehistoric temples older than the pyramids, honey-coloured cities and some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean. This guide covers Malta, Gozo and Comino in five days. [Add a line about when you went and who this guide is for.]
— Gaby
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Where to photograph Malta
The spots I return to, and the light that makes them.
Fort St. Angelo
My tip: photograph it from the Upper Barrakka Gardens, across the harbour, in the late afternoon, when the warm light hits its walls. For a different angle, shoot it from a dgħajsa at water level.
Mdina, the Silent City
My tip: wait until after sunset, when the lanterns light up and the lanes empty out. The golden stone glows against the blue sky.
Xwejni Salt Pans
My tip: go at golden hour, when the low light brings out the texture of the rock. From above, with a drone, the pans turn into a perfect geometric pattern.
Wied il-Għasri
My tip: shoot from the top of the cliffs looking down the gorge, around midday, when the sun reaches the water and turns it bright turquoise.
The unmissables
Valletta & St John’s Co-Cathedral
Baroque streets, colourful balconies and Caravaggio’s Beheading of Saint John inside a gilded cathedral.
See tours →
Mdina & Rabat
The fortified Silent City and, just outside its walls, the catacombs of Rabat.
See tours →
The Three Cities
Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua, reached from Valletta on a traditional dgħajsa boat.
See tours →
Blue Grotto
Sea caves glowing blue, by small boat from Wied iż-Żurrieq.
See boat trips →Wied il-Għasri
A narrow creek carved between high cliffs, ending in a tiny pebble beach with crystal-clear water.
See Gozo tours →
Popeye Village
A colourful wooden film set turned into a village, on a quiet bay in the north.
Get tickets →Gozo & Comino
More on Gozo
Dwejra
The Inland Sea and dramatic cliffs on the west coast
Ġgantija Temples
Megalithic temples older than the pyramids
Xlendi Bay
A small bay with cliffs and seafood by the water
[A short line of yours about Malta, the kind people screenshot.]
Five days in Malta & Gozo
- Morning
St John’s Co-Cathedral
Gilded baroque interiors and Caravaggio’s masterpiece.
- Midday
Upper Barrakka Gardens
Views over the Grand Harbour and the noon gun from the Saluting Battery.
- Afternoon
The Three Cities
Cross the harbour by dgħajsa and wander the lanes of Birgu.
- Evening
Dinner in Valletta
Back across the water for dinner among the old balconies.
- Morning
Mdina
The Silent City, its bastions and quiet lanes.
- Lunch
Rabat
Pastizzi and local food just outside the walls.
- Afternoon
Catacombs & Dingli Cliffs
The underground catacombs of Rabat, then the highest cliffs on the island.
- Evening
Mdina at blue hour
Back inside the walls when the city empties and the lanterns light up.
- Morning
Blue Grotto
A short boat trip from Wied iż-Żurrieq, best with calm sea.
- Lunch
Marsaxlokk
Fresh fish facing the colourful luzzu boats.
- Afternoon
Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
The underground prehistoric necropolis (tickets booked in advance).
- Evening
Sliema & St Julian’s
A walk along the seafront promenade.
- Morning
Ferry to Gozo & the Cittadella
From Ċirkewwa to Mġarr, then up to the citadel in Victoria.
- Lunch
Xlendi
Seafood by the bay.
- Afternoon
Ta’ Pinu & Wied il-Għasri
The countryside basilica and the hidden creek.
- Evening
Sunset at Dwejra
The Inland Sea and the cliffs of the west coast at golden hour.
- Morning
Blue Lagoon, Comino
Turquoise water between Comino and Cominotto.
- Afternoon
Popeye Village
The colourful film set on Anchor Bay.
- Evening
Sunset at Golden Bay
A last swim and the sun dropping into the sea.
Palazzi, harbours & island hideaways
The Phoenicia Malta
A grand historic hotel with gardens, right outside the gates of Valletta.
Check availability
San Karlu Boutique Hotel
Two converted townhouses in the heart of Valletta, with a rooftop pool and bar over the old city.
Check availability
Rosselli – AX Privilege
An elegant boutique hotel in a historic palazzo on Merchant Street.
Check availability
Cugó Gran Macina
A historic waterfront building facing Valletta across the harbour.
Check availability
Kempinski San Lawrenz
A peaceful resort in the Gozitan countryside, close to Dwejra.
Check availabilityWhat to taste
Where to eat
Noni
Under Grain
Rampila
Crystal Palace (pastizzi)
Seafront fish restaurants
Ta’ Rikardu, in the Cittadella
Good to know
Buses reach the whole island, and Bolt or eCabs are easy to use. Cars drive on the left. Gozo is a 25-minute ferry ride from Ċirkewwa, or take the fast ferry from Valletta.
Light clothes and swimwear, comfortable shoes for the limestone streets, and shoulders and knees covered for churches.
UK-style three-pin sockets (type G): bring an adapter.
Bongu good morning · Grazzi thank you · Saħħa cheers
Take Malta home
Golden stone, turquoise water and centuries of stories. The prints from this trip are available as Fine Art editions