Explore Malta in 2-3 Days: The Full Itinerary

On a whirlwind trip to Malta with my sister in early March, we were able to pack in lots of amazing experiences in just 2-3 days. Arriving on Saturday night and flying back home midday on Tuesday gave us 2 full days to explore the island, and an extra evening and breakfast in Valletta where we stayed. This was a good amount of time as we were able to fit a lot into our trip, from exploring the city walls of Mdina to witnessing the megalithic temples, and more. I would recommend staying longer if you’re visiting in the summer to allocate time for beachside activities or a trip to Gozo, but this 2-3 day itinerary is a great start for planning your trip to Malta, to see the island’s highlights.

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Day 1: An Evening in Valletta ▸

Day 2: Mdina & Marsaxlokk ▸

Day 3: Temples, Sea Caves & Sunsets ▸

Day 1: An Evening in Valletta

After checking into our apartment we wandered through the streets of Valletta, admiring the ornate sandstone buildings with traditional balcony windows which lit up from the street lights. The continuous hilly roads provide a different charm at night, with the buzz of nightlife, moody lighting from the street lamps and fairy lights hanging above the streets, casting a warm glow on alfresco dinners.

The best place to head to soak up Valletta's nightlife, and a few drinks, is Straight Street, with an array of bars you will find something to match your vibe. Or head to the Upper Barrakka Gardens for a quieter moment looking across the peninsular.

Day 2: Mdina & Marsaxlokk

Before heading off for the day, we stopped for breakfast in Valletta at Manouche bakery. Serving tasty, well presented brunch food it is great for foodies who like to snap a pic for the gram. I really enjoyed my avocado, mushroom and egg bun so we came back for a second time on our last day. Alternatively, If you’re looking for a quick bite to eat there are window front stalls around the city selling pastries for just €3, which we opted for on our 3rd day.

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Mdina: The Silent City

Just a 20 minute bus journey from Valletta, it is worth a visit to the medieval walled city of Mdina. After walking through the old gate you’ll find yourself in a labyrinth of narrow stone streets with medieval lanterns and horse drawn carriages passing by.

There are lots of places you’ll want to take photos around the city, with colourful doors and flowers growing up the buildings, but for the best viewpoint from Mdina, check out Bastion Square. At the highest point of the city, it offers panoramic views of the Maltese countryside and nearby town of Rabat.

Within the city walls there are a few museums you can visit, by the entrance, we chose to explore the Mdina Dungeons. Walking through the underground passageways, chambers and cells, scenes have been recreated to visualise some of the dark events that happened in these dungeons over the decades. Since Malta was ruled by many factions, they have stories from different time periods such as the Romans, Byzantine, Arabs and French. Some other museums in Mdina include the Knights of Malta, and the National Museum of Natural History.

Marsaxlokk: The Colourful Fishing Village

We then got the bus back to Valletta and onward to the colourful fishing village of Marsaxlokk. Contrasting with Valletta, this small village has a relaxed feel with locals tending to their boats and seafood restaurants along the waterfront.

Visiting on a Sunday afternoon, we walked along the waterfront passing through the local market selling seafood, fresh produce, traditional maltese treats and clothing. This market closes at 3pm so aim to arrive earlier when visiting on a Sunday.

We stopped for a late lunch at Pisces Restaurant, with a view across the harbour admiring the colourful painted fishing boats. Here I tried the traditional maltese snack Bigilla and Galletti, a savoury spicy dried broad bean dip with crispy Maltese water crackers. It tasted delicious and I would recommend you try it while you’re in Malta.

Outside of the village there are some beaches and cliff bays that are popularly visited in the summer. One of these is St Peter’s Pool, a natural pool carved into smooth limestone rock which is great for low-height cliff jumping. An alternative for the cooler months of the year is to take a boat trip, with boat tour business offering trips from Marsaxlokk around the rocky bays of the east coast.

Visiting Malta in the summertime? Discover Malta’s recommended activities for every season in our Top 10 things to do in Malta guide ▸

Day 3: Temples, Sea Caves & Sunsets

After a quick pastry heading to the bus terminal we got the bus to Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, one of the archeological sites of Malta’s magnificent megalithic temples.

Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra

These temples, dating back over 5,000 years, offer a fascinating glimpse into Malta's ancient past. The Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra temples are not only remarkable for their colossal size and intriguing assembly but also for their celestial alignment with the sun and stars.

During the spring and autumn equinoxes, the rising sun casts a beam of light through intentional openings in the temples, illuminating areas within the chambers. This suggests the ancient builders had an advanced understanding of astronomy with an architectural plan to mark significant astronomical events.

You can learn a lot from the exhibition on site which discusses timelines and theories of how and why these temples were built. To make the most of this, I suggest bringing your own headphones to listen to the audio tour as headphones were not provided to us. Also it is worth bringing a jacket, or coat for the colder months. As it can be very windy here, with the temples located on the south coast cliffside.

Blue Grotto: Sea Caves and Crystal Blue Water

There are some walking routes along the coast that you can join from the temple sites, or alternatively you can take a 10 minute bus journey straight to the village ‘Wied iż-Żurrieq’.

We headed to this village as we knew this is where we could get a boat tour around the south coast of the island. Here you can admire the crystal-clear blue waters, stunning rock formations and famous Blue Grotto sea caves. Unfortunately, at the time we visited, in the first week of March, the boat tour companies were closed, likely due to the windy weather.

Although our plans had changed we still made the most of it. After walking along the secluded bay, we took a 15 minute uphill walk from the village to the viewpoint above the famous Blue Grotto sea cave. Here we got a great view looking down on the cave and surrounding rocky shore line. This viewpoint is conveniently located next to the bus stop to where we headed back to Valletta.

Valletta: Gun Salute Ceremony

Arriving back in Valletta mid afternoon we were just in time to experience the tradition of The Saluting Battery. Recently restored, twice a day a cannon is fired over the grand harbour in a ceremony with uniformed guards.

Valletta is rich in historical culture where you can discover more about Malta's wartime history. In addition to The Saluting Battery, take a visit to the War Tunnels and War Rooms to gain insight into Malta's pivotal role during World War II.

If you are wanting to visit multiple of these sites then we recommend purchasing a combined pass for 40% off your tickets.

Sunset over Valletta’s Skyline

I couldn’t come to Malta without snapping a photo of the Valletta skyline, a photo I use quite often as a Graphic Designer in the travel industry. The best view is from the town of Sliema looking across the harbour, which you can get to by bus, or cross the water by ferry. Keep in mind what time the sunsets, as we found ourselves stuck in the rush hour traffic trying to get the bus back on a Monday night.

Finding the perfect spot for sunset - We could see a lot of people crowded together at ‘Tigne pedestrian bridge’ but we recommend walking past and heading to the furthest point of this town, shown on Google Maps as ‘Tigne Point’. Walking along a public footpath through an apartment complex you will reach the perfect view point. There are some stairs down from the gardens to a giant stone platform/beach where you can sit right on the edge of the water. There were only 2 other couples down here, much less busy than the view point closer to town. After the sunset we strolled down the promenade back to the bus stop.