Short answer: with 7 days, spend four nights in Valletta for the capital, Mdina, the Three Cities and the prehistoric temples, then two nights on Gozo, a short ferry ride away, with a boat to Comino’s Blue Lagoon. With 10 days, add two nights in Mellieħa in the north for sandy beaches and give Gozo three. With 14 days, slow down: add the coastal walks, diving and snorkeling of the north and Gozo, a few nights in Sliema or St Julian’s, and a day trip by fast catamaran to Sicily. Malta is small, but buses are slow at busy times, so two or three bases work better than one.
This guide turns the sample trips on our Malta travel guide into day-by-day plans, with ferry and bus times and the best area to sleep each night. April to June and late September to early November are the best months: warm and sunny, with open beaches and boat trips and far fewer crowds than July and August. Our best time to visit Malta guide goes month by month, and our top 10 places to visit in Malta explains each stop. For a plan built around your dates and interests, use our AI trip planner. Everything here was checked as of October 2026.
The three routes at a glance
| Route | Days | Stops | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valletta and Gozo | 7 | Valletta (4 nights), Gozo (2 nights) | First trip: history, temples and a taste of island life |
| Valletta, the north and Gozo | 10 | Valletta (4), Mellieħa (2), Gozo (3) | Sightseeing plus sandy beaches and Comino |
| Slow Malta, with a Sicily day trip | 14 | Valletta (4), Mellieħa (2), Gozo (4), Sliema or St Julian’s (3) | Divers, walkers, beach time and a day in Sicily |
Malta International Airport is the only airport, about 8 km from Valletta, with Airport Direct buses: TD4 to Valletta and the Gozo fast ferry, TD1 to Mellieħa and Ċirkewwa, and TD2 and TD3 to St Julian’s and Sliema. There is no rail network; you get around by bus, ferry, taxi or hire car.
Travel times between the main stops
These are the legs used in the plans below. Times from an operator are marked; others are approximate. Malta Public Transport buses and Gozo buses use the same fares and cards, and road traffic around Valletta, Sliema and St Julian’s can be heavy at rush hour.
| Leg | How | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ċirkewwa (Malta) – Mġarr (Gozo) | Gozo Channel car and passenger ferry, daily | about 25 min | Gozo Channel |
| Valletta – Mġarr (Gozo) | Gozo Highspeed fast ferry (foot passengers) | about 45 min (approximate) | Booking sites and guides |
| Valletta – Sliema | Valletta Ferry Services | a few minutes across the harbor | Valletta Ferry Services |
| Valletta – the Three Cities (Cospicua) | Valletta Ferry Services | a few minutes across the Grand Harbour | Valletta Ferry Services |
| Airport – Valletta | TD4 bus (every 30 min) or taxi | about 15–20 min by taxi (approximate) | Malta Public Transport; general reference |
| Valletta – Mdina and Rabat | Bus | about 30–40 min (approximate) | General reference |
| Valletta – Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra temples | Bus | about 45 min (approximate) | General reference |
| Valletta – Mellieħa or Golden Bay | Bus | about 1 h (approximate) | General reference |
| Mġarr (Gozo) – Comino | Small boats, mostly spring to autumn | about 15–20 min (approximate) | General reference |
| Malta (Valletta) – Pozzallo (Sicily) | Virtu Ferries catamaran | 1 h 45 | Virtu Ferries |
The Gozo Channel ferry has no reservations for foot passengers: you pay only on the way back from Gozo. Buses run to Ċirkewwa from Valletta and the airport, and the TD4 Airport Direct stops at the Valletta fast ferry terminal.
7 days: Valletta and Gozo
The classic first week: two bases, the capital and the quieter, greener sister island. Plan April to June or late September to early November for warm days without the summer crowds.
- Day 1, Valletta: Airport bus or taxi to town. Walk Republic Street and Merchants Street, then sunset over the Grand Harbour from the Upper Barrakka Gardens. Sleep: Valletta (4 nights).
- Day 2, Valletta’s treasures: St John’s Co-Cathedral and its Caravaggio paintings (closed on Sundays and public holidays), the Grand Master’s Palace and Fort St Elmo’s war museum. See our Valletta guide for tickets.
- Day 3, the Three Cities and Marsaxlokk: Ferry across the Grand Harbour to Birgu (Vittoriosa) and its fort and lanes, then a bus to the colorful fishing boats of Marsaxlokk; the market is biggest on Sunday mornings. If you have booked well ahead, visit the 5,000-year-old Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, which admits only small groups.
- Day 4, Mdina and the cliffs: Bus to Mdina, the walled “Silent City”, and next-door Rabat’s Roman house and catacombs, then the Dingli Cliffs at sunset.
- Day 5, to Gozo via the temples: Morning at the Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra temples on the south coast and, if the sea is calm, a boat into the Blue Grotto at Wied iż-Żurrieq. Afternoon fast ferry from Valletta to Mġarr. Sleep: Victoria (Rabat) or Xlendi (2 nights).
- Day 6, Gozo: The Ċittadella above Victoria, the Ġgantija temples (older than Stonehenge and the pyramids), the red sand of Ramla Bay and the sea cliffs and Inland Sea at Dwejra, where the Azure Window stood until 2017.
- Day 7, Comino and home: An early boat from Mġarr to Comino’s Blue Lagoon (book a free slot online to go ashore), then the ferry back and on to the airport.
Swap it: if you prefer nightlife and a beach-club scene to quiet evenings, base yourself in St Julian’s or Sliema instead of Valletta; ferries link Sliema with Valletta in minutes. More detail is in our Gozo guide.
10 days: Valletta, the north and Gozo
The 7-day plan with a base among the sandy beaches of the north and a slower Gozo. Swimming is best from mid-June to October.
- Days 1–4, Valletta: As in the 7-day plan: Valletta, the Three Cities and Marsaxlokk, Mdina and the Dingli Cliffs, with the Hypogeum if booked. Sleep: Valletta (4 nights).
- Day 5, the south and on to the north: The Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra temples and the Blue Grotto in the morning, then a bus or taxi to Mellieħa. Sleep: Mellieħa (2 nights).
- Day 6, beaches of the north: Golden Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa for sunset, or Mellieħa Bay, Malta’s longest sandy beach, and Popeye Village, the old film set across the bay.
- Day 7, to Gozo via Comino: Bus to Ċirkewwa, a boat to the Blue Lagoon in the morning (book your free slot), then on to Gozo; or the 25-minute ferry straight across. Sleep: Victoria, Xlendi or Marsalforn (3 nights).
- Day 8, Gozo’s heritage: The Ċittadella, the Ġgantija temples and Ta’ Kola windmill.
- Day 9, Gozo’s coast: Dwejra and the Inland Sea, a swim at Wied il-Għasri or Ramla Bay, and the salt pans at Xwejni.
- Day 10, home: Ferry back to Ċirkewwa and bus or taxi to the airport, or the fast ferry to Valletta.
Swap it: in winter, when the sea is too cool for most swimmers, skip Mellieħa and spend the extra days on Valletta’s museums and the coastal walks of Gozo.
14 days: slow Malta, with a Sicily day trip
Two weeks lets you dive, walk the coasts and add a day in Sicily, 1 h 45 away by catamaran. Divers and walkers should aim for May, June, September or October.
- Days 1–4, Valletta: As in the 7-day plan. Sleep: Valletta (4 nights).
- Days 5–6, the north: The temples and Blue Grotto on the way, then Mellieħa’s beaches, a cliff walk to the Red Tower and the Għadira nature reserve. Divers can try the shore dives around Ċirkewwa. Sleep: Mellieħa (2 nights).
- Day 7, to Gozo: Ferry from Ċirkewwa (about 25 minutes). Sleep: Victoria, Xlendi or Marsalforn (4 nights).
- Days 8–10, Gozo: The Ċittadella and Ġgantija, a guided dive or snorkel at Dwejra or Xlendi, Ramla Bay, the coastal path between Xlendi and Dwejra, and a morning on Comino before the day boats arrive.
- Day 11, to Sliema or St Julian’s: Fast ferry to Valletta and a short ferry or bus to Sliema. Evening along the seafront promenade. Sleep: Sliema or St Julian’s (3 nights).
- Day 12, Sicily day trip: The early Virtu Ferries catamaran from Valletta to Pozzallo (1 h 45), then a coach tour to the baroque towns of Modica and Noto or up Mount Etna, returning in the evening. Read our Sicily guide if you want to stay longer.
- Day 13, Malta at leisure: A boat trip around the harbors, the National Aquarium at Qawra, or a last swim at St George’s Bay.
- Day 14, home: Bus TD2 or TD3, or a taxi, to the airport.
Swap it: join a village festa from June to September for fireworks, brass bands and processions, or time your trip for Holy Week processions in spring.
Where to sleep, by stop
| Stop | Best area for a short stay | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Valletta | Inside the city walls | Sights, restaurants and ferries on foot; the main bus terminus is at the city gate |
| Sliema and St Julian’s | The Sliema seafront or St Julian’s around Spinola Bay | Ferries to Valletta, promenade, restaurants and nightlife |
| The north | Mellieħa | Close to the sandy beaches and the Ċirkewwa ferry to Gozo and Comino |
| Gozo | Victoria (Rabat) for buses; Xlendi or Marsalforn by the sea | Victoria is the bus hub; the bays have swimming and dive centers |
Malta charges an eco-contribution on stays: from 1 July 2026, €1.50 per person aged 18 and over per night, up to €22.50 per stay, added to your accommodation bill. Details are on our Malta guide.
Alternatives by interest
Beach lovers
Base yourself in Mellieħa for Golden Bay, Għajn Tuffieħa and Mellieħa Bay, and on Gozo for Ramla Bay’s red sand. Malta’s coast is mostly rocks, so many locals swim from rock platforms and lidos. The sea is warmest from July to October; June and September are calmer than midsummer.
Divers and snorkelers
Malta and Gozo are known for clear water, caves, wrecks and shore dives. Base yourself on Gozo for Dwejra and Xlendi, or near Ċirkewwa on Malta, and use local dive centers; the clearest, calmest months are late spring to autumn.
History lovers
Spend more time in Valletta and Mdina, and book the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum as early as you can (adults €35; under-6s are not admitted). Heritage Malta’s Multisite Pass covers many sites, including the Grand Master’s Palace and Gozo’s Ċittadella, but not the Hypogeum.
Walkers
Walk in the cooler months, from October to May, when the countryside is green and wildflowers bloom in spring. Good routes: the Dingli Cliffs, the north-west coast between Golden Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa, the Victoria Lines fortifications across the middle of Malta, and Gozo’s coastal paths from Xlendi to Dwejra and around Ramla Bay. Take water and sun protection; there is little shade on the cliffs.
Food lovers
Snack on pastizzi (flaky pastries filled with ricotta or peas) from a village bakery, try ftira bread with tuna, capers and tomatoes, and order rabbit stew (stuffat tal-fenek), the national dish, at a traditional restaurant. Marsaxlokk is the place for fresh fish, and Gozo for little sheep’s-milk cheeses (ġbejniet) and local wine.
Families
Two bases are enough: Sliema or St Julian’s for easy buses and the promenade, then Gozo for calm bays. Children enjoy Popeye Village, the National Aquarium and boat trips to the Blue Lagoon. Bus fares for children are lower on Malta Public Transport’s Explore cards.
Tips for planning your route
- Pick the season. April to June and late September to early November are warm and calmer; July and August are hot, busy and expensive, with village festas almost every weekend.
- Book the Hypogeum and the Blue Lagoon. The Hypogeum sells out weeks ahead (last-minute €50 tickets go on sale the day before at a few sites); going ashore at the Blue Lagoon needs a free online slot.
- Leave time for buses. Buses are cheap (€2.50 in summer, €2 in winter, with two hours of transfers), but slow when roads are busy. Explore cards cover four or seven days.
- Check the boats. Gozo fast ferries, Comino boats and the Sicily catamaran can be cancelled in rough seas, so keep a spare day before your flight home.
- Think twice about a car. Malta drives on the left, roads are busy and parking in Valletta and Sliema is hard. A car is most useful on Gozo.
- Plan around Sundays. St John’s Co-Cathedral closes on Sundays and public holidays, but Marsaxlokk’s market is at its best on Sunday mornings.
Malta itinerary FAQ
Is 7 days enough for Malta?
Yes. A week covers Valletta, Mdina, the Three Cities, the temples, Gozo and Comino comfortably. With 10 days you can add a beach base in the north and slow down.
Should I stay in Valletta or Sliema?
Valletta for history, evening calm and easy ferries; Sliema or St Julian’s for the seafront, more restaurants and nightlife. Ferries link the two in a few minutes, so either works as a base.
How long is the ferry to Gozo?
About 25 minutes on the Gozo Channel ferry from Ċirkewwa to Mġarr, which runs daily. The fast ferry from Valletta takes about 45 minutes.
Do I need a car in Malta?
No. Buses and ferries reach every stop in this guide, and taxis and ride-hailing apps fill the gaps. A car helps most on Gozo, where buses are less frequent.
Can I visit Gozo as a day trip?
Yes, by fast ferry from Valletta or the ferry from Ċirkewwa, but Gozo is much better with two or three nights, when the day-trippers have gone.
Can I visit Sicily from Malta?
Yes. Virtu Ferries catamarans sail from Valletta to Pozzallo in 1 hour 45 minutes, with early-morning departures that make a day trip possible. Day tours from Pozzallo go to Modica, Noto, Ragusa or Mount Etna.
What is the best month to visit Malta?
May, June, late September and October: warm sea, sunny days and far fewer crowds than in July and August.
Sources
Researched and last reviewed by TravelerCenter on 8 October 2026. The Ċirkewwa–Mġarr crossing time and fares come from Gozo Channel; the Malta–Pozzallo crossing from Virtu Ferries’ timetable; harbor ferries from Valletta Ferry Services; bus routes and fares from Malta Public Transport; the Blue Lagoon booking system from the Malta Tourism Authority; Hypogeum, temple and Multisite Pass details from Heritage Malta; the eco-contribution from the Malta Tourism Authority’s 2026 guidelines; and seasons from our best-time guide, based on German Weather Service (DWD) and Malta Met Office climate data for Luqa. The fast ferry to Gozo, Comino boats and bus and taxi times are approximate, from booking sites and general reference. Timetables, fares and rules change, so check with the operator before you travel.
Data: Wikidata (CC0)