Malta Short Breaks

Three nights is the sweet spot for a first visit. It gives you a full day in Valletta, a day across the Grand Harbour in the Three Cities and Mdina, and a day on Gozo. A four night break lets you add a beach day. Two nights is enough for Valletta and one other sight, but flights and transfers take a larger share of the trip.

About three hours from London. KM Malta Airlines flies direct from London, and the flights page on this site lists current routes and times. Check your outbound and return times when you book, because a late flight home saves a morning.

Valletta, or Floriana at its gate, if you want history, restaurants and harbour views within walking distance. St Julian's and Sliema suit those who want nightlife, shops and the seafront. For a beach break, Mellieha in the north has sandy beaches. Each hotel on this page has its own page with photos and rooms.

Yes. Valletta is compact and walkable, the Three Cities are a short boat ride from the city, and Mdina and the beaches are reachable by bus or taxi. A car is useful for Gozo and the north, but not needed for a three day city break. Our getting around guide lists the options.

Its official site lists opening from 9am to 4.45pm, Monday to Saturday, with last entry at 4.15pm. It is closed on Sundays and public holidays. Adult admission is 15 euros, and the ticket includes an audio guide and the Caravaggio Wing. Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered. Details were checked on 27 October 2026 for our Valletta guide.

The guns at the Saluting Battery, below the Upper Barrakka Gardens, fire at 12 noon and again at 4pm. The gardens are free to enter and give the best free view of the Grand Harbour.

Take the ferry from Cirkewwa at the north end of Malta to Mgarr on Gozo. Cars and foot passengers both travel. A fast ferry from Valletta is also an option in the season. Plan a full day for Gozo, starting early. Our Gozo guide has the detail.

Spring and autumn are the most comfortable for sightseeing, with warm days and fewer people than in July and August. Winter is mild and quiet and good for city breaks, though the sea is too cold for most swimmers. See our best time to visit page for the month by month detail.

Malta is in the Schengen Area. UK citizens can visit for short stays without a visa, but should check the current entry rules and passport validity requirements on the UK government website before they travel, because the rules have changed since Brexit and may change again.

Comfortable walking shoes for hills, steps and cobbles, a hat and sunscreen in summer, a light layer for evenings, and something that covers shoulders and knees for churches. Malta uses the euro and the plugs are the UK three pin type.