Welcome to one of Europe’s best-value destinations for travelers, easily explored by public transport including buses and ferries, or independently and affordably with a rental car. Many of Malta’s top attractions are free to experience, including the heritage streets of Valletta and the sun-kissed golden sands of the country’s beaches.
Visiting outside of the busy period of June to August often combines lower accommodation prices, shorter queues, and some of Europe’s warmest and most settled spring and fall weather.
Take Advantage of Low-Cost Airlines
Flying from key British hubs including London, Manchester, and Birmingham, low-cost airlines easyJet and Ryanair are an affordable way to reach Malta. Moreover, Wizz Air is considered the best option when flying from central and eastern Europe, providing direct flights from cities including Budapest, Vienna, and Warsaw. Spanish low-cost airline Vueling also connects Barcelona with Malta.
Catch the Ferry from Sicily
If you’re exploring Italy, it’s a straightforward ferry journey south across the Mediterranean from Sicily to Malta. Linking Pozzallo on Sicily’s southeast coast to Valletta’s harborfront Cruise Terminal, trips on Virtu Ferries take just under two hours. Additionally, Ponte Ferries offers a competing service taking 3 ½ hours from the port of Augusta, midway between Catania and Syracuse on Sicily’s east coast. Discounted Sicily to Malta day-return fares are available, with both ships capable of accommodating vehicles.
Visit During the Shoulder Seasons
Malta gets especially busy from June to August with visitors attracted by hot, rain-free weather, and popular dance music festivals including Isle of MTV, Lost & Found, and ABODE on the Rock.
The shoulder seasons of April to May and September to October still offer great weather, warm Mediterranean waters, and good-value accommodation rates outside of the peaks of summer.
Consider Malta’s Cooler Months for Even Better Value
Rain and occasional storms impact Malta from November to March. However, if your focus is on exploring indoor attractions such as the National Museum of Archaeology, the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, or St John’s Co-Cathedral, it’s an opportune time to visit.
Accommodation prices are lower, queues at the attractions are shorter, and it’s still usually warmer than many other European destinations. February’s annual Carnival is celebrated with parades, floats, and street parties across both Malta and its smaller sister island of Gozo.
Save with Heritage Malta
Heritage Malta offers an array of discount options for exploring diverse locations around Malta and Gozo. Standout attractions include Fort St Angelo in the Three Cities, Valletta’s National Museum of Archaeology, and the National War Museum at Fort St Elmo. The Heritage Malta Multisite Pass offers the best value – adult/concession/children tickets are €30/10/12.50 ($32/10.50/13). Note that entry to the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum is not included with a Multisite Pass, and booking the hypogeum a few months ahead is recommended to avoid incurring a €15 ($15.80) last-minute booking surcharge.
Get Hold of a Malta Pass
Valid for a period of one, two, or three days (€50/80/100 | $52.70/84/105), a Malta Pass allows admission to more than 40 attractions around Malta and Gozo – including the megalithic archaeological site of Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra – and is also valid for sightseeing buses and interactive cinema experiences on both islands. Check the website for occasional big discounts on the card’s usual purchase price. Cards need to be acquired online before arrival, either for delivery to your home address or to your Malta accommodation.
Feast on Pastizzi and Ftira
Served from hole-in-the-wall stalls and bakeries around Malta, the nation’s favorite snack is a pastry parcel filled with ricotta cheese, peas, and herbs. The price of pastizzi increased to €0.50 ($0.52) in April 2022, sparking much discussion around the country, yet they remain a great value breakfast or mid-afternoon snack. Another economical way to eat Maltese-style is to enjoy a ftira sandwich, traditional round loaves of bread filled with cheese, olives, and a paste of sun-dried tomatoes.
Buy a few unfilled ftira from a bakery and stuff them with local Gozitan cheese. There’s a good cheese selection at the supermarket delicatessen in the basement of Valletta’s Is-Suq Tal-Belt, a historic produce market that has transformed into a food hall showcasing well-priced and diverse flavors and global cuisines.
Make New Travel Friends in a Hostel
Malta offers some excellent hostels, and prices outside of the busy June-to-August period are very reasonable. Expect to pay around €20 ($21) per night for a dorm bed, a significant reduction compared to high season rates of about €30 ($31.60) per night. Stylish and sociable hostel accommodations include Inhawi near the nightlife of St Julians and Paceville, and Two Pillows Malta in the historic backstreets of Sliema.
Go Self-Catering and Save Money in an Airbnb
Staying in Airbnb accommodation is a great option in Malta, with many self-contained apartments available in historic buildings in towns and villages outside of the pricier Valletta. Look for properties in central neighborhoods such as Floriana, or further from town in areas like Birkirkara, facilitating easy exploration of Valletta and the rest of the island by bus. Most areas feature good supermarkets and street-side produce markets for grocery shopping.
Explore (Almost) Everywhere by Bus
Both Malta and Gozo are well-served by Public Transport Malta’s extensive bus network, which, while punctuality can drop off towards the end of the day, provides access to most areas of the islands. The cost is just €2 ($2.10) for a single-ride ticket, including a two-hour transfer window. An Explore Card (adult/child €21/15 | $22/15.80) offers unlimited bus travel for seven days. There is also a multi-user 12-day journey card (€15/$15.80) suitable for couples or families.
Experience Brilliant Views for the Cost of a Ferry Ride
Valletta Ferry Services operate two passenger-only routes, one linking Valletta across Grand Harbour to the Three Cities, and another across Marsamxett Harbour to the waterfront esplanade of Sliema. Tickets are priced at €1.50/2.80 ($1.60/3 | single/return), while an unlimited seven-day pass is €10 ($10.54). Given the stunning views, both ferry rides represent exceptional value. Furthermore, Public Transport Malta’s ExploreFlex option is a rechargeable stored-value card combining discounted travel on buses, ferry routes with Valletta Ferry Services, and bike rentals with Tallinja Bike.
Get on a Bike
Bikes can be taken on harbor ferries and serve as a fantastic option for independent exploration upon arrival in the Three Cities or around the Sliema waterfront. Malta features two app-based bike-sharing programs. Tallinja Bike boasts 11 docking stations in Malta and three in Gozo, while nextbike is a similar service also offering e-bikes. Additionally, bikes can be transported on the Gozo Fast Ferry passenger service linking Valletta to Mġarr Harbour on Gozo.
Stretch Your Legs Amid Centuries of History
Malta is a destination that’s ideally suited for walking, and exploring the honey-colored heritage streets, plazas, and laneways of Valletta or venturing further to the walled hilltop city of Mdina costs absolutely nothing. Historic and spectacular churches, many adorned with priceless artworks, are free to enter. Moreover, the cheapest thrills for active travelers include northern Malta’s golden beaches and the cliff-top walking trails of Gozo.
Rent a Car for More Flexibility
Car rental rates in Malta are among the lowest in Europe, and because many of the islands’ roads are narrow and winding, visitors are better off hiring a smaller and more economical car. Anticipate rental rates of around €20-25 ($21-26) per day. It’s important to note that traffic can be busy in Malta, but driving is far easier outside of the Valletta/Sliema/St Julians conurbation, and on the much quieter Gozo.
Daily Costs
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Hostel room: from €20 ($21) for a dormitory
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Basic room for two: from €70 ($74) per night
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Self-catering apartment (including Airbnb): nightly prices from €70 ($74) for a private room to around €130 ($137) for the whole place.
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Public transport ticket: bus €2 ($2.10)
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Coffee: around €2 ($2.10)
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Sandwich: ftira €5-6 ($5.30-6.30)
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Dinner for two: around €50 ($53)
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Beer at a bar: around €4 ($4.20) for local Cisk lager or €6 ($6.30) for Maltese craft beer
