The islands of Malta and Gozo are brilliant for a family holiday, packed with fun places to visit regardless of your children’s ages. The islands’ small size means everywhere is within easy reach. In the span of a day, you could fire a cannon at a fort and later unwind at the beach, or visit a film-set theme park and then take a dip in a lagoon.
Sandy Beaches and Swimming Spots
One of Malta’s best beaches for families is the soft-sanded, sheltered Golden Bay. Older children can engage in activities such as stand-up paddleboarding, sailing, or windsurfing, while the gentle slope of the beach makes it easy for younger kids to safely paddle in the sea. The whole family can enjoy boating around the craggy, cave-pocked local coast from here. The neighboring soft-sanded Għajn Tuffieħa Bay is also good for families, though slightly wilder and less accessible, as the approach involves descending more than 100 steps.
Malta’s many rocky bays, such as Għar Lapsi and St Peter’s Pool, are better suited for older children, provided they can swim, as they have deeper waters. St Peter’s Pool, in particular, is a great hangout for teenagers, perfect for showing off by leaping off the rocks into the refreshing sea and enjoying evening barbecues. The resort of Sliema also has a long rocky beach, suitable for older kids, but features shallower pools that work well for younger children.
The most family-friendly sandy beaches on Gozo include the copper-red sanded Ramla Bay and the dramatically beautiful San Blas Bay. Rockier bays such as Wied il-Għasri and Mġarr ix-Xini are photogenic, hidden-feeling coves that are also excellent for swimming and snorkeling. Dwejra, on Gozo, is another wonderful spot for kids of any age, featuring fantastic rock formations for climbing and access to the Inland Sea, a sheltered sea lake great for swimming and boat trips.
Bringing History to Life
There are numerous thrilling museums and historic sites to explore with kids in Malta. Among the best is the recently revitalized National War Museum located in Fort St Elmo on the tip of Valletta’s peninsula, which features engaging animated displays that bring the island’s long and dramatic history to life. Various audio-visual exhibits around Valletta use special effects to immerse visitors in the islands’ exciting history, such as Malta 5D, which combines history with captivating sensory experiences.
At Fort Rinella, just outside Valletta, you can observe historic reenactments and even have the chance to fire a gun or a cannon. In the small city of Vittoriosa, just across the Grand Harbour from Valletta, the prison cells within the Inquisitor’s Palace display intricate graffiti created by bored prisoners, while Fort St Angelo offers restored spaces with hands-on interpretive exhibits. In Mellieħa, to the northwest, there are fascinating Air-Raid Shelters to explore, which were hand-dug tunnels used to protect the town’s population from WWII bombings.
The prehistoric temples at Haġar Qim in southeast Malta boast a breathtaking setting ripe for exploration with some coastal trails. The visitor center even offers the opportunity to try carving different types of stone, alongside a 3D audiovisual introduction. Nearby, the prehistoric Għar Dalam Cave is deep and mysterious, filled with stalagmites and stalactites.
Theme Parks and Watersports
The film set for the 1980s movie Popeye has been transformed into a fun theme park called Popeye Village, where visitors can take a boat ride and star in their own short movie. A perennial favorite for kids is the Splash & Fun water park, where exciting flumes promise a fun day out in the summer sun. Meanwhile, the smaller, free Buġibba Water Park caters best to children under 12. Built in the shape of a starfish, the Malta National Aquarium, just outside Buġibba, features mesmerizing large tanks of fish.
All of Malta’s main resorts offer watersports such as sailing, kayaking, and windsurfing, making the islands an ideal place to learn to dive. All local dive schools provide taster ‘bubblemaker’ programs for kids aged 8 to 10 and older, presenting a fantastic opportunity to find out what it’s like to breathe underwater.
Eating Out
Children are generally welcome at most restaurants, although more upscale establishments often only accommodate older kids. Many restaurants feature kids’ menus that typically offer nuggets, pizza, and similar favorites. However, you can always request a half-portion of a starter dish, as portions in Maltese restaurants tend to be quite large. With a diverse range of cuisines available, children are bound to find something they’ll enjoy. Maltese cuisine is strongly influenced by Italian flavors, so pizza and pasta are plentiful, and some children might delight in trying the national dish – fried rabbit or rabbit stew.
Accommodation
There are numerous self-catering options scattered around the islands, as well as child-friendly hotels that offer facilities such as pools, beach access, and beach clubs. It is advisable to schedule a few days on Gozo since it features many self-catering farmhouses with pools available for rent, and transportation is even easier than on Malta. Smaller boutique hotels in Valletta usually cater only to older children.
Transport and Other Tips
The easiest way to navigate Malta and Gozo is to drive, but the local bus service is also reliable, user-friendly, and quite affordable. Buses frequently run between major towns, albeit only approximately hourly to and from smaller locations. Ferries operate between Malta and Gozo, and tourist boats provide transport to Comino.
A lightweight stroller is beneficial in Malta, where you’ll find baby-changing facilities and high chairs in numerous establishments. Baby supplies are widely accessible, and local medical facilities are highly efficient.
