This article may contain compensated links. Learn more in our disclaimer.
What are the best day trips in Malta?
What to see in Malta in 3 days? 5 days? 7 days? Malta is a small island country in the Mediterranean Sea, and its size is one of its advantages. Even though there are plenty of things to do and places to visit in Malta, most of it can be done on day trips. Malta is a perfect destination for that. You can base yourself in one place, and explore the whole country from there. Where to stay in Malta? Our recommendation – Sliema.
Book private airport transfer online! Airport bus ride is super tiring.
Table of Contents
Epic Day Trips in Malta
What are the options? What are the best Malta tours?
Where can you go on day trips from Malta?
1. St Paul’s Bay Boat Trip by Catamaran (click for more details)
One of the most fun day boat trips in Malta.
Overall, the best day trip in Malta, our favorite.
On this trip you get a bit of everything. You get a boat ride in epic location. You go swimming and snorkelling in crystal clear waters. And you also get a party with other travelers. Alternatively, you can chill on board of a modern sailing catamaran. We loved St. Paul’s Bay. If you like swimming and jumping in the water, you’ll love this place.
DURATION: 5-6 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Some of the best beaches in Malta
- Swimming and snorkelling
- Fun atmosphere
2. Comino Blue Lagoon Boat Trip (click for more details)
One of the most popular boat trips from Malta.
Comino is a small island of the Maltese archipelago. It’s situated between the islands of Malta and Gozo. And Blue Lagoon is one of the top attractions in Comino. It is not without a reason that so many people go on boat trips to Comino, Malta. Speaking of the tour, this is your average boat ride in the Mediterranean.
That means — swimming, water slides (from the boat), snorkelling and sunbathing on the deck. In short, a lot of fun. The only drawback is that it’s a big boat with a lot of people.
DURATION: 4.5 – 7 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Visiting Blue Lagoon
- Swimming and snorkelling
- Water slides
3. Mdina and Rabat Walking Tour (click for more details)
A walking tour around the old capital of Malta.
It’s one of the shortest day tours in Malta.
You know what, Mdina is awesome. If you like cute medieval cities, definitely don’t miss Mdina. It’s not just like a smaller Valleta. It’s something else. It’s something very unique. This tour doesn’t include a pickup, so you’ll have to get to Mdina yourself. It’s very easy to go from Valleta to Mdina by bus (or from Sliema).
DURATION: 2.5 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Strolling through the narrow streets of Mdina
- Mdina Cathedral
- Learning the history of Mdina
4. Valletta, Mdina, and Mosta Night Tour (click for more details)
A Malta sightseeing bus tour at night.
This is your chance to learn more about Malta and see some of its top sights at night. And if you are short on time, this is also your chance to fit in one more excursion (and see more of Malta) in one day. Since this tour also includes a hotel pickup, you don’t even have to go anywhere.
DURATION: 4 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Visiting Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady in Mosta
- City views at night
- Panoramic views of the whole island
- 5D Malta history show in Valletta
Our top Malta travel tip – get a public transport pass for traveling around Malta and Gozo. Most of tourists in Malta use public transportation. It goes more or less everywhere and is reliable. The same pass works both on Malta and Gozo.
Gozo Day Trips From Malta
5. Full-Day Quad Bike Tour of Gozo with Lunch (click for more details)
An adventure filled day in Gozo (with boat ride from Malta).
One of the very best day trips in Malta for adventure lovers.
Gozo is an island next to Malta. It’s similar to Malta, but it isn’t the same. Some even say that Gozo is better than Malta. Hence, if you have time, then definitely try to visit Gozo. At least on a day trip from Malta. This quad bike tour is one of your best options for an adventurous day trip to Gozo. During the trip you visit also some of my personal favorite spots in Gozo, like the Ramla Bay and the Inland Sea.
DURATION: 8 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Boat ride to Gozo and back
- Epic landscapes of Gozo
- Ramla Bay
- Inland Sea
6. Gozo Full-Day Jeep Tour with Lunch (click for more details)
One of the best Gozo day trips from Malta.
Visit Gozo with more comfort. If a quad bike tour mentioned higher is not what you are looking for, and you want a bit more comfort, then this is for you. It’s more or less the same day trip but with a jeep. The tour price includes ferry ticket from Malta and back.
DURATION: 8 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Boat ride to Gozo and back
- Epic landscapes of Gozo
- Inland Sea
- Ramla Bay
- Ancient limestone quarries and historic salt pans
Malta to Sicily Day Trip
Yes, you can go on a day trip from Malta to Sicily.
While we can’t recommend anyone specific, there are also Sicily day trips from Malta. These are boat trips, and on average they take around 14 – 18 hours. Starting from Malta at around 6 am, and finishing at around midning. So, it’s a very long day trip.
A Simple 1-Week Itinerary: Malta & Gozo
A week in Malta, is that a lot? Or not enough?
For me, personally, one week in Malta is enough. It’s a small island. At the same time, if you enjoy traveling at a slower pace (like I do), don’t expect to see “everything”. Because while Malta is small, it’s not tiny, and there are plenty of things to do in Malta. Especially, if you plan to visit Gozo island as well. Here’s a simple 7 day Malta itinerary:
Day 1 – Arrival. Walk around Sliema (if you stay in Sliema; highly recommended).
Here’s a very nice hostel in Sliema with great location – Corner Hostel.
Day 2 – Valleta and Three Cities day trip.
Our favorite was Birgu.
Day 3 – Mdina and coastal hike.
For example, Dingli Cliffs – Xaqqa Cliffs – Blue Grotto Hike.
Day 4 – Beach day in the city.
Day 5 – Beach or boat ride day.
This is how we felt about Malta. Even though the island is small, the rides are pretty long and tiring. So, it’s good to have a day or two for beach and some light sightseeing in the middle of the trip.
Day 6 – Gozo day trip from Malta.
Day 7 – Swimming in Qarraba Bay and / or St. Peter’s Pool.
Or day trip to St. Peter’s Bay.
This is what 1 week in Malta can look like. If you are in Malta for 3 days only, I wouldn’t go to Gozo. Yes, Gozo is a beautiful island but so is Malta. If you have 5-7 days, then I would definitely try to visit Gozo as well.
Have you been to Malta? Did you do any day trips in Malta? Did you go on any organised tours, excursions or boat trips in Malta? What was your experience?
Book Your Trip Like a PRO
1. Book Your Flight. Find cheap flights using Kiwi.com, Momondo.com. Or subscribe to Dollar Flight Club, if you don’t want to be searching for the flights yourself. Kiwi currently is my first choice.
2. Book Your Accommodation. Booking.com, Agoda.com and Airbnb. I use Booking and Agoda at least a dozen times a year, and Airbnb – when looking for a long-term stay. My best tip is to ALWAYS compare the price. Sometimes the same hotel is cheaper on Booking.com, other times – on Agoda. Always compare the price!
3. Buy Your Travel Insurance. Ekta and SafetyWings are two companies I can recommend. Ekta offers some extra benefits, that will be important for those doing some higher risk activities (make sure to choose the right plan!), while SafetyWings is better for digital nomads. SafetyWings is also very affordable.
Disclaimer for Amazon Associates: MakeAdventureHappen.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
