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Quick Answer
At a glance
- Best time
- Apr–Jun, late Sep–Oct; Nov–Mar mild
- Time needed
- 5 to 7 days
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Maltese and English
- Getting around
- Malta Public Transport buses, Gozo ferry
Malta is three small islands, Malta, Gozo and Comino, with more history per square kilometre than almost anywhere in Europe. The questions are when the weather suits your trip, where to sleep and how to get around without a car. All prices and dates below were checked on 8 October 2026.
Malta month by month
The climate is Mediterranean: hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. The figures are the Malta Meteorological Office’s 1961-1990 normals for Luqa, next to the airport, published on the WMO World Weather Information Service.
| Month | Average high / low | Rain | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15.2°C / 9.2°C | 89.0 mm | Quiet city breaks, lowest prices |
| February | 15.5°C / 9.3°C | 61.3 mm | Sightseeing, quiet museums |
| March | 16.7°C / 10.1°C | 40.9 mm | Hiking on Gozo, green countryside |
| April | 19.1°C / 11.9°C | 22.5 mm | Walking and sightseeing |
| May | 23.3°C / 14.9°C | 6.6 mm | The best all-round month |
| June | 27.5°C / 18.4°C | 3.2 mm | Beaches before the peak |
| July | 30.7°C / 21.0°C | 0.4 mm | Beach and boat days, very busy |
| August | 30.7°C / 21.8°C | 7.0 mm | Hottest, busiest, festa season |
| September | 28.0°C / 20.1°C | 40.4 mm | Warm sea, thinner crowds |
| October | 24.2°C / 17.1°C | 89.7 mm | Late swimming, autumn storms begin |
| November | 20.1°C / 13.9°C | 80.0 mm | Mild city breaks |
| December | 16.7°C / 11.0°C | 112.3 mm | Cribs, carols and Christmas lights |
Visit Malta notes that sea bathing is possible well into autumn and that the beach season can last until mid to late October. From October to January, rain comes in short, heavy bursts on 10 to 14 days a month, so pack a light waterproof or one of our best travel umbrellas.
Top Cities to Explore
Best time to visit Malta by trip type
Winter sun-lite (November to March)
Malta is not a beach destination in winter, but it is one of the mildest city breaks in Europe. December to February highs sit around 15 to 17°C and nights rarely fall below 9°C. That is perfect weather for Valletta’s streets, Mdina’s walls and the cliff paths on Gozo, and the Heritage Malta sites are calm. If you want a beach in January, our winter sun in Europe guide explains why only the Canary Islands are reliably warm enough, and how Malta compares with Cyprus.
Heritage Malta closes all its museums and sites on 24, 25 and 31 December, 1 January and Good Friday, so plan around those days.
Christmas in Malta (December)
Malta does not have big Central European style markets. Its Christmas is about cribs (presepju), many with moving figures, displayed in churches, chapels and homes in every town, plus candlelit carol singing at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta and the annual pantomime at the Manoel Theatre. For classic market cities, see our Christmas markets in Europe 2026 guide and where to go in December.
Spring and autumn (April to June, late September to October)
These are the best months for most trips: warm days, a sea that warms up from June, and far fewer people than in July and August. May is close to rainless. October still averages 24.2°C but brings the first autumn storms, which is why it features in our where to go in October guide as a late-summer option rather than a guaranteed beach week.
Summer (July and August)
Average highs reach 30.7°C, and the islands are at their busiest. Summer is for swimming, boat trips to Comino and the village festas; do your sightseeing early in the morning.
Where to stay in Malta
Stay in or near Valletta for a first trip; our Valletta city guide compares the areas. Valletta itself is the most atmospheric base and has the bus terminus and ferries on its doorstep. Sliema and St Julian’s across Marsamxett Harbour have more hotels and a seafront promenade, and the Sliema ferry reaches Valletta in minutes. For a slower second base, spend a night or two on Gozo.
How much does Malta cost per day?
The fixed costs below come from official 2026 price lists. Hotels swing with the season; in a Booking.com check on 8 October 2026, central Valletta hotels for a mid-January weekend started at around 95 euros a night for two, and summer rates run much higher.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Bus ticket, day routes | 2.50 euros in summer, 2 euros in winter (valid 2 hours) |
| Airport Direct bus | 3 euros (3.50 euros on TD1) |
| Explore Flex 7-day bus card | 27 euros |
| Sliema or Three Cities ferry to Valletta | 3 euros single, 5 euros return |
| Gozo Channel ferry, foot passenger | 4.65 euros return |
| Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, adult | 35 euros |
| Grand Master’s Palace, adult | 12 euros |
| Ġgantija Temples on Gozo, adult | 10 euros |
How to get around Malta
Buses. Malta Public Transport runs every bus on Malta and Gozo. A single ticket on day routes costs 2.50 euros in summer and 2 euros in the winter fare season (the last one ran from 19 October 2025 to 13 June 2026), is valid for two hours with transfers, and can be paid in cash, by contactless card or by phone. Night routes cost 3 euros. Visitors can buy a 12-journey card for 19 euros, shareable within a group, or an Explore Flex card with unlimited travel at 27 euros for 7 days.
From the airport. Malta International Airport is served by Airport Direct buses: TD4 to Valletta, TD2 and TD3 to St Julian’s and Sliema, and TD1 and TD5 to Rabat, Buġibba and, on TD1, the Ċirkewwa ferry. The official taxi service is Malta Taxi, with a fare calculator on its site.
Ferries. Valletta Ferry Services crosses from Sliema and from the Three Cities to Valletta for 3 euros single. For Gozo, Gozo Channel sails from Ċirkewwa, at the northern tip of Malta, to Mġarr in about 25 minutes, daily.
Driving. Traffic drives on the left. A car helps on Gozo, but on Malta itself buses and ferries reach most places, and parking in Valletta and Sliema is hard.
Entry requirements, money and connectivity
Entry. Malta is in the Schengen area, so the 90-days-in-180 rule applies across all member states; see our Schengen 90/180 rule guide. Non-EU visitors are registered by the biometric Entry/Exit System at the border, and ETIAS has not started yet: our EES and ETIAS guide tracks both.
Money and language. Malta uses the euro. Maltese and English are both official languages, so signs, menus and bus information are in English.
Mobile data. EU roaming rules apply, and a Europe eSIM covers Malta along with the rest of the continent; compare options in our best eSIM for Europe guide. For plugs, check our travel adapters by country guide before you pack.
- Activate before you fly: data works on arrival
- Plans for 200+ countries from a few dollars
- Keep your number; no physical SIM swap
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to visit Malta?
April to June and late September to October are the best months for most trips. The Malta Meteorological Office figures on the WMO climate service give Luqa average highs of 19.1°C in April, 23.3°C in May and 24.2°C in October, with little rain from April to September. July and August average 30.7°C, which is hot for sightseeing, and November to March is mild, at around 15 to 20°C.
Is Malta warm in winter?
Mild, not hot. Luqa averages a 16.7°C high in December, 15.2°C in January and 15.5°C in February, with lows around 9 to 11°C, according to the Malta Meteorological Office. December is the wettest month at 112.3 mm. Visit Malta puts mid-winter sunshine at around 5 to 6 hours a day, so winter suits sightseeing and coastal walks rather than a beach holiday.
How do you get around Malta without a car?
By bus. Malta Public Transport runs the network on Malta and Gozo: a single day ticket costs 2.50 euros in summer and 2 euros in the winter fare season, valid for two hours with transfers, and the 7-day Explore Flex card costs 27 euros. Airport Direct buses link the airport with Valletta, Sliema and St Julian’s, and Valletta Ferry Services crosses from Sliema and the Three Cities to Valletta for 3 euros.
How much is the ferry to Gozo?
Gozo Channel’s ferry between Ċirkewwa on Malta and Mġarr on Gozo takes about 25 minutes. A standard foot passenger fare is 4.65 euros and a car with driver 15.70 euros, and you pay only on the way back, at Mġarr. From November to March, departures from Mġarr after 20:00 cost 4.05 euros for foot passengers and 12.80 euros for a car with driver.
Do I need to book the Hypogeum in advance?
Yes. Heritage Malta lets only 10 people into the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum at any one time, and its tickets sell out, so book as early as you can. An adult ticket costs 35 euros, last-minute tickets cost 50 euros when any are left, children under six are not admitted, and photography is not allowed inside.
Is Malta in the Schengen area?
Yes. Malta is in the EU and the Schengen area and uses the euro, so the 90-days-in-180 rule applies across all Schengen states. Non-EU visitors are registered by the EU Entry/Exit System at the border, and ETIAS was not yet in operation in 2026.
Start planning your Malta trip
Winter is the cheapest time to fly and stay, and spring fills early with Easter breaks, so lock in your Valletta room once your dates are set. From London, Jet2’s Gatwick base added Malta to its routes in 2026; our cheapest airlines from London guide compares the carriers.
Find cheap flights to Malta | Compare Valletta hotel prices
More ideas: winter sun in Europe, where to go in November and where to go in April.
