Europe
The best time to visit Malta
A year-round island nation where the real question is whether you came for history or for the sea.
- Best months
- Apr to Jun and Sep to Oct
- Think twice
- No month is a write-off
- Quietest
- January
- Cheapest
- January
The straight answer
The best time to visit Malta is April through June or September through October: warm, sunny days, swimmable water from late May, and village festa season, without the July and August heat that pushes highs near 90F (32C).
Go in April through June, or September through October. In those months Malta is warm and bright, highs in the 70s F (about 21 to 26C), the sea is swimmable from late May, and walking Valletta's steep limestone streets or the cliffs of Gozo is a pleasure rather than a slog. September and October have the bonus of the warmest sea of the year.
Malta is one of the rare Mediterranean destinations that works in winter. Highs sit in the low 60s F (about 16C), Valletta, Mdina, the prehistoric temples, and the museums all run year-round, and hotel rates drop sharply. The tradeoffs are wind, sporadic heavy rain, rough ferry crossings to Comino, and sea too cold for most swimmers. For a history trip, January is genuinely good value.
July and August are the difficult months. Highs run in the upper 80s F (about 31C) with high humidity, the island is at its busiest with European families, Comino's Blue Lagoon becomes a crush, and prices peak. The upside is the village festas, when parish after parish celebrates its patron saint with brass bands, street decorations, and fireworks. Month by month below.
Malta, month by month
Every month gets a verdict. Tap one for its own page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
- 01JanuaryQuiet valueMild, highs near 61F (16C), windy with rain spellsThe quietest, cheapest month. Everything cultural is open; sea swimming and Comino boats are off the table for most.CrowdsPrice
- 02FebruaryQuiet valueMild, highs near 61F (16C), windyMalta Carnival often falls in February, with floats and costumes in Valletta and a wilder version in Nadur on Gozo.CrowdsPrice
- 03MarchGoodPleasant, highs near 64F (18C), wildflowersSpring arrives early here. Green countryside, clear walking weather, and low prices. Carnival can fall in early March in some years.Hotels for March →CrowdsPrice
- 04AprilBestWarm, highs near 68F (20C), mostly dryHoly Week processions and the International Fireworks Festival over Grand Harbour make it Malta's most atmospheric spring month.Hotels for April →CrowdsPrice
- 05MayBestWarm and sunny, highs near 75F (24C)Excellent for everything except the coldest-blooded swimmers. The sea becomes comfortable toward the end of the month.Hotels for May →CrowdsPrice
- 06JuneBestHot, highs near 82F (28C), dryBeach season opens properly and the festa season begins. The last month before the true summer heat.Hotels for June →CrowdsPrice
- 07JulyTradeoffsHot and humid, highs near 88F (31C)Peak crowds and prices, with Blue Lagoon and Valletta packed. The Malta Jazz Festival and nightly village festas are the payoff.CrowdsPrice
- 08AugustTradeoffsHot and humid, highs near 88F (31C), warm nightsThe hottest and busiest month. August 15 (Santa Marija) is the biggest festa day of the year and a national holiday.CrowdsPrice
- 09SeptemberBestWarm, highs near 84F (29C), warmest seaThe sea is at its warmest, the heat eases through the month, and festa season winds down. A top pick for swimmers and divers.Hotels for September →CrowdsPrice
- 10OctoberBestWarm, highs near 77F (25C), first rainsStill beach weather in the first half, with calmer crowds. Birgufest lights the old streets of Birgu with candles.Hotels for October →CrowdsPrice
- 11NovemberGoodMild, highs near 70F (21C), rain more frequentComfortable sightseeing weather and falling prices. Sea still swimmable for the hardy early in the month.Hotels for November →CrowdsPrice
- 12DecemberQuiet valueMild, highs near 64F (18C), windy and dampQuiet and cheap, with Christmas cribs (presepji) and lights in Valletta. The holiday week sees a small bump.CrowdsPrice
Book Malta for April.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for April
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in MaltaOpens a hotel search for Malta in April, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in MaltaWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in MaltaTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Malta for April. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Why go to Malta
Temples older than the pyramids
Ggantija on Gozo and Hagar Qim and Mnajdra on Malta are among the oldest freestanding stone structures on Earth, and the underground Hal Saflieni Hypogeum is unlike anything else in Europe.
Valletta, a fortress capital
A 16th-century walled city built by the Knights of St John, compact enough to walk end to end in 20 minutes, with Caravaggio's largest painting hanging in St John's Co-Cathedral.
Some of the Mediterranean's best diving
Clear water, dramatic limestone reefs, caves, and several wrecks make Malta and Gozo a serious dive destination, with September and October the warmest months in the water.
Three islands in one trip
Busy Malta, rural Gozo, and tiny Comino are all linked by short ferries, so you can switch from city streets to cliff walks to a lagoon swim in a day.
Things to do, and when to do them
Valletta and St John's Co-Cathedral
The cathedral's gilded interior and Caravaggio's Beheading of Saint John are the high point. Go at opening; cruise groups arrive mid-morning.
Hal Saflieni Hypogeum
A 5,000-year-old underground burial complex limited to small groups per hour. Tickets sell out weeks ahead; book as soon as your dates are set.
Mdina
The walled former capital on a hilltop, silent at night and busiest mid-morning. Pair it with neighboring Rabat's catacombs.
Gozo
Ggantija Temples, the Citadella in Victoria, and the cliffs around Dwejra. A 25-minute ferry from Cirkewwa makes it an easy day or a better overnight.
Comino's Blue Lagoon
Clear turquoise water and a serious crowd problem in summer, now with visitor controls. Go on the first boat or in May, June, or October.
The Three Cities
Birgu, Senglea, and Cospicua across Grand Harbour from Valletta. Take the traditional dghajsa water taxi and walk the waterfront.
Upper Barrakka Gardens
The best view of Grand Harbour, with the Saluting Battery's cannon fired daily at noon.
Blue Grotto
Small boats tour sea caves from Wied iz-Zurrieq in the morning light. Trips stop when the sea is rough, which is common in winter.
Events and seasons worth planning around
Malta Carnival
The days before Lent, February or early March depending on the year
Floats and costumed dancers in Valletta and Floriana. Nadur on Gozo runs an unofficial, more anarchic version.
Holy Week and Good Friday processions
March or April, following the Catholic Easter date
Solemn statue processions through village streets on Good Friday, then joyful Risen Christ processions on Easter Sunday.
Malta International Fireworks Festival
Late April
Competing pyrotechnic teams over Grand Harbour on several nights. The harbor bastions are the grandstands.
Village festas
June through September
Each parish celebrates its patron saint with brass bands, street decorations, processions, and fireworks. Nearly every summer weekend has one somewhere.
Santa Marija
August 15 every year
A national holiday and the biggest festa date of the year, celebrated in several villages at once, especially on Gozo.
Malta Jazz Festival
July
Evening concerts by Valletta's waterfront, a long-running highlight of the summer calendar.
Birgufest
October
Birgu switches off its streetlights and fills the old town with candles for a few evenings.
Beat the crowds
- Check the Valletta cruise terminal schedule. On big-ship days, do St John's Co-Cathedral at opening and leave the city center to the groups from mid-morning to mid-afternoon.
- Take the first boat to Comino or go after 4pm. Midday in July and August is the Blue Lagoon at its most crowded.
- Base yourself on Gozo for part of the trip. It is slower, greener, and noticeably quieter than the main island even in summer.
- Book the Hypogeum as soon as your dates are firm; it is the one sight in Malta you cannot improvise.
- Use the ferry from Valletta to Sliema or the Three Cities rather than buses and taxis, which crawl in summer traffic.
Open or closed
- Malta does not shut down in winter. Valletta, Mdina, museums, temples, and restaurants operate year-round, and heritage sites keep regular hours with only a few public holiday closures.
- Boat trips to Comino, the Blue Grotto, and around the coast are weather-dependent and run on reduced schedules from about November through March.
- Heritage Malta sites close on a handful of public holidays, including Good Friday, December 24, 25, and 31, and January 1. Check hours before building a day around them.
- Some beach kiosks, lidos, and seasonal restaurants close from late October to spring, particularly on Gozo and Comino.
With kids in tow
- Malta is compact, English-speaking, and safe, which makes it one of the easiest Mediterranean trips with kids.
- Sandy beaches are fewer than rocky ones; Golden Bay, Ghajn Tuffieha, Mellieha Bay, and Ramla Bay on Gozo have sand and gentle entries.
- The prehistoric temples and the Hypogeum are strong homeschool material on the Neolithic. Note that the Hypogeum has a minimum age limit, so check before booking.
- The Upper Barrakka noon gun and the Fort St Elmo National War Museum are reliable hits with older children.
Getting there
- Malta International Airport (MLA) is the only airport, about 20 to 30 minutes from Valletta. There are no nonstops from the US; connect through London, Frankfurt, Rome, Paris, Istanbul, or another European hub.
- The Gozo Channel ferry runs frequently year-round from Cirkewwa to Mgarr in about 25 minutes, and fast ferries link Valletta to Gozo.
- Buses cover the whole island cheaply but slowly. A rental car helps on Gozo; on the main island, traffic and parking make it less useful.
Packing? Packing cubes and the airport kit.
Malta for the holidays
Holiday and school-break weeks where Malta makes our ranked list.
Malta timing, quick answers
What is the best month to visit Malta?
May or late September into October. Warm, sunny weather, good sightseeing conditions, and a swimmable sea, with fewer people and lower prices than July and August.
What is the cheapest time to visit Malta?
January and February. Hotel rates are at their lowest and every cultural site is open. Expect wind, some rain, and a sea too cold for most swimmers.
Is Malta worth visiting in winter?
Yes, for history and culture. Highs sit in the low 60s F (about 16C), Valletta and the temples are uncrowded, and prices are low. Boat trips and beach life are limited.
How hot is Malta in summer?
July and August highs average in the upper 80s F (about 31C) with high humidity and warm nights, and heat waves push higher. Sightseeing is best early and late in the day.
When is the sea warm enough to swim in Malta?
From about late May to early November. The water is warmest in August and September, and many locals swim through October.
When are the Malta festas?
Mainly June through September, when each village celebrates its patron saint with processions, bands, and fireworks. August 15, Santa Marija, is the busiest festa day.
Weighing alternatives
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