Malta Explorer

Itinerary · 10 days

Ramla Bay at golden hour, with the red sand and the green hillsides framing the empty bay

10 days in Malta and Gozo: slow travel for the whole archipelago

Five nights Malta + five nights Gozo with time for the second-tier sights, the festas, a serious south coast day, and proper Gozo rhythm. Independent itinerary.

Ten days is the format for travellers who want the archipelago slow. Five nights Malta + five nights Gozo, with time for the second-tier villages, a proper southern coast day, one or two festas if dates align, hiking, swimming, and a serious Gozo rhythm. This is the trip people remember a decade later.

Who this works for

  • Couples on extended European breaks.
  • Repeat visitors to Malta who want to go deeper.
  • Slow travellers who prefer one or two long stays over a sequence of short ones.
  • Anyone who wants the diving, hiking, or festa experience without sacrificing the cultural sites.

Day 1: arrival and Valletta evening

Land, transfer, drop bags. Late-afternoon Valletta walk (Triton, Republic Street, St John’s Co-Cathedral, Upper Barrakka). Dinner inside the walls.

Day 2: Valletta in detail

Slow Valletta morning. Cathedral if not done yesterday. National Museum of Archaeology (the temple artefacts, the Sleeping Lady). Casa Rocca Piccola tour. Lunch.

Afternoon: The Lascaris War Rooms (€15, 75 minutes) for the 1942-43 siege command bunkers. Or The Manoel Theatre tour (€7, 30 minutes).

Evening: dinner at one of the better Valletta kitchens (Noni, Rubino, Phoenix at the Phoenicia).

Day 3: Three Cities full day

Morning dghajsa to Birgu. Inquisitor’s Palace (60 minutes), Fort St Angelo (75 minutes), lunch on the Birgu waterfront (Tal-Petut or Don Berto).

Afternoon: walk to Senglea, Gardjola Gardens, then to Cospicua. The Cospicua dock area is being redeveloped; walk it to see the working harbour. Dghajsa back to Valletta around 18:00.

Evening: dinner in Valletta or at a Birgu seafront kitchen (last dghajsa back around 22:00).

Day 4: Mdina, Rabat, Mosta + central villages

Hire a car today.

Morning: Rabat catacombs + Domus Romana. Lunch at Crystal Palace pastizzeria.

Afternoon: walk up to Mdina. Cathedral, walking spine, Bastion Square. Sunset at the bastions.

Optional Mosta detour and San Anton Gardens in Attard for a slow walk through the formal gardens.

Three Villages walk (Attard-Balzan-Lija) if energy allows, or save it for tomorrow morning.

Sleep in Mdina (Xara Palace, Casa Melita) or back at the Valletta hotel.

Day 5: the southern coast all day

Morning drive to Hagar Qim and Mnajdra (2 hours). Lunch in Marsaxlokk (the Sunday market if your dates align; otherwise the weekday working harbour).

Afternoon: Tarxien Temples + the Hypogeum (if you booked tickets). Or, if no Hypogeum tickets, Ghar Dalam cave museum at Birzebbuga (€5, 45 minutes) and a quiet walk through one of the southern villages (Qrendi, Zurrieq).

Late afternoon: Dingli Cliffs for golden hour and sunset. Pack a fleece.

Dinner near Dingli or back at your Malta-side base.

Day 6: transition to Gozo, settle in

Morning: pack up the Malta side, drive to Cirkewwa. Catch the ferry to Mgarr.

Arrive on Gozo by mid-morning. Settle into your converted farmhouse.

Afternoon: Cittadella in Victoria. Bastion circuit + Cathedral + Cathedral Museum + Old Prisons. 3 hours including breaks at the It-Tokk cafés.

Dinner in Victoria or at a village kitchen (Ta’ Frenc is the high-end pick; book ahead).

Day 7: Ggantija morning, Dwejra afternoon, Xlendi evening

Morning: Ggantija temples + Ta’ Kola windmill + Xagħra Stone Circle (90 minutes). Quick coffee in Xagħra square.

Late morning: drive to Dwejra. Inland Sea boat trip, Fungus Rock view, Dwejra Bay swim. 2 hours.

Afternoon: Xlendi. Lunch at Saint Patrick’s or Ic-Cima. Swim in the bay. Walk up to the small chapel above the headland.

Evening: dinner in Xlendi or back at your farmhouse.

Day 8: Comino half-day OR Ramla full day

Route A: Comino half-day (the strong recommendation if you want the Blue Lagoon at its best):

  • 06:30: drive to Mgarr.
  • 07:30 small ferry to Comino.
  • 07:50-11:30: Blue Lagoon (empty), Crystal Lagoon walk, Santa Marija Tower climb.
  • 11:30 boat back to Gozo.
  • Lunch in Mgarr or Xlendi.
  • Afternoon: slow farmhouse hours by the pool, or a coastal walk near Sannat (Ta’ Ċenċ headland).

Route B: Ramla full day:

  • Morning at the farmhouse, slow breakfast.
  • Late morning drive to Ramla Bay. Swim, walk up to Calypso’s Cave, picnic on the beach.
  • Afternoon: walk down to San Blas Bay (wilder, smaller, 20 minutes’ walk from the road).
  • Late afternoon: optional Daħlet Qorrot swim for the limestone-shelf experience.
  • Dinner back at the farmhouse or in a Xagħra restaurant.

Day 9: coastal walk or diving

Two main options for an active Gozo day.

Coastal walk option: the Sannat to Ta’ Ċenċ walk follows the southern cliffs from Sannat village to the Ta’ Ċenċ headland. 5 km return, 90 minutes, unmarked path. Or the San Lawrenz to Gharb walk along the western cliffs near Dwejra (6 km, 2 hours, with the Wied il-Mielah natural rock arch as the endpoint).

Diving option: book a half-day dive with one of the Xlendi or Marsalforn schools. Inland Sea Tunnel at Dwejra, the Blue Hole, or Reqqa Point on the north coast. €60 for a single shore dive; €110 for a two-tank boat day.

Afternoon: Marsalforn salt pans walk along the north coast. Coffee at one of the Marsalforn seafront cafés.

Dinner: pack-and-eat at the farmhouse for a quiet evening.

Day 10: slow morning, ferry, departure

Morning: one final swim at your favourite spot (Mgarr ix-Xini, Daħlet Qorrot, Ramla, or Xlendi depending on weather and proximity).

Lunch: a slow farmhouse lunch or one final Maltese kitchen meal.

Afternoon: pack the car, drive to Mgarr, board the 15:00 or 16:00 ferry. Arrive Cirkewwa around 16:30.

Optional final-evening Sliema sunset: drive to Sliema, dinner at one of the Tower Road restaurants, evening promenade walk before the airport.

Or drive directly to the airport for an evening flight.

Where to sleep

Malta side (5 nights):

  • Nights 1-3 in Valletta inside the walls (€180-300/night).
  • Night 4 in Mdina at the Xara Palace or Casa Melita (€220-450).
  • Night 5 at the Malta-side base for the final southern coast day, returning to Valletta or Sliema.

Gozo side (5 nights):

  • Converted farmhouse in San Lawrenz, Sannat or Munxar for all 5 nights. €140-280/night, often discounted at the 5-night length. This is the signature Gozo stay.

Transport pattern

  • Days 1-3: bus + Sliema-Valletta ferry. No car needed.
  • Days 4-10: hire a car for the full Malta-and-Gozo portion. Pick up at the airport on day 4 morning; drop off on day 10 evening or before departure.

This 7-day car rental costs more than the multi-rental pattern but saves the complexity of multiple pickups. At 10 days, the simpler approach wins.

Budget

At mid-range, expect €1,800-2,500 per person for the 10-day trip including flights, two hotels, lunches, dinners, 7 days car rental, ferries, museum admissions, optional dive day, and Hypogeum if booked. Add €500-800 for boutique upgrades and the high-end restaurant meals.

What gets added beyond the 7-day version

The 10-day pattern adds:

  • The Three Cities full day instead of a half-day.
  • A Mdina overnight (the signature 21:00-09:00 silent city experience).
  • A full southern coast day instead of a half-day.
  • A 5th Gozo night (which is when Gozo really opens up).
  • One serious activity day (diving, hiking, or a long coastal walk).
  • More slow farmhouse hours.
  • Margin for one festa night if dates align.

Closing note

Ten days is when the trip stops being a tour and starts being a holiday. The pace is comfortable, the sights are unrushed, and the Gozo rhythm has time to settle. For most travellers who can afford 10 days in Malta, this format is the one to choose. If 7 days is the maximum, the 7-day itinerary covers the essentials. If you have only 5, the 5-day itinerary is the next-best option.