Attractions & historic sites in Malta and Gozo

Birgu (Vittoriosa) WaterfrontHistoric waterfront

Restored marina promenade lined with the former Knights' warehouses, cafes and the Maritime Museum, set beneath Fort St Angelo on the Grand Harbour.

Getting there

Reached by traditional dgħajsa or ferry from Valletta, or by bus to the Three Cities.

Accessibility

Level, step-free waterfront promenade.

Fort St AngeloFort

Commanding bastioned fort at the tip of Birgu, the Knights' headquarters during the 1565 Great Siege and a centrepiece of the Grand Harbour fortifications.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

At the end of the Birgu (Vittoriosa) peninsula; walkable from the Three Cities waterfront, or by harbour ferry from Valletta.

Accessibility

Historic fort on several levels with ramps and steps.

Inquisitor's PalacePalace

One of the few surviving inquisitors' palaces in Europe, in the heart of Birgu, now the National Museum of Ethnography with tribunal rooms and prison cells.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

In the streets of Birgu (Vittoriosa), a short walk up from the waterfront.

Accessibility

Historic palace with staircases; ground floor partly accessible.

Malta at War MuseumMuseum

WWII museum in a former barracks above an original air-raid shelter dug into the rock, telling the story of Malta's wartime siege.

Website

wirtartna.org

Getting there

Just inside the Birgu land-front gate; walkable from the Three Cities waterfront.

Accessibility

The rock-cut shelter is reached by steep steps underground.

Għar Dalam Cave & MuseumCave

Prehistoric cave and museum near Birżebbuġa whose deep deposits yielded the fossilised bones of dwarf elephants, hippos and deer, plus the earliest traces of humans on Malta.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

On the edge of Birżebbuġa; reached by bus toward Birżebbuġa then a short walk.

Accessibility

Museum is step-free; a sloped path leads down to the cave.

Dingli CliffsNatural site

The highest point of the Maltese coast, where sheer limestone cliffs drop to the sea, offering sweeping walks and views toward the islet of Filfla.

Getting there

Above Dingli village; reached by bus toward Dingli then a short walk to the cliff road.

Accessibility

Open clifftop with uneven, unfenced natural ground.

Argotti Botanic GardensGardens

Botanic gardens and resource centre on the Floriana bastions, with a notable succulent and cactus collection and views toward Marsamxett Harbour.

Getting there

In Floriana, a short walk from Valletta's City Gate and the bus terminus.

Accessibility

Terraced gardens with some steps between levels.

Fort ManoelFort

Restored 18th-century star fort on Manoel Island in Marsamxett Harbour, an elegant example of Baroque military architecture with a central parade ground and chapel.

Getting there

On Manoel Island, reached on foot by the bridge from Gżira.

Accessibility

Open fort with cobbled surfaces and some steps to the bastions.

Fort RinellaFort

Victorian coastal battery housing the 100-ton Armstrong gun, one of only two such guns surviving, with living-history demonstrations.

Website

wirtartna.org

Getting there

In Kalkara near the harbour mouth; reached by bus toward Smart City/Kalkara.

Accessibility

Outdoor fort with uneven ground; the gun emplacement is largely at grade.

MarsaxlokkFishing village

Traditional fishing village around a colourful harbour of luzzu boats, known for its waterfront restaurants and a lively Sunday fish and produce market.

Getting there

Reached by bus toward Marsaxlokk; the harbour promenade is at the centre of the village.

Accessibility

Level, step-free harbourside promenade.

Mdina (the Silent City)Old city

Fortified medieval hilltop city and Malta's former capital, a maze of narrow lanes and noble palaces enclosed within honey-coloured bastion walls.

Getting there

Many bus routes serve Rabat/Mdina; alight at the terminus and walk to the Mdina Gate.

Accessibility

Cobbled, largely pedestrian streets; mostly flat but uneven underfoot.

National Museum of Natural HistoryMuseum

Malta's natural history collection housed in the 18th-century Vilhena Palace inside Mdina, covering geology, flora and fauna of the islands.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

Just inside the Mdina main gate on Piazza San Publju.

Accessibility

Historic palace; ground-floor galleries are partly accessible.

Palazzo FalsonHistoric house

Medieval palace and one of Mdina's oldest buildings, preserved as a house museum with collections of armour, silver, paintings and antiques.

Website

palazzofalson.com

Getting there

In the streets of Mdina, a short walk from the main gate.

Accessibility

Historic house with staircases between floors.

St Paul's Cathedral, MdinaCathedral

Baroque metropolitan cathedral said to stand where the Roman governor Publius met St Paul, rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake with a richly decorated interior.

Getting there

On St Paul's Square inside Mdina, a short walk from the city gate.

Accessibility

Step-free main entrance from the square.

Golden BayBeach

One of Malta's largest sandy beaches, a broad golden cove backed by undeveloped hillsides, popular for swimming and sunsets.

Getting there

Reached by bus toward Golden Bay/Għajn Tuffieħa; steps and a ramp lead down to the sand.

Accessibility

A ramp and steps descend to the beach; a summer beach wheelchair may be available.

Popeye VillageFilm set

The rustic wooden village built as the set for the 1980 'Popeye' film at Anchor Bay, now a family attraction and swimming cove.

Website

popeyemalta.com

Getting there

At Anchor Bay near Mellieħa; reached by bus toward Mellieħa then a local connection or short drive.

Accessibility

Hillside site with slopes and steps down to the village and bay.

Red Tower (St Agatha's Tower)Watchtower

A large 17th-century coastal watchtower on the Marfa Ridge, painted deep red, commanding views over Mellieħa Bay, the Gozo channel and Comino.

Getting there

On the Marfa Ridge above Mellieħa; reached by car or a walk from the Ċirkewwa road.

Accessibility

Reached over rough ground; steps lead up into the tower.

Għajn Tuffieħa BayBeach

A quieter red-sand bay reached by a long flight of steps, backed by clay slopes and the Riviera hills next to Golden Bay.

Getting there

Reached from the Golden Bay bus stop; a long stairway leads down to the sand.

Accessibility

Access is by a long descent of steps; not step-free.

Ta' Ħaġrat TemplesTemple

UNESCO-listed pair of small megalithic temples on the edge of Mġarr village, among the more modest but well-preserved of Malta's temple sites.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

In Mġarr village; reached by bus toward Mġarr then a short walk.

Accessibility

Compact site viewed from ground level with some uneven surfaces.

Mosta RotundaChurch

The Basilica of the Assumption, a 19th-century parish church with one of the world's largest unsupported domes, famous for a WWII bomb that pierced the roof without exploding.

Getting there

In the centre of Mosta; well served by buses from Valletta and other hubs.

Accessibility

Step-free main entrance from the square.

Ħal Saflieni HypogeumUnderground temple

UNESCO-listed prehistoric underground burial complex carved on three levels into the living rock, unique in the world and preserving the celebrated 'Sleeping Lady' find.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

In Paola, a short walk from the Tarxien Temples; reached by bus toward Paola.

Accessibility

Underground site with steep stairs; not wheelchair accessible and strictly limited numbers, so book well ahead.

Malta National AquariumAquarium

Family aquarium on the Qawra seafront with a walk-through tunnel tank and displays of Mediterranean and tropical marine life.

Website

aquarium.com.mt

Getting there

On the Qawra/Buġibba coast; well served by buses to St Paul's Bay.

Accessibility

Modern building with step-free access throughout.

Ħaġar Qim TemplesTemple

UNESCO-listed megalithic temple complex of around 3600-3200 BC on a ridge above the sea, built from massive coralline limestone blocks and sheltered by a protective canopy.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

Bus routes to Qrendi/Ħaġar Qim; a visitor centre serves both Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra.

Accessibility

Level pathway from the visitor centre; some uneven ground within the temple.

Mnajdra TemplesTemple

UNESCO-listed prehistoric temple group set in a hollow overlooking the sea near Ħaġar Qim, noted for a temple aligned to the equinox and solstice sunrises.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

Shared visitor centre with Ħaġar Qim near Qrendi; a downhill path leads to the site.

Accessibility

Reached by a sloping path from Ħaġar Qim; the descent can be steep.

Domus RomanaRoman house

Remains of a wealthy Roman townhouse between Mdina and Rabat, preserving fine mosaic floors and statuary displayed in situ within a small museum.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

Between Mdina and Rabat, a short walk from the bus terminus.

Accessibility

Museum with a mix of step-free and stepped viewing areas.

St Paul's CatacombsCatacombs

Extensive complex of early-Christian and pagan rock-cut tombs on the edge of Roman Melite, among the earliest evidence of Christianity in Malta.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

In Rabat, a short walk from the Rabat/Mdina bus terminus.

Accessibility

Underground galleries reached by steps; some tombs are cramped.

Wignacourt Museum & St Paul's GrottoMuseum

Baroque former chaplains' college in Rabat with sacred art, a WWII shelter and access to St Paul's Grotto, where the apostle is traditionally said to have sheltered.

Getting there

In Rabat next to St Paul's Church, a short walk from the bus terminus.

Accessibility

The grotto and shelters are reached by steps underground.

Senglea Point & Gardjola GardensGardens

Small bastion gardens at the tip of Senglea crowned by the Gardjola, a carved stone watchtower with an eye and ear symbolising vigilance over the Grand Harbour.

Getting there

At the end of the Senglea peninsula; walkable from the Three Cities, or ferry from Valletta.

Accessibility

Level garden terrace with panoramic harbour views.

Clapham Junction Cart RutsArchaeological site

Dense field of prehistoric parallel grooves worn into the limestone near Buskett, nicknamed 'Clapham Junction' for its tangle of criss-crossing tracks of debated origin.

Getting there

On the Dingli plateau near Buskett; reached by car or a walk from Buskett Gardens.

Accessibility

Open rocky plateau with rough, uneven ground.

Verdala Palace & Buskett GardensPalace

Fortified 16th-century summer palace of the Grand Masters, set above Buskett, Malta's only substantial woodland; the palace serves as the President's summer residence.

Getting there

On the Dingli/Siġġiewi plateau beside Buskett Gardens; best reached by car.

Accessibility

Palace interior opens only occasionally; Buskett woodland has shaded, uneven paths.

Malta Aviation MuseumMuseum

Volunteer-run museum at the former Ta' Qali airfield displaying restored aircraft including a Spitfire and a Hurricane linked to Malta's wartime air defence.

Website

maltaaviationmuseum.com

Getting there

At Ta' Qali near the crafts village; reached by bus toward Ta' Qali/Attard.

Accessibility

Largely single-level hangars with step-free access.

Tarxien TemplesTemple

UNESCO-listed complex of four linked megalithic temples famous for their intricate relief carvings, spirals and the lower half of a colossal statue.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

In a residential part of Tarxien; reached by bus toward Tarxien/Paola then a short walk.

Accessibility

Raised walkways provide a largely step-free route over the site.

Casa Rocca PiccolaHistoric house

A still-inhabited 16th-century noble palace in Valletta, open for guided tours of its period rooms, family collections and WWII bomb shelters.

Website

casaroccapiccola.com

Getting there

On Republic Street in Valletta, a short walk from the bus terminus.

Accessibility

Historic house with staircases; the shelters are reached by steps.

Fort St Elmo & National War MuseumFort

Star-shaped fort guarding the entrance to the Grand and Marsamxett harbours, famed for its 1565 Great Siege defence and now home to the National War Museum.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

At the seaward tip of Valletta, about a 15-minute walk from the bus terminus.

Accessibility

Large historic fort with cobbled and sloping surfaces; parts are step-free.

Grandmaster's PalacePalace

Former palace of the Grand Masters and later the seat of Malta's parliament and presidency, housing State Rooms and the historic Palace Armoury collection.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

Central Valletta on Palace Square (Misraħ San Ġorġ), a few minutes' walk from the bus terminus.

Accessibility

Ground-floor State Rooms offer step-free routes; historic building with some level changes.

Lascaris War RoomsMuseum

Underground complex of tunnels beneath the Upper Barrakka that served as the Allied war headquarters during the WWII siege of Malta and later NATO operations.

Website

lascariswarrooms.com

Getting there

Accessed from Lascaris Ditch below the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta.

Accessibility

Underground rooms reached by stairs; limited step-free access.

MUŻA - National Museum of Fine ArtsMuseum

Malta's national community art museum, set in the restored Auberge d'Italie, displaying works spanning the Knights' era to the modern day.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

In Valletta near the City Gate entrance, a short walk from the bus terminus.

Accessibility

Restored building with lift access to most galleries.

Saluting BatteryHistoric battery

Historic cannon battery on the Valletta bastions below the Upper Barrakka Gardens, where guns are fired at noon and 4pm overlooking the Grand Harbour.

Getting there

Below the Upper Barrakka Gardens; reached on foot from the gardens in Valletta.

Accessibility

Bastion terrace with steps down from the gardens.

St John's Co-CathedralCathedral

High-Baroque conventual church of the Knights of St John, its floor paved with the marble tombs of knights and its Oratory home to Caravaggio's 'The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist'.

Website

stjohnscocathedral.com

Getting there

In central Valletta, a short walk from the Valletta bus terminus; the city is pedestrianised.

Accessibility

Step-free main entrance; some chapels and the Oratory have thresholds.

Teatru ManoelTheatre

One of Europe's oldest working theatres, built in 1731 for the Knights of St John, with an intimate gilded auditorium open for tours and performances.

Website

teatrumanoel.mt

Getting there

On Old Theatre Street in Valletta, a short walk from the bus terminus.

Accessibility

Historic theatre; stalls level is broadly accessible, upper tiers by stairs.

Upper Barrakka GardensGardens

Terraced public gardens on the Valletta bastions giving a panoramic view over the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities; the Saluting Battery below fires a noon gun.

Getting there

Short walk from the Valletta bus terminus; the Barrakka Lift connects the gardens to the Grand Harbour waterfront.

Accessibility

Garden level is largely step-free; the Barrakka Lift links up to the waterfront.

Skorba TemplesTemple

UNESCO-listed temple remains near Żebbiegħ whose excavation revealed some of the earliest known settlement phases in the Maltese islands.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

In Żebbiegħ near Mġarr; reached by bus toward Mġarr then a short walk.

Accessibility

Open archaeological site with uneven ground.

Blue GrottoNatural site

A series of sea caves in the cliffs near Wied iż-Żurrieq where sunlight turns the water a vivid blue, best seen from a small boat.

Getting there

Boat trips depart from Wied iż-Żurrieq; a clifftop viewpoint sits above on the Żurrieq road.

Accessibility

Viewpoint is roadside and largely step-free; boat boarding involves steps to the jetty.

Blue Lagoon (Comino)Natural site

A shallow channel of brilliant turquoise water between Comino and the islet of Cominotto, Malta's most famous swimming and snorkelling spot.

Getting there

Reached by passenger boats and ferries from Ċirkewwa (Malta) and Mġarr (Gozo), plus organised trips.

Accessibility

Landing is onto rock with steps and no formal step-free access; very crowded in summer.

Santa Marija Caves (Comino)Sea caves

A cluster of sea caves off Comino's north-east coast with exceptionally clear water, a prime spot for snorkelling and diving.

Getting there

Visited by boat trips from Comino, Ċirkewwa and Mġarr, often combined with the Blue Lagoon.

Accessibility

Accessible only from the water by boat or by swimming.

Basilica of Ta' PinuBasilica

National Marian shrine set alone in the Gozitan countryside near Għarb, a place of pilgrimage in ornate Romanesque-style stone with a votive collection.

Website

tapinu.org

Getting there

In open country near Għarb; reached by bus from Victoria toward Għarb.

Accessibility

Step-free main entrance and largely level interior.

Wied il-GħasriNatural site

A narrow, steep-sided coastal inlet on Gozo's north coast reached through a rocky valley, with a tiny pebble beach popular with swimmers and divers.

Getting there

Below Għasri on Gozo's north coast; reached by car then a short walk down the valley.

Accessibility

Reached by a rocky path and a steep flight of steps to the water.

Dwejra Bay & Inland SeaNatural site

Dramatic coastal landscape of the Inland Sea lagoon, Fungus Rock and sea cliffs; once home to the Azure Window rock arch, which collapsed in 2017.

Getting there

On Gozo's west coast below San Lawrenz; reached by bus from Victoria toward Dwejra.

Accessibility

Rocky, uneven coastal terrain; small boat trips run through the tunnel to the open sea.

Ta' Ċenċ CliffsNatural site

High, wild sea cliffs on Gozo's south coast near Sannat, an important area for nesting seabirds and open clifftop walking with expansive views.

Getting there

Above Sannat on Gozo's south coast; reached by car or a walk from Sannat village.

Accessibility

Open, unfenced clifftop with rough natural ground.

Cathedral of the Assumption (Gozo)Cathedral

Baroque cathedral within the Cittadella, celebrated for a trompe-l'oeil painted 'dome' on its flat ceiling created when the real dome was never built.

Getting there

Inside the Cittadella in Victoria; reached on foot up from the town.

Accessibility

Reached via the citadel's sloping, cobbled approach.

Cittadella (Victoria)Citadel

Fortified hilltop citadel above Victoria at the heart of Gozo, with restored bastions, museums, the cathedral and panoramic views across the island.

Getting there

In Victoria (Rabat), Gozo's central town; walkable from the bus station up to the citadel.

Accessibility

Steep approach and ramparts; a visitor centre and some routes are accessible.

Calypso CaveViewpoint

A small cave above Ramla Bay linked in legend to Homer's nymph Calypso, chiefly visited for its sweeping viewpoint over Gozo's famous red-sand beach.

Getting there

Above Ramla Bay near Xagħra; reached by car or a walk from Xagħra village.

Accessibility

The cave itself is closed/unstable; the clifftop viewpoint is over rough ground.

Ġgantija TemplesTemple

UNESCO-listed megalithic temples on Gozo dating to around 3600-3000 BC, among the oldest free-standing structures on earth, built from enormous limestone blocks.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

In Xagħra on Gozo; reached by bus from Victoria then a short walk, with a visitor centre on site.

Accessibility

Interpretation centre and raised paths make much of the site step-free.

Ramla Bay (Ir-Ramla l-Ħamra)Beach

Gozo's largest and most scenic beach, known for its distinctive red-gold sand and the submerged remains of a Roman villa in the surrounding valley.

Getting there

In a valley below Xagħra and Nadur; reached by bus from Victoria toward Ramla.

Accessibility

Sandy beach reached from the road; the sand is not step-free.

Ta' Kola WindmillWindmill

An 18th-century windmill in Xagħra preserved as a folk museum, with living quarters and milling machinery evoking rural Gozitan life.

Website

heritagemalta.mt

Getting there

In Xagħra near the Ġgantija Temples; reached by bus from Victoria.

Accessibility

Historic mill with steep internal stairs to the upper floors.

Xlendi BayCoastal village

A sheltered fjord-like bay framed by high cliffs, with a small resort village, waterfront restaurants and swimming off the rocks.

Getting there

In the limits of Munxar; reached by bus from Victoria toward Xlendi.

Accessibility

Level waterfront promenade; cliff walks are stepped and uneven.