Malta and Gozo
Mellieħa Bay is Malta's shallowest, safest paddle, while teenagers get sea kayaking, cliff jumping and the surreally turquoise Blue Lagoon on Comino — take the first boat of the day, because by noon it's soup.
- Best forFamilies · Culture seekers · Beach lovers
- In December17°C · 9 rainy days
- Ideal stayA week, split between Malta and Gozo
- Approx. flying time~13h 30m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageMaltese and English
- Local time12:151h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType GUK plugs fit
- Drive on theLeftSame as the UK
- Dialling code+356
Why go
Malta packs walled cities, Baroque churches and a genuinely ancient history into an island you can cross by car in under an hour. Valletta's honey-coloured bastions look much as they did under the Knights of St John, while Mdina's silent, car-free streets feel like stepping back further still. Gozo, a short ferry ride away, is greener and slower, with its own citadel and quieter coves. English is spoken everywhere, which makes the whole archipelago unusually easy to navigate.
A week covers both islands comfortably: a few days based near Valletta or Sliema for the cities and ferries, then two or three on Gozo for a change of pace. The swimming season runs from April to November, longer than most of the Mediterranean, and transfers from the airport are short. It suits families, history-minded couples and anyone happier city-hopping than lying on sand all day, since Malta's beaches are decent rather than exceptional.
- Ideal stay
- A week, split between Malta and Gozo
- The vibe
- Sun-baked, historic, easy-going
From our guides
In between: walled cities, harbour ferries and pastizzi for pennies. English is spoken everywhere, transfers are tiny and the swimming season stretches from April all the way to November. Valletta's evening passeggiata suits even the pushchair shift.
Featured in Ten sunshine spots where toddlers and teenagers are equally happy
Things to do
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Valletta's bastions and Grand Harbour
A fortified capital of honey-coloured stone, with sweeping harbour views from the Upper Barrakka Gardens and streets little changed in centuries.
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Mdina, the silent city
Malta's former capital, a walled, largely car-free town of narrow lanes and Baroque palaces perched above the surrounding plain.
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Blue Lagoon, Comino
A shallow, turquoise channel between Comino and a smaller islet, best reached on an early boat before the midday crowds arrive.
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Gozo's Citadel, Victoria
A fortified hilltop old town with views across Gozo's patchwork of fields, quieter and less visited than Malta's main sights.
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Mellieħa Bay
Malta's largest sandy beach and its shallowest, making it the easiest spot on the islands for young children to paddle safely.
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Marsaxlokk fish market
A working fishing village of brightly painted luzzu boats, with a Sunday market selling the morning's catch and local produce.
Getting there
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Fly to
Valletta (MLA)
Nearest airport to Malta and Gozo, about 34km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Valletta
About 20 minutes by taxi or bus from Malta International (MLA) to Valletta, and around 40 minutes to Mellieha in the north.
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On the ground
Getting around
Valletta is compact and walkable, harbour ferries cross to Sliema and the Three Cities, and the Gozo ferry runs from Cirkewwa; Comino's Blue Lagoon is reached by boat from Cirkewwa or Mellieha.
Public transport: Good: a single island-wide bus network reaches almost every village and beach, backed up by ferries.
Flights
Los Angeles Malta and Gozo
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Roughly 13h 30m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 14°C in February to 27°C in August. Driest June to August; wettest in November, with rain on about 11 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
December17° · rain 9 daysCool with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — June to October. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Harbour-view four-stars, plenty of apartments and aparthotels, and converted farmhouses with private pools on Gozo. All-inclusive exists but is not the default.
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Best base overall
Valletta and Sliema
Valletta gives you the walled city and the ferries; Sliema across the harbour gives you more rooms and a seafront promenade. Neither has a sandy beach, so swimming is off the rocks.
Find stays in Valletta and Sliema -
Best with children
Mellieha
Above Malta's biggest sandy bay, with shallow water, the Comino boats and the Gozo ferry both close. The town sits on a steep hill above the beach, so check where your hotel actually is.
Find stays in Mellieha -
Best for nightlife
St Julian's and Paceville
The island's bar and club quarter, packed and loud until very late. Fine if that is the plan, miserable if you have a toddler and a room facing the street.
Find stays in St Julian's and Paceville -
Quietest
Xlendi and Marsalforn, Gozo
Small Gozitan resorts with swimming inlets, farmhouse rentals inland and a much slower pace. The ferry adds an hour each way to anything on Malta.
Find stays in Xlendi and Marsalforn, Gozo
Worth knowing before you book: Gozo farmhouses go early for summer and often run Saturday-to-Saturday, while village festa weekends bring fireworks and bands until the small hours.
Search everything else in Valletta by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Flights from the UK are short, generally under three and a half hours, and the airport is a quick transfer from most hotel bases.
- With kids
- Mellieħa Bay and the Blue Lagoon are the safest, shallowest swimming spots for young children; many other coves involve rocks and steps into the sea.
- Getting around
- Buses connect most towns cheaply, but a hire car or the Gozo ferry timetable is worth planning around if you want flexibility.
- Timing
- The swimming season runs longer than most of the Mediterranean, from April into November, with July and August the hottest and busiest.
- Language
- English is an official language alongside Maltese, so menus, signs and directions are straightforward throughout both islands.
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Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Malta and Gozo?
For warm, mostly dry days, June to October. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 14°C in February to 27°C in August. Driest June to August; wettest in November, with rain on about 11 days.
How long should I spend in Malta and Gozo?
Our suggestion: a week, split between Malta and Gozo.
How do I get to Malta and Gozo?
About 20 minutes by taxi or bus from Malta International (MLA) to Valletta, and around 40 minutes to Mellieha in the north.
Do I need a car in Malta and Gozo?
No. Good: a single island-wide bus network reaches almost every village and beach, backed up by ferries.
What currency and language are used in Malta and Gozo?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Maltese and English. Plugs: type G.
Who is Malta and Gozo best for?
Best for families, culture seekers and beach lovers. In a phrase: sun-baked, historic, easy-going.