Malta was my travel find of the year. I went in not expecting much and came out obsessed. I love how it’s an island and a beach destination but also has beautiful and interesting historic places to visit, because I’ll be honest, I just get bored being all day at the beach! Malta gives you both: turquoise water one afternoon, a 4,000 year old temple the next, and a medieval walled city for golden hour in between.

This is my full Malta bucket list for 2026: the things I actually did, the ones I’d skip, and everything practical you need to plan the trip yourself.

Visiting Malta: The Essentials

✈️ Getting There / Malta International Airport (MLA) is the island’s only airport, with direct flights from most UK and European cities. Book a private airport transfer with WelcomePickups: landing already sorted beats queuing for a taxi after a flight. Search flights on Skyscanner.

🚗 Getting Around / A rental car is almost always the best option, especially if you’re only there for a few days: Malta is tiny, roads are manageable, and it saves you waiting around for buses to reach spots like Dingli Cliffs or the quieter beaches. Compare rental cars on DiscoverCars. That said, the public buses are incredible, regular, and take you to any part of the island if you’d rather not drive. One honest flag though: staying in Sliema, I had buses not stop for me more than once because they were already over capacity, and lost the best part of an hour waiting for one that would.

🎟️ Tours / Malta rewards a guided day out, especially for the temples and Gozo. The best ones to book in advance:
Prehistoric Temples of Malta Tour
Full-Day Gozo Jeep Safari with Lunch
Comino, Blue Lagoon & Caves Boat Cruise
Highlights of Malta & Mdina Full Day Tour with Lunch
Wine Lover’s Tour of Malta

🏨 Stay / Valletta puts you closest to the main sights; Sliema and St Julian’s are better for the seafront and nightlife:
Strand Suites by NEU Collective $
Palazzo Violetta $$
The Phoenicia Malta $$$
Search and compare all Malta hotels →

📱 Connect / Stay connected from the moment you land with an eSIM. I use SimLocal and get a 5% discount with code TRAVELWITHPAU.

🛡️ Get Insured / Things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for over 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.