Why Malta for a Honeymoon
Malta packs a remarkable amount into a short trip. Valletta, the capital, was built by the Knights of St. John after they survived the Ottoman Great Siege of 1565. Its grid of honey-colored streets, enclosed wooden balconies and harbor views is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside St. John's Co-Cathedral hangs Caravaggio's largest painting.
Outside the capital, the islands hold some of the oldest freestanding stone buildings on earth. The temples at Ġgantija on Gozo and Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra on Malta predate Stonehenge.
The sea is clear and the swimming season is long. Malta gets roughly 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. Sea temperatures reach the high 70s Fahrenheit in August and stay swimmable well into autumn. Diving is excellent, with wrecks, caves and reefs in very clear water.
It is also relaxed. Evenings revolve around a long dinner, a glass of local wine and a walk along the waterfront.
Best Time to Visit
May, June, September and October are the best months for most couples. The weather is warm without being punishing and the sea is good for swimming from June onward. Hotel prices sit below their August peak.
July and August are hot and dry, with highs around 88°F and very little shade in the stone streets. It is also when the village festas reach their height. Weekends bring brass bands, decorated churches, processions and fireworks over the harbor. Go if you enjoy a party and can nap through the afternoon heat.
November to March is mild and green. Daytime highs stay in the upper 50s to low 60s. Rain arrives in short heavy bursts, mostly between October and January. The sea is too cool for most swimmers, but sightseeing is comfortable and rates drop. April is lovely for walking, with wildflowers on the cliffs.
If beaches matter most, choose June or September. For history and food alone, almost any month works.
Where to Go
Valletta is the obvious base. The walled capital is small enough to cross on foot in fifteen minutes and packed with palaces, churches, museums, wine bars and restaurants. Staying inside the walls means you can wander home after dinner along streets that empty out at night.
Mdina, the old capital on a ridge in the center of the island, is the quiet counterpoint. It has narrow lanes, palaces and bastion walls with views to the sea. It also has very few cars. One or two nights there feels like stepping back several centuries.
Gozo is the green, slower sister island, a short ferry ride north. Couples rent farmhouses with private pools, dive or snorkel off rocky inlets and eat in village squares. Plan at least three nights.
Also worth time: the Three Cities across the Grand Harbour from Valletta, the fishing village of Marsaxlokk with its painted boats and the Blue Lagoon on Comino. Visit the lagoon early or late to avoid the crowds.
Sample 10-Day Itinerary
Days 1 to 4: Valletta. Recover from the flight with a walk along the bastions and sunset at the Upper Barrakka Gardens. Spend a morning in St. John's Co-Cathedral and an afternoon at the Grandmaster's Palace. Take a traditional boat across the harbor to the Three Cities. Book a visit to the Hypogeum and have Sunday lunch in Marsaxlokk.
Day 5: Mdina. Move to the old capital, walk the walls at dusk and visit the cathedral. In the morning, drive out to the Dingli Cliffs.
Days 6 to 9: Gozo. Take the ferry from Ċirkewwa and settle into a farmhouse or a hotel near the coast. Visit Ġgantija and the Citadel in Victoria. Swim at Ramla Bay and in the inlet at Xlendi. Snorkel at Dwejra and spend one morning on a boat to Comino before the day-trippers arrive.
Day 10: Return to Malta for your flight home. If you have an extra day, the catamaran to Sicily makes an easy add-on.
Budget and Costs
Malta costs less than the Amalfi Coast or the Greek islands in peak season. It is not a bargain destination, however. These ranges are approximate and climb in July and August.
Rooms: well-reviewed boutique hotels in restored Valletta townhouses often run about $150 to $350 a night. Five-star hotels and luxury suites start around $350 and go much higher in summer. A Gozo farmhouse with a private pool often runs roughly $120 to $300 a night and can be good value for a week, especially in the shoulder seasons.
Food: a pastizz, the flaky local pastry, costs very little. A casual lunch for two might be $30 to $50. Dinner at a good restaurant with a bottle of Maltese wine typically runs $90 to $180. Tasting menus cost more.
Transport: buses are cheap, the Gozo ferry is inexpensive and ride-hailing apps keep taxi fares reasonable. A rental car runs about $40 to $80 a day. Boat trips and dives add up, so set aside a budget for them. Flights from the US are likely the biggest single cost.
Getting There and Around
Malta International Airport is about three miles from Valletta. Delta has operated a seasonal nonstop from New York JFK in the summer months. Schedules change, so check before booking. Otherwise you connect through a European or Middle Eastern hub. KM Malta Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Swiss and Air France are among the carriers serving the island, along with low-cost airlines from across Europe. Fast catamarans also link Valletta with Sicily.
Getting around is simple. Public buses reach almost every town, though they can be slow and crowded in summer. Ferries cross from Valletta to Sliema and to the Three Cities in minutes. Taxis and ride-hailing apps cover short hops at modest prices.
To reach Gozo, take the car ferry from Ċirkewwa, at the northern tip of Malta, to Mġarr. The crossing takes about 25 minutes. A fast passenger ferry runs from Valletta in about 45 minutes. Driving is on the left, roads are narrow and parking in towns is scarce.
Culture and Etiquette
Malta is a deeply Catholic country. Even if you never set foot in a church, you will notice it in the roadside shrines, the church bells and the festas. Cover shoulders and knees when visiting churches. Some, including St. John's Co-Cathedral, enforce this at the door.
The Maltese are direct, friendly and proud of their history. English is spoken everywhere, but a simple grazzi (thank you) or bonġu (good morning) goes over well. Maltese is a Semitic language written in Latin script, with a large vocabulary borrowed from Italian and English.
Sundays are family days. Many people gather for long lunches, so book ahead for popular restaurants. Some shops close. Tipping around 10 percent is appreciated in restaurants when service is not included.
The summer festa is the best window into local life. Each parish celebrates its patron saint with lights, bands and fireworks. Join the crowd in the square, buy nougat from a street stall and watch the statue go by.
Quick tips
- Pack a UK-style three-pin plug adapter; Malta uses Type G sockets.
- Book the Hypogeum weeks ahead, since daily tickets are strictly limited.
- Traffic drives on the left; many couples skip the car on Malta and rent one only on Gozo.
