Here are our ideas for easy days out from Valletta to see some of the rest of Malta. We start with the two most popular day trips, to the 3 Cities and to Mdina and Rabat, both very easy to do on public transport. Then we have a look at hop-on, hop-off bus tours and easy boat trips. You could spend a week in Valletta itself, yet you could just as easily spend a week doing day trips with Valletta as a base! Most likely, you’ll do a little of each and this episode will help you decide on and plan for excursions to other parts of the island.
the 3 Cities


The easiest of days out from Valletta involves a short boat ride across the Grand Harbour to the 3 Cities, Birgu, also known as Vittoriosa, Isla and Borlma. Enjoy wonderful views of the forts and baroque church domes in the distance then land at Birgu, where the Knights first settled when they arrived in Malta in 1530 and built Fort St Angelo before deciding to relocate across the harbour and build a new city, Valletta. So, this is old Malta, with narrow twisty streets with names like Triq il Lvant San Gwann, named after – who else? – St John. Following the signs to the Malta at War Museum takes you through the main city gate and then there’s lots to explore.
The Inquisitor’s Palace, built in 1530, was originally the city law courts, but then took on a scarier role as the seat of the Inquisition, the regime which sought out and punished those not following the catholic religion. The stated aim of the monks was ‘to communicate the truth and fight ignorance and heresy’, but among their methods were book-burnings, imprisonment, torture and execution. You can tour the building and learn many stories, for example of the Quaker missionaries, Sarah Cheevers and Katharine Evans, imprisoned for 4 years for preaching Protestantism. Acts deemed criminal included ‘using superstitious remedies, owning or reading prohibited books, voicing heretical opinions and blasphemy.’


St Lawrence’s Church was the Knights’ original main church, although this version dates from 1681. Inside it’s a feast of marble, gold and artwork, for example the Matia Preti painting, The Martyrdom of St Lawrence. On the wall outside is a plaque listing the 35 names of those killed in one bombing raid in April 1942. Many people, including lots of women and children, took refuge in the church, but it took a direct hit. This disastrous event is re-enacted every year in their memory.
mdina and rabAT


A bus trip of less than an hour will take you to Mdina – which means ‘town’ in Arabic and next-door Rabat, which means ‘suburbs’. On arrival, go through the impressive main gate, with its statues of St Paul, patron saint of Malta, St Publius, the island’s first bishop and St Agatha, the patron saint of Mdina. Then wander the picturesque streets of the ‘silent city’, with their coloured doorways and balconies, loveliest at dusk when they are all lit up.


Visit St Paul’s Cathedral, with its marble tombstone floor and statues of St Paul and St Publius and don’t miss the cathedral museum. The highlight, among all the chalices and robes, is a magnificent 15th century polyptych, featuring 10 scenes from the life of St Paul on the island, showing him arriving by boat, preaching, healing and baptising, all in glorious jewel colours and golden highlights. Another lovely building is the 17th century Carmelite Priory, built around a courtyard, where you learn about the daily life of the friars and see their beautiful refectory.


Rabat has roman origins and you can visit the Domus Romana, or Roman House, to see its mosaic floors, Roman artefacts and statues of, for example, the Emperor Claudius. The Grotto of St Paul is said to be where the saint took refuge during his 3 months on the island. Yes, it’s small, dark and damp, but Pope Benedict XVI himself came here to pray in 2010. St Paul’s Catacombs is a huge underground maze of burial chambers, including 2 large halls and some 1000 sarcophagi. You’ll see the Agape tables, hewn out of the rock itself, where mourners are thought to have eaten a last meal in the company of the deceased before taking their leave of the body.
bus trips and boat trips


There are 2 hop-on, hop-off bus tours of the island which make excellent days out from Valletta. The southern tour includes visits to a number of temples – Hagar Qim and Mnaidra and also the largest temple complex on the island, Tarxien. Other stops include the Blue Grotto, Marsaxlokk, a picturesque fishing harbour, as well as BIrgu. On the northern route, the 23 possible stops include the Ta Qali Crafts Village, where you can see bobbin lace being made or watch silversmiths and glass-blowers at work. You can also stop off at Mosta, whose church dome is visible from many points on the island, at Mdina and Rabat and various bays including St Paul’s Bay.
Popular boat trips, such as this one or this one, from Valletta include the 2 Harbours Cruise, which takes about 2 hours and takes in Fort St Elmo, the Grand Harbour and many of the creeks along the coastline around the city. All-day trips include one from Sliema which will take in two other islands: firstly, Gozo, where a bus will transport you to the capital, Victoria and its baroque cathedral and fortress and secondly Comino, a smaller island where you can pause to swim or sunbathe. There are also lots of specialist cruises, for example snorkelling or fishing trips or a sunset cruise with drinks or dinner.
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links for this post
The Inquisitor’s Palace
Malta at War Museum
St Lawrence’s Church, Birgu
St Paul’s Cathedral, Mdina
Carmelite Priory, Mdina
The Roman House, Rabat
St Paul’s Grotto, Rabat
St Paul’s Catacombs, Rabat
Hop-on Hop-off bus tours
Malta Boat Tours
Luzzu Cruises
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Last Updated on January 29, 2025 by Marian Jones