Malta Itinerary: 3, 5 or 7 Days from St. Paul's Bay
A day-by-day plan from a local host, with one comfortable base and no hotel changes
3 days are enough for the essentials: Valletta, Mdina and a day on Gozo. With 5 days add the south (Marsaxlokk, the Blue Grotto and the temples) and a boat trip to Comino's Blue Lagoon. With 7 days you can slow down, add the Three Cities or the Hypogeum and keep a day for the beach. Malta is small, so you do not need to change hotel: from St. Paul's Bay every day trip is 15 to 45 minutes away by bus or car.
Guests often ask us how many days they need in Malta and in what order to see things. Malta is only about 27 km long, so the secret is to choose one well-connected base and plan a theme for each day. Here is the itinerary we suggest, starting from St. Paul's Bay, where buses leave from the Bugibba terminus for Valletta, Mdina and the Gozo ferry.
The itinerary at a glance
| Day | Plan | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valletta | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 2 | Mdina, Rabat and the Dingli Cliffs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 3 | Gozo | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 4 | The south: Marsaxlokk, Blue Grotto, temples | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 5 | Comino's Blue Lagoon or the northern beaches | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 6 | The Three Cities (and the Hypogeum) | ✓ | ||
| 7 | A slow day in St. Paul's Bay | ✓ |
Day 1: Valletta
Start with the capital, a UNESCO World Heritage city built by the Knights of St John. Walk down Republic Street to St John's Co-Cathedral, whose gilded baroque interior holds Caravaggio's Beheading of St John the Baptist. At midday, be at the Upper Barrakka Gardens for the view over the Grand Harbour and the firing of the noon gun at the Saluting Battery below. In the afternoon get lost in the side streets with their coloured wooden balconies, and stay for an aperitivo as the limestone turns gold. Valletta is about 25 minutes by bus from Bugibba.
Day 2: Mdina, Rabat and the Dingli Cliffs
Mdina, the walled "Silent City", is at its best in the morning before the tour groups. Walk its narrow lanes up to the bastions for the view across the island, then cross into Rabat for St Paul's Catacombs and the Domus Romana. In the late afternoon continue to the Dingli Cliffs, the highest point of the coast, for the sunset over the sea. Mdina is about 15 minutes from St. Paul's Bay by car.
Day 3: Gozo
Take the bus or car to Ċirkewwa and the ferry to Mġarr (about 25 minutes). Gozo is greener and slower than Malta. See the Citadel in Victoria, the Ta' Pinu basilica in the countryside, the cliffs and the Inland Sea at Dwejra, and the red sand of Ramla Bay. Buses on Gozo are slower, so a hired car, a taxi tour or the hop-on hop-off bus helps you see more in one day.
New since 2026: from St. Paul's Bay you can also take the Gozo Highspeed fast ferry straight from the Bugibba jetty to Mġarr in about 30 minutes (€6.50 one way, foot passengers only), without going to Ċirkewwa. Good choices are the 07:30 or 09:30 out and the 17:15 or 18:15 back from Mġarr; the full timetable is in our transport guide.
Day 4: Marsaxlokk, the Blue Grotto and the temples
Head south to Marsaxlokk, the fishing village of the colourful luzzu boats; on Sunday mornings the waterfront hosts a large fish and produce market. Continue to the Blue Grotto, where small boats enter the sea caves when the sea is calm, and to the megalithic temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, older than the pyramids of Giza. Finish with a fish dinner in Marsaxlokk or a swim at St. Peter's Pool in summer.
Day 5: the Blue Lagoon or the northern beaches
In the warmer months, take a boat from the Bugibba jetty to Comino's Blue Lagoon: go early, as it gets very busy by midday in summer. If the sea is rough or it is out of season, spend the day in the north: Popeye Village, the sandy beaches of Mellieħa Bay and Golden Bay, and the sunset from Golden Bay. See our guide to Malta's sandy beaches.
Book your slot: in season, landing at the Blue Lagoon requires a free online booking on blcomino.com (three slots a day, up to 4,000 people each). Many boat operators include it: ask when you buy your ticket.
Day 6: the Three Cities and the Hypogeum
Cross the Grand Harbour from Valletta by ferry or traditional dgħajsa boat to Birgu (Vittoriosa), Senglea and Cospicua, the fortified towns where the Knights first settled: Fort St Angelo, the waterfront and quiet lanes. If you can, book the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, an underground prehistoric temple: visitor numbers are strictly limited, so tickets must be booked well in advance.
Day 7: a slow day in St. Paul's Bay
Keep the last day for the bay: the National Aquarium in Qawra, a swim at the Bugibba Perched Beach, the Xemxija Heritage Trail and a long dinner on the promenade at sunset. Ideas in our guide to things to do in St. Paul's Bay.
Tips for planning
- Car or bus? Buses reach everything in this itinerary; a car saves time on Gozo and in the south. Remember that Malta drives on the left. See how to get around Malta without a car.
- Swap days with the weather. Boat trips and the Blue Grotto depend on the sea: keep them flexible and do Valletta or Mdina on windy days.
- Sundays are best for Marsaxlokk's market; many shops close on Sunday afternoons.
- Heritage Malta sells a multi-site pass that covers many museums and temples.
- In winter the days are shorter (sunset around 5pm in December): start earlier. See Malta in winter.
Read next: 5 Must-See Attractions in Malta · Where to Stay in Malta
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Malta?
Three days cover the essentials (Valletta, Mdina and Gozo). Five days are ideal, adding the south and the Blue Lagoon. With a week you can travel slowly, add the Three Cities and the Hypogeum and enjoy some beach time.
Is 3 days enough for Malta?
Yes, for a first taste: one day in Valletta, one in Mdina and Rabat with the Dingli Cliffs, and one on Gozo. You will miss the south and the Blue Lagoon, which need one more day each.
Can you see Gozo in one day?
Yes. The ferry from Ċirkewwa takes about 25 minutes. In one day you can see the Citadel in Victoria, Ta' Pinu, Dwejra and Ramla Bay, especially with a car, a taxi tour or the hop-on hop-off bus.
Do you need a car in Malta?
No. Buses reach all the places in this itinerary, and St. Paul's Bay has direct routes to Valletta, Mdina and the Gozo ferry. A car is useful on Gozo and saves time in the south; Malta drives on the left.
Where should you stay to explore Malta?
Choose one base rather than moving hotel. Valletta and Sliema are central but expensive; St. Paul's Bay is good value, close to the northern beaches and the Gozo ferry, with direct buses to Valletta and Mdina.
Is there a ferry from Bugibba to Gozo?
Yes. Since May 2026 the Gozo Highspeed fast ferry sails from the Bugibba jetty to Mġarr in about 30 minutes, around eleven times a day (€6.50 one way for adults). It carries foot passengers only; with a car you still use the Ċirkewwa ferry. Timetable in our transport guide.
Do you need to book the Blue Lagoon?
Yes, in season. Landing at the Blue Lagoon requires a free time-slot booking on blcomino.com, with a QR code you swap for a wristband. Many boat trips book it for you.
