With so many amazing sites and things to see in Malta, it’s easy to get overwhelmed! We lived as digital nomads in Malta for 1 year from 2024-2025, and I have compiled a fun Malta 4 Day itinerary that covers the highlights to help you make the most of your Maltese vacation!
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Are 4 Days in Malta Enough?
Malta is a small country and can be easily accessed within 4 days. If you want to get the most out of your trip, I would recommend staying on the island of Malta for the entire 4 days, and only if you have extra time (5 or 6 days) then make your way to Gozo!
Renting a car for your trip is ideal to truly maximize your 4-day trip on your own timeline, but please note that many of the cars for rent are manual, drivers drive on the left side of the road (same as the UK), and there are lots of roundabouts!
Where to Stay for a 4-Day Trip
Staying in a central location for your Maltese vacation is essential to maximize your time! I would highly recommend staying in one of these three locations: Sliema, Valetta, or St. Julian’s. Each of these areas is close to the others, has a variety of restaurants and bars, access to tours, and offers seaside views.
If you would like more details in each of these three areas, check out my article on Everything You Need to Know Before You Go to Malta! There, I break down what each city is like, what to expect and my personal favourite place to reside!
4-Day Malta Itinerary – Overview
- Day 1: Explore Valetta and the Three Cities
- Day 2: Discover Marsaxlokk, Il-Kalanka, and the Salt Pans!
- Day 3: Boat Day to Comino Island!
- Day 4: Visit Mdina and Relax in Sliema
4-Day Malta Itinerary – Interactive Map
Day 1: Explore Valetta and the Three Cities
Exploring Valetta is an absolute must when visiting Malta! The capital city is so beautiful, and there are plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, and museums to check out! It’s an easy decision to start here for your Malta 4 Day Itinerary, as it’s likely you’ll be staying around Valetta, Sliema, or St. Julian’s during your stay. The Three Cities is also a quick boat ride away from Valetta as well, making it an easy destination to add for the day!
A great way to explore Valetta is to join a walking tour. We have joined Ben’s Walking Tour and found it informative, interesting, and a great way to learn more about Malta’s history! Additionally, consider adding St. John’s Cathedral and the National War Museum – Fort St. Elmo to your list of “must-sees.”
Getting From Valetta to the 3 Cities
The easiest way to get from Valetta to the 3 Cities is by boat. You can take the ferry, which operates on this schedule, or you can travel across the harbour by a small Maltese boat. The ferry will cost €3.80 per person for a return trip, and the small Maltese boat trip will cost €3.00 per person each way.
The 3 Cities is a beautiful area to discover. It is quaint, less busy than Valetta, and you have lots of restaurants to stop by to enjoy a great meal! We opted to join a walking tour through Best Tours Malta. Our guide was very engaging, and we learned a lot about the area and Maltese history. We would certainly recommend this tour.
It can be a lot to do two walking tours in one day. I’d review which area you’d like to explore on your own and which one you’d like to join a tour from. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes on this day!
Optional: Harbour Boat Cruise
If you have some extra time and would like to enjoy a 30-minute Grand Harbour Boat Cruise in a Maltese Boat, I’d recommend checking out JD Harbour Cruises! After an afternoon on a walking tour through the 3 Cities, we opted to jump on a private Harbour Cruise, which cost €10.00 per person. It was a private tour, and we loved our mini cruise along the Harbour. The cruise time went by quite quickly, as it was only 30 minutes, and our guide told us some interesting information along the way! We got picked up at the 3 Cities, and we chose to end our tour and get dropped off in Valetta.
Day 2: Discover Marsaxlokk, Il-Kalanka, and the Salt Pans!
Make your way to Marsaxlokk to view this beautiful fishing village! There is also a Sunday Morning Market here, and although it gets quite busy, I think it’s worth checking out. Depending on which day of the week you land, you might want to rearrange this Malta 4 Day Itinerary so that you can be here on a Sunday! There are plenty of Maltese snacks and souvenirs that you can find in the market. Many restaurants along the water offer great seafood options, too! The boats in the harbour are so picturesque, making it a great spot to highlight on your vacation!
Just note that the parking can get quite tricky, especially on Sunday mornings. Parking is free; it just takes a few minutes to find a spot!
The next stop on Day 1 isIl-Kalanka for a relaxing swim! We discovered this place recently and really feel that it is a hidden gem in Malta! It is quite similar to St. Peter’s Pool, but is so much more relaxing as it isn’t nearly as busy! Great place to cool off, sunbathe, and soak up the sun!
Lastly, be sure to see the Salt Pans here or here on your way back to your hotel. Salt Pans are so interesting to see and only take a few minutes to check out. You can learn more about the Salt Pans in Gozo and how the salt process works! If you are short on time and looking for a quick glance, you can see them easily from the road in these spots!
Day 3: Boat Day to Comino Island!
When researching where to go in Malta, you’ll certainly come across plenty of boat tours to Comino. It really is a “must” and will certainly be a highlight of your trip here! I have been to Comino 3 times now and have a couple of recommendations for you!
Travel to Comino by Catamaran: Day Cruise Malta – Tip Top One
Joining this group trip to Comino by Catamaran through Day Cruise Malta still remains a highlight for me. It was the first time that I had ever been on a catamaran. The tour included 3 swimming stops, a buffet lunch, unlimited drinks, and an optional blue grotto tour at Comino. This tour is a bit pricey as it will cost around €130.00 per person. The tour meeting spot is located in Sliema, which worked very well as it’s where I resided. The Catamaran was quite large, and although it was a public cruise with lots of people, it was not crowded at all, and it was a really fun day!
Travel to Comino by Private Boat: Boat Tours Comino
There are plenty of public and private boat trips for you to join, and I do recommend joining a boat agency that is located close to Comino, if possible. We booked a private trip through Boat Tours Comino, and it cost us €280.00 for a 3-hour private cruise around Comino. Our tour began and ended in Gozo as we were already on that island.
Our captain was really nice and took us around to some great swimming spots, and we had a blast! They offer multiple options, and if you are looking for a tour length not advertised on their site (like we did, as we asked for 3 hours), they were great to communicate with, and we found a perfect tour length for our schedule.
Day 4: Visit Mdina and Relax in Sliema
A visit to Malta would not be complete without a trip to Mdina and Rabat. Mdina is a quaint fortified city offering museums, shops, and beautiful views of the surrounding areas. We have found that you can explore for a few hours and get a bite to eat, spending about half a day there.
Rabat is adjacent to Mdina and is a neat city to check out while in the area. Our favourite pastizzi shop is also located here at Crystal Palace Bar. The St. Paul’s Catacombs are also nearby, and it was an interesting experience learning about their history. Mdina and Rabat are beautiful cities, so be sure to bring your cameras on Day 4 of this Malta 4 Day Itinerary!
After your visit to Mdina and Rabat, it’s time to unwind and relax in Sliema.
As digital nomads, we lived in Sliema, and thus, we may be biased, as this is a great location to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere.
Sliema is a great area as it combines a more local environment with beautiful seaside views. Great spots to cool off in the water are the Victorian Baths and Fond Għadir Beach swimming areas. Additionally, you can enjoy a nice sunset on the rocks near Paradise Exiles bar or enjoy a meal along the promenade!
This sums up my 4-Day Malta Itinerary based on my year of living on the island. Malta is an incredible country, and I highly recommend travelling in the summer in order to make the most of the fun water activities and boat excursions. Of course, you may want to switch up the days depending on where your hotel is located and what makes sense based on your travel plans!
Enjoy your vacation in Malta, and happy travel planning!
