Malta: the Sunny, English-Speaking Heart of the Mediterranean

Sun, history, and the comfort of a place where everyone speaks English

Malta is one of the great under-the-radar destinations for older travelers, and once you have been, it is hard to understand why more people do not go. This small archipelago in the middle of the Mediterranean, just south of Sicily, packs an astonishing amount into a short trip: a golden baroque capital, prehistoric temples older than the pyramids, walled medieval towns, turquoise coves, and some of the friendliest people in Europe. It is sunny for around 300 days a year, everything is close together, and, crucially for a traveler over 50, English is an official language spoken fluently almost everywhere, a legacy of 150 years as a British colony.

That last point changes the whole feel of a trip. There is no language barrier to navigate, no menu to puzzle over, no anxious moment at the pharmacy or the doctor. Road signs, tickets, museum labels, and hotel staff are all in English, drivers and shopkeepers chat easily, and the customs, from a proper cup of tea to driving on the left, are reassuringly familiar. For anyone who finds a foreign language tiring, Malta offers the sunshine and history of the Mediterranean with the ease of home.

It is also compact and well connected, which suits an unhurried pace. The main island is barely 17 miles long, so nothing is far, and you get around by cheap public bus, easy passenger ferry, hop-on-hop-off tour, or taxi rather than by driving. Base yourself once on the sheltered Sliema and St Julian's coast or in historic Valletta, and you can see the capital, the Three Cities, Mdina, the fishing villages, and even the sister island of Gozo on relaxed day trips. Give it four or five days and you will wonder why it took you so long to discover it.

Getting around the islands without driving, and Valletta's famous lift

The single most useful thing to know about Malta is that you do not need, and are usually better off without, a rental car. Maltese roads are narrow, busy, and driven on the left, and parking in the old towns is difficult, so the great majority of senior travelers get around far more happily by the island's cheap buses, frequent ferries, and taxis. Between them, everything on this small archipelago is easy to reach.

Valletta itself deserves a special word, because it is beautiful but built on a peninsula with a grid of streets that rise and fall in flights of shallow steps, which can be tiring. The happy news is that the main sights along the high spine of the city are level with one another, and a wonderful piece of engineering solves the biggest climb: the Barrakka Lift, a fast public elevator, carries you from the Grand Harbour and the ferry landing straight up to the Upper Barrakka Gardens at the top of the city for a euro, sparing you the long climb from the water.

The best things to do in Malta and Gozo

Getting around Malta: ferries, buses, and the Barrakka Lift

Malta is small and superbly connected by water and road, so leave the driving to someone else. Ferries, buses, and taxis reach everything, all with the ease of an English-speaking country.

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  Harbour & Gozo ferries, The fast, scenic backbone of a Malta trip. The Sliema-Valletta and Three Cities-Valletta ferries run every 30 minutes for a couple of euros; the Gozo car ferry crosses in about 25 minutes. They are flat to board, cheap, and far more pleasant than the roads. A ferry-and-lift combination is the easiest way to reach Valletta from the Sliema hotels.
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  Public buses (Tallinja), Malta's cheap, extensive bus network reaches every corner of both islands from the Valletta and airport hubs. Buy a Tallinja Explore day or multi-day card for unlimited travel; buses are the budget way to get around, though they can be crowded and slow at peak times. Air-conditioned, and drivers and signs are all in English.
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  Hop-on-hop-off tour buses, For sightseeing, the open-top hop-on-hop-off buses (north and south routes) are a comfortable, narrated way to link the main sights without planning connections. A relaxed option that lets you sit, see the island, and step off where you like, with a live or recorded English commentary.
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  Taxis and ride apps, For door-to-door ease, especially to and from the airport or after dark, use the eCabs or Bolt apps for fixed, fair fares rather than hailing a white taxi. It is the simplest, most comfortable option with luggage or tired feet, and everyone speaks English.
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  The Barrakka Lift & walking, Valletta's public lift whisks you from the Grand Harbour up to the Upper Barrakka Gardens for a euro, removing the city's hardest climb. The high central streets are then fairly level; wear supportive shoes for the shallow steps and polished stone, and use the lift and the gentle downhill routes rather than the steep stepped side streets.

Where to stay in Malta: the flat Sliema coast or historic Valletta

Read before you go: Malta

A few of our favorite books to bring Malta's epic history to life: one great siege, one wartime saga, one true story of survival, and one for the road.

As an Amazon Associate, Senior Traveling Guide earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

Best time to visit Malta

April-June, Our top recommendation

Late spring and early summer are Malta at its best for senior travelers: warm, sunny days of 70-82°F, wildflowers on Gozo, the sea warming for a swim, and the fierce summer heat and crowds not yet arrived. Everything is open, the light is beautiful, and the islands feel relaxed. The ideal all-round window.

September-October, Equally excellent

Early autumn is a wonderful time to visit. The sea is at its warmest after the long summer, the heat eases to a pleasant 75-82°F, and the crowds thin as the season winds down. Prices soften, the swimming is glorious, and the historic towns are comfortable to explore. A superb, calmer choice.

Summer (July-August), With care

High summer is hot, dry, and very busy, with temperatures often into the 90s and the Blue Lagoon and beaches crowded. It is still enjoyable if you plan around it: sightsee in the cooler morning and evening, rest and swim through the fierce midday, book ahead, and expect peak prices. The sea and the long light are magnificent, but the heat is real.

Winter (November-March)

Malta has one of the mildest, sunniest winters in Europe, gentle at 55-62°F, green, quiet, and inexpensive, ideal for a warm, uncrowded escape focused on history and walking rather than the beach. February brings the spectacular Carnival. Some lidos close and the sea is cool, but for culture and value, off-season Malta is a delight.

Malta habits: ferries, the lift, and the midday shade

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  Buy a ferry and bus travel card, A Tallinja bus card and the cheap harbour ferries are the key to easy, car-free travel. Base on the Sliema coast, take the ferry to Valletta, and use buses or hop-on tours for the rest. It is inexpensive, flat to board, and far less stressful than driving on the left.
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  Use the Barrakka Lift into Valletta, Do not climb up from the Grand Harbour: the public Barrakka Lift carries you from the ferry landing straight to the top of the city and its great gardens for a euro. Ride up, explore the flat central streets, and let gravity help you on the way back down toward the gate.
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  Wear supportive, non-slip shoes, Malta's old towns are paved in smooth, sometimes slippery limestone and laced with shallow steps, especially in Valletta and Mdina. Comfortable, grippy walking shoes make all the difference and let you enjoy the atmospheric lanes without worrying about your footing.
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  Respect the strong summer sun, Malta is one of the sunniest spots in Europe, and the summer sun is fierce with little shade in the stone cities. Sightsee in the cooler morning and evening, rest or swim through the hottest hours, and carry a hat, sunscreen, and water. The many harbourside cafes are made for a shaded pause.
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  Try the local food and a pastizzi, Maltese cooking is a delicious surprise: try rabbit stew (fenkata), fresh fish at Marsaxlokk, hearty ftira sandwiches, and the flaky pastizzi pastries from a local kiosk. Everything is in English on the menu, and a glass of local wine or a Kinnie soft drink completes it. Eat where the locals do, a street back from the tourist strip.
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  Medical care and the basics, Malta has excellent, EU-standard healthcare with English-speaking doctors and pharmacies everywhere, one more way the island is easy for older travelers. The emergency number is 112. As with any trip abroad, carry travel insurance that covers medical care and, if needed, transfer to the mainland, and bring your medications in their original packaging.

What travelers say about Malta: our review roundup

We read recent traveler reviews across TripAdvisor, Rick Steves forums, accessible-travel resources, and senior travel publications and summarized what travelers over 50 keep mentioning about Malta.

4 days in Malta: capital, cities, and a day on Gozo

Day 1, Valletta & the Barrakka Lift

Take the ferry from Sliema to Valletta, ride the Barrakka Lift up to the Upper Barrakka Gardens for the great Grand Harbour view, then explore the flat central streets: St John's Co-Cathedral and its Caravaggios, the Grand Master's Palace, and Republic Street. A relaxed lunch, and the ferry home for a promenade evening.

Day 2, The Three Cities & Marsaxlokk

A gentle, harbourside day. Cross to the Three Cities by ferry or traditional dghajsa boat to wander the atmospheric Birgu waterfront and knights' history. In the afternoon, head south to the painted-boat fishing village of Marsaxlokk for a seafood lunch and a stroll along the flat quay.

Day 3, Mdina, Rabat & the center

Explore the island's heart. The car-free, hilltop Silent City of Mdina, mostly flat inside its walls, with its cathedral, noble palaces, and bastion views, plus neighboring Rabat and its catacombs. An easy hop-on bus or a small-group tour links it with other central sights like the Mosta Dome.

Day 4, Gozo, the greener island

The ferry north to Gozo for a relaxed day: the mighty Ggantija Temples, the walled Citadel above Victoria, and the dramatic cliffs of Dwejra. A guided tour or the hop-on bus handles the driving. If you have a fifth day, add the Blue Lagoon by boat or simply a slow day on the Sliema seafront.

Getting to Malta: a short hop from Europe's hubs

Malta International Airport (MLA) sits in the center of the main island, about 20 minutes from the Sliema and St Julian's resort coast and 15 from Valletta. There are no nonstop flights from the US, so travelers connect through a European hub, most commonly London, Rome, Frankfurt, Munich, Amsterdam, or Paris, with an easy onward flight of one to three hours. Total travel time from the US East Coast is typically around 12 to 15 hours including the connection. From the airport, a taxi or pre-booked transfer reaches the coastal hotels in about 20 minutes, and the airport bus (the X-routes) serves the main towns for a few euros.

Many visitors add Malta to a wider Mediterranean trip, and it pairs especially well with Sicily, a short flight or a fast catamaran ferry away, or with a Mediterranean cruise, since many ships call at Valletta's spectacular Grand Harbour. However you arrive, English signage and English-speaking staff make the airport and onward journey refreshingly simple. Pre-book a transfer if you land late or have heavy bags, and you will be at your hotel and unpacked within the hour.

Malta FAQ