Is Malta Worth It for a Weekend Break? We Had 48 Hours to Find Out

Malta had been sitting on my travel wish list for years, but I always assumed it was somewhere that deserved at least a week. With its historic cities, beautiful coastline, traditional food and endless sunshine, I worried that a weekend simply wouldn’t be enough time to experience it properly. But when we spotted affordable flights and realised we could squeeze in two full days on the island, we decided to find out for ourselves.

Could Malta really work as a weekend break?

After 40,000 steps, sunrise walks through Valletta, traditional bakeries, boat trips, rooftop dinners and plenty of time spent beside the sea, the answer surprised me. Would I have stayed longer? Absolutely. Was it worth flying there for just 48 hours? Also absolutely.

Our Weekend in Malta at a Glance

• Flights: Norwich to Malta
• Flight time: Approximately 3 hours
• Hotel: Malta Marriott Hotel, St Julian’s
• Time on the island: Two full days
• Steps walked: 40,000+
• Favourite sunrise spot: Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta
• Favourite food discovery: Imqaret and Ftira
• Best transport tip: Use the ferries and traditional water taxis
• Would we do it again? Without hesitation

Where We Stayed: Malta Marriott Hotel, St Julian’s

For a short trip, location is everything. We based ourselves at the Malta Marriott Hotel in St Julian’s, which turned out to be the perfect choice for a weekend itinerary. It felt like a proper holiday hotel, with beautiful sea views, multiple dining options, a rooftop pool and easy access to the rest of the island. One of the biggest surprises about Malta was how compact it is. Staying in St Julian’s meant we could spend the morning exploring historic cities, enjoy lunch by the hotel pool, then head back out again for sunset drinks and dinner elsewhere on the island.

Our deluxe sea-view room overlooked Balluta Bay, and waking up to the sunrise over the water each morning immediately made the trip feel special. The first morning began with coffee on the balcony as the sun rose over the bay, watching the boats gently bobbing below while the island slowly woke up around us. For somewhere less than a three-hour flight from the UK, it genuinely felt much further away.

Day One: Traditional Bakeries, Historic Streets and Poolside Lunches

After breakfast overlooking the bay, we set off to explore. Our first stop was Carmelo Micallef Bakery, where we picked up a few traditional Maltese treats to try throughout the trip. One thing we wanted to do during our short stay was experience as much authentic Maltese food as possible, so this felt like the perfect place to begin. We left with almond pistachio biscuits, traditional Ftira bread and Qassatat ricotta pastries to enjoy later, and it quickly became one of my favourite discoveries of the trip.

With supplies secured, we jumped in an Uber and headed towards Mdina and Rabat.Often referred to as Malta’s Silent City, Mdina instantly became one of my favourite places on the island. The honey-coloured limestone buildings, winding streets and peaceful atmosphere felt completely different from the bustling waterfront areas around St Julian’s. Every corner seemed to reveal another beautiful doorway, hidden courtyard or sun-drenched alleyway, and it was one of those places where wandering without a plan turned out to be the best way to explore. After a couple of hours soaking up the atmosphere, we stopped for an iced coffee before heading back towards the coast.

One thing I loved about Malta was how easy it was to combine sightseeing with downtime. Within a short journey, we were back at the Malta Marriott enjoying lunch at Cala Lido beside the main pool. The halloumi tacos were my favourite dish, while Serg couldn’t stop talking about the calamari. After a busy morning exploring, it was exactly the reset we needed before continuing the day.

Valletta at Golden Hour

As the afternoon cooled, we headed into Valletta. One of my favourite discoveries was just how easy it was to get around Malta. While Ubers were affordable and convenient, we quickly discovered that ferries and traditional water taxis were often even quicker. The ferry from Sliema was only a short walk from the hotel and gave us beautiful views of the harbour before arriving in Valletta. We also rode on one of the traditional Maltese water taxis, which felt like an experience in itself rather than simply a way to get from A to B. If you're visiting Malta for a short break, I'd highly recommend using the ferries wherever possible. They're affordable, efficient and give you some of the best views of the island

Valletta itself completely won me over. The city somehow manages to feel grand and historic while remaining incredibly walkable. We spent the evening wandering through narrow limestone streets, admiring balconies draped above winding alleyways and stopping whenever somewhere looked inviting. St Lucia Street was particularly beautiful in the evening, with restaurants spilling down the famous staircase and strings of lights creating a wonderfully atmospheric setting. We found a spot for happy hour and enjoyed limoncello spritzes while watching the city begin to glow in the evening light.

Trying Traditional Maltese Food

One thing we were determined to do during our short stay was try as much traditional Maltese food as possible. Rabbit is one of Malta's most famous dishes, so Serg ordered rabbit ragu for dinner and thoroughly enjoyed it. Throughout the trip we also tried Ftira, a traditional Maltese bread that appears in many forms across the island, as well as Imqaret, sweet pastry parcels filled with dates that reminded me a little of warm fig rolls. Food often tells you as much about a destination as its landmarks do, and trying these traditional dishes made the trip feel much more authentic than simply ticking off tourist attractions.

After dinner, we returned to St Julian's by water taxi. The journey back across the harbour at dusk was one of those simple travel moments that ends up becoming a highlight of the trip. The lights reflecting on the water, the warm evening air and the view back towards Valletta were the perfect end to our first day.

Day Two: Sunrise in Valletta

If there was one experience I would recommend to anyone visiting Malta, it would be waking up early and exploring Valletta at sunrise. I had seen photographs beforehand, but nothing prepared me for how beautiful it would be in person. We left the hotel before dawn and took an Uber to Upper Barrakka Gardens in time for sunrise. As the sky began to glow orange and pink over the Grand Harbour, it felt like we had the city almost entirely to ourselves. It was easily one of the most memorable moments of the trip.

From there, we spent the next hour wandering Valletta's quiet streets before the crowds arrived. The golden limestone buildings seemed to glow in the morning light and many of the city's most photographed locations were completely empty. For photographers, content creators or anyone who simply enjoys exploring cities without crowds, this is absolutely worth setting an alarm for. An unexpected bonus was discovering Cafe Capitolino already open. Finding coffee that early wasn't something I had expected, and sitting with a coffee while Valletta slowly came to life felt like one of those travel moments you'll remember long after the trip ends.

Breakfast Back at the Malta Marriott

After our sunrise adventure, we headed back to the hotel for breakfast. This morning we tried the Marketplace Restaurant and were impressed by the amount of choice available. There was a build-your-own smoothie station, freshly made omelettes and plenty of local pastries to sample. I opted for a spinach, tomato and parmesan omelette alongside fruit and a selection of Maltese pastries. It was the perfect way to refuel before another busy day of exploring.

A Traditional Maltese Boat Trip

One of the biggest surprises of the trip was discovering just how many experiences Malta offers that can be enjoyed in a relatively short amount of time. Later that morning, we boarded a traditional Maltese boat for a one-hour harbour and coastal tour. At around €10 per person, it was one of the best-value activities we experienced during the entire trip. The route took us past beautiful turquoise water, dramatic limestone formations and scenic swimming spots, offering a completely different perspective of the island. For anyone visiting Malta on a tight schedule, I'd highly recommend including a boat trip. In just one hour, you gain a real appreciation for the coastline and crystal-clear waters that make Malta so popular.

Lunch at Gululu

Back in St Julian's, we spent a little time browsing local stalls before heading to Gululu for lunch.Located right on the waterfront, it was one of our favourite meals of the trip. We ordered a selection of small plates and enjoyed lingering over lunch while watching the boats in the harbour. The atmosphere was relaxed, the views were beautiful and it felt like exactly the kind of place you'd hope to discover during a Mediterranean escape.

Making Time to Slow Down

One thing I wasn't expecting from a 48-hour trip was how relaxed it felt. Rather than rushing from attraction to attraction, Malta allowed us to strike a balance between sightseeing and simply enjoying where we were. There was time for a quick swim, a power nap back at the hotel and even a leisurely drink on the balcony while sampling the traditional treats we'd picked up from the bakery the day before. That balance was probably what surprised me most about Malta. Even with only two days, it never felt frantic.

A Rooftop Dinner to Finish

For our final evening, we headed to O Sole Rooftop Garden. With views across Valletta's rooftops and the impressive dome rising above the city skyline, it was the perfect place to end our trip. We ordered loaded Ftira bread and traditional Imqaret pastries and spent our final evening reflecting on just how much we had managed to fit into two days. By that point we'd walked more than 40,000 steps, explored historic cities, watched the sunrise over Valletta, travelled by ferry and traditional water taxi, sampled local food and still found time to relax beside the sea.

So, Is Malta Worth It for a Weekend?

Before this trip, I wasn't convinced Malta was somewhere you could truly experience in just a couple of days. Now I'm not sure I've ever been more happy to be proven wrong. Would I have loved longer? Of course. There are still beaches to visit, restaurants to try and corners of the island left unexplored. But did Malta work as a weekend break? Absolutely. With affordable flights, a flight time of around three hours from the UK, excellent transport links and an incredible variety of experiences packed into a relatively small island, Malta might just be one of the best long-weekend destinations in Europe.

In just 48 hours we explored historic cities, watched unforgettable sunrises, sampled traditional food, cruised along the coastline and still managed to find time to relax. If you're wondering whether Malta is worth visiting for a weekend, my answer is simple:

Yes.

And I'd happily do it all again tomorrow.

Would I have stayed longer in Malta? Absolutely. But after spending just 48 hours exploring the island, I was surprised by how much we managed to see, eat and experience in a single weekend.

Malta Marriott kindly hosted us and you can find out more information here.

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