Must-Visit Islands In Malta According to Travel Experts

Located just 93 kilometers south of Sicily, the islands in Malta pack extraordinary diversity into its 316 square kilometers of land. Each Maltese island offers distinctive experiences, from the cultural riches of the main island to Gozo’s rural tranquility and Comino’s pristine Blue Lagoon. 

In this guide, you will discover essential information about the main islands in Malta, including their unique attractions, cultural highlights, and natural wonders. 

1. Malta (Main Island)

Malta’s main island, sharing its name with the country itself, serves as the cultural, commercial, and political heart of the archipelago. Despite measuring just 27 kilometers long by 14.5 kilometers wide, this limestone plateau packs extraordinary diversity within its modest dimensions.

This island has witnessed remarkable historical density, with successive waves of Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Knights of St. John, French, and British all leaving their imprint on its landscape and culture.

Weather: 15-32°C (59-90°F) Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters

Location:Malta Island

Timings: Accessible year-round (attractions typically open 9 AM – 5 PM)

Entry Fee: Free (Valletta attractions: €5-15 per site)

What to do:

• Explore Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by the Knights of St. John with architectural treasures including St. John’s Co-Cathedral and fortifications.
• Visit Mdina, Malta’s former medieval capital known as the “Silent City,” with car-free limestone streets, noble palaces, and atmospheric amber-lit alleys.
• Enjoy the bustling nightlife on Malta islands in St. Julian’s and Paceville, with Mediterranean beach clubs, rooftop bars, and restaurants along the coastline.
• Discover prehistoric megalithic temples of Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra, and Tarxien, dating back to 3600-2500 BCE and predating Stonehenge. 

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2. Gozo (Għawdex)

Source: Wikimedia

Gozo, Malta’s sister island, offers a distinctly rural character compared to the more urbanized main island. Just 67 square kilometers in size and home to approximately 30,000 residents, this island is full of coastal formations, terraced fields, and hilltop villages.

Known to locals as Għawdex, Gozo’s landscape features fertile valleys, ancient temples, baroque churches, and distinctive flat-topped hills crowned by fortifications and villages.

Weather: 14-31°C (57-88°F) with slightly more rainfall than Malta island

Location:Gozo Island

Timings: Accessible year-round (ferry service 24/7)

Entry Fee: Free (Ġgantija Temples: €10)

What to do:

• Visit the Ġgantija Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating to 3600-3200 BCE with massive limestone structures predating Stonehenge.
• Explore Victoria (Rabat), Gozo’s capital, crowned by the imposing Citadel fortification offering 360-degree panoramic views across the entire island.
• Relax at Ramla Bay with its unique reddish-gold sand, crystal-clear waters, and nearby Calypso Cave linked to Homer’s Odyssey.
• Discover Dwejra Bay’s dramatic coastal formations including the Inland Sea (a lagoon connected to the Mediterranean), Blue Hole, and Fungus Rock. 

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3. Comino (Kemmuna)

Comino, the tiny 3.5 square kilometer island positioned in the channel between Malta and Gozo, represents Mediterranean beauty largely untouched by development. Named after the cumin plant historically cultivated there, this car-free, virtually uninhabited nature reserve currently hosts just one small hotel and a permanent population of fewer than 10 people.

Despite its diminutive size, Comino attracts thousands of daily visitors during summer months drawn to the famous Blue Lagoon, a sheltered inlet with extraordinary azure waters. Beyond this popular attraction, the island offers peaceful hiking across garrigue landscape, and bird watching opportunities.

Weather: 15-32°C (59-90°F) Mediterranean climate with increased exposure to winds

Location:Comino Island

Timings: Accessible year-round (most boat services May-October)

Entry Fee: Free (boat transfers: €15-25 round trip)

What to do:

• Swim in the world-famous Blue Lagoon, a sheltered inlet with crystalline turquoise waters over white sand creating an extraordinary natural swimming pool.
• Hike to Santa Marija Tower, built in 1618 as part of the Knights of Malta’s coastal defense system offering panoramic views.
• Explore Santa Marija Bay on the island’s north coast, a quieter alternative to the Blue Lagoon with sandy beach and historic chapel.
• Discover the island’s rich biodiversity while hiking cross-country trails through rare endemic flora and observing migratory birds. 

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4. Cominotto (Kemmunett)

Source: Wikimedia

Cominotto (Kemmunett), emerges as a limestone islet separated from its neighbor (Comino Island) by just 100 meters of the crystal-clear waters forming the famous Blue Lagoon. This uninhabited rocky outcrop measuring approximately 0.25 square kilometers represents one of Malta’s most photographed natural features despite its small dimensions.

Without permanent structures, freshwater sources, or regular human presence beyond daylight visitors swimming from Comino or arriving by boat, Cominotto represents nature in its purest Mediterranean form.

Weather: 15-32°C (59-90°F) with full exposure to maritime conditions

Location:Cominotto Island

Timings: Accessible during daylight hours (weather permitting)

Entry Fee: Free (accessible only by swimming or private boat)

What to do:

• Swim across the narrow channel from Comino to reach Cominotto’s small beach surrounded by crystalline waters with exceptional visibility.
• Dive around the coastline to discover underwater caves, small caverns, and vibrant marine life including sea urchins and colorful fish.
• Explore the surface terrain for rare plant species adapted to extreme maritime conditions, including endemic Maltese everlasting.
• Take photographs of the famous Blue Lagoon panorama capturing extraordinary color gradients from pale turquoise to deep azure.

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5. Manoel Island (Il-Gżira Manoel)

Source: Wikimedia

Manoel Island occupies a strategic position in Marsamxett Harbour, separated from mainland Malta by a narrow channel just 100 meters wide at Lazaretto Creek. 

After decades of restricted access and neglect following World War II, Manoel Island has entered a new chapter with ongoing restoration and controversial development projects balancing heritage preservation with modern usage, creating an evolving urban space visible from Valletta’s northern ramparts.

Weather: 15-32°C (59-90°F) Mediterranean climate (same as mainland Malta)

Location:Manoel Island

Timings: Fort Manoel open for guided tours (check current schedule)

Entry Fee: Bridge access free (Fort Manoel: €10 for guided tours)

What to do:

• Visit Fort Manoel, a masterpiece of 18th-century military engineering with perfectly symmetrical baroque architecture around a central parade ground.
• Explore the outer defensive slopes for panoramic views across Marsamxett Harbour toward Valletta’s extensive fortifications.
• Discover the remains of the Lazzaretto quarantine hospital established in 1643, where ships’ crews underwent isolation until 1929.
• Photograph the stunning juxtaposition of historical architecture against modern Sliema’s skyline, particularly beautiful during “golden hour.” 

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6. Saint Paul’s Islands (Il-Gżejjer ta’ San Pawl)

Saint Paul’s Islands consist of two small, uninhabited limestone outcrops situated approximately 80 meters off Malta’s northeastern coast near Mellieha Bay. These islets hold immense historical and religious significance for Malta as the traditional location where the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked in 60 CE while being transported to Rome as a prisoner, bringing Christianity to the islands.

Connected by a narrow isthmus that occasionally submerges during storms, thus appearing as either one or two islands depending on sea conditions, the larger islet features a 12-meter white marble statue of St. Paul erected in 1845 marking the purported shipwreck location. 

Weather: 15-32°C (59-90°F) with full exposure to maritime conditions

Location:Saint Paul’s Islands

Timings: Viewable year-round (boat trips seasonally available)

Entry Fee: Free (boat tours: €20-30)

What to do:

• View the islands from St. Paul’s Bay Waterfront, with informational panels detailing the biblical shipwreck account and subsequent events.
• Take a boat tour circling the islands to observe the 1845 marble statue of St. Paul on the larger islet and features aligning with biblical accounts.
• Visit St. Paul’s Shipwreck Church in Valletta and St. Paul’s Grotto in Rabat as part of a pilgrimage route connecting major Pauline sites.
• Photograph the islands from vantage points along St. Paul’s Bay, particularly at sunset when dramatic lighting creates striking silhouettes. 

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7. Filfla

Filfla is an uninhabited table-top limestone islet approximately 5 kilometers off Malta’s southern coast near the cliffs of Dingli. Despite its small dimensions, roughly 2.5 hectares of surface area, this remote island plays a disproportionate role in Malta’s natural heritage as a strictly protected nature reserve.

Currently, the island stands as a powerful symbol of conservation, hosting important breeding colonies of seabirds and endemic wall lizards in splendid isolation visible only from mainland viewpoints or passing boats.

Weather: 15-32°C (59-90°F) with extreme exposure to maritime conditions

Location:Filfla Island

Timings: No public access (protected nature reserve)

Entry Fee: Not applicable (landing prohibited)

What to do:

• View Filfla from Dingli Cliffs, Malta’s highest point at approximately 250 meters, with designated areas for spotting the distant islet.
• Join boat excursions passing at a respectful distance while providing opportunities to photograph this isolated table-mountain formation.
• Visit the National Museum of Natural History in Mdina with displays explaining Filfla’s unique biodiversity and conservation status. 

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FAQs

How many islands are in Malta?

The Maltese archipelago officially comprises eight islands: three inhabited islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) and five uninhabited formations (Cominotto, Manoel Island, St. Paul’s Islands, Filfla, and Filfoletta). The main island of Malta accounts for approximately 78% of the country’s total land area of 316 square kilometers.

What are the most famous islands in Malta for tourists?

The three inhabited Malta islands for tourists include Malta, Gozo, and Comino. The main island attracts visitors with its historical cities (Valletta, Mdina), cultural attractions, and nightlife, while Gozo appeals to those seeking authentic village life and rural scenery.

Are Malta islands open to public?

Most Malta islands are open to public visitors, though accessibility varies significantly. Malta and Gozo are fully accessible with regular ferry services, while Comino offers boat trips but limited infrastructure. Manoel Island connects to mainland Malta by bridge, St. Paul’s Islands can be viewed from shore, while Filfla and Filfoletta remain strictly protected with no public access.

How to reach World Islands Malta?

To reach islands in Malta, international visitors typically fly into Malta International Airport, then use domestic transportation. Gozo is accessible via regular ferries from Ċirkewwa in northern Malta, while Comino has scheduled boat services from both Malta and Gozo. 

What is nightlife on Malta islands like?

Nightlife on Malta islands centers primarily on the main island, particularly in St. Julian’s and Paceville districts, where clubs, bars, and restaurants create a vibrant entertainment hub. Gozo offers more subdued evening activities focused on village festivals and wine bars, while Comino has minimal nightlife beyond the single hotel. 

Which is the most luxurious island in Malta?

The main island of Malta offers the most luxurious accommodations, particularly in Valletta, St. Julian’s, and Sliema, where five-star hotels, boutique properties, and upscale dining options cater to luxury travelers. 

Which Malta island is best for families?

The main island of Malta offers the most family-friendly infrastructure with accessible beaches like Mellieħa Bay, numerous attractions including Popeye Village and the National Aquarium, and comprehensive facilities.

What is the best time to visit islands in Malta?

The optimal time to visit Malta islands is during late spring (May-June) and early autumn (September-October) when temperatures are pleasant (20-25°C), crowds are smaller than peak summer, and sea temperatures remain warm enough for swimming.