Malta
Malta
A Mediterranean city break with a beach attached, most of the year
Photo: Txllxt TxllxT · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Malta packs Baroque cities, prehistoric temples and a warm sea into an island small enough to cross in an hour, with a mild enough winter to stay interesting outside the summer peak.
12-month view
Season calendar
Mild by European standards but wet and windy; low season for the beach.
Premiums are indicative ranges versus the surrounding non-holiday weeks. Tap or click any month for the exact dates. Term dates vary slightly by council; see our data sources.
Our verdict
Late May to June is the best-value window: warm enough to swim, before the July-August peak. September is a close second, with a still-warm sea and easing prices.
Right now
Is it a good time to go?
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How the year plays out
Seasons explained
Malta has a Mediterranean climate with hot, very dry summers and mild, unsettled winters, among the mildest in Europe, rarely dropping much below the mid-teens even in January. Peak season is July and August, when the swimming season is at its best and Valletta and the Three Cities are at their busiest and most expensive; the summer feast season (village festas with fireworks) adds colour but also crowds to particular weekends.
April to June and September into October are the shoulder seasons and the best combination of value and weather: warm enough to swim from May, comfortable for walking the fortifications and archaeological sites, and noticeably cheaper than midsummer. November to March is off-season, mild enough for sightseeing in a jumper, too changeable for reliable beach days, but the cheapest and quietest time to see Valletta's sights and the temples at Ħaġar Qim without queues.
For UK families
Malta in the school holidays
October half term suits Malta well: daytime highs typically in the low twenties, a sea that's still comfortable for a dip, and prices clear of the summer peak. The summer holidays are Malta's busiest and most expensive stretch, compounded by village festa weekends in July and August that can fill hotels in specific towns; check the festa calendar if you want to avoid or catch one. Easter is mild and good value, with Malta's Holy Week processions adding local colour. February half term is quiet and cheap, good for the museums and temples, less so for the beach.
Choose your region on the season calendar above to see the exact term dates and typical premium for each break.
Historical data
Typical temperatures
| Month | Average low | Average high | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10.2°C | 16°C | 13.1°C |
| Feb | 10.1°C | 16.5°C | 13.3°C |
| Mar | 11.4°C | 17.8°C | 14.6°C |
| Apr | 12.9°C | 20.1°C | 16.5°C |
| May | 16.3°C | 24.4°C | 20.4°C |
| Jun | 20.7°C | 30.1°C | 25.4°C |
| Jul | 23.4°C | 33°C | 28.2°C |
| Aug | 23.9°C | 32.5°C | 28.2°C |
| Sep | 21.9°C | 29°C | 25.5°C |
| Oct | 18.5°C | 25.1°C | 21.8°C |
| Nov | 15°C | 21.4°C | 18.2°C |
| Dec | 11.9°C | 17.6°C | 14.8°C |
Ten-year monthly averages of daily highs and lows from the Luqa weather station (7.6 km away), via Meteostat. Window 2016–2026.
Chance of rain
| Month | Rainy days |
|---|---|
| Jan | 8.1 |
| Feb | 5.5 |
| Mar | 3.4 |
| Apr | 2.1 |
| May | 2.4 |
| Jun | 0.7 |
| Jul | 0 |
| Aug | 1.3 |
| Sep | 3.5 |
| Oct | 4.5 |
| Nov | 7.9 |
| Dec | 6.6 |
Average number of days per month with at least 1mm of rainfall. From the Luqa weather station (7.6 km away), via Meteostat. Window 2016–2026.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
- When is the best time to visit Malta?
- Late May to June is the best-value window: warm enough to swim, before the July-August peak. September is a close second, with a still-warm sea and easing prices.
- When is Malta most expensive?
- Our price index puts June to August at the top of the year for Malta. The cheapest months on the same index are January, February and November. The season calendar above shows the month-by-month picture, with UK school holiday premiums marked.
- Is Malta a good choice for the UK school holidays?
- October half term suits Malta well: daytime highs typically in the low twenties, a sea that's still comfortable for a dip, and prices clear of the summer peak. The summer holidays are Malta's busiest and most expensive stretch, compounded by village festa weekends in July and August that can fill hotels in specific towns; check the festa calendar if you want to avoid or catch one. Easter is mild and good value, with Malta's Holy Week processions adding local colour. February half term is quiet and cheap, good for the museums and temples, less so for the beach.
- Does it rain a lot in Malta?
- On average, Malta sees the fewest rainy days in July (around 0 days with rain) and the most in January (around 8 days). See the rainfall chart above for the full year, and our data sources page for how this is measured.
- Are there festivals or events that affect prices in Malta?
- Yes — Malta hosts Village festa season in July, which can push prices above the usual seasonal pattern that month. Exact dates vary by year; check the season calendar above and confirm against the event's own listing before booking.
Keep exploring
More European destinations
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