Malta in winter

Blue skies, mild weather and lots of culture and history. Travelling in Malta in winter can be rewarding. 

Malta can mean lots of traffic and tourists during the warm summer season. But this incredibly crowded island with a unique history can reveal completely different sides in January. Book a hotel in the beautiful centre of Valletta and explore its alleys and wonderfully preserved old houses from the 16th and 17th century, its walls, its castles. Then rent a car for an incredibly cheap price (starting from 20 euro a day in winter) and explore the island and its twin, Gozo, where green spaces and nature open up. Here are some highlights from four days in Malta in winter (pictures by me and my wife).

Malta in winter

The weather in Malta in January is mild: the climate in winter typically ranges from lows of 4 celsius to maximums of 16 or 18. It can occasionally be colder and warmer. It is usually sunny as Malta gets very little rain throughout the year (and about 300 sunny days). Keep in mind that although it can be sunny, the wind can be sometimes very strong and the water in winter is quite cold (16-17 degrees).

Valletta

The capital of Malta is full of character, history and stunning views. Some people who visit the island in summer completely skip the capital. But it’s beautiful, and a great base for exploring Malta in winter. It’s surprising how different is the important story of this little island from neighbouring Italy and North Africa.

Malta, la Valletta (photo by Patrick Colgan, 2016)

Valletta (photo by Patrick Colgan, 2016)

The three fortified cities

The fortified cities of Cottonera, Senglea, Birgu (Vittoriosa) and Copiscua, in front of Valletta, are incredibly beautiful seen from the Barrakka gardens. But they are definitely worth exploring too.

Birgu, Vittoriosa – photo by Patrick Colgan, 2016

Senglea seen from Birgu (Vittoriosa) – photo by Patrick Colgan, 2016

Ghar Lapsi

A beautiful spot on the western shore of the main island. Just fishing boats and a rugged coast, perfect for enjoying the dramatic sunsets.

Marsaxlokk

A beautiful fishing village, just a few kilometres from Valletta. Crowded in summer, you can have it all for yourself in January.

Marsaxlokk, photo by Patrick Colgan 2016

Gozo

Malta’s twin island has more open spaces and stunning nature. But the view from the beautiful fortified city of Victoria can still show a lot of development. It doesn’t take away any of the allure of this island.

The famous ‘Azure window’ in Gozo – photo by Patrick Colgan, 2016

All the texts are by Patrick Stephen Colgan. All pictures by me, when not otherwise specified, are licensed under the Creative Commons licence by-nc-sa. For commercial uses please contact me. This post has been translated from my italian blog, Orizzonti.