Travel to Malta

When to travel to Malta really depends more on your schedule and convenience than on the weather, as the country is an ideal year-round destination. Seasonal temperatures may determine when to go to Malta if you have specific activities like scuba diving in mind. But even diving is a year-round activity, with each season offering something a little different. The busiest Maltese tourist season is from the late spring to the early autumn when the weather is the hottest and when schools are out of season. In fact, you will find that some hotels are actually closed during the winter, including the only hotel on tiny Comino Island.

If you have decided to travel to Malta for its beautiful beaches and renowned nightlife, the best time is during the summer. The world’s top disc jockeys—including world-famous Tiesto from the Netherlands—visit Malta during this time when they play the night clubs of Paceville and add to the nonstop party atmosphere in this St Julians neighborhood. Temperatures in June, July, and August hover between 90 and the low 100s Fahrenheit, and visitors flock to the beaches and seaside resorts. This is when to go to Malta if you plan on spending plenty of time exploring the water where it’s always possible to cool off in the sea.

The best time to visit Malta for sightseeing tours is during the spring and autumn when the temperatures are more moderate and there are fewer crowds. There will still be plenty of tourists, but not the hordes that traipse through the historic cathedrals, palaces, and museums during the peak summer months. Passengers on Mediterranean cruises travel to Malta throughout the year, as the large ocean liners sail these waters constantly. So, you will see small groups of people on organized shore excursions no matter when you visit.

When to go to Malta for island hiking is from about October thru April. Again, temperatures are moderate during this period and you can get quite warm on even easy hiking trails. Even though the islands are quite flat, there are dramatic and rugged cliffs along the west coast of all three of them, especially Malta Island and Gozo Island. There are some strenuous hikes here, including rappelling and rock climbing, and the 100-plus degree summer temperatures is not ideal for this. Spring in particular is lovely for hikes out into the countryside, as everything is lush and green and the flowers are in full bloom.

If you visit Malta during November, December, and January, you will encounter the most amount of rain. There are still plenty of typically sunny Mediterranean days, but it can rain for as much as three or four days in a row. The water has cooled enough that only the brave and those with wetsuits venture in. However, this is when it is best for certain kinds of scuba diving—to see the larger pelagic fish like tuna and swordfish. This is also when divers will have the best dive sites and shipwrecks mostly to themselves.