A family trip to Malta works best when the plan splits the day in two. Mornings and evenings go to anything outdoors; the middle belongs to shade, air conditioning and water. Do that, and the islands are easier with children than a first look at the limestone fortifications suggests.
For a wider view of the destination, things to do in Malta covers the main sights, and where to stay in Malta helps with choosing a base. This page picks what works for children.
Beaches for children
The best beaches are in the north-west. Mellieħa Bay is the longest sandy beach on the island, with gently shelving, calm water and a nature reserve behind it. It faces north-east and can be breezy, but the water stays calm for most of the day. Buses stop beside the beach.
Golden Bay is another large sandy bay with sunbeds and kiosks, framed by cliffs. It is the busiest of the west coast beaches, so arrive early. In the south Pretty Bay in Birżebbuġa has sunbeds, kiosks, water sports and a football pitch beside the sand, and gets crowded at summer weekends.
Some bays need a climb. Paradise Bay is a small sandy cove with calm water, but reached by a long flight of steps, which makes the return hard with tired children. Għajn Tuffieħa and Gnejna Bay are wilder, and weekdays are far better than weekends. On Gozo, Ramla Bay has wide reddish-gold sand.
Rocky bays are a different matter. Around Sliema the sea is entered from stone slabs by metal handrails, which suits confident swimmers rather than toddlers. Children who swim well can manage; younger ones usually prefer sand.
Indoor and partly covered days
The National Aquarium in Qawra holds 26 tanks with 175 species and a central tunnel tank. It suits a hot afternoon or a wet morning.
Esplora in Kalkara is a science centre with around 200 interactive exhibits, a planetarium and outdoor play. Sessions run at set times, so check them on arrival. The Playmobil FunPark at Hal Far has indoor and outdoor zones for children from age one, themed from City Life to Pirates. A car or taxi is easiest to reach it.
The Bird Park in Burmarrad holds over 200 species of birds and other animals, from flamingos and pelicans to owls and parrots. Opening times differ between weekdays and weekends. More ideas sit in the rainy day guide.
Animals, water and film sets
The Petting Farm in Ta’ Qali National Park is free, with more than 20 types of animals, a toddlers’ area and a pond. Bring water and sun protection, since the park is open ground with limited shade in summer.
Popeye Village at Anchor Bay is the wooden village built for the 1980 film. A day there includes shows, a swim and plenty of walking. The Splash and Fun water park on the coast road at Bahar ic-Caghaq has slides, a lazy river and a wave pool. It is a summer attraction, so check the season.
Gardens and green space
Gardens are the best free option. San Anton Gardens in Attard has ponds, fountains, old trees and free entry. Across the road, the President’s Kitchen Garden has a petting zoo, two play areas and herb beds. Ta’ Qali National Park offers lawns and open space for picnics and ball games. Buskett Gardens is a woodland with citrus groves and picnic terraces, best from autumn to spring.
History that holds a child’s attention
The sights that work are the ones with something to climb, enter or imagine. The Mellieħa Air Raid Shelter is a hand-dug wartime shelter of more than 500 metres, with family rooms and a maternity section, cool and slightly damp all year, so bring a light jacket and shoes with grip. The Lascaris War Rooms in Valletta have narrow passages and steep steel ladders, which older children tend to enjoy and toddlers do not. Forts such as Fort St Elmo offer bastions to walk and, on Sundays, a parade; check the timetable first.
Boats and day trips
A short boat trip changes the day. The Blue Lagoon on Comino has shallow turquoise water, pale sand and almost no shade, so go early with hats and water. Sea conditions decide whether boats run, and rougher days can mean a cancelled trip, so keep the day flexible. See Malta boat trips and Malta day trips for what each outing involves.
Heat, stairs and buggies
Summer sun is strong and shade is scarce at beaches, temples and cliff tops. Hats, water, sun cream and rash vests do more than any other item you could pack. Plan the day around two outings, one early and one late.
Many places mean steps: the bays, Valletta’s side streets and the old walled towns. Promenades and large gardens are flat. A baby carrier or a light folding buggy deals with most of it. Keep children well back from unfenced cliff edges, such as Dingli Cliffs.
Ages in short
Toddlers do best with sand, the farm and the aquarium. Primary-school children can handle most of the list, including Esplora and Popeye Village. Teenagers tend to want water and history with some edge: snorkelling at a rock pool, the war rooms and a fort with a view. Match one fixed outing a day to the youngest child and let the rest float.
Food and daily rhythm
Children rarely fight the local rhythm. Long lunches in the shade suit the afternoons, evening promenades such as Sliema and the Valletta Waterfront let them run, and an early dinner is easy to find in the resorts. Fill water bottles before every beach, since kiosks sit at the sand and not along the path. Pack a small first-aid kit and a spare set of clothes for swimming days.
A family week in short
Four sandy-beach mornings, an aquarium or science-centre afternoon, one garden day and one half day in Valletta make a balanced trip. Add a boat trip when the sea is calm, and leave one slack day in case a child needs a rest.
