Open with the ground. In March the fields on the central plain are green, the roadside verges carry wildflowers, and the valleys that are dust-coloured in August hold running water after a wet winter. The weather in Malta in March backs that up: the Luqa station averages a high of about 18 C and a low of roughly 10 C, a clear step up from February.
Three things to know
Rain falls away. The average monthly total drops to about 43 mm, over some seven days with 1 mm or more. January’s figure was around 80 mm, so the change is sharp. Showers still come in, sometimes with a squall off the sea, but they do not settle in.
The sea has not caught up. Surface temperature averages about 15 C, the same as February and the lowest of the year, according to satellite records for 1991-2020. Air warms faster than water, which is why March can feel like spring on land and like midwinter in the shallows.
The sun starts to bite. Not in a heat-stroke way, but a cloudless midday in a south-facing square can make a jacket feel unnecessary. The temperature gap between sun and shade is wide, so dress for both.
Hiking weather, before the heat
March is a good moment to walk. At 18 C you can cover a long route without overheating, and the landscape has its best colour of the year. The cliffs at Dingli Cliffs and the valley of Wied il-Ghasel (Valley of Honey) make sense for the light and the green.
On Gozo, Xlendi Bay with the cliff path on either side, and the Sanap Cliffs, are scenic for a half-day. Footwear should handle slick rock and mud. Bring water: shade is rare on the coastal paths.
Calendar
March has two public holidays. The Feast of St Joseph falls on 19 March, and Freedom Day on 31 March, which marks the 1979 departure of the last British forces. Good Friday is a movable holiday, and in some years it lands in March (26 March in 2027, 3 April in 2026). Easter weeks bring processions and many local events, and parts of the islands become busier with visitors, so book accommodation ahead if your dates are close to Easter.
Mużika Mużika, the Maltese-language song festival, usually takes place in March at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali.
Sightseeing is comfortable now
Queues build later in the year, and the March temperature suits long days on foot. In Valletta you can do the Upper Barrakka Gardens view of the Grand Harbour, the Fortifications of Valletta and a museum visit without needing a midday retreat from the sun.
Further out, the prehistoric temples Hagar Qim Temples and Mnajdra Temples sit on an exposed southern ridge. On a clear March day the walk between them is a pleasure; in a south-westerly gale it is not, so check the forecast before going.
What to pack
A light jacket, a sweater and a waterproof layer cover almost all of March. Add sunscreen and sunglasses, because the first burn of the year happens in spring when nobody expects it. Leave the swimwear in the cupboard unless the plan includes a heated pool.
Rain halves, the sea does not move
The month’s headline is the rainfall drop. February averages about 76 mm, March about 43 mm, and the number of rain days falls from roughly nine to about seven. Air temperatures gain about two degrees on average, while the sea stays at 15 C. That mismatch is the key to understanding March: the island feels warmer than the water looks, and visitors who judge the beach by the air temperature are caught out the first time they step in.
One day, three temperatures
A typical March day can include a cool, bright morning near the low of 10 C, an agreeable afternoon at the top of the range, and a cold evening once the wind picks up. Dress in layers you can put on and take off without a fuss, and carry them in a small daypack. A scarf takes up little room and often earns its place by seven in the evening.
A practical point
If the main draw is a boat trip or a swim, move the dates to May or later. If it is walking, sights and food, March is a strong pick, and a few days either side of Easter excepted, it is quiet. For the whole climate year, see the weather overview; for the next step in the warming trend, read Malta weather in April.
