One day in Malta from Budapest: Valletta plus one more highlight

One day in Malta is a same-day trip from Budapest in which you fly out early to the island, spend the day in the capital Valletta plus one other highlight, and fly home the same evening. Let us be honest from the start: Malta is an island nation, not a single city, and you will not see Gozo, the Blue Lagoon and the beaches in one day. What you can do is enjoy Valletta, one of the most compact and beautiful capitals in Europe, and add either Mdina or the Three Cities. That is a very good day.

How to get from Budapest to Malta

Ryanair and Wizz Air both fly direct from Budapest to Malta International Airport in Luqa. The flight takes about two hours and twenty minutes, and Malta is in the same time zone as Budapest. Frequencies vary by day of the week and season, so look for a typical early-morning departure and an evening return, and check the current schedule in the Daytrip app.

Malta is in the EU and uses the euro, so there are no border formalities beyond your ID, and your mobile plan works as at home. English is an official language, which makes everything easy.

From Malta airport to Valletta

The airport is only a few kilometres from Valletta, one of the shortest transfers of any day trip in the app.

• X4 bus: the express bus stops right outside arrivals and runs to the Valletta bus terminus in about 25 to 30 minutes. You can pay on board.
• Taxi or ride-hailing: around 15 to 20 minutes, handy if you are two or more and want to save time.

The Valletta terminus sits just outside the City Gate, so you step off the bus and walk straight into the capital.

Top 10 things to see in Malta in one day

• St John’s Co-Cathedral: a plain facade hiding a dazzling gilded interior and Caravaggio’s Beheading of Saint John.
• Upper Barrakka Gardens: the balcony over the Grand Harbour, with the saluting battery that fires at noon.
• Grand Master’s Palace: the seat of the Knights of St John, with its state rooms and armoury.
• Republic Street and Merchants Street: the main streets of Valletta, lined with Baroque buildings and coloured balconies.
• Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum: the star-shaped fort at the tip of the peninsula.
• The Three Cities: Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua across the harbour, reached by a short ferry ride.
• Mdina: the silent walled city on a hill, with narrow golden lanes and views over the island.
• Rabat and St Paul’s Catacombs: right next to Mdina, an easy add-on.
• Sliema promenade: the seafront walk with the best view back to Valletta’s skyline.
• Blue Grotto or Marsaxlokk: sea caves on the south coast or a colourful fishing village, if you have extra time.

Malta in one day: the hour-by-hour itinerary

The plan below assumes a typical early flight landing in the morning. Valletta takes the morning, and you choose one option for the afternoon.

• Landing to 10:30 X4 bus to Valletta and a coffee at the City Gate
• 10:30 to 12:15 St John’s Co-Cathedral and Republic Street
• 12:15 to 13:00 Upper Barrakka Gardens for the noon salute and the Grand Harbour view
• 13:00 to 14:00 Lunch in Valletta: pastizzi on the go or a sit-down Maltese plate
• 14:00 to 18:00 Option A: ferry to the Three Cities and a walk around Birgu. Option B: bus to Mdina and Rabat
• 18:00 to 19:00 Back in Valletta, sunset from the Lower Barrakka Gardens or the Sliema ferry
• 19:00 X4 bus back to the airport

Morning: Valletta

Valletta is small enough to walk end to end in fifteen minutes, but dense enough to fill a whole morning. Start at St John’s Co-Cathedral, whose interior is one of the most lavish in Europe, then wander down Republic Street towards the Grand Master’s Palace. Time your arrival at the Upper Barrakka Gardens for just before noon, when the saluting battery fires over the Grand Harbour.

Afternoon option A: the Three Cities

The Barrakka Lift takes you down from the gardens to the harbour, where a short ferry crosses to Birgu. Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua are older than Valletta and much quieter, with fortifications, waterfront cafés and the Gardjola viewpoint in Senglea. This option keeps you close to Valletta and the airport bus.

Afternoon option B: Mdina and Rabat

Mdina, the old capital, sits on a hill in the middle of the island and is reachable by bus or taxi from Valletta. Its car-free lanes are almost silent, which is why it is called the Silent City. Next door, Rabat has St Paul’s Catacombs and good bakeries. Check the current bus times on the Malta Public Transport website, and allow for the trip back.

What to eat in Malta

Pastizzi are the national snack: flaky pastries filled with ricotta or mushy peas, cheap and sold everywhere. A ftira is a ring-shaped Maltese bread stuffed with tuna, tomatoes, capers and olives, perfect for a picnic on the bastions. For a proper meal, try stuffat tal-fenek (rabbit stew) or, in autumn, lampuki, the seasonal fish. Wash it down with Kinnie, the bittersweet local orange soft drink. Valletta’s side streets and the Birgu waterfront are the best places to eat.

When to go to Malta for a day

Malta is one of the sunniest places in Europe, which makes it a great day trip outside the summer peak. Spring and autumn bring warm, pleasant weather for walking Valletta’s steep streets, and even in winter the island is usually mild. High summer can be very hot, so if you go in July or August, plan indoor sights such as St John’s for the middle of the day and keep the harbour walks for the morning and evening. On Sundays some shops close, but the churches and the Marsaxlokk fish market are lively.

How much does a day in Malta cost?

Malta is mid-priced by southern European standards. Public buses are cheap, pastizzi cost very little, and a sit-down lunch is comparable to Italy. The main costs beyond the flights are St John’s Co-Cathedral and any palace or museum tickets, plus taxis if you use them. Without a hotel, a day in Malta stays on a moderate budget.

Tips for a Malta day trip

• Malta drives on the left: look right first when you cross the road.
• Plugs are the British three-pin type, so bring an adapter if you need to charge.
• Cover shoulders and knees for St John’s Co-Cathedral and other churches.
• Choose one afternoon option only: Mdina or the Three Cities, not both.
• Bring sunscreen and water, Valletta’s stone streets get hot even in autumn.
• Buses can fill up in the evening, so leave Valletta in good time.

The Daytrip app gives you the flight pair and a Malta plan with both afternoon options, so you can decide on the day. Daytrip does not sell tickets: you book directly with the airline through the link in the app.

FAQ: one day in Malta