Malta in November: is it worth a short break?

Is Malta worth visiting in November?

Yes, if you want a city break. Spend three or four nights in Valletta, allow a day for Mdina and leave the beach out of the plan. There is enough to do when it rains, and on brighter days you can spend more time outside.

November is less convincing if you mainly want to swim or lie by a pool. You might get weather for both, but it would be a shame to spend the trip waiting for it.

What weather should you expect?

Malta’s Meteorological Office gives a November average temperature of 17.9°C and rainfall of 89.1mm in its autumn 2022 report. That temperature is an average across day and night, rather than an afternoon high. November 2022 itself was much wetter, with 151.2mm of rain.

Bring a light waterproof and shoes with a decent grip for wet streets. Keep your day out flexible until you have a useful forecast. If a hotel pool is part of the attraction, check that it is heated and open during your stay.

Valletta or Sliema?

For a first short visit, we would stay in Valletta. You can walk between the sights, stop for lunch without arranging another journey and get a bus from the terminal outside City Gate for a day elsewhere.

Sliema is worth comparing if you find a hotel you prefer at a better price. Work out the cost and time of getting to Valletta, especially if you expect to go back and forth several times. Check the bus alternative as well as the ferry.

In either place, look at the approach to the hotel before booking. Steps and hills matter when you have luggage or find walking difficult. Ask about lift access if you need it.

Three nights in Malta

A full day in Valletta

Spend the morning walking around the capital, then choose a museum that interests you. MUŻA, the national art museum in the Auberge d’Italie, is an obvious option for art. The National Museum of Archaeology, in the Auberge de Provence, has finds from Malta’s prehistoric sites. Both give you something worthwhile to do if the afternoon turns wet.

Allow time for a long lunch rather than trying to fit both museums around a packed list of sights. Check their current opening hours before deciding which day to visit.

A day in Mdina and Rabat

Mdina was Malta’s capital before the Knights of St John arrived. Its fortified streets make a good change from Valletta, and neighbouring Rabat is close enough to include in the same outing. Use the bus journey planner for your travel date and leave plenty of time to wander.

What to do with a fourth night

Give yourself another full day without changing hotels. You could return to somewhere you rushed, see the second museum or make another outing if the weather suits. On a trip this short, we would save a separate stay on Gozo for another visit.

Do you need to hire a car?

Not for this itinerary. Valletta has the main bus terminal, so check the journey to Mdina before committing to car hire. Compare a taxi for the occasional journey with the full cost of a car, including parking.

If you take a ferry, check the service on the day and leave enough time for the return. Keep any separate-island outing away from your flight home. That gives you room to change plans if the crossing is disrupted.

What to compare before booking

Look at the flight and hotel together. A low fare loses some of its appeal if you arrive late and leave early, especially on a three-night stay. Check baggage, airport transfers and any hotel extras before comparing totals.

There are no live package quotes in this guide. Price the same dates and room type, and decide whether a central hotel saves enough journeys to justify the difference.

Malta makes sense in November when you want time in its towns and museums. For a greener break with walks, compare Madeira in November. For warmer beach weather, see the Canaries or Cape Verde.