I’m just back in London after spending a perfect week in Malta. And I think you should absolutely trip-copy me! Here’s your 8-night Malta itinerary for luxury solo travelers. It also works perfectly for couples.
Malta is one of those rare destinations that feels both ancient and indulgent at once—honey-colored stone, impossibly blue water, Michelin-star dining, and boutique hotels tucked inside medieval walls. It’s also wonderfully compact, making it ideal for a slow-but-rich solo itinerary that blends spa time, cultural immersion, and a bit of adventure.
This 8-night Malta itinerary for luxury solo travelers is exactly how I experienced Malta: with a rental car, three exceptional hotels, ferry hops to Gozo and Comino, and plenty of built-in breathing room. If you like beautiful places, thoughtful logistics, and travel that feels curated rather than rushed, this one’s for you.
Automatic transmission cost a few extra Euros (worth it—Malta is hilly and driving on the left already keeps your brain busy)
€8.82 deposit paid at booking with Chase Sapphire Reserve to take advantage of the rental car coverage that comes with the card (Amex is better because it’s primary coverage but the card is not widely accepted in Malta)
€50 due at pickup
€1,400 refundable damage hold
U.S. drivers need an International Driving Permit (these can be obtained at your local AAA travel store for about $40 including the two passport photos you’ll need for the IDP.
💡 Valletta tip: You do not need a congestion zone pass. It’s much easier to return the car before staying in Valletta or park just outside the congestion zone at MCP Parking Garage near Triton’s Fountain (€15/day). The Valletta hotel in this 8-night Malta itinerary covers this parking cost.
The little white car I rented from AutoUnion at Malta International Airport
Tucked into a picturesque northern village, Lure Hotel & Spa blends classic Art Deco elegance with modern, almost futuristic design. Think glamorous rooms, quiet streets, and a feeling of being very pleasantly removed from the world.
Classic Double: $643.44 for three nights, including breakfast
Free street parking available (park in Parish Square facing the buildings)
Address: 9 Parish Square, Mellieħa
Evening Reset
Wander Mellieħa village
Visit Mellieħa Parish Church (open 4–7:30pm)
6pm Swedish Massage (60 min): €105 incl. tip
Dinner options:
Villager by Munchies (2 min walk)
one80 Kitchen (8 min walk)
Day Two: Gozo Ferry + Orange Sand Beach
Brunch in Mellieħa
Debbie’s Café A local favorite. (Note: Maltese/British-style streaky bacon is much leaner than U.S. bacon so it doesn’t get crispy the same way—manage expectations accordingly.)
Ferry to Gozo
Gozo Channel Ferry: 25 minutes
Car + driver: €15.70
Free going to Gozo; you pay on the return
Cash or card accepted
Ramla Bay Beach
One of the most striking beaches I’ve ever seen: bright orange sand swirling into electric blue water like a living painting.
Bonus: Gozo cuisine (“Gozitan”) is on the menu here and is worth seeking out
Afternoon tea at Kempinski San Lawrenz on Gozo
Blue Hole
The Blue Hole is a dramatic natural sea pool near the remains of the Azure Window on the west coast of Gozo. It was created by centuries of wave erosion.
A vertical opening drops straight down into the sea, connecting through an underwater arch to the open Mediterranean.
It’s one of Gozo’s most famous dive sites, but even from above it’s a striking stop, with deep blue water, rugged limestone formations, and powerful surf crashing against the cliffs.
~6 minutes from Kempinski
Sunset is early (around 4:49pm in winter), but ferries back to the main island run all night long.
Dinner Back in Mellieħa
Tal-Fardal Street Food (open 6–11pm, closed Mondays)
Tal-Fardal Street Food is a laid-back local favorite serving hearty Maltese comfort food (including burgers, nachos, and pizza) with a modern street-food twist.
Expect generous portions, bold flavors, and a casual, no-frills vibe—perfect after a long day exploring Mellieħa, especially if you want something satisfying without the fuss of a formal restaurant.
You can eat on cushions or stools arrayed on the steps next to the tiny street food stand. Blankets are available too!
The steps outside Tal-Fardal Street Food in Mellieħa, Malta.
Day Three: Lagoons + Comino
Late Morning Brunch
Colette Brasserie (2 min walk)
Coral Lagoon
10–20 min drive from Lure
Best earlier in the day when the water glows blue
Bring water shoes; currents and rocks require caution
Coral Lagoon is a dramatic natural sea cave where a collapsed ceiling reveals a concealed pool of luminous turquoise water.
Reached via a short walk from Armier Bay or by boat or kayak, it’s a favorite for swimming and snorkeling thanks to its clear, inviting water and visible marine life like fish and starfish.
The setting is wild and beautiful rather than polished, so care is essential—rocky edges, variable currents, and uneven entry points make water shoes and a cautious approach wise.
I went at sunset and it was eerie and desolate. Atmospheric but I’d recommend going earlier if you want to swim. In mornings, the sun lights up the blue water of the lagoon and it’s warm enough to play in the water.
Coral Lagoon in Malta
Blue Lagoon (Comino)
From Ċirkewwa Ferry Terminal:
Ebson’s Comino Ferry Service
€13 per person if booked online (which gives you a small discount)
20-minute crossing
Last ferry back at 5pm (includes sea cave tour)
The Blue Lagoon on Comino is one of Malta’s most iconic natural wonders, famous for water so clear and intensely blue it looks almost unreal.
Sheltered by rocky cliffs and bathed in sunlight, the shallow lagoon is perfect for swimming, floating, and snorkeling, with excellent visibility that lets you watch fish dart over the pale sandy seabed.
You can spend the afternoon hopping in and out of the water, sunbathing on the rocks, or swimming across to quieter coves if you want a bit more space. Boat trips often weave through nearby sea caves as well, adding a sense of adventure to the visit.
It’s undeniably popular in peak season, but even then, the color of the water alone makes the journey worthwhile—and in the shoulder months, it feels like a private slice of the Mediterranean at its most magical.
This hotel smells like ancient stone and designer soap—a detail I adored. My room was a subdued, sophisticated seafoam green with dusty mauve accents and a panoramic porch.
Deluxe Room: $693.90 for two nights
Park outside Mdina city gate (I tipped the attendant €5 but this is optional). From here it’s a two-minute walk to Xara Palace (go through the city gate and turn right). The cobblestones are smooth enough and the way is flat enough that I had no trouble managing my large rolling Rimowa trunk, a backpack, and a small cooler.
A deluxe room with panoramic porch at Xara Palace in Mdina
Explore Mdina
Walk the silent streets
Coffee at Gustav Café
Dinner at Lumière (rooftop at Palazzo Bifora)
Day Five: History + Michelin Star Dining
Brunch
Fontanella Tea Garden (the views are iconic and the cake is off the hook)
Cultural Stops
Casa Gourgion (a new museum, opened 2024):
Casa Gourgion is a beautifully restored 19th-century nobleman’s residence that offers a rare, intimate glimpse into aristocratic life in Mdina. Once home to Baron de Piro Gourgion, the house has been carefully preserved with original furnishings, personal collections, and richly detailed rooms that make it feel more like a lived-in home than a traditional museum. It’s a quiet, atmospheric visit that deepens your understanding of Malta’s social history and adds a human, personal layer to Mdina’s grand stone streets.
St. Paul’s Catacombs in Rabat: Malta’s largest and most significant ancient underground burial complex, offering a fascinating window into daily life, belief, and ritual from antiquity. Used from around the 3rd century BC through the early Christian period, the catacombs contain an intricate network of rock-cut tombs, passageways, and agape tables where families once gathered to share memorial meals for the dead.
Pro tip: Check the weather to make sure that conditions will be right to visit the Blue Grotto in two days’ time. If it’s rainy and the sea is choppy, the fishing boats won’t operate, so you could go today instead if need be. It’s a 15-minute drive and it’s easy enough to switch out your day seven activities with today’s if the weather will be better.
St. Paul’s Catacombs in Rabat
Dinner: The de Mondion ⭐
This is the restaurant inside Xara Palace Hotel. It’s Michelin-starred and exquisite—though be prepared for a very long dinner (4+ hours).
The honey pop-rock dessert was a standout. Diners were brought a velvet box with a selection of colored glass spoons to choose from beforehand.
The ice cream course with house-made honey pop rocks at The de Mondian in Mdina
A Baroque palazzo reimagined as a modern luxury mansion complete with glass banisters, silver marble floors, and a fragrance menu.
Superior Room: $781 for three nights
Park at MCP Garage near Triton’s Fountain
Take an Uber into Valletta if driving feels overwhelming (I did)
A Baroque 17th century palazzo reimagined in the context of modern luxury.
The fittings all carefully enhance rather than take away from the elegant historical details. For example, there are floating glass banisters to keep the eye on the silver marble floors. There are simple but beautiful art pieces like giant golden orbs in the hallways.
There are also luxuries like a pillow menu, soap menu, and fragrance menu. I would’ve appreciated a proper work space in the room.
Logistical Notes
The staff at Rosselli – AX Privilege will tell you to drive into the congestion zone to unload your bags and then drive back out to park at MCP Parking Garage. After that, they will have you take the public shuttle back in or walk (15 minutes).
I felt this was terrible advice and wasn’t shy about letting them know! 😅 Here’s why:
The shuttle only runs from 7am-7pm Mon-Fri.
I tried what they suggested and couldn’t find a place I was comfortable parking to unload bags inside the congestion zone. The hotel is just inside of a pedestrian-only area and the inner city is very challenging to drive in.
I ultimately drove back to the parking garage, parked my rental car, and took an Uber to the hotel with my luggage since it was a weekend and the shuttle wasn’t running. The Uber only cost $7.50.
The parking garage is located very close to Triton’s Fountain in Valletta (just outside the congestion zone) at St Anne Street, Floriana FRN 1460.
Parking tickets can be collected from the Rosselli Hotel reception and then used as payment to exit the garage.
Hallway to my room at Rosselli – AX Privilege Hotel
Afternoon Tea at The Phoenicia
The Phoenicia Malta (Palm Court) Proper clotted cream included. Enough said.
Afternoon tea in the Palm Court at The Phoenicia Malta was a delightful way to decompress from my somewhat harrowing drive into Valletta.
Evening Diversions
St. John’s Co-Cathedral (open until 4:15pm)
Dinner at Machu Picchu Malta (excellent Peruvian food)
Groceries if you need snacks/water: SPAR Express Valletta (open 24 hours)
267 Republic St, Valletta VLT 1112, Malta
6 minutes walk from the hotel
Day Seven: Blue Grotto + Valletta Icons
Blue Grotto Boat Tour
Best light: 9–11am
Bring €10 cash
Boats only run in calm conditions
Free parking at Wied iż-Żurrieq
The Blue Grotto is a dramatic series of sea caves along Malta’s southern coast, celebrated for water so clear and intensely blue it almost looks illuminated from within.
When sunlight hits the pale limestone walls and bright seabed below, the caves shimmer in shifting shades of sapphire and turquoise, creating a natural light show that’s especially striking in the morning hours.
There is a viewpoint of the arch a few hundred meters east of the turn-off to Wied iż-Żurrieq with its own designated area to park (on the way there or back). It’s a good photo op.
At Wied iż-Żurrieq fishing village, there is a large (and free) public parking lot. As usual in Maltese parking lots, expect a man requesting donations to find you a space. However, you are not obligated to pay.
After parking, walk through the town and follow the signs for the “Blue Grotto boat trip ticket”. The small kiosk is located in the harbor, about a 5-minute walk from the parking lot (Blue Fritzi Parking). It’s marked as Blue Grotto Boat Service on Google Maps.
Bring 10 EUR cash for the fisherman who takes you in his traditional wooden Maltese boat called a luzzu. The boat tour takes about 30 minutes and visits seven sea caves including The Blue Grotto.
The Blue Grotto in Malta from above
Lunch
Sotto Pinsa Romana (top-rated, casual perfection)
32, South Street, Valletta, Island of Malta VLT 1102 Malta
Open 12-11pm daily
9-minute walk from MCP Parking Garage
Casa Rocca Piccola
A living noble palace with guided tours (€13). This was the 16th century palace home of the noble Maltese family de Piro.
Dinner at Under Grain ⭐
Under Grain has earned the honor of a Michelin star every year for the last four consecutive years. And it’s right inside Rosselli Hotel, so all you have to do after your indulgent dinner is stumble over to the lift.
Day Eight: Gardens, Spa, and a Grand Finale
Breakfast + Upper Barrakka Gardens
Breakfast at Tribe
Open 8am-6:30pm
84, South Street
9 minute walk from the hotel
Walk to Upper Barrakka Gardens (panoramic harbor views + cannon firing)
292 Triq Sant’ Orsla, Valletta, Malta
4 minute walk from Tribe
Upper Barrakka Gardens is a series of elegant, historic terraces perched above the Grand Harbour. They offer sweeping views across the Three Cities and the bustling shipyards below.
Framed by graceful arches and dotted with monuments, the gardens are also the best vantage point for the daily cannon salutes from the Saluting Battery beneath—fired at noon and again at 4 pm.
Upper Barakka Gardens in Valletta, Malta
Wander Valletta + Seafood Lunch
From Upper Barakka Gardens, you can take the lift down to Lascaris Wharf for access to the waterfront.
You can also just wander the ancient streets of Valletta, discovering shops, cafes, churches, and other historic buildings.
For lunch: Grana Cucina (excellent seafood)
4 minute walk from Upper Barakka Gardens
Open for lunch 12-15:30
114 Triq San Gwann Triq Il Ganc, Valletta, Malta
Spa Afternoon at Iniala Harbour House
Essensi Spa at Iniala Harbour House
Espresso Scrub (45 minutes)
Signature Facial (55 minutes)
€254 total including a 10% tip for both treatments
As a woman, this is the only place I’ve ever been offered a boob-rub other than India! Tell them if you don’t want your chest massaged but trust me, it’s goooood.
Rosami (St. Julian’s) is another Michelin star restaurant because how else would you spend your last night in Malta?! This kitchen prides itself on experimental combinations and artistic presentations.
One course was soy custard with peanut butter and chive oil. One dessert was a brownie with olive ice cream.
Brownie with olive ice cream at Rosami in St. Julien’s, Malta
Departure Day
Breakfast at Strada Merkanti Café (92 Merchants St, Valletta VLT 1177, Malta): 1 minute walk from Rosselli Hotel
Return car to AutoUnion (petrol costs €50–70 for a full tank; avoid stations without a human attendant)
A repositioning flight will likely be needed for onward long-haul travel
A full tank of gas costs 50-70 EUR ($83) but I only had room for 20 Euros after all the driving in this itinerary.
Avoid prepay/self-service petrol stations. There have been multiple reports of tourists being unable to get change from the cash machines.
You will likely have to reposition to another, bigger European city to catch an overseas flight. KM Malta Airlines business class to London was lovely and it cost $345 (295.89 EUR).
The KM Malta Airlines lounge at Malta International airport is very smart and free access comes with a business class ticket. You’ll be treated to good food, free alcohol, and a beautiful outdoor terrace while awaiting your flight.
Final Thoughts
This perfect 8-day Malta itinerary is ideal for luxury solo travelers who want depth without exhaustion.
The destination is safe, manageable, rich in history, and quietly indulgent.
With thoughtful pacing, a rental car, and the right hotels, it becomes a deeply satisfying Mediterranean escape.
If you’re building your own Malta itinerary and want help optimizing flights, hotels, or points strategy, you know where to find me. ✨
Our founder Layne has lived on all seven continents in 63 countries and counting. As a result, she has accumulated a vast body of knowledge about travelling the world independently, safely, and in style. Now she uses her lifetime of inside information to help other travellers live their most unique and audacious dreams. 🌍
