When to go
March — November
Ideal length
8–10 nights
Price
$6,000 pp (flights not included)
(based on double occupancy)
The trip in a nutshell
Malta is a sunlit island of honey-coloured stone and brilliant blue sea—golden beaches, warm evenings, and a culture that feels far older than its size suggests. You’ll explore Valletta, then slip into the quieter magic of Mdina and Rabat, where narrow lanes and layered history slow the pace in the best way. Along the way you’ll discover Malta’s prehistoric side too: megalithic temples older than many of the world’s great monuments, plus coastal views and natural wonders that make the island feel constantly cinematic.
Think seafood and harbour light in Marsaxlokk, sea caves and turquoise water, a full day on the lagoon, and a final chapter on Gozo—greener, calmer, and beautifully timeless. It’s an itinerary built for culture, sea time, and excellent food, with the kind of weather that makes every day feel easy.
What we take care of
Who this is for
This is for travellers who love the perfect mix of culture, great food, sea time, and plenty of fun—days spent between historic streets and turquoise water, followed by nights that can be as lively as you want them to be. It’s ideal if you want iconic highlights done well (Valletta, Mdina, Gozo) without rushing, with space for swims, long dinners, and that easy Mediterranean rhythm.
Malta is also a highly LGBTQ+ friendly destination, with a welcoming atmosphere and a solid choice of bars, venues, and clubs for nights out. If you want more beach time, more history, more boat days—or a more nightlife-forward version of the trip—we’ll tailor the pace and the experiences to fit your style.
Sample itinerary
This is a suggested flow across Malta and Gozo—designed to feel effortless and beautifully paced. We tailor hotels, transfers, guides and experiences around you, so nothing is “fixed” until it fits your style. Want to slow down, add more sea time, swap activities, or make it more culinary (or more cultural)? We’ll shape this itinerary around your taste.
DAY 1 — Valletta | Arrival, first dinner
Welcome to Malta—warm air, honey-coloured stone, and the sea never far away. A private transfer takes you from the airport to your centrally located hotel, where you settle in and ease into the island’s rhythm. Tonight begins simply and well: a relaxed first dinner in a place we love, the perfect start before the days open up.
DAY 2 — Valletta & the Three Cities | Caravaggio, stories, and a harbour boat
Today is Valletta at street level: layered history, hidden corners, and a food-focused walk that lets you taste the city as you explore it. You’ll also step inside the St. John’s Co-Cathedral, home to Caravaggio’s monumental masterpiece—an unforgettable pause in light and shadow.
In the afternoon, you cross the harbour by traditional Maltese boat to the Three Cities—Vittoriosa (Birgu), Cospicua and Senglea—where Malta’s Knights-era atmosphere still feels intact. In Birgu you visit the Inquisitor’s Palace, a powerful, time-stamped place that brings the island’s past into sharp focus.
DAY 3 — Blue Lagoon & Crystal Lagoon | Private catamaran, lunch on board
A full day on the water, Malta-style. You board a private catamaran and sail through brilliant turquoise to the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, with time to swim, float, and simply take in the coastline. A light lunch is served on board, and the pace stays exactly where it should: sun-warmed, easy, and unhurried.
DAY 4 — Mdina & the south | Silent City, temples, cliffs, and the Blue Grotto
Today moves through Malta’s most iconic contrasts. You begin in Mdina, the fortified “Silent City”, all stone lanes and quiet grandeur. Then you descend into the Roman Catacombs, an atmospheric world beneath the surface.
From there, the island opens out: Dingli Cliffs for sweeping coastal views, the prehistoric temples of Ħaġar Qim (older than the pyramids), and the luminous blues of the Blue Grotto. You finish in Marsaxlokk, a fishing village of colour and boats—perfect for a slow stroll before returning to your hotel.
DAY 5 — Palazzo Parisio & the coast | Gardens, cooking, and coastal views
You step into Maltese elegance at Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar—gilded rooms, aristocratic detail, and a garden that feels almost cinematic (part of the Great Italian Gardens network). Here you’ll enjoy a hands-on cooking class with the palace’s chef—Maltese flavours, done properly, with sleeves rolled up.
Later, the landscape turns wilder: coastal views and natural formations that remind you how dramatic these islands can be.
DAY 6 — Wine & the north coast | Boutique tasting, beach time
The day begins at a charming boutique winery, where you walk through sunlit vineyards and taste a selection of Maltese wines paired with local bites—cheese, olives, and artisan bread. It’s intimate, relaxed, and delicious.
In the afternoon, you head to a welcoming beach on the north coast for pure sea-time: sunbeds, umbrellas, a swim when you feel like it, and an easy bar for a late-afternoon drink as the light softens.
DAY 7 — Gozo | Cliffs, the Citadel, salt pans, and ancient temples
A fast ferry takes you to Gozo, where Malta feels greener, quieter, and a touch more timeless. You start with dramatic coastal scenery—Xlendi and the Sanap Cliffs—then move into history at Victoria’s hilltop Citadel. The day continues through authentic villages, sea arches, and the Xwejni Salt Pans, where tradition still shapes the coastline.
You end with Gozo’s ancient wonder: the Ġgantija Temples, among the world’s oldest free-standing structures. Tonight, you close the trip with a beautiful farewell dinner—warm, unforced, and exactly the right ending.
DAY 8 — Departure | Home—or Sicily, just across the sea
After breakfast, a smooth transfer takes you to the airport—no stress, no last-minute logistics. If you’re not ready to leave the Mediterranean yet, Sicily is surprisingly close: the high-speed catamaran from Malta (Valletta) to Pozzallo takes about 1 hour 45 minutes, making it easy to extend the journey into southeastern Sicily—or onward to places like Catania, Noto and the Val di Noto.
And if you’d rather switch scenes completely, we can also build an easy connection by flight to another European destination—tailored to your pace, interests, and the kind of ending you want.
Hotels we love
St. Paul’s Street, Valletta A restored 17th-century nobleman’s palace on one of Valletta’s most elegant streets — the kind of place where marble floors, original frescoes, and velvet textures feel lived-in rather than staged. The Gomerino is the most complete of Allelon’s properties: indoor pool, spa with sauna, and a rooftop deck with sweeping Grand Harbour views that make every evening aperitivo feel earned. Forty-four rooms, each one a quiet conversation between baroque grandeur and modern comfort. You wake up here and the whole city is at your feet — literally, since Valletta rewards those who walk it slowly.
Melita Street, Valletta Tucked into a calm side street yet steps from the National Museum and St. John’s Co-Cathedral, La Falconeria is where Valletta’s Rococo soul meets modern design sensibility. Forty-three rooms with traditional Maltese flooring, balconies, and French-style ironwork. There’s an indoor pool for cooler days, a fitness centre, and L’Artiglio — the hotel’s twice-awarded Mediterranean restaurant — for evenings when you’d rather stay in and let the food come to you. A hotel that mirrors Valletta itself: layered, elegant, and full of character once you look past the quiet façade.
Old Bakery Street, Valletta An authentic baroque palace turned intimate luxury retreat, two blocks from Republic Street yet a world apart from its buzz. Thirty-nine rooms with oversized marble bathrooms, espresso machines, and the kind of thoughtful details — Persian carpets, duplex suites with mezzanines, Maltese balconies — that make you feel like a guest of the Knights, not a tourist. The rooftop pool looks out over the city and the sea, and the in-house restaurant sits in the original vaulted staff quarters. Palais Le Brun is for couples who want privacy, space, and the quiet luxury of a place that doesn’t need to try too hard.
Triq San Karlu, Valletta The newest addition to the Allelon collection, set in two converted 19th-century townhouses on a pedestrian alley in one of Valletta’s most genuine neighbourhoods. Thirty rooms, a rooftop pool with bar, and a refreshingly uncomplicated approach to boutique hospitality — clean lines, contemporary finishes, generous breakfasts, and staff who actually remember your name. San Karlu is the ideal base for travellers who want design-conscious comfort without the formality: close enough to everything, quiet enough to feel like a local secret.
Make this itinerary yours
Tell us your dates, pace and hotel style—and within 48 hours we’ll come back with a tailored version of this itinerary.
Travel as you are.
Tailor-made journeys for gay men. Founder-led, authentically Italian, IGLTA Member.
