23 Amazing Things to Do in Malta with Kids + Top Tips, Itinerary & Map
We recently returned from a trip to Malta as a family and it was absolutely amazing. We spent one entire week exploring the three main islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) and it was an absolute dream.
We’d heard good things about Malta, but I’d say it exceeded my expectations in a lot of ways. The great thing about visiting Malta with kids is that there are SO many different kinds of beaches that your kids will never get bored.
While I was researching things to do in Malta with kids, I found a lot of suggestions for very kid-specific activities. While it’s nice to have activities like this in your pocket (like aquariums) I’m here to give you suggestions of things to do that both your kids and YOU will enjoy. And there is SO much of that in Malta.
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IS malta good for families?
YES! Malta is an amazing destination for families. There are countless beaches, boat rides, rocky coves, and beautiful cities that everyone in the family will love. I’m pretty sure our trip to Malta is our 4-year-old’s favorite trip we’ve taken as a family (and we travel often).
Best Place to Stay in Malta for Families
We love to stay in Airbnbs or apartment hotels whenever we travel as a family and the same goes for our trip to Malta. One thing about renting a car in Malta is that it will give you the freedom to really stay anywhere on the island that you choose.
However, if you plan to use the bus, I would recommend the areas of Mellieha, St. Pauls Bay, or St. Julians. There is no need to stay in Valletta as it’s a busy, crowded city and prices for accommodations can be higher there. I’d recommend choosing somewhere close to a beach (and a bus line) like the three previous areas I mentioned.
In Malta, our Airbnb was a steal of a deal (like 70 euro per night) in a small town called Mgarr. It has the capability to sleep a lot of people and it was clean and nice.
However, we chose to go bigger on our Airbnb in Gozo. It had insane views of the sea from the balcony and an amazing, family-friendly pool. I HIGHLY recommend it.
If I was to stay in a hotel in Malta (rather than an Airbnb), I’d definitely consider the Westin Dragonara Resort in St. Julians.
The Westin Dragonara is located right on the water with seriously beautiful room views, an amazing pool, loungers along the water, and even a small, private, family-friendly beach (how amazing is that). Breakfast is available, plus there are three restaurants on site so it’d be easy to have food taken care of.
If we were to stay at the Westin Dragonara, we probably would have done something where we split our time between here at another hotel or Airbnb to make it more cost-effective. Maybe next time.
How to get around Malta with Kids
If you are planning a family vacation to Malta, I definitely recommend renting a car. I’ve read that it’s possible to get to many of the top sights in Malta via the bus (and we saw plenty of bus stops while we were there). However, when you’re traveling with kids, I think a car rental is the way to go.
It was so nice to have a comfortable, air-conditioned car to get in after hours playing at the beach. We saw plenty of people walking in the dusty, Malta heat to the bus stop and we were so glad to have our car.
Plus, our youngest was able to take all of his naps in the car as we transitioned from one activity to the next (which was so nice).
We’ve been booking our car rentals via Economy Bookings for all of our latest travels and we’ve been able to get some killer deals. It seems like you need to check the website a few different times and if your lucky, a great deal will pop up (I’m talking like hundreds of dollars less than what we’d expect to pay).
We’ve used Economy Bookings for this Malta trip and our road trip to the Isle of Skye in Scotland with kids and we’ve had family use Economy Bookings for their rentals in Denmark. So far, so good!
Are there family-friendly tours in Malta?
Definitely! We booked a private boat trip to some caves, the Crystal Lagoon, and the Blue Lagoon. It was a neat experience to have just our small family on a boat, enjoying the wind in our hair, and getting front row seat to each cave.
Something that is really cool about the private boat trip we took was that we had the opportunity to jump right from the boat into the water to snorkel and hang out. Unfortunately, we didn’t end up doing that very much (because we were too scared of the jellyfish) which made the price for the private trip not quite worth it.
However, our daughter LOVED the small (I mean small) sandy beach at the Blue Lagoon that our boat also took us to. She loved it so much that we actually visited a second time around but this time taking *very* inexpensive ferry to the Blue Lagoon instead (which is nice to know there is such an affordable option).
So, you may want to consider if the ferry is the best choice for you and your family, or if a private boat trip to the Blue Lagoon is more something you are going for. There are definitely pros and cons of each.
Additional family-friendly tours in Malta:
- Private Boat Trip to the Blue Lagoon and Other Areas (the boat trip I talk about above)
- Private & Customizable Full-Day Tour of Malta (perfect if you have young kids, but still want a guide of Malta)
- Private Tour of Three Ancient Sites & Two Villages of Malta (for those families that love ancient history)
- Explore Gozo on a Chauffered Tuk Tuk (see the highlights of Gozo on a day trip in a super fun way)
MAP OF family-friendly things to do in Malta
*Use this interactive map to explore the best things to do with kids in Malta. Click on the full-screen icon in the top right corner to have this map open in your own Google Maps app or click on the arrow in the top left corner to see a pullout list of all points on the map*
23 Things to do with kids in Malta
Here are all of my top recommendations for fun things to do with kids in Malta! We did the vast majority of things on this list or we hope to do them the next time we visit Malta (which is hopefully sooner than later).
1. Take a short boat Tour of the Blue Grotto Caves
The Blue Grotto Caves are a series of sea caverns in the south of Malta. The sea cavern named The Blue Grotto features a huge, almost 100-foot arch surrounded by insane crystal, blue water.
To tour the Blue Grotto Caves, you hop on a small boat that carries about 10 people and are taken to the caves on a short 20-25 minute boat ride. It’s long enough to get to see everything and have an enjoyable ride, but short enough to keep the attention of even the littlest ones in your family.
The Blue Grotto boat tour not only takes you under the massive Blue Grotto Arch but also into 5-6 other nearby sea caverns. I was constantly in awe of just HOW blue the water was. Really, it’s crazy.
And you can see fish through the bright blue water along with purple coral along the walls of the caves. And the orange, desert cliffs dropping into the water is just breathtaking.
The waiting area for the boat ride is a nice, shaded area with seating carved into the rock wall. We only had a 2-3 minute wait for our boat, but it’s a nice area to relax if you do have a wait. It honestly felt a bit like a real-life Disneyland ride getting loaded onto a boat and taking a little ride through fun things to look at.
The only place to buy tickets for the Blue Grotto boat tour (and to board the tour) is at the Google Pin that says ‘Blue Grotto Boat Service’. We looked to buy tickets in advance online, but that feature is not available on their website.
Adult tickets are 10 euro each and children’s tickets are 5 euro each with under 3s free. Keep in mind that the Blue Grotto boat tours end at 1 pm in the summer and 3 pm in the winter. So plan ahead! The Blue Grotto is a must-see when you’re visiting Malta as a family.
2. Snap a pic from the Blue Grotto Viewpoint
Before or after your Blue Grotto boat tour, be sure to swing by the Blue Grotto Viewpoint which is just up the road! It’s just a parking area/pull-off on the side of the main road and it has some epic views of the Blue Grotto from above.
This way, you can see the Blue Grotto from both above and below!
3. Take a Boat Ride to the Blue Lagoon
In no way is the Blue Lagoon a hidden gem in Malta, however, it definitely is a must-visit sight. The Blue Lagoon is located on the small island of Comino between Malta and Gozo accessible via a boat trip to the Blue Lagoon or by ferry from Malta or Gozo. It’s basically a lagoon, or bay with THE most crystal blue water you’ve ever seen.
Many places in Malta have this type of crystal blue water, however, the Blue Lagoon is probably one of the largest consecutive areas of crystal blue water you’ll find.
The Blue Lagoon has a *small* white, sandy beach with perfect kid-sized rocks that are great for playing and jumping in the water. There is also a *small* rock slab with umbrellas and sunbeds for hire and a row of food trucks and restrooms up above the Blue Lagoon.
There are loads of boat trips to the Blue Lagoon you can choose from each with something that sets them apart from other boat trips to the Blue Lagoon.
We booked this private boat trip to the Blue Lagoon which is great if you have kids that really want the experience of jumping from the boat and playing in the water that way.
However, the highlight of our trip to the Blue Lagoon for our 4-year-old was the small beach at the Blue Lagoon so we didn’t make much use of jumping right from our private boat (although the idea of it was very cool to us).
We also got to go in a few more of the caves on the way to the Blue Lagoon that the larger ferry or other boat tours can’t fit in.
You can see all of the boat trips to the Blue Lagoon on Viator or you can check out the ferry schedule to the Blue Lagoon here. We visited the Blue Lagoon both ways and there are pros and cons of each. Read my guide to visiting the Blue Lagoon here.
**Keep in mind that the beach and the rocky sunbed area at the Blue Lagoon gets PACKED ( I mean like packed). And it’s packed from verryyy early in the day. The hoards of people do take away from the experience a bit- but even with all of the people, the Blue Lagoon was still our 4-year-olds favorite beach.
If you want to have the place at all to yourselves, you’ll need to arrive before 9 am or visit much later in the day around 5 pm or 6 pm. **
4. Swim in the water at Ghar Lapsi
Ghar Lapsi is definitely one of Malta’s hidden gems and it was one of my favorite places to visit with kids in Malta. I feel like many times it’s hard to find rocky coves that are suitable for children. Whether that’s because there is nowhere to sit or too high of cliffs.
But the rocky cove of Ghar Lapsi is totally family-friendly. It’s a beautiful blue/green cove with crystal clear water situated at the bottom of a boat ramp. It’s surrounded by an overhanging cave on one side and a cliff with a restaurant on the other side.
The water starts out shallow and gradually gets deeper making it fun for both young kids and older kids. And if you have teens, there is also an area where people were cliff jumping.
You’ll also find a couple of ladders leading into the water in different locations making it easier to get in and out if you want to float with your kids.
We visited in the afternoon (probably around 2 pm or so) and the cave overhang provided huge amounts of shade. Many of the visitors at Ghar Lapsi seemed to be local Maltese with a sprinkling of tourists and there felt to be plenty of room for everyone.
5. Hang out and play at Popeye Village
One of the many filming locations in Malta is the filming location for the 1980 musical film, ‘Popeye’, starring Robin Willams. The set was built exclusively for the filming of the movie and it has since been turned into a small, themed attraction called Popeye Village.
For us, the main attraction was the blue/green cove to play in with a large inflatable obstacle course (which was crazy hard btw). One of the best parts was that the cove is surrounded by complimentary, shaded sunbeds which was so nice visiting with young kids.
We just made the bed our home base and some of us hung out there while others played. It was great. We also attended a small puppet show which was fun and our 4-year-old LOVED the guided dance party along the shores edge that happened just before we left.
If you want more to do, there is also a small kids’ pool (which we didn’t use because I mean look at how picturesque the cove is). And there are outdoor games like putt-putt golf and horseshoes. There is also an indoor play place if you are looking to get out of the sun.
If you’re not interested in admission, you can still check out the view from above Popey Village. It’s charming with the colorful, wooden buildings built into the cliffside and the bright blue/green water. It makes a great sunset spot if you’re in the area. However, if you’re in Malta with children, you should just go in and experience Popeye Village- it’s worth it.
6. Take in the Views from Upper Barakka Gardens
I’m a sucker for a good view and so I’m a big fan of Upper Barakka Gardens in Valletta. Upper Barakka Gardens is a public garden with killer views across the Grand Harbor of the Three Cities.
It’s a nice shady area with a little kiosk selling drinks and treats and all along the edge are the gorgeous views. There are a couple of binoculars you can look through (which our 4-year-old loved). Right below the viewpoint is the saluting battery where you can watch the daily cannon firing.
This is also where you can catch the Upper Barakka Lift down to the waterfront to catch a traditional water taxi or ferry – more on that below.
7. Take a Traditional Water Taxi from Valletta to the 3 Cities
Something that we really wanted to do (but just didn’t have time for) was to take a traditional water taxi ride from Valletta over to the 3 Cities. The water taxis are SO quaint and just seem like a great way to enjoy the skylines of Valetta and the 3 Cities.
You will probably share the water taxi with a few other people, but it’s still a small group. And it’s almost a personal boat ride compared to the larger ferry option.
Look for Lascaris Water Taxi Station on Google Maps to get there (just take the lift down from Upper Barakka Gardens) and it’s just past the queue for the larger ferry. It’s only 2 euro for a crossing that takes 10-15 minutes.
8. Take the Ferry to Explore the island of Gozo
Gozo is the second biggest island of Malta and it is chock-full of stunning things to see. We spent three nights on Gozo at the most amazing Airbnb and I wish we could have stayed longer. We talked with a few locals and it seems to be that Gozo is where many people that live on Malta spend the winter or the weekends.
Gozo is more rural and much quieter than the island of Malta but it has an incredible list of things to do. The slower pace of Gozo is perfect for families. Plus, you can find some really awesome lodging options with pools. What kids don’t love coming back to a pool when on vacation?
There is so much more to do in Gozo than what I will go into in this post. So if you want to learn more about things to do in Gozo, check out my guide: 23 Amazing Things to do in Gozo with Kids + Places to Eat, Where to Stay & a Map.
Here are my recommendations for top things to see on Gozo (but there is so much more):
- Wied il-Ghasri
- Salt Pans
- Ramla Beach
- Tal-Mixta Cave
You can take the ferry with or without a car from Cirkewwa, Malta to Gozo. The trip to Gozo is free, but you purchase a ticket on the way back to Malta.
The ferry crossing only takes about 25 minutes, but it can add much more time than that to your drive depending on when you arrive at the ferry terminal and how long you need to wait for the next ferry.
If you are planning on spending more than one day on Gozo (which I recommend) I would book accommodations there rather than doing multiple one-day trips.
9. Look for the fishing boats with eyes at Marsaxlokk Harbor
Masraxlokk Harbor was a very quick stop we took in Malta, however, it is a very picturesque area. It’s a traditional fishing village in the south of Malta with probably hundreds of colorful fishing boats floating in the harbor.
Something fun is that many of the boats have eyes painted on the bow said to help protect the fishers.
There’s not a lot to do at Marsaxlokk Harbor besides walking along the water, but you can stop for a meal at one of the outdoor eateries lining the harbor. The area is also known for its Sunday fish market (if you’re hoping to pick up some fresh fish).
We also noticed many vendors along the harbor selling boat rides to nearby St. Peter’s Pool. From my understanding, St. Peter’s Pool seems like a great place for cliff jumping which isn’t really our speed with two young kiddos. However, if you have older kids this boat trip may be great for you.
10. Book a Grand Harbor Cruise
We had it on our itinerary to take a cruise of the Grand Harbor, however, as it goes when traveling with kids- our itinerary changed (and that’s ok). However, I do think it would be fun to take a harbor cruise to get to see the amazing forts and battlements of Valletta and the 3 Cities.
This I See Malta Harbor Cruise is a 90-minute, fully air-conditioned cruise with English and German commentary. You get to see both Marsamxetto Harbour and the Grand Harbour while listening to stories about the Great Sieges of 1565 and 1942 and other interesting facts.
It definitely looks like a great, family-friendly cruise and we hope to experience it next time we are in Malta!
11. Play at Riviera Beach
While in Malta, we asked a few locals what their beach recommendations were and Riviera Beach (or Ghajn Tuffieha in Maltese) was always at the top. We really did plan to make it there, but just didn’t end up having time.
Riviera Beach is a beautiful bay (next to two other similar, but unique bays) in northwestern Malta. It’s located down a huuuuuge staircase (which may not work for you) but the limited accessibility does make it more private compared to Mellieha Bay which is located RIGHT along a super busy, main road.
Although this beach is a bit more remote, you can still rent umbrellas and sunbeds. And there is a restaurant right on the water called Singita Miracle Beach and it looks like an amazing place to eat with a relaxing, cozy atmosphere. It would be even better at sunset.
12. Enjoy the Sand at Golden Bay
The next bay over from Rivier Beach/Bay is Golden Bay. It’s another great, family-friendly beach in Malta with blue water and golden sands. Again, umbrellas and sunbeds are for hire and there is a snack bar and restrooms available.
The parking at Golden Bay is more accessible than at Riviera Beach (no huge staircase). However, the parking can fill up quickly which may give you about a 5-minute walk to the beach.
13. Stroll through the quiet streets of Mdina
Mdina is an incredibly picturesque fortified city in Malta that is perfect for a late afternoon stroll. It used to be the capital of Malta a loooooong time ago. There is history found there from 4000 BC (yes, 4000 BC) and signs of it first being fortified from as long ago as 700 BC.
A lot of people are also interested in Mdina because it’s a popular filming location for Game of Thrones.
Before visiting Mdina, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Many people say to just take a stroll through Mdina (like, okay but what’s there?). But after visiting there, I have realized taking a stroll IS the best thing to do in Mdina (and get ice cream… a stroll with the promise of ice cream).
The streets and alleyways are absolutely beautiful with colorful doors and blossoming flowers. There are many churches and cathedrals, some cute local shops and art galleries, and a delicious ice cream place.
Mdina’s nickname is ‘The Silent City’ because no public traffic is allowed to drive there. You will see some cars, but they are driving very slowly and they are the cars of the few residents who live there. This makes it all the nicer for a lovely stroll.
14. Play at the Playground outside Mdina Gate
A great way to encourage your kids to enjoy a walk around Mdina is to promise them a good, long play at the playground before and after your walk.
This playground is literally RIGHT next to Mdina’s entrance gate (could there be a better location?) and it has super fun structures for kids of all ages.
We played here for 30-45 minutes before seeing Mdina and another 30 minutes or so afterward.
15. Hop on the Malta Fun Train in Valletta or Rabat
The Malta Fun Trains are a great, family-friendly way to see some of the top sights in both Valletta and Rabat (and occasionally other cities in Malta). The Fun Trains take a 30-minute drive through the cities with interesting commentary along the way.
You can purchase your tickets at the train’s departure point and they are around 6 euro for adults and 4 euro for kids.
16. Watch the Sunset from Dingli Cliffs
If you have older kids that can be out late enough to catch a sunset, then Dingli Cliffs is a great place for that! The cliffs are the highest point on Malta dropping into the sea 750+ feet below. You can also take a walk along the cliffs to eventually reach The Blue Grotto or the small chapel, St. Mary Magdalene
17. Go Horseback Riding in Malta
Another unique family experience to have in Malta is to go horseback riding along the beach, cliffs and countryside. There are quite a few horseback riding tour companies to choose from in Malta, each with its own unique twist.
You can choose sunset rides, beach rides or some tour companies even offer little carriage rides along with traditional horseback riding. Check out all of the horseback riding options in Malta here.
18. Play at rocky Qawra Point Beach
If you like a good rocky beach (compared to a sandy beach) then Qawra Point Beach is for you. We found that we actually preferred rocky beaches more than sandy ones because there’s just something nice about not cleaning sand off of an entire family (although we do love a good sandy beach).
We didn’t have time to make it to Qawra Point Beach, but it’s definitely at the top of the list for our next visit to Malta. If you choose to stay in the St. Paul Bays area, this beach is a good one to check out.
19. Play on the Inflatables at Mellieha Bay
If you’re looking for a fun inflatable water course (like what you can find at Popeye Village) but you don’t want to pay admission to Popeye Village, then Mellieha Bay is for you! Melliehe Bay/ Beach is a large white sand beach with all kinds of facilities (sunbeds, food, rentals etc).
We weren’t ever super thrilled idea with visiting here because it’s located RIGHT along a very busy road. However, it does look like a very popular beach.
20. Explore Esplora Interactive Science Center
Esplora Interactive Science Center is a large space consisting of buildings and outdoor spaces full of over 100+ hands-on, interactive activities for kids. If you’re looking to get out of the sun for a bit, the Esplora Interactive Science Center would be just the place to go!
Esplora is located just across the Grand Harbor from Valletta and you should be able to reach it by a traditional water taxi from Valletta or a harbor ferry. Some Harbour Cruises even have a stop for the Esplora Science Center.
21. See the Fish at Malta National Aquarium
If your kids love aquariums, then no fear, the Malta Aquarium is here for you. The Malta Aquarium is located in St. Paul’s Bay and is open every day from 10:00 am-8:00 pm.
We have been to our share of aquariums with the kids, so we opted to explore other areas of Malta rather than visit the Malta Aquarium. However, if you have some kids that just can’t get enough of aquariums, then this may be a great stop for you.
I noticed that you can get a discount on the Malta Aquarium with your boat ride ticket to the Blue Grotto if you are planning to do both.
22. Tour Ghar Dalam Cave
Ghar Dalam Cave is one of many, many ancient history sites located in Malta, but it will be at the top of our list for our next visit.
The cave is 144 meters long, with skeletal remains of animals from the Ice Age, along with cave art and evidence of human existence in Malta as early as 7,500 years ago.
It really does sound quite amazing. The cave and museum are open Tuesday-Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and admission costs €6.50 for adults and €4.00 for kids.
23. Play on the Playgrounds at Playmobil Fun Park
If your kids love all things Playmobil or they are really hankering for another playground to visit (besides the ones I’ve already mentioned) then it may be good to know about Playmobil Fun Park.
Basically, Playmobil Fun Park is a small, Playmobil-themed amusement center with some indoor playgrounds and a pretty neat-looking outdoor playground. The cost of admission is minimal and there is also a large Playmobil Store if you want to pick up some toys for later.
6 Places to Eat in Malta with Kids
We enjoyed a few meals out while in Malta (which we love when we can do that) but we also ordered quite a few dinners to our Airbnb via the Wolt Delivery App.
Wolt is HUGE in Malta and we took full advantage of great food being delivered to our Airbnb for cheap. Wolt also has a great, pick-up option. So you can order takeaway ahead via Wolt and pick it up on your way back to your accommodations for the night. It’s so nice.
But, here are some of the best places to eat out in Malta that are family-friendly, but still delicious with a nice atmosphere. I’m sure there are plenty of other options, but these are our tried-and-true recommendations.
1. Sea View Cafe
If you eat at only one place in Malta, make sure it’s at Sea View Cafe. Sea View Cafe has got to be one of the most picturesque, family-friendly places to exist. It’s tucked away from the road on a cliff overlooking Mellieha Bay but it’s also RIGHT next to a playground.
There’s no way you would even know that the cafe existed if you were just walking or driving by.
Sea View Cafe is a counter-service type of restaurant (which is our speed when eating out with young kids) but it has a great menu of delicious options and a kids menu with kids menu basics (pasta, chicken nuggets, etc.). However, they also serve smoothies and mocktails and have a pretty intensive alcohol menu.
If you get one of their sandwiches, I recommend ordering it on the traditional Ftira bread- I did and it was super good.
And can we talk about the playground? Like, the playground is literally steps away from the tables. The cafe and playground are both located within a walled-off area with a gate (meaning no kids can escape😅). So while we waited for our food, our kids played and as soon as they were done eating, they went back to playing again.
It. was. awesome.
And although the playground is right there, it’s also separated enough that you don’t feel like you are enjoying dinner IN a playground (if you know what I’m saying). We had our choice of table along the railing with epic views and didn’t feel crowded by the playground at all.
The whole family enjoyed it so much that we ate there two nights in a row (and honestly we would have gone again if we hadn’t been leaving the next day).
2. Grano
We really love to eat out, but it can be tricky with two little ones. We try to find places that are cute, delicious, and (maybe most importantly) fast. I really wanted to have a nice lunch while we were exploring Valletta and after much research, we ended up at Grano (and I’m so glad we did).
Grano is a sandwich bar adorably situated on one of Valletta’s picturesque side streets. It has super cute, small round tables situated on the hill right in front of the walk-up counter. The umbrellas provide nice shade and it just feels so lovely.
Keep in mind, the chairs are situated on a hill, so we had to set our 4-year-old up just right so that she didn’t tip over. But it wasn’t too big of an issue.
Many people say that Grano has the best Ftira in town- and I wouldn’t doubt it. Ftira is a traditional, ring-shaped Maltese leavened bread used as the bread for a sandwich. We ordered the Veggie and the El Carnicero (pork) sandwiches and they were SO good.
They also serve bagels and smoothies if any of the sandwiches aren’t looking good to the kiddos. I highly recommend getting off of the main touristy street of Valletta (Republic Street) and enjoying a meal at Grano.
3. San Paolo Naufrago Pizzeria
Another picture-perfect restaurant on Valletta’s side streets is San Paolo Naugrago Pizzeria. If we would have had time for another meal in Valletta we definitely would have stopped here. However, we just walked by instead. But it’s on one of the cutest streets in all of Valletta so even a walk-by is worth it.
Anyway, San Paolo Naugrago is a great choice for families because it serves delicious pizza (always a hit with our kids) and salads. Plus, the seating area is a little more family-friendly than Grano’s because the table and chairs all rest on a flat surface instead of on a hill like Grano’s seats.
4. Dr. Juice
Whenever we are traveling, we usually end up finding a local smoothie joint because our kids love smoothies (as do we) and it’s nice to know they are getting some healthier food into their system. And unfortunately, Airbnbs don’t seem to have blenders too often so we resort to buying smoothies instead of making our own.
Dr. Juice was a great find in Malta. They have multiple locations all over Malta and Gozo meaning you’re never too far away from one. They have a large menu of not only smoothies but also a lot of other healthy food options like sandwiches, wraps, bowls, and Asian noodles.
The Dr. Juice locations all have a really nice atmosphere, however, we actually ordered our smoothies for pick-up via the Wolt Delivery app. One kiddo was asleep in the car and we didn’t want a long stop, so we ordered our smoothing while driving to the location and it was ready for pick-up when we arrived. It was SO nice.
Then we enjoyed our smoothies in the car on the way to the beach and were ready to play as soon as we got there. But as I said, they also have a lot of other really great food options on the menu, not just smoothies.
5. Oakberry Acai
Again, one more quick, healthy stop to have up your sleeve is Oakberry Acai. Oakberry Acai serves only Brazilian Acai with loads of toppings/mix-ins. It’s totally delicious and a great way to get some healthy food while traveling.
Oakberry has three locations in Malta: Valletta (right next to Upper Barakka Gardens), St. Julians, and Gozo. We picked some up after a day at the beach on Gozo and it was so refreshing.
6. Singita Miracle Beach
Singita Miracle Beach is a restaurant located at Riviera Beach (Għajn Tuffieħa) right on the water and next to the cliffs. The views look just stunning and it’d be a perfect place to eat after playing at the beach. We didn’t have the chance to eat here, but next time we are in Malta I want to make sure we do.
I don’t think there’s anything specifically ‘family-friendly’ about it (besides being a hop, skip and jump away from where you’ve been playing at the beach all day). However, there are things like pizza and pasta on their menu which is always a hit with our kids.
If you really want to make it special, try timing your dinner with the sunset because it looks like it has some amazing sunset views.
5 Foods to Try as a Family in Malta
1. Maltese Ftira
Ftira is a traditional, ring-shaped Maltese leavened bread that’s often used for sandwiches in Malta. We ordered Ftira at Grano in Valletta and it was so delish. Grano is thought to be one of the best places to get ftira in Malta (and it’s just such a cute place).
I was expecting the menus to say ‘ftira’ but they just said ‘sandwich’ with maybe a note that says the sandwich is made with ftira. But it’s definitely a must-try in Malta! I also ordered a sandwich from Sea View Cafe with ftira and it was also very good.
2. Gozo Ftira
The ftira you’ll find on the island of Gozo is actually quite different than the ftira on the island of Malta. Gozo ftira is more like a pizza baked in a firewood oven and has a crust that overlaps over the top.
The three most traditional Gozitan ftiras are cheese and potato ftira, sausage ftira, or ftira with anchovies. We picked up a cheese and potato ftira from a small, local bakery on Gozo called Mekren’s Bakery.
It was a tiny, tiny place where the food is being cooked basically right at the front door. There’s nowhere to eat in the bakery so you order and take it go. It’s a very Gozitan experience!
3. Kinnie Soda
Kinnie is a super popular Maltese soda that has been around since the 1950s. We saw Kinnie ads and vending machines all over the island and you can find it for sale at most places.
It’s a carbonated soft drink made from bitter oranges and wormwood. I was expecting something like an orange soda but it is nothing like that. The flavor of the aromatic herbs comes through quite strongly. It was almost more like a carbonated, bittersweet tea.
It wasn’t our favorite of the foods we tried in Malta, but I’m glad we tried it and I recommend trying it to see if you like it too!
4. Pastizzi
Pastizzi is a traditional, savory pastry usually filled with ricotta cheese or mushed peas. It’s quite a greasy and flaky pastry but it’s good! We tried both the ricotta and the mushed peas and we like them both!
You can find small ‘pastizzerias’ all over Malta that usually also sell other savory pastries if you’re wanting to try a few different things or you aren’t sure if you’ll like pastizzi. The most common pastizzeria chain we saw (and where we picked ours up) was Sphinx Pastizzeria.
However, some local friends we made told us that Crystal Palace (just a 4-minute walk outside of Mdina Gate) is known to have the best pastizzi in Malta. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to try Crystal Palace- but I bet they’re right!
5. imqaret
Imqaret is a traditional Maltese dessert that you can for sale at many different establishments. They are fried, thin, rectangle pastries filled with dates. Similar to pastizzi, imqaret is also quite greasy. But, it’s a fun dessert to try when visiting Malta!
You can also sometimes find imqaret served with vanilla ice cream which sounds like a great way to have it!
1-Week Sample Malta Itinerary for Families:
Day 1: Arrival (book accommodations with a pool and swim before bed)
Day 2: Gozo
Day 3: Gozo
Day 4: Valetta (Wander the streets, Lunch at Grano, Upper Barakka Gardens, Traditional Water Taxi to the 3 Cities)
Day 5: Private boat trip to the Blue Lagoon (or ferry), Wander the Streets of Mdina, Dinner at Sea View Cafe
Day 6: Blue Grotto, Blue Grotto Viewpoint, Drive by Marsaxlokk Harbor, Swim at Ghar Lapsi
Day 7: Popeye Village, Riviera Beach, Dinner at Singita
Day 8: Departure
And that’s everything I recommend doing and eating as a family on a trip to Malta. Malta was really so amazing and, if you follow some of my recommendations, you can have a magical visit too! Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions about Malta or Gozo. I’ll be sure to get back to you.
Check out these other posts, I know you’ll love them:
- 19 Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Malta
- 5 Different Ways to get to the Blue Lagoon in Malta + Things to Know Before you Go
- 23 Amazing Things to do in Gozo with Kids + Places to Eat, Where to Stay & a Map
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