3 Days in Malta: A Day-by-Day Itinerary

A 3-day Malta itinerary is enough to explore Valletta, the Three Cities, Mdina, and a taste of the beaches while keeping travel times short and costs predictable. In 72 hours you can see Malta’s highlights using buses and ferries, with daily budgets from about $50 to $250 in 2026.

Malta welcomed around 3 million tourists in 2023, according to the Malta Tourism Authority, and most base themselves in or near the capital Valletta for easy access to sights and transport. This itinerary uses Valletta as your hub, with short day trips to historic towns and coastal areas so you’re never more than an hour from “home.”

You’ll spend Day 1 exploring Valletta’s baroque streets and harbours, Day 2 in Mdina and Rabat with an evening in Sliema or St. Julian’s, and Day 3 on the water around the Three Cities and a beach or coastal walk. Public buses cost about €2 per ride in 2026, and harbour ferries between Valletta and Sliema cost around €1.50–€2 one way.

Throughout, you can use the Hello app to track expenses, split costs with friends, and keep an eye on your Malta travel plan in real time. Buying a Hello eSIM before you land means you arrive connected, making it easy to navigate Malta’s compact but busy bus system and check live schedules as you move between neighbourhoods.

Day 1 in Malta is best spent walking Valletta’s compact historic centre, visiting St. John’s Co-Cathedral, enjoying harbour views from the Upper Barrakka Gardens, and ending with dinner along the waterfront; expect to spend roughly $50 (budget) to $150 (mid-range) in 2026 for food, sights, and transport.

Morning: Arrive at Malta International Airport and head straight to Valletta, your base for this Malta 3 day itinerary. The airport bus (X4) to Valletta costs about €2–€2.50 in 2026 and takes roughly 25–30 minutes, while a taxi or ride-hail to central Valletta is around €20–€25. Drop bags at your accommodation and start with coffee and a pastizzi (flaky pastry) at a local bakery for about €1–€2.

Late morning: Visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral, one of Malta’s most important sights, with an entrance fee of around €15 in 2026. Dress modestly (shoulders covered) and allow at least 1–1.5 hours. Then wander Republic Street and Merchant Street, popping into side alleys and small shops.

Afternoon: Head to the Upper Barrakka Gardens for panoramic views over the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities. Entrance is free, but consider the Barrakka Lift down to the Valletta Waterfront for about €1. From there, stroll the waterfront and stop for a light lunch—expect €10–€15 for a casual meal.

Evening: Enjoy a harbour-view dinner in Valletta or along the waterfront; main courses at mid-range restaurants are typically €15–€25 in 2026. Use the Hello app to log your Day 1 expenses—AI receipt scanning makes it easy to capture bills in any language or currency and see how your Malta travel plan is tracking against your budget.

Day 2 of your Malta 3 day itinerary combines the silent city of Mdina, the more local feel of Rabat, and an optional evening in Sliema or St. Julian’s; expect to spend around $60 (budget) to $170 (mid-range) in 2026 including food, transport, and entrance fees.

Morning: Take a bus from Valletta to Mdina (routes like 51/52/53) for about €2, with a journey time of 30–40 minutes. Mdina is a walled medieval city, once Malta’s capital, known for quiet, narrow streets and panoramic views. Start with a walk along the bastions and visit the Mdina Cathedral (entrance around €10 combined with the museum). Grab a coffee or snack at a bastion-view café for €5–€8.

Afternoon: Wander into neighbouring Rabat, just outside Mdina’s walls. Here you can visit the St. Paul’s Catacombs (entrance around €6–€7 in 2026) and enjoy a more local atmosphere. For lunch, traditional Maltese dishes like rabbit stew or ftira sandwiches cost roughly €12–€18 at sit-down restaurants. According to Eurostat, prices in Malta have risen modestly in recent years, so budgeting €20–€30 for lunch and snacks is realistic.

Late afternoon/Evening: Bus back towards Sliema or St. Julian’s (around €2–€2.50) for a seaside promenade walk and dinner. These coastal areas are popular for nightlife and modern restaurants, with cocktails around €8–€12. Plan for a mid-range dinner budget of €20–€30 per person here.

If you’re travelling with friends, use Hello’s expense splitting in multiple currencies to settle up fairly at the end of the night—it automatically converts exchange rates, making your Malta trip planner simpler and avoiding awkward money conversations.

Day 3 in Malta is ideal for exploring the Three Cities by ferry from Valletta, enjoying harbour views, and ending with either a sandy beach visit or a relaxed coastal walk; budget roughly $50 (budget) to $180 (mid-range/luxury) in 2026 for transport, food, and activities.

Morning: Start in Valletta’s Lower Barrakka Gardens and then walk to the ferry terminal for the crossing to Vittoriosa (Birgu), one of the Three Cities. The Valletta–Three Cities ferry costs around €2 one way and runs frequently. Once in Birgu, wander the marina, visit the Inquisitor’s Palace (entrance roughly €6–€7), and enjoy the quiet historic streets. A simple breakfast or brunch by the waterfront will set you back €8–€12.

Afternoon: Continue exploring the other Two Cities—Senglea (Isla) and Cospicua (Bormla)—mostly on foot. These are less crowded than Valletta but offer excellent harbour views and local life. Return to Valletta by ferry and transfer via bus or taxi to a beach like St. George’s Bay or Għadira Bay. Public buses remain about €2 per ride, while taxis may cost €15–€25 depending on distance.

Late afternoon/Evening: Spend your final evening swimming or strolling along the coast. Beach rentals such as sunbeds and umbrellas are usually around €5–€10 each. Dinner at a seaside restaurant will be €20–€30 per person for mains, with fresh seafood a little higher.

Throughout Day 3, the Hello app’s budget tracking helps you stay on top of your total Malta itinerary spend. You can import card statements as CSV/PDF to get a full picture of what you’ve spent on transport, food, and sightseeing during your three days.

For a 3-day Malta itinerary, base yourself in Valletta or nearby Sliema, use buses and ferries for most journeys, and keep taxis for late nights or tight connections; daily transport costs can stay under $10 in 2026 if you mainly rely on public transit.

Malta’s bus system connects Valletta with most parts of the island. Single fares are typically around €2–€2.50 depending on season, with contactless payment accepted on board. Buses can be busy at peak times, so allow extra time for journeys, especially in summer when, according to the Malta Tourism Authority, visitor numbers peak between June and September. Harbour ferries link Valletta with Sliema and the Three Cities, providing scenic shortcuts for about €1.50–€2 per trip.

Common base neighbourhoods for a Malta travel plan include:

• Valletta: historic, walkable, central bus hub
• Sliema: seafront promenade, shopping, easy ferry to Valletta
• St. Julian’s: nightlife, restaurants, modern hotels

Staying connected makes transit much smoother. An eSIM from Hello lets you arrive with mobile data active, so you can check bus timetables, navigation, and restaurant reviews without hunting for Wi‑Fi. You can browse Malta plans via Hello eSIM for Malta, with instant activation starting from 5GB and prices updated live.

Use the Hello app to add transport expenses with voice entry as you go. Multi-currency tracking with automatic exchange rates is helpful if you’re mixing card payments, cash, and possibly other European stops on the same trip.

A realistic Malta trip budget for 3 days ranges from about $150 for frugal travellers to $800+ for luxury stays in 2026, with daily averages of $50 (budget), $120 (mid-range), and $260+ (luxury) depending mainly on accommodation and dining choices.

Here’s a simplified cost comparison table for a typical day in Malta (2026 estimates):

In Valletta and Sliema, mid-range hotels often run €80–€150 per night in 2026, while hostels or simple guesthouses can be found for €30–€60. Restaurant main courses average €15–€25, and a coffee is around €2–€3. According to Eurostat, Malta’s price levels are slightly below the EU average, but waterfront and high-season locations command premiums.

The Hello app’s budget tracking and AI categorization are ideal for keeping your Malta travel plan on target. You can set a trip budget for your 3 days, let the app auto-sort expenses into transport, food, and attractions, and quickly see if you’re leaning more luxury than intended.

Most travellers can see Malta’s main highlights in 3 days by focusing on Valletta, Mdina, the Three Cities, and one coastal area, using buses and ferries while keeping daily budgets between $50 and $150 in 2026 depending on comfort level.

Q: Is 3 days enough for Malta?
Yes, 3 days is enough for a first visit if you stick to a focused Malta 3 day itinerary. You’ll have time for Valletta, Mdina/Rabat, the Three Cities, and either Sliema or a beach, though you’ll need a longer stay to explore Gozo and more remote bays.

Q: Where should I stay for a short Malta trip?
For a 3-day Malta travel plan, Valletta is ideal if you want history and easy bus connections. Sliema is better if you prefer a seafront promenade and shopping, while St. Julian’s suits nightlife fans. All three are within 20–30 minutes of the airport by taxi or bus.

Q: How expensive is Malta in 2026?
Compared with other Mediterranean destinations, Malta sits in the mid-range: think €10–€15 for casual lunches, €15–€25 for dinner mains, and hotel nights from €30 for hostels to €150+ for mid-range hotels. Tourist arrivals have grown steadily, according to Malta Tourism Authority data, so book early for peak season.

Q: Do I need data or can I rely on Wi‑Fi?
Free Wi‑Fi is common in hotels and some cafés, but having mobile data via Hello’s eSIM plans makes bus navigation, ferry timings, and meetups with friends much easier—and you can manage expenses and trip details in the same Hello app you use for connectivity.