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Are you feeling curious about Malta, but wondering what a trip to this Mediterranean island would cost? It just so happens that I recently took a solo trip to Malta and tracked everything I spent. Today, I will be disclosing it all, from flights booked to every cappuccino I consumed.
Of the various cities I’ve visited in Europe, I did not find Malta to be very expensive overall. I should note that it’s unlikely you’ll find a direct flight to Malta from the US. However, within Europe it’s possible to find cheap connecting flights on budget carriers.
With that, here is what I actually spent during my Malta trip. I also estimate what it would cost as a couple, and include plenty of money saving tips. To further inspire you, I made sure to insert the dreamiest photos I could find!
Here is my actual Malta Trip Cost (in USD):
The above shows my actual expenses paid for one week in Malta. My budget was not on a shoestring, but was not luxurious either.
There are many factors that could make my actual expenses higher or lower than yours will be, which I am discussing below. For each category, I will go over ways to cut costs and which splurges are worth it. After all, when exploring a country as unique as Malta, it’s okay to treat yo’self a little.
Travel Savvy Tip
Don’t look at this budget as a lump sum! That’s the quickest way to get intimidated and assume Malta is unattainable. The truth is, you won’t pay the full amount at once. You’ll buy your flight and lodging right away, and then likely pay nothing for a few months.
Once it gets closer to your trip, you’ll start looking at tours you may want to do, as well as make restaurant reservations. When you get back home from your trip, you’ll pay off any remaining vacay expenses you’ve incurred.
Breaking it into chunks like this is a much more approachable way to afford the cost of a trip to Malta!
Malta Trip Cost Breakdown:
Flight
$248.41
Here’s my best tip for finding affordable flights to Malta: go when you’re already in Europe. I recommend checking Google Flights for the best prices.
My flight from Athens to Malta cost $248.41 with a connection in Rome, but could have been much cheaper. If I had flown on Saturday or Tuesday, rather than Wednesday, I could’ve booked a direct flight on Ryanair for at least a third of what I paid.
If you are starting your trip from the US, fares will depend on your departure city and the time of year you are traveling. Direct flights from hubs, like Washington Dulles, are usually cheapest because you’ll likely have only one connection. It’s also cheaper to travel outside of the summer high season months.
To illustrate, I did a quick search on Google Flights from my local airport in Cleveland, where I’d need two connecting flights. In May, I can find a flight for $776, but in June, the cheapest option costs $1,045.
For two people, budget around $1,800 total for flights to Malta. Or read these tips to avoid overpaying for flights:
- Be flexible with your travel days. Weekend flights are often crazy expensive. Play around with searching different departure and arrival days, and you’ll be amazed what a difference that can make.
- Travel during the low season (November through February), when there is an overall drop in prices.
- Last but not least, the tip that has helped me the most: Sign up for a credit card with travel rewards points. We’ve gotten countless free flights thanks to our cards, simply due to points earned on every day purchases. We’ve had great experiences using both the Capital One Venture and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Transportation
$355.42
There is plenty to see throughout Malta, so you’ll need a way to get around from your home base. Since I stayed in an Airbnb in Valletta, I was able to explore its tiny city limits completely on foot. In fact, parking there is a pain and based on your itinerary, it’s worth considering if you even need a car.
Malta is well connected by public transportation, with inexpensive ferries, extensive bus routes, and taxis available. Just remember: don’t take the white taxis you see everywhere, which will overcharge you!
Instead, call eCabs (+356 2138 3838) for a fairly-priced taxi that sets the fare over the phone before your ride. I used this company several times, and paid around $84.50 total.
For optimal flexibility in getting around, I chose to rent a car while in Malta. However, parking in Valletta is tight and hard to find. Therefore, I paid a total around $44 to park right outside the Valletta city gates in Floriana’s MCP Parking Garage.
Renting a car in Malta was affordable as well. I paid $206.92 for a very small sedan for four days and around $20 for gas; however, driving was tricky. I needed to adjust to being on the left side of the road, as well as the right side of the car. It was doable, but does cause extra stress when you are simultaneously getting acclimated to a new place.
For two people, a rental car or cab ride cost will stay the same, but the cost of bus or ferry tickets will double.
Lodging
$856.19
When I found an affordable Airbnb in Valletta with views out to the sea, I booked it for eight nights immediately. If an Airbnb is your lodging choice, then Valletta is a lovely, walkable place to stay filled with colorful balconies and charming doorways (though lots of stairs!). If hotels are your preference, you will find many such options as well, though not so much hostels.
That said, it’s not necessary to choose Valletta as a home base, as you can find lots of hotels and hostels in popular areas like Sliema and St. Julian’s. Those two cities still offer a central location on the island to easily explore sights in the north and south, whether by bus, taxi, or rental car. Additionally, Valletta is easy to reach from Sliema via the ferry, as well as by bus from both Sliema and St. Julian’s.
For two people, the lodging cost should be similar to what I paid above for an Airbnb during shoulder season (September through November).
Groceries
$8.72
Eating in during your travels can help keep costs down; especially if you’re staying somewhere with a kitchen. While I did have a kitchen available to me, I didn’t end up using it much. To be honest, I’m still a little scarred from the time I found a cockroach in my sink in St. John.
That said, unless you are staying in a hotel, you will probably at least buy water during your stay. Unfortunately, the water in Malta is not drinkable straight from the faucet, but bottles are inexpensive. The small sum I spent on groceries consists entirely of water and toothpaste.
Food & Drink
$348.66
As a solo traveler who didn’t want to cook, I ate out frequently during my stay in Malta. I was happy to find dining out to be rather affordable, although I mostly ate croissants and sandwiches. It also helps keep costs down when you hardly drink at all.
I did have one splurge day when I spent $95.68 at the cozy Trabuxu Wine Bar. The food was delicious and the service was so accommodating when I popped in alone with no reservation. I found myself purchasing a bottle of local wine, and taking my time as I consumed half of it and took in my surroundings.
For two people, it might make sense to eat in more over a one week trip. Otherwise, expect the food cost to double.
Activities
$190.52
Doing tours and visiting places like St. John’s Co-Cathedral or Hagar Qim can often be the most memorable part of a trip. However, too many add-on’s will break your budget. Therefore, you should prioritize the experiences that you find most interesting.
Here is what I spent on activities over one week in Malta (and what it would cost for two people):
Be sure to take advantage of some free activities in Malta, like the following:
- Stroll the Upper Barrakka Gardens in Valletta
- Admire the beautiful Blue Grotto
- Hike to the Dingli Cliffs
- Wander the walled city of Mdina
- Get lost in the Three Cities
- Jump from a small cliff into St. Peter’s Pool
Overall, I wasn’t in love with the tour options in Malta, but had an okay time on the ones I chose. My Valletta walking tour was informative, but a little dry. I met awesome people on my Gozo tour, but the Jeeps were way too small to be comfortable.
The Blue Lagoon catamaran tour took us to incredible scenery, and it was thrilling to watch people cliff jump from the Crystal Lagoon. However, at each spot we docked in deep water, and everyone largely sat in the strong September sun for four hours. Basically, all the tours had pros and cons, but they were the best way for me to visit these famous Malta sights.
Malta Trip Cost: Miscellaneous Expenses
- Shopping: $29.66 You may want to hunt for some unique souvenirs from Malta. Be careful, though! Too much shopping could blow your budget. My small shopping expense includes a Malta souvenir Starbucks mug and a cute draw string beach bag.
- Cell Phone: $80 You may have to pay for an international plan to make sure your phone works during your trip. Under my plan with Verizon, I pay $10 for every day I use cellular data abroad. It’s a bit pricey, but worth it for how often I rely on my phone for Google Maps and last minute restaurant searches. When I travel with Aaron, he keeps his phone on airplane mode so that we only pay this price for one person.
- Pet Boarding: $0 While it’s ideal to have a friend or family member that can watch your pet for free, that isn’t always possible. When Aaron and I travel together, we always pay to board our dog in a cozy little “suite” at his vet office. For this Malta trip, though, Aaron was able to be home with him.
• • •
There you have it – a complete rundown of my actual Malta trip cost. I’m so glad I was able to add Malta and Barcelona onto our Greece trip, since airfare is so much cheaper when traveling within Europe.
Overall, I found Malta to be an affordable country to visit. If you use credit card points or stay in a hostel, this trip can be made even cheaper! It’s worth it to experience Malta’s beautiful architecture and Mediterranean coastline.
