If you’ve got a trip planned to the tiny island of Malta soon and you want to capture beautiful pics while you’re there, then this post is for you.
Here I list the most Instagrammable spots in Malta that are truly worth a visit, as well as directions on how to reach them. So grab your camera, make sure you have spare batteries and get ready to explore.
And if you need more information to plan your trip, then you should also check out my detailed 4 days in Malta itinerary which doesn’t require renting a car.
- 01. Valletta's alleys
- 02. Lower Barrakka Gardens
- 03. Red phone booth and balconies
- 04. Victoria Gate
- 05. Triton's Fountain
- 06. Upper Barrakka Gardens
- 07. Birgu fortifications
- 08. Vittoriosa (Birgu) Yacht Marina
- 09. Senglea Tip viewpoint
- 10. Marsaxlokk waterfront
- 11. Popeye's village
- 12. Popeye village viewpoint
- 13. Mdina Gate
- 14. Panoramic Malta Viewpoint (Mdina)
- 15. Pjazza Mesquita in Mdina
- 16. Mdina blue door
- 17. Victoria Citadel, Island of Gozo
- 18. Ta' Pinu Basilica, Island of Gozo
- 19. St. Peter's Pool
- 20. Dingli Cliffs
- 21. Blue Grotto
01. Valletta’s alleys
The narrow streets of Valletta are a photographer’s dream come true (even if you’re an amateur like me). Especially since most are sloped so you can capture a different kind of perspective than in other cities.
Add historic architecture (Valletta is a Unesco World Heritage Site) and bright colorful balconies and you’re almost guaranteed to snap some great, effortless photos.
TIP: If you want to take pictures on Republic St. which is the main street and it’s mostly pedestrian, then make sure you come here early in the morning because it tends to get really busy during the day.
Personally, however, I preferred the side alleys, which I found to be more photogenic and way less crowded.
How to get there? If you don’t already stay in Valletta, just take a local bus there. It should be pretty straightforward as most routes start from capital.
02. Lower Barrakka Gardens
Lower Barrakka Gardens is a small, but lovely public park in Valletta. And the best part? It’s also one of the free things to do in Valletta.
Right in the center of the gardens, you’ll find Sir Alexander Ball’s monument which resembles an ancient temple and if you head out to the back of the park you’ll be able to spot the Siege Bell War Memorial.
On the Grand Harbor side of the gardens, you can find benches in the shape of a half-circle, that look really nice in photos and allow you to better enjoy the views of the 3 cities across the water.
How to get there? There are 2 bus stops near the park, however, the easiest way to get there is to walk. Once you’re in Valletta, you’ll quickly realize that the city is quite tiny and you can explore all of it in just a few hours on foot.
I mean, walking from the main gate to St. Elmo Place, which is located at the tip of the peninsula, takes just 14 minutes.
03. Red phone booth and balconies
Right above Victoria Gate, you’ll find one of the most instagrammable spots in Valletta: a building with bright red balconies, at the corner of a bridge. And there is also a red phone booth around, to compliment your shot.
How to get there? To find this exact location, you’ll have to head towards Victoria Gate from the Lower Barrakka Gardens while making sure you walk along the waterfront. The spot is also marked on Google Maps as Red Phone Booth and balconies.
04. Victoria Gate
Unlike the Valletta City Gate which was given a contemporary redesign, Victoria has maintained its original 19th-century architecture, something that I personally prefer.
How to get there? Just go down the stairs from the building with the red balconies to snap a photo of the gate.
05. Triton’s Fountain
Triton’s Fountain is a beautiful and iconic landmark in Valletta. This impressive fountain is located right in front of the main entrance of the capital city of Malta and it features three bronze Tritons holding up a large basin.
It’s a must-see attraction in Valletta and makes for a great photo spot, especially at night when it’s illuminated!
How to get there? The Fountain is located near Valletta City Gate and the bus station.
06. Upper Barrakka Gardens
Upper Barrakka Gardens is another small public park in Valletta, though it’s slightly bigger than its lower counterpart.
The gardens offer great views of the three cities and it’s a prime spot from where you can watch the firing of the cannons, which happens every day at noon and 4 PM on the Saluting Battery, situated below.
How to get there? If you walk straight from the building with the red balconies, you’ll eventually bump into the Upper Barrakka Gardens. The park is free to visit.
07. Birgu fortifications
Birgu, also known as Vittoriosa is one of the 3 cities (and in my opinion, the prettiest) located right across the water from Valletta.
The city is surrounded by defensive walls and other fortifications that offer great photo opportunities. We visited late in the afternoon and they were pretty much empty.
How to get there? You can easily reach Birgu from Valletta by ferry or a traditional Maltese boat. To get to the waterfront, you can take the Barraka Lift down from the Upper Barrakka Gardens.
08. Vittoriosa (Birgu) Yacht Marina
The Vittoriosa Yacht Marina will catch your eye even before you reach Birgu. The harbor is home to a variety of boats and yachts and offers the best views of Senglea City.
It is a great spot to snap some photos, especially at sunset, when the sky gets a tint of pink.
How to get there? Cross the pedestrian metal bridge from Cospicua (where the ferry leaves you) to Birgu.
09. Senglea Tip viewpoint
The Senglea Tip viewpoint is a must-visit attraction for anyone visiting The Three cities. This dramatic cliff-top spot has amazing views of Valletta’s skyline and it’s the perfect place to snap some photos of its coastline.
How to get there? The viewpoint is located inside Gardjola Gardens, in Senglea.
10. Marsaxlokk waterfront
The fishing village of Marsaxlokk is a popular tourist destination in Malta, and it’s easy to see why. This pretty harbor town is full of colorful traditional Maltese fishing boats, making it the perfect place to snap some Insta-worthy photos.
So be sure to stroll along the waterfront and explore the charming streets of Marsaxlokk before grabbing a bite to eat at one of the many seafood restaurants.
But I should warn you: during the low season (I visited Malta in March), the village looks kind of deserted and most of its restaurants are closed.
How to get there? Take bus 81 or 85 from Valletta. The travel time is around 30 minutes.
11. Popeye’s village
Popeye’s Village is a must-visit destination for anyone visiting Malta. This whimsical place was initially created as a film set for the Popeye musical production, but now it has become a major tourist attraction.
The village is full of colorful buildings making it the ideal spot to snap some Insta-worthy photos, so make sure to check it out when you’re in Malta.
How to get there? To get to Popeye’s Village, you can take bus 42 (B6) or 44 (B7) and then change to bus 101. The journey lasts for around 1 hour and 10 minutes.
When waiting at a stop along the route, make sure you wave down the bus or it may not stop. We learned this the hard way and had to call for an Uber because the next 101 was in an hour.
12. Popeye village viewpoint
The cliffs located across the bay from Popeye’s village offer some pretty amazing views of both the rugged coastline and the village itself. So don’t leave without checking them out and snapping some photos here.
However, make sure you’re very careful where you step, as some cliffs are protruding out and they’re not actually supported by anything. Therefore it can be dangerous to stand on them.
How to get there? Turn right as you exit Popeye’s Village. The location is also marked on Google Maps as Popeye’s village viewpoint.
13. Mdina Gate
Mdina (also known as the Silent City) is the former capital of Malta and it’s a beautiful fortified town located in the central region of the island.
Game of Thrones fans will surely recognize the main gate of the city from the popular TV series as Catelyn Stark and Ser Rodrick Cassel ride into King’s Landing through it, in episode 3 of the show’s first season.
It’s a bit hard to take a photo here since often it’s very busy, but it’s achievable with a little patience. Or you can get creative with your angles.
How to get there? To reach Mdina/Rabat, you can board either bus 51, 52, or 53 from Bus Stop Bay C2 in Valletta. The journey takes around half an hour.
14. Panoramic Malta Viewpoint (Mdina)
Since the Mdina fortress is located on higher ground, it offers great views of the island. For that matter, the Malta Observation Deck is a great spot to take in the vistas of Malta and snap some beautiful pictures. So, make sure you add it to your must-see list.
How to get there? Just walk straight ahead from the Mdina main gate.
15. Pjazza Mesquita in Mdina
Pjazza Mesquita is a lovely square located in the city of Mdina. Like the main gate, the square also made an appearance in the popular TV show Game of Thrones.
How to get there? The narrow alley across Palazzo Testaferrata will take you directly to Pjazza Mesquita.
16. Mdina blue door
This location is a little Instagram gem in the Mdina citadel. It got so popular, that it has a pin on Google Maps, so you can find it with ease.
Needless to say, it’s exactly what it says: a blue door (of an accommodation as far as I could tell), framed by a beautiful pink Bougainvillea which sadly wasn’t in bloom at the time of my visit.
How to get there? The door is located fairly close to the observation deck. From there you just need to take the first right as you turn in the direction of the Mdina Gate.
17. Victoria Citadel, Island of Gozo
Victoria Citadel is a beautiful fortress located in the city of Victoria, Gozo. The citadel is a popular tourist destination and offers stunning views of the surrounding area. For this reason, it’s the perfect place to snap some photos of the beautiful Maltese countryside.
How to get there? To get to Victoria, you can either take the fast ferry from Valletta to Gozo or bus 41/42 to Cirkewwa + the normal ferry.
The payment process for the ferry ride between Mġarr and Gozo is a little unconventional, as tickets are only sold as a round-trip fare.
Basically, we didn’t need to purchase a ticket before boarding the ferry to Gozo (we were so confused that we asked twice). However, we were sold a round-trip ticket when returning to the main island of Malta. In essence, the system operates on a pay-upon-return basis rather than a pay-to-board model.
From the ferry terminal to Victoria you can either take the local bus (323/301) or the sightseeing bus.
18. Ta’ Pinu Basilica, Island of Gozo
Ta’ Pinu Basilica is known for its stunning architecture and picturesque surroundings. And I must admit, the church looks utterly impressive against the backdrop of the beautiful Maltese countryside.
How to get there? There are several buses from Victoria that stop by the basilica. However, if you are visiting Gozo as a day trip from Valletta and want to see several attractions then the only options are to take a private tour or the sightseeing bus. This is because there’s simply not enough time to fit all the connections and also have time for exploring.
If you opt to take the Hop-on/Hop-off bus tour in Gozo I suggest you make a stop here. This way you’ll have the location pretty much for yourself after the bus leaves and until the next one arrives.
Also, the basilica looks best when you’re farther away from it since it’s quite big. So be ready to snap a pic from the bus, as you head towards it. I’m so upset with myself that I was too lazy to stand up for this.
19. St. Peter’s Pool
St. Peter’s Pool is a natural swimming pool located fairly close to Marsaxlokk village, well known for its stunning views and crystal clear waters.
Since it’s one of the most popular spots on the island for swimming, this location can get very crowded during the summer months. So for people-free photos, my advice is to either visit during the low season or as early as possible in the morning.
How to get there? The closest bus stops to St. Peter’s Pool are Delimara and Delimara 2, where bus 119 stops. From there it’s still a 30 minutes walk to the pool.
20. Dingli Cliffs
Dingli Cliffs is a beautiful and impressive cliff-top area located near the village of Dingli. They actually reminded me a lot of the more famous Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.
How to get there? The cliffs are easy to reach by public transport: just take bus 201 from Rabat.
21. Blue Grotto
The Blue Grotto is a complex of sea caves located near the town of Zurrieq. The caves are known for their stunning blue waters and they are a popular tourist destination that you can visit by boat.
How to get there? You should head to Blue Wall and Grotto Viewpoint (on Google Maps) for the iconic panoramic view of the Blue Grotto. The path starts right from the Panorama bus stop (routes 74, 201). There’s also a parking lot available if you visit by car.
If you’re looking for the best places to take photos on your next trip to Malta, then I hope you found this list helpful. And I also recommend you check out other Malta posts before your trip there.
Happy travels~
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