Best Hiking Trails in Malta

Autumn in Malta is perfect for a number of activities, but best of all you can combine hiking with a lovely swim in pristine waters. Even though summer is over, the Mediterranean sea is still warm enough for a leisurely bathe, but the air is cool enough to enjoy a good hiking trail before or after.

If you’re visiting the Maltese islands for a short break and would like to fit in the most picturesque hiking trails, we’ve got you covered. The Hotel Valentina staff has put together our list of top five Malta hiking trails to save you time on research. All you need to do is bring your walking shoes, pick your route and you’re set.

The town of Żurrieq is one of the quietest and most picturesque in Malta. It’s located on the southern side of the island and can be easily reached by bus. Ask the staff at Hotel Valentina to make sure you take the right bus and get off at the last stop in the centre of the village.

This hike will take you out of town and into the surrounding countryside, with a taste of the Punic-Roman village of Safi. The urban part of the walk comes with its own attractions, as both Safi and Żurrieq are known for their narrow streets and historic buildings.

Eventually you’ll notice the surroundings turning more rural as you walk in the direction of Mill Street. Here you’ll find four old windmills creating a beautiful ambience that transports back to the old times.  Continue along the winding country road until you reach the village of Safi, where you can view the Roman wall. This will take you around 45 minutes, depending on your pace.

It’s now time to turn back towards Żurrieq from the direction of the Xarolla Windmill, which is functional to this day. If you’re there on the weekend you can even go in and explore this remnant of history. When you reach the centre of the village you can wait for Bus No 70 to take you on a short five minute drive to Wied iż-Żurrieq, a deep creek with stunning views where you can have lunch or even go for a swim in the turquoise waters.

If you want to combine dramatic cliff views with fields and greenery, this is a must-do. You will need to take a bus to Għadira Bay in Mellieħa, and from there you’ll walk up the hill until your reach the iconic Red Tower. The walk is spectacular from the get-go, with fields on one side and the glittering sandy bay on the other.  It is an uphill walk, so get ready for some exertion, however the terrain is easy.

Keep an eye out for historical statues and keep walking along the fields until you reach the derelict NATO base. It’s pretty unmistakable as it’s the only building in the area. Now it’s time to stop and enjoy the views. Our suggestion is to plan your hike for the early evening, starting your walk at around 6PM when it’s still light – this will get you here in time for the sunset, which is one of the best you’ll find in the Maltese Islands.

It gets dark pretty fast after sunset, so make sure you’ve got good torches with you. The walk back will be significantly easier as it’s mostly downhill and you’ll be back by the bus-stop in around an hour. The whole hike covers around 19km, so you do need to be moderately fit to enjoy this one.

The woods of Buskett, located further north from Rabat, are crowned by the majestic President’s Palace of Verdala in the distance. You can reach Buskett by bus easily and, once there, wherever you meander you’re pretty much guaranteed excellent views, beautiful greenery and a serene, quiet vibe far from the madding crowd.

This hike can be as easy or as challenging as you like. Committed hikers may wish to try out the route towards Dingli, where you’ll be able to spot small caves and Punic tombs before reaching a large cave known as Għar il-Kbir.

If you’re after a more leisurely experience, you can stay within the gardens themselves as there are plenty of areas to explore, picnic spots and you’ll even get ice-cream vans and food trucks in the clearing just outside the woods.

If you’re up for a 13km genuine trek, then Dingli Cliffs provide this alongside dramatic views of the eponymous cliffs plunging deep into the sea. Think of them as a smaller version of Ireland’s iconic Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs reach a height of 250 metres, so exercise caution while you’re admiring the landscape and the place has been left pretty much in its original state and you won’t find any protective barrier to mar the view.

You’ll definitely need excellent walking shoes and a reasonable level of fitness to complete the circuit and make it down to Blue Grotto. However, the good part is that you don’t need to. If you’re after a less intensive trek you can simply stay within the Dingli Cliffs area, following a circular route and then looping back into the village core.

The island of Gozo has plenty of hiking trails, so do keep a day of your holiday itinerary to visit. Start off in Victoria, which is the island’s capital. The vibe here is very different from the Maltese capital of Valletta, so take your time to soak it in. When done, start walking in the direction of Xlendi, past the 1650s watch tower and towards the south-east along the cliffs.

This route will take you to Sanap Cliffs, where you can continue walking up past the old farms until you reach Ta’ Ċenċ. We suggest that you take your time exploring this area as it’s gorgeous. You can always take a cab back to Victoria or the ferry if you’re done walking for the day.

If you’re planning a hike, don’t forget to pack your sunblock and water, as well as a snack. The sun can still get pretty tough in and November ! Accommodation in Malta is still in its high season at this time of year, so don’t leave it too late to lock in your Hotel Valentina booking. When you arrive in Malta, we’ll be very happy to help you plan your hikes and to share our top tips!

Many of the walks are away from the main touristic areas and you are more likely to meet local villagers and farmers rather than tourists.  They would generally be happy to engage with you in conversation or set you back on track if you think you may have lost your way.