Malta, with it’s perfect weather and gorgeous scenery, is an ideal place for a family getaway. It’s well-established, but doesn’t feel overly crowded or touristy – even when the population doubles during high season. It’s European, but feels distinct from the rest of the continent.
There are many amazing things to do in Malta that really aren’t great for families traveling with very young children. Rather than sort through the lists of museums and scuba diving spots, I’ve put together what I found to be the very best things to do in Malta with a toddler.
Malta is a fabulous family travel destination! If you’re looking for an in-depth guide with tips about things like breastfeeding, transportation, and everything else that parents of young children wonder when traveling, check out Malta with a Toddler or Baby: Know Before You Go.
If you’re looking for the best things to do with a toddler on Malta, read on!
First and foremost… the beaches!
Malta is an island (well, technically a chain of islands). As such, you can be sure that going to the beach is one of the top activities for kids in Malta! But not all of the beaches are great for swimming, especially with very young children. You’ll find that the best beaches are at the north end of Malta.
Mellieħa Bay is probably the most popular beach on the island, and for good reason. It is large, shallow, and easily accessible from the bus. There are ample facilities at the beach, and you can rent a sunbed to set up shop for the day. During the summer there are lifeguards, and with so many hotels and restaurants nearby, you don’t have to go far for dinner when you’re done.
Armier Bay requires a car to get to in the very far north, but is pretty quiet and has calm waters that are great for swimming.
Paradise Bay, also in the north and right by the ferry, is very popular with families. It is protected by a natural cove, sandy, clear, and shallow. There are facilities here to rent sunbeds and get snacks.
Golden Bay is another beach that is easy to access by bus, with beautiful scenery, good amenities, and a large sandy area to play.
Some popular choices that you may want to skip:
Qawra Point is a fun swim and snorkel spot, but it is rocky. While this is a great place to splash for older kids, I don’t recommend it for toddlers.
Għajn Tuffieħa is another popular beach that I don’t recommend for toddlers, because of the long, steep climb up the stairs to get out.
The Blue Lagoon is a beloved swimming spot, but not somewhere you’ll want to go with a toddler. It requires a boat ride to get there, is swamped with tourists, and there is no beach. You have to jump in to swim directly from the boat, which is extra challenging for little ones.
As always, stay within the designated swimming zones and keep out of the water if you see red flags.
Spend an afternoon in the Silent City of Mdina
You would be remiss to visit Malta and not experience the wonder of Mdina.
Walking into this walled city feels like walking into another point in history. The city itself is a labyrinth of stone, and one of the best things to do here is truly to just get lost among the alleyways.
Toddlers will love crossing the bridge to walk through the epic Mdina Gate. Once you’re inside, you won’t be bothered by cars, although you may need to watch out for the occasional horse-drawn carriage!
While I wouldn’t necessarily want to spend days in the Silent City with a toddler (most of the actual attractions here are historical and not that fun for little ones), my 3 year old loved exploring for an afternoon and we had a great lunch in a restaurant that can only be described as feeling like an upscale dungeon. And I actually mean that in a good way!
Cool off at the Splash n Fun water park
Malta’s year-round sunny weather makes it a perfect place to vacation, but you will probably look for more than just the beaches to cool off!
Splash n Fun water park is centrally located on the island, and is a blast for any toddler (or big kid) who loves to play in the water.
There were things that I did not love about this water park, but overall, it was definitely worth the trip.
We did absolutely love stopping by Barlatte Gelato, just down the street, before we hopped back on the bus. Skip the cool treats in the water park and try this place instead!
You can read my full review of Splash n Fun here.
Wander around the Bugibba area
If you are up for some people-watching, good food, and lively atmosphere, be sure to spend some time exploring Bugibba. During the day, we loved meandering up and down the promenade, which stretches 3km between Bugibba and St. Paul’s Bay. There are endless things to see, smell, and listen to as you go!
In the evenings, the plazas fill with locals and tourists spilling out from the restaurants. Grab yourselves a table on one of the patios and enjoy the party!
Check out the boats at Marsaxlokk
What toddler wouldn’t love to see the colorful boats at this traditional fishing village in the southern end of the island?
For the best experience, visit on a Sunday when the fish market is roaring.
Assuming you’re staying in either Valletta or up north, Marsaxlokk is not the quickest place on the island to get to. It is very close to the airport, in fact. And there isn’t too much to do there outside of the fish market.
However, the bright boats and lively market are too picturesque to miss, and a great place to explore with toddlers.
Explore the aquarium and its fabulous playground
The Malta National Aquarium is open every day, and pays tribute to the abundant marine life around Malta.
Toddlers will love exploring the replica of the HMS Stubborn, a sunken submarine that is a popular dive spot about 2 miles off the coast of Malta. They will also enjoy walking through the perfectly child-sized glass tunnels while the sea life swims around them. Of course, there is a large tunnel as well. Look out for the rays and sharks in that one!
The aquarium also has a reptile and amphibian area, so be sure to check those out as well.
Whether or not you visit the aquarium, you won’t want to miss the aquarium’s playground. This is located just outside of the aquarium, and is free and open to visit at all hours. The structures all fit in with the nautical theme – your little ones will love climbing into the submarine and sliding out under the octopus!
There is also a cafe and a small splash pad, so kids will be well fed and entertained for a long time in this playground.
Get lost in Popeye Village
If you’re not familiar with it already, Popeye Village is the set from the 1980 Robin Williams movie “Popeye”. Instead of tearing it down after filming, they decided to keep it and turn it into a theme park.
I honestly did not expect to like Popeye Village. I have not seen the movie, my kids have no idea who Popeye or Olive Oyl are, and it seemed like it would just be a bizarre tourist trap.
We were pleasantly surprised!
To be clear – it is still a bizarre tourist trap. But there is plenty to see and do regardless of your feelings (or lack thereof) about Popeye. There is a really wonderful little water play structure that is just the right size for toddlers. Big kids can enjoy the larger waterpark out in the bay.
There are actors in character wandering the park, sometimes acting out arguments and other cute skits. My toddler loved it when they got into a sponge fight! There are restaurants, set houses to explore, and games to play.
The best part has got to be the scenery. Designed to look like it is all about to fall apart, there is something cool about this dilapidated old town set out along a gorgeous rocky cliffside. There are plenty of places to get stunning photos while you are here.
We combined this with a beach visit for the day, but would have been better off just doing Popeye Village to give ourselves a bit more time to relax and take in the funky atmosphere.
Enjoy splashing around at the Bugibba Waterpark
Back along the promenade of Bugibba, be sure to stop by the waterpark. It is free and open to all!
This is not a waterpark on par with Splash n Fun. This is really more of an advanced splash pad. There is no pool, but fun water structures and tunnels to run through. But unlike the much larger Splash n Fun, this is located right in the center of the action (if you are staying or exploring around St. Paul’s Bay), and it is operated by the government and FREE!
That makes the Bugibba Waterpark a perfect place to stop in to cool off for a few minutes while you are out and about.
Take a tour of Valletta
Valletta is the capitol of Malta, and is not to be missed on your trip! There is so much fascinating history here, and the Baroque architecture is stunning. The best way to get a toddler-sized history lesson, while seeing some of the best sites of the city, is to take a tour.
Not all tours are going to be tolerable for toddlers. We chose to do a private photography tour that we found on Airbnb. This was perfect. Because it was private, our tour guide was able to cater to the needs of our littlest legs. She gave us the history of the city, while ensuring that we could take breaks to tend to any needs our daughters had. And on top of it all, she took amazing photos of us that have become our favorite mementos from the trip! This was actually the best Airbnb Experience we’ve ever done.
Taking a toddler-paced tour is a great way to explore the capitol city, and then stick around for dinner and gelato when you are finished.
Run around the Upper Barrakka Gardens
While you are visiting Valletta, be sure to stop by the Upper Barrakka Gardens.
Located just inside the main gate, the upper gardens provide one of the best views you can find on Malta. The gardens, built in 1661, look out over the Grand Harbor. The panoramic view is incredible, with three cities visible beyond the natural harbor.
If you are there at 12:00 or 4:00, you can enjoy the ceremonial cannon fire! This will either delight or terrify your toddler, for sure.
There is a kiosk inside for snacks, and plenty of shade. This is a great place to escape to in the middle of a hot day for a nice break.
You can also visit the Lower Barrakka Gardens, which offer a different (but still spectacular) view of the harbor and are a great place to watch ships come and go. You can also view the impressive Siege Bell Memorial from here.
So! There you have it, the best things to do in Malta with a toddler. Have you been? Do you agree with my choices? Maybe you have something else to suggest? Let me know in the comments!
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