Last Updated on: 25th April 2019, 03:22 pm
The country of Malta is beautiful, with many hidden corners spread across the three islands of Malta, Gozo, and Comino. While you’ll want to hit some of the country’s most famous sites, don’t forget that there are some hidden gems here, too! After traveling Malta over the past few years, here are my picks for the most Instagrammable places in Malta, Gozo, and even little Comino.
Best Instagram Spots on Malta
The biggest of the three inhabited islands (and the country’s namesake) the island of Malta has a lot to offer the traveling photographer. From cities like Valletta to smaller villages and hidden coves, these are the most Instagrammable places on Malta.
The Streets of Mdina
The museum city of Mdina is famous for its walls, its beautiful gate, and for being the original filming site for Kings Landing on Game of Thrones. However, there’s more to the city than just a filming location, since its actually a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site. While I find the streets incredibly charming to stroll, they’re noted by UNESCO:
One of the most important contributions of the Islamic occupation is Mdina’s street system, which is organized into a series of alleys and winding thoroughfares – a feature which is very characteristic of medieval Islamic urbanism in the Maghreb and in Sicily. Later Christian/Feudal insertions into the urban fabric of Mdina included the Bishop’s Seat and Cathedral and a Royal military strongpoint.
Location: Mdina, Malta
Blue Mdina Door
Yes, there’s a house in Mdina that might just be the most sought after Malta Instagram Spot. It’s the perfect shade of blue, with a gorgeous tree with pink flowers arched perfectly over it. The location listed in Google Maps is just Mdina, but if you look it up in Google Maps itself, its marked as the “Blue Mdina Door.”
Location: Mdina, Malta
Rooftops of Valletta
The city of Valletta is beautiful on the ground, but it is even more gorgeous from above. The mix of rooftop styles with the many churches and Maltese balconies are beautiful when juxtaposed with the sea. Remember when doing any aerial photography that you need to follow local drone laws.
Location: Above 59 Archbishop St, Valletta VLT 1449, Malta
Upper Barrakka Gardens
Looking out over the Grand Harbor, the scene is one of the best in Valletta with a panoramic view of the harbor and the Three Cities. (The Three Cities is the name for the neighborhoods of Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua which sit across the harbor).
Location: 292 Triq Sant’ Orsla, Il-Belt Valletta, Malta
Rotunda of Mosta
The official name of the Rotunda of Mosta is the Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady and is designated as a Minor Basilica in the Roman Catholic Church. This absolutely beautiful church survived an aerial bombing from the Germans during World War II, and a bomb even landed inside the building but failed to detonate. The design is based on the Pantheon of Rome, but unlike the Pantheon, you won’t be fighting crowds to see it since most tourist merely pass through on a tour bus without getting off to go inside.
Location: Rotunda Square, Mosta, Malta
Blue Grotto
The Blue Grotto is the name for the collection of seven sea caves on the southeastern part of the island across from the islet of Filfla. The caves have imaginative names like the Honeymoon Cave at the Cat’s Cave, though most who come here to photograph the spot are interested in capturing the magnificent main arch.
Besides being one of the most famous photography locations in Malta, this is also a popular spot for scuba diving, snorkeling, or even going on a hired boat trip.
Location: Blue Grotto, Il-Qrendi, Malta
Popeye Villiage
I am sad to say that even after several trips to Malta, I haven’t made it to Popeye Villiage yet. This was the film set for the Popeye musical in the 1980’s staring Robin Williams, but today it’s a tourist attraction that’s open year-round.
Location: Triq Tal-Prajjet, Il-Mellieħa, Malta
Spinola Bay
Surrounded by the town of St. Julian’s, Spinola Bay and its namesake Spinola Palace are two of the highlights of the very touristy town. Simply driving around the bay in a tourist bus is a beautiful sight, but if you want a good photo of the entire bay you need to get up above it in one of the many high rises in town.
Location: 25 St George’s Road, St Julian’s, Malta
Marsaxlokk Harbor
Marsaxlokk is a fishing village in southeastern Malta. Instagrammers flock to its beautiful harbor views full of Maltese fishing boats (called a luzzu or luzzijiet for plural), but its worth it to spend more than just a few minutes here. There’s a harborside market where you can buy fish, Maltese lace, and fresh produce. Set aside time for a nice meal here, where the food and the view are a perfect combination.
Location: Triq it-8 ta’ Mejju, Marsaxlokk, Malta
Maltese Balconies
The last three entries on the Maltese section are all things you can find all over the country, but they’re unique to the country and an integral part of Malta’s heritage. The first is the beautiful (and colorful!) Maltese Balconies. If you leave your trip without a pic or twelve of these gorgeous pieces of architectural history, well then you must be crazy. They are an integral part of Maltese architecture (and real estate):
The origins of the typical wooden Maltese balcony hark back to ancient times and to the ‘muxrabija’, a creation of the Arab world. Literally a peep-hole looking from the inside outwards, the ‘muxrabija’…
Over the centuries the balcony evolved in varied ways. One of the best locations where one can view a synthesis of this development is Mdina. There, antique balconies are many and varied, each one visibly harking back to specific eras and styles of architecture. Some of the smallest wooden balconies can be found in the narrow lower streets of Valletta, each sporting merely three glass windows.
Whilst the more typical wooden balconies have from four to five windows, perhaps the largest wooden balcony on the island is the one encircling the left and right corners of the façade of The Palace in Valletta. Whatever the size, the enclosed wooden balcony allows the property the benefit of an extension looking out onto the world outside, bringing light and air indoors, whilst filtering heat and cold from entering directly inside.
Maltese Doors
While the Mdina Blue Door might be the most famous door in the country, Malta is covered with beautiful doors. So much so that they’ve inspired Instagram accounts, blogs, and Pinterest boards the world over.
Maltese Luzzu
Perhaps the most iconic symbol of Malta, the luzzu is the official name of the colorful Maltese fishing boats you see all over the country, (plural: luzzijiet). You’ll find these beauties at almost every harbor and dock in Malta and Gozo, with the eye of Osirus on the front of the boat to protect both the boat and the passengers from the dangers of the sea.
Best Instagram Spots on Gozo
The island of Gozo is the second largest of the seven Maltese islands, but it’s considered by many to be an almost little sister to the island of Malta. Too often travelers skip it, either because they’re pressed for time or because they don’t know how much there is to see here.
Read: 8 Things to Do on Gozo
Mgarr Harbor
Arriving in Gozo from either Malta or Comino is a beautiful site. The Mgarr Harbor in Gozo is full of beautiful Maltese fishing boats and other local vessels, waterfront buildings, and is capped by the beautiful Lourdes Chapel.
Location: Mgarr, Malta
Ta’ Pinu National Shrine
The image of the Ta’ Pinu Shrine perched above the Mediterranean Sea is one of my favorite memories from my trips to Gozo. Pope John Paul II served Mass here, and its the site of a Marian apparition. So whether you’re interested in the architectural beauty or the important religious significance, it’s definitely a can’t-miss spot in Gozo. Just make sure to be respectful since it is a significant sacred site for faithful Catholics.
Location: Gharb, Malta
Tal-Mixta Cave
Tal-Mixta Cave overlooks Ramla Bay. Getting to it is a hike, but once you’re up above the Mediterranean looking across the world, there’s no better feeling in the world.
Location: Nadur, Malta
Fungus Rock
Many travelers to Malta wonder if it’s worth it to go out to Gozo now that the Azure Window has collapsed, but Fungus Rock is still a sight to behold. You can even see the rock behind Khal Drogo during the wedding celebrations in season one of Game of Thrones.
Location: il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral, Dwerja, Gozo
Wied il-Ghasri
Popular with scuba divers, swimmer looking for privacy, and the vacationing Instagrammer alike, Wied il-Ghasri is a small and narrow bay with clear, blue water. I stayed in Marsalforn on my first trip to Gozo, but sadly I missed seeing this beautiful view. Something to put on my next Gozo itinerary!
Location: Triq Is-Sagħtrija, Iż-Żebbuġ, Malta
Xlendi Bay
The village of Xlendi is named for a shipwreck, which is a popular dive site today. The town is also a great place to relax, with cafes along the waterfront and rock beaches perfect for swimming. You can photograph the beautiful bay, the nearby cliffs, and don’t miss the nearby Xlendi Tower.
Location: Xlendi Bay, Malta
Gozo Salt Pans
Who knew harvesting sea salt could be so picturesque? This is a popular spot for photography since it is a great opportunity to play with reflections with the sea in the background.
Location: Żebbuġ, Malta
Rotunda of St. John the Baptist
Driving around Gozo, you can see the beautiful Church of St. John the Baptist on the horizon. The church is the largest on the island of Gozo, and its dome is the third largest unsupported dome in the world. The church’s construction was begun in 1951.
You can photograph the church from afar as I did, or you can visit and go up in the Rotunda for views of Gozo all the way out to the coast.
Location: Xewkija, Malta
Gozo Cathedral
The Gozo Cathedral is located in Victoria in the middle of the Cittadella. The Cittadella has been an important historic site since prehistoric times, and there was a Roman temple to Juno here during the Roman era. There have been churches here on and off since the Byzantine era, but the current Cathedral dates to the late seventeenth century.
Location: It-Telgħa tal-Belt, Ir-Rabat Għawdex, Malta
The Inland Sea
The shallow Inland Sea leads to a cave that goes out into the Mediterranean. You can visit the edge, or you can take a boat out through the cave and into the sea. Alternatively, you can go scuba diving here and get some great underwater shots, including out to where the former Azure Window sits collapsed under the water.
Location: Dwejra Inland Sea, San Lawrenz, Malta
Best Instagram Spots on Comino
The island of Comino is the smallest of Malta’s three inhabited islands. Boasting only one hotel, most visitors choose to visit the Blue Lagoon on a day trip. Whether you come for the day or spend a night or two, this is one of my favorite places in Malta.
The Blue Lagoon
There’s nothing as refreshing to the eyes as the site of the blue and white striped deckchairs waiting for sunbathers to come and fill them up on the edge of the Blue Lagoon. If you want to know more about what there is to do on Comino and how to swim at the Blue Lagoon, you can read my Blue Lagoon Day Trip Guide.
Location: Blue Lagoon, Comino, Malta
Pineapple Drink
It’s a thing here. Go to the Blue Lagoon, buy a pineapple drink, and pose. I haven’t done it myself, but I’ve watched it happen over and over. So if this is the kind of lush travel Instagram pic you want, then it’s gotta be a pineapple.
Location: Blue Lagoon, Comino, Malta
Cominotto
On the far side of the Blue Lagoon is Cominotto, one of the small, uninhabited islands of Malta. You can swim across the Blue Lagoon to reach it, or you can take picks from afar. If you do want to swim over, make sure you have some kind of waterproof shoes that can handle the rocks (I use these travel Jellies) and a waterproof camera like a Go Pro that can survive the journey.
Many people will go over and use Cominotto as their base, bringing their snacks and drinks with them. It will get full as the day goes on, so if you want to do a photo shoot without other people there, go early.
Location: Blue Lagoon, Comino, Malta
From the Top of the Rocks
If you head up the rocks above the shoreline, you can get totally different views of the Blue Lagoon, including this shot of the cave nearby.
Location: Blue Lagoon, Comino, Malta
St. Mary’s Tower
St. Mary’s Tower on Comino is visible from both Malta and Gozo. You can hike up to it while visiting the Blue Lagoon. If you want to get this fabulous sunset (or sunrise pic), you’ll need to stay on Comino after the last boat (or first). In this case, you’ll want to stay at the Comino Hotel & Bungalow, which is the only hotel on the island. Check pricing, reviews, and availability here.
Location: Ghajnsielem, Malta
Malta Travel Resources
Headed to Malta? Here are some resources to help you plan your trip! If you’re interested in Malta’s beaches, check out my guide to spending a day at the Blue Lagoon. You can read about the history of the country’s beautiful Maltese balconies here. Finally, if you’re headed to Gozo, here is my list of the best things to do on the island.
5 Things to Pack for Malta
- Beach Bag: You can throw everything in a canvas tote bag or a multi-purpose day bag like this large Longchamp that I use as a purse on the road and a beach bag when needed.
- Go Pro: If you have one, bring it here. You’re going to want to get underwater photography at most of the beaches.
- Full Sized Travel Towel: This towel is the perfect travel towel to have for both using at your hotel/hostel but also taking to the beach since it’s so big and beautiful. Rolls up small and comes with its own pouch so it takes up almost no room in your beach bag. Seriously, I’m obsessed with my travel towel.
- Water shoes or sandals that can handle rocks, since many of the beaches here have underwater rocks. I use these Travel Jellies.
- Your Travel Insurance Policy Information: Between driving the golf cart and being far out of town, I would make sure to have your travel insurance policy info handy in case of emergency since you won’t want to have to go all the way back to your hotel or hostel for the info. Keep it on your cell phone at all times. I pay for World Nomads, and I happily recommend them. I always get the higher level so that I have coverage for more of my technology in case anything gets lost or stolen. Have your travel insurance available in a soft copy, and forward your policy info to your primary emergency contact.
I have been a paying customer of World Nomads for travel insurance for two years, and I happily recommend them. It’s especially important to get travel insurance if you’re going to be doing any driving, water sports, like scuba diving, sailing, or snorkeling, while in Malta.
Pin this Malta Instagram Guide for Your Trip to Malta
I’ve never visited Malta. Like the fact that English is spoken there.