Mdina

Day 1: First impressions of the Silent City

Ease into Mdina’s quiet rhythm by entering through the Baroque main gate and walking its noble spine. Arrive early to enjoy near-empty lanes, then settle into the city’s Baroque heart and end with sunset over the bastions.

• Morning: Arrive by bus and enter via the main gate; pause at the lions and coat of arms before strolling Triq Villegaignon to orient yourself. Visit St Paul’s Cathedral and the Cathedral Museum while it’s quieter (dress modestly; combined ticket ~€10–12; check for limited Sunday hours).
• Midday: Take a shaded coffee-and-cake break at Fontanella Tea Garden for countryside views, or the Carmelite Priory cloister café for tranquillity. Summer tip: the alleys are cooler than the squares—duck into narrow side streets to escape the heat.
• Afternoon: Explore Pjazza San Pawl and the Archbishop’s Palace frontage, then step into Vilhena Palace’s National Museum of Natural History if you enjoy compact, period-house museums. Finish with a slow wander to Greeks Gate and the moat gardens for a different, more medieval-feeling entrance sequence.
• Evening: Watch golden hour from Bastion Square as fields glow towards the sea, then dine on a rooftop (de Mondion at The Xara Palace for fine dining; Coogi’s for a more relaxed terrace). After 18:00 the day-trippers thin—keep voices low and enjoy Mdina’s famed hush.

Day 2: Medieval layers and hidden corners

Today is about Mdina’s older strata—Arab street patterns, Sicilian-Norman details, and quiet convent life. Keep your pace slow and your eyes up for bifora windows and carved stonework.

• Morning: Start at sunrise for empty streets and soft light; seek out Mesquita Square and the main gate for superb photos. Tour Palazzo Falson (the best-preserved medieval house) to step inside a noble residence with intimate courtyards and Siculo-Norman details.
• Midday: Visit the Carmelite Priory for a guided tour of the refectory and church; it’s cool, calm and less visited (ideal in summer). If you crave a quick detour, nip just outside the walls to Howard Gardens for shade and bastion views.
• Afternoon: Go on a “medieval remnant” hunt: look for the pointed arches and twin-light windows at Palazzo Santa Sofia and Palazzo Gatto Murina. Wander quieter lanes like Triq is-Salvatur and Triq Santu Rokku—respect any Privato signs and residents’ doorways when photographing.
• Evening: Return to Bastion Square for a different light show, then enjoy a simple dinner in Mdina or nearby Rabat. Night photography is superb under warm lamps; winter evenings can be breezy on the ramparts—bring a layer.

Day 3: Context, culture and slow moments

With the essentials covered, use today to deepen context and linger. Add a small museum, follow a legend or two, and time your visit with local events if you can.

• Morning: If you’re keen on origins, pop just outside the walls to the Domvs Romana for mosaics that predate today’s Mdina; then re-enter via Greeks Gate for the most atmospheric re-entry. Alternatively, catch an early Mass at the Cathedral to experience the city as a living parish.
• Midday: Savour a long lunch in a courtyard (Trattoria-style spots around The Xara Palace are calm) or return to your favourite terrace. Summer tip: schedule indoor visits (museums, churches) 12:00–15:00 when sun is strongest; winter tip: bastion views are clearest on crisp days after rain.
• Afternoon: Pick up small crafts or prints from museum shops; chat with staff for stories you won’t find on panels. If you’ve missed it earlier, walk the moat gardens along the ditch for a final look at the fortifications’ engineering.
• Evening: For a memorable finale, plan around the calendar: the Mdina Medieval Festival (April/May) fills streets with re-enactments; the Mdina Grand Prix (October) brings classic cars around the bastions; the Conversion of St Paul (25 January) adds solemn pageantry. Otherwise, enjoy a last, whisper-quiet loop after dusk—Mdina saves its most authentic self for the night.

Notes for all days:

• Getting in: avoid driving inside the walls—Mdina has Controlled Vehicular Access and fines; park outside or take the bus to the main gate.
• Etiquette: keep voices low, don’t enter marked Privato areas, and dress modestly for churches (shawls often provided).
• Footwear: lanes are paved with uneven stone—wear comfortable shoes.

By Air

• Malta International Airport (MLA), Luqa – the island’s only airport; approx. 11 km from Mdina.
• Drive time: 20–30 minutes (traffic dependent).
• Bus from MLA:
  • X4 to Valletta, then 51/52/53 to Mdina/Rabat (total 60–75 minutes).
  • 201 to Rabat (for Mdina) in about 50–60 minutes (limited frequency).
• Direct flights from major hubs including London, Rome, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Milan, Istanbul, Vienna, and others (seasonal variations).

By Train

• No rail services in Malta.

By Bus

• Main hub: Valletta City Gate Bus Terminus.
• Key routes to Mdina/Rabat (stops: “Mdina” or “Rabat (Saqqajja)”, both a short walk to Mdina Gate):
  • From Valletta: 51, 52, 53 (about 30–40 minutes).
  • From Sliema/St Julian’s: 202 (about 45–60 minutes).
  • From the Airport: X4 to Valletta then 51/52/53; or 201 to Rabat.
• Services run frequently by day; evening frequencies reduce.

By Ferry

• From Sicily: High‑speed ferry Pozzallo–Valletta (~1 h 45). From Valletta, take bus 51/52/53 to Mdina/Rabat (30–40 minutes).
• From Gozo:
  • Fast ferry Mgarr–Valletta (~45 minutes), then 51/52/53.
  • Gozo Channel Mgarr–Cirkewwa (~20 minutes), then buses to Valletta and onward.

By Car

• Visitors cannot drive into Mdina (Controlled Vehicular Access). Park outside the walls (ditches/Howard Gardens area) and walk 5–10 minutes to the Main Gate.
• MLA to Mdina: 20–30 minutes via Route 1/6 depending on traffic.
• Roads are narrow around Rabat/Mdina; allow extra time for parking in peak hours.

By Taxi/Ride‑hailing

• Airport taxis and ride‑hailing (eCabs, Bolt, Uber) widely available.
• MLA to Mdina typically 20–30 minutes; fares usually in the €20–30 range depending on time and demand.