Mdina travel guide

Mdina is an easy destination to plan yourself: hotels, flights, car rental and activities in one place, no juggling ten different sites. Mdina works well as a base for day trips to nearby towns and scenic routes. The nearest airport is in a neighbouring city, and a rental car is the easiest way to cover the rest. There are currently around 20 places to stay listed in and around Mdina, covering a range of budgets. The catalogue includes 8 vetted activities and tours with real guest ratings. 5 routes to nearby towns are mapped out from Mdina, handy if you're planning side trips beyond the city itself.

Accommodation in Mdina starts at around €156 per night, with a typical rate near €214 across roughly 20 nearby options — handy for budgeting your trip.

Well-reviewed hotels: Hotel Juliani - Boutique Hotel, 4-star, guest rating 9.4 from 1814 reviews, from €160 per night; Hyatt Regency Malta, 5-star, guest rating 9.4 from 5118 reviews, from €228 per night; Malta Marriott Resort & Spa, 5-star, guest rating 9.4 from 237 reviews, from €242 per night; Best Western Premier Malta, 4-star, guest rating 9.3 from 1782 reviews, from €155 per night; Hyatt Centric Malta, 5-star, guest rating 9.3 from 2269 reviews, from €207 per night.

Day trips & routes: Bugibba — about 9 km, 17m drive; Qawra — about 10 km, 21m drive; Mellieha — about 15 km, 25m drive; Sliema — about 12 km, 21m drive; Valletta — about 12 km, 24m drive. Fastest option is Bugibba: 17m by car.

Mdina: what to know

Things to see: "Mdina the Silent City Self Guided Walking Tour", rated 5 from 4 reviews, from €8.03; "Malta Night Tour plus a Traditional Dinner", rated 5 from 2 reviews, from €180; "Casa Gourgion Museum Ticket, Mdina", rated 5 from 1 reviews, from €9; "Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum entrance ticket", rated 5 from 1 reviews, from €12.5; "Mdina Cathedral of St Paul & historical immersive experience", rated 5 from 1 reviews, from €25.

Mdina has no direct airport — most travellers fly into the nearest airport city and continue by rental car or transfer. Getting around the city and out to the 5 nearby destinations listed above is easiest by car — intercity public transport tends to be slower and less frequent. The median nightly rate in Mdina is around €214, useful for comparing overall trip cost against nearby cities.

To rent a car in Mdina you usually need a passport, a driving licence and a bank card for the deposit hold. With 20 places to stay nearby, it's worth comparing a base near the rental desk against one closer to the sights. Given 5 routes worth driving from here, check the mileage and one-way drop-off terms before you book. When touring Malta, plan stops in advance: fuel stations and car parks in smaller towns are not always open around the clock.

A ready week, day by day: highly rated places, lunches, tours and trips out of town. Ratings and opening hours come from Tripadvisor, distances are real driving distances.

day1

Getting to know Mdina

An unhurried first day: the centre on foot, one landmark and a quiet dinner near where you're staying. Don't plan anything far — after travelling, getting your bearings matters more.

Morning
Mdina Old City
4.7· 14082 reviews
#1 of 83 things to do in Mdina
Pjazza San Publiju, Mdina, Island of Malta Malta
Mdina Old City — rated 4.7 across 14082 reviews · #1 of 83 things to do in Mdina · Pjazza San Publiju, Mdina, Island of Malta Malta.
Lunch
L'mdina Marrakech
4.8· 1374 reviews
#29 of 2,081 Places to Eat in Marrakech
42 Rue Des Banque, Marrakech 40000 Morocco
Mon: 12:00–23:00
A good lunch stop is L'mdina Marrakech — rated 4.8 across 1374 reviews · #29 of 2,081 Places to Eat in Marrakech · opening hours: Mon: 12:00–23:00 · 42 Rue Des Banque, Marrakech 40000 Morocco.
Afternoon
Mdina Main Gate - Baroque gateway
4.5· 662 reviews
#3 of 83 things to do in Mdina
Main Gate Area Bridge, Mdina, Island of Malta Malta
Mdina Main Gate - Baroque gateway — rated 4.5 across 662 reviews · #3 of 83 things to do in Mdina · Main Gate Area Bridge, Mdina, Island of Malta Malta.
Evening
Don Mesquita
4.5· 647 reviews
#9 of 24 Places to Eat in Mdina
5A, Mesquita Square, Mdina, Island of Malta 1504 Malta
Mon: 10:00–18:00
A good lunch stop is Don Mesquita — rated 4.5 across 647 reviews · #9 of 24 Places to Eat in Mdina · opening hours: Mon: 10:00–18:00 · 5A, Mesquita Square, Mdina, Island of Malta 1504 Malta.

Hotel check-in is usually from 2pm — if you arrive earlier, most places will store your luggage.

day2

The main sights

The fullest day: two or three key places back to back. Start early — queues build by midday at the popular ones, and the light is better for photographs after lunch.

Morning
Mdina Metropolitan Cathedral Museum
4.3· 772 reviews
#5 of 83 things to do in Mdina
Archibishop's Square, Mdina, Island of Malta MDN 1061 Malta
Mon: 09:30–16:30
Mdina Metropolitan Cathedral Museum — rated 4.3 across 772 reviews · #5 of 83 things to do in Mdina · opening hours: Mon: 09:30–16:30 · Archibishop's Square, Mdina, Island of Malta MDN 1061 Malta.
Lunch
Coogi's Restaurant
4.4· 1951 reviews
#4 of 24 Places to Eat in Mdina
5, Saint Agatha's Esplanade, Mdina, Island of Malta MDN 1160 Malta
Mon: 10:30–23:15
A good lunch stop is Coogi's Restaurant — rated 4.4 across 1951 reviews · #4 of 24 Places to Eat in Mdina · opening hours: Mon: 10:30–23:15 · 5, Saint Agatha's Esplanade, Mdina, Island of Malta MDN 1160 Malta.
Afternoon
Mdina Glass
4.2· 525 reviews
#2 of 20 things to do in Ta' Qali
Crafts Village, Ta' Qali, Island of Malta TD 4000 Malta
Mon: 08:00–16:30
Mdina Glass — rated 4.2 across 525 reviews · #2 of 20 things to do in Ta' Qali · opening hours: Mon: 08:00–16:30 · Crafts Village, Ta' Qali, Island of Malta TD 4000 Malta.
Evening
Trattoria AD 1530
4.2· 1195 reviews
#8 of 24 Places to Eat in Mdina
L, 2 Triq San Pawl The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux Misrah il-Kunsil, Mdina, Island of Malta MDN 1050 Malta
Mon: 00:00–22:00
A good lunch stop is Trattoria AD 1530 — rated 4.2 across 1195 reviews · #8 of 24 Places to Eat in Mdina · opening hours: Mon: 00:00–22:00 · L, 2 Triq San Pawl The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux Misrah il-Kunsil, Mdina, Island of Malta MDN 1050 Malta.

Up to 31 °C in the days ahead — do the walking in the morning and spend midday indoors.

day3

Museums, history and local food

A day for what needs time and attention: museums, historic quarters, and lunch somewhere locals actually go.

Morning
Mdina Dungeons
4.0· 733 reviews
#6 of 83 things to do in Mdina
St. Publius Square, Mdina, Island of Malta 1020 Malta
Mon: 10:00–16:00
Mdina Dungeons — rated 4.0 across 733 reviews · #6 of 83 things to do in Mdina · opening hours: Mon: 10:00–16:00 · St. Publius Square, Mdina, Island of Malta 1020 Malta.
Lunch
Bacchus Restaurant
4.0· 1539 reviews
#10 of 24 Places to Eat in Mdina
1 Inguanez Alley, Mdina, Island of Malta Malta
Mon: 10:30–22:30
A good lunch stop is Bacchus Restaurant — rated 4.0 across 1539 reviews · #10 of 24 Places to Eat in Mdina · opening hours: Mon: 10:30–22:30 · 1 Inguanez Alley, Mdina, Island of Malta Malta.
Afternoon
Mdina the Silent City Self Guided Walking Tour
5.0· 4from €8
Mdina the Silent City Self Guided Walking Tour — rated 5 from 4 reviews.

Many museums close on a Monday or Tuesday — check the opening hours before you set out.

day4

A day out of town

Get beyond the city: the nearby towns and countryside are usually what stays with you. A rental car is the practical way — public transport on these routes is slow and infrequent.

All day
Bugibba
Bugibba is 9 km from Mdina, about 17m by car. Leave in the morning so you're back before dark.

Book the car ahead: in season there is little left and the counter price is higher.

Rent a car in Mdina

day5

Walking and what you missed

A free day. Go back to wherever you wanted to linger, and add one or two places from the list you haven't reached.

Afternoon
Malta Night Tour plus a Traditional Dinner
5.0· 2from €180
Malta Night Tour plus a Traditional Dinner — rated 5 from 2 reviews.

Carry some cash for markets and small cafés — cards are not taken everywhere.

day6

A tour, or a second trip out

A good day for a guided tour: a guide tells you what the signs don't, and takes the driving off your hands.

All day
Qawra
Qawra is 10 km from Mdina, about 21m by car. Leave in the morning so you're back before dark.

Book the car ahead: in season there is little left and the counter price is higher.

Rent a car in Mdina

day7

Last day and departure

A calm finish: a favourite spot once more, some shopping, a late lunch. Leave yourself room before the airport.

Afternoon
Casa Gourgion Museum Ticket, Mdina
5.0· 1from €9
Casa Gourgion Museum Ticket, Mdina — rated 5 from 1 reviews.

Allow twice what the map says for the airport run — it is never the quiet hour when you need it.

Mdina: what to know

What to see in Mdina in 7 days

Getting to know Mdina

The main sights

Museums, history and local food

A day out of town

Walking and what you missed

A tour, or a second trip out

Last day and departure

Day trips

Route map

What to see and where to eat

What to see and where to eat in Mdina

Tours from the city

Where to stay

What travellers say about places in Mdina

Travel tips