Malta group tours range from two-hour walking tours of Valletta and Mdina to full-day trips to Gozo, boat tours around Comino and the harbours, guided visits to the prehistoric temples, guided hikes and food tours. A tour gives you a guide, transport and fixed timings; the trade-off is price and flexibility. This guide explains the main types of group tour in Malta, what to check before you book, and how to organise your own small group trip with people who want to go to the same places.
Short answer: book a guided tour when the guide adds real value, such as the temples, Mdina’s history or a first visit to Valletta, or when you need transport for a Gozo day trip. For walks, Comino off-season and museum visits, a small do-it-yourself group of three to five people is cheaper and more relaxed.
Types of Malta group tours
Walking tours of Valletta and Mdina
The most common tour in Malta is a guided walk through Valletta’s streets, bastions and churches, or through the quiet lanes of Mdina. Two to three hours is typical. A good guide brings the Knights of St John, the Great Siege and the city’s architecture to life in a way that a guidebook rarely does.
Gozo day trips
Gozo tours usually include the ferry, transport around the island and stops such as the Citadella in Victoria, the Ġgantija temples, the Dwejra coastline and the salt pans near Marsalforn. The car ferry from Ċirkewwa to Mġarr takes about 25 minutes, and a passenger fast ferry from Valletta takes about 45 minutes, so a Gozo tour is normally a full day. Some tours use jeeps or open-top vehicles for the countryside.
Comino and boat tours
Boat tours to Comino and the Blue Lagoon run mainly in the warmer months, often combined with stops at sea caves along the coast. Harbour cruises from Sliema sail around Marsamxett and the Grand Harbour. In peak summer the Blue Lagoon can be very crowded, so an early boat or an off-season trip is more pleasant.
Heritage and temple tours
Malta’s prehistoric temples are part of the Megalithic Temples of Malta UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can visit Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra and Ġgantija on your own with a ticket from Heritage Malta, or join a guided tour that adds transport and context. The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is visited only in small guided groups with limited tickets, so it must be booked well ahead.
Guided hikes and food tours
Guided walks along the cliffs and countryside, and food tours that stop at bakeries, markets and wine bars, are smaller and more social than most tours. They suit people who want to meet others while they explore.
Malta group tours compared
| Tour type | Typical length | Best for | DIY possible? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valletta or Mdina walking tour | 2 to 3 hours | First-time visitors, history | Yes, with a good map or audio guide |
| Gozo day trip | Full day | Seeing a lot in one day | Yes, by ferry and bus |
| Comino or harbour boat tour | Half day | Swimming, sea views | Partly: harbour ferries and Comino boats |
| Heritage and temple tour | Half day | Prehistory, context | Yes, except the Hypogeum’s guided visit |
| Guided hike | Half day | Active, social | Yes, on well-known routes |
| Food tour | 2 to 4 hours | Local food, meeting people | Partly |
When to take a group tour in Malta
The season changes which tours make sense. In the hottest summer months, walking tours are best early in the morning or late in the afternoon, and boat tours to Comino are at their busiest. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable time for almost everything: the countryside is greener, the sea is still warm enough for a swim in early autumn, and the temples and old cities are less crowded. Winter is quiet and mild, which suits heritage tours, museums and hikes, but some boat trips run less often or stop when the sea is rough.
Think about the day of the week too. Sunday mornings are a good time for Marsaxlokk and its seafront market, while weekdays are usually calmer at the most popular sites. For Gozo, an early ferry gives you the most time on the island and lets you finish before the last services.
Finally, match the tour to the group. A mixed group of new people does best with something that has natural conversation points and a relaxed pace, such as a walking tour, a food tour or a temple visit, rather than a long day mostly spent on a coach.
What to check before you book a group tour in Malta
- Group size. A small group of up to about a dozen feels very different from a full coach. Ask the maximum size.
- The guide. The Malta Tourism Authority licenses tourist guides, who carry an official badge. It is fair to ask whether the guide is licensed.
- What is included. Ferry tickets, entrance fees, lunch and hotel pick-ups are sometimes included and sometimes extra.
- Timings and pace. How long at each stop, how much walking, and when you will be back.
- Weather and sea. Boat tours depend on conditions. Check the policy if a trip is cancelled.
- Accessibility. Many historic sites have steps and uneven ground. Ask if anyone in your group needs step-free access.
The DIY alternative: organise your own small group trip
Many of Malta’s best experiences are easy to do without a tour, and more fun with a few people who share the plan. A Gozo day by ferry and bus, a morning at the temples, a hike along the cliffs or a museum visit in Valletta all work well with three to five people.
- Gozo: take the Gozo Channel ferry from Ċirkewwa, then the bus or a taxi on the island. Our guide on finding people to explore Gozo with has ideas, and planning a beginner hike in Gozo covers timings.
- Museums: pick one museum in Valletta and add a coffee. See people to go to museums with in Valletta.
- Hikes: choose an easy, well-known route; our list of Malta hiking routes includes distance and difficulty.
- Something different: for less obvious ideas, see unique things to do in Malta.
A DIY trip costs only what you use: transport, tickets and food. Everyone pays their own, and you choose the pace. The trade-off is that someone has to plan it, and without a guide you rely on signs, apps and each other for the history.
Example group trip plan
Plan: DIY Gozo day: Citadella, Ġgantija and the salt pans
Meeting point: Ċirkewwa ferry terminal, Sunday 8:45
Seats: 4
Who pays: pay your own (ferry, bus, entry and lunch)
Description: Ferry over together, bus around the island, lunch in Xagħra, back on an afternoon ferry. Relaxed pace, comfortable shoes. In your note, say if you have been to Gozo before.
If you are visiting on your own, our guide to meeting people in Malta as a solo traveller covers the other ways to find company, and our guest guide on how to join someone’s plan in Malta explains how to join a trip someone else has posted.
Safety box
- Meet at a busy public place, such as a ferry terminal, bus stop or café.
- Tell a friend where you are going and when you expect to be back.
- Check the last ferry or bus before you set off, and arrange your own way home.
- Stay back from cliff edges and only swim in calm, supervised conditions.
- Leave if you feel uncomfortable at any point. In an emergency in Malta, call 112.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? Open MeetNow and see the plans in Malta. Post your trip, say who pays, and pick who joins from the short notes people send.
Related questions
- How do I find people to explore Gozo with?
- What are the best hiking routes in Malta?
- What unique things can I do in Malta?
- How do I meet people in Malta as a solo traveller?
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What are the most popular group tours in Malta?
Walking tours of Valletta and Mdina, Gozo day trips, boat tours to Comino and around the harbours, and visits to the prehistoric temples are among the most common. Guided hikes and food tours are popular too.
Are tour guides in Malta licensed?
Yes. The Malta Tourism Authority licenses tourist guides, who carry an official badge. When you book a guided tour, it is reasonable to ask whether the guide is licensed.
How long does it take to get to Gozo on a tour?
The car ferry from Ċirkewwa to Mġarr takes about 25 minutes, and the passenger fast ferry from Valletta takes about 45 minutes. Add the transfer to the port, so a Gozo tour is usually a full day.
Is a group tour or a DIY trip better?
A tour is easier when you want a guide, transport and fixed timings. A DIY trip is cheaper and more flexible, and works well for Gozo, Comino off-season, hikes and museum visits if a few people share the planning.
How do I find people to join a group trip in Malta?
Post the trip as a small plan with a date, a public meeting point, the number of seats and who pays. On MeetNow, people in Malta ask to join with a short note and you choose who comes.
