Malta is famous for its sunshine, boasting more bright days than the rest of Europe. But even here, the skies do turn grey. When it rains in Malta, showers can be heavy, though they often pass within a few hours. If you’re visiting in autumn or winter, particularly from October to March, you’re more likely to experience a rainy day or two.
The good news is that rain doesn’t need to spoil your trip. I’ve packed this guide to what to do in Malta when it rains, full of ideas, from cultural highlights to food tours and more. There are plenty of activities here to keep you entertained on both the main island of Malta and the smaller sister island of Gozo.
I’ve experienced Malta on rainy days myself. One visit to Mdina began in brilliant sunshine before the skies opened. I took the chance to explore the catacombs, which turned out to be fascinating, though not if you’re claustrophobic. It was a reminder that even when the weather is bad in Malta, there’s still plenty to do.
Malta offers an incredible choice of indoor experiences. Museums, historic sites and ancient temples make great alternatives when the weather isn’t on your side.
To make it easier for you to use this guide, I’ve divided it up into sections so you can jump straight to what you’re most interested in. Use this resource to make your rainy days in Malta turn into brighter ones.
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Eating and drinking experiences
A rainy day in Malta is a good chance to try some Maltese cuisine
Rainy days are the perfect excuse to slow down and enjoy Malta’s food culture. It’s a great opportunity to try traditional dishes like rabbit stew or grab a warm pastizzi straight from the oven.
Who doesn’t love spending time eating and drinking on a rainy day?
Chocolate making workshop
Join a chocolate-making workshop in Bugibba to learn the craft and create your own sweet treats. This is a perfect rainy day pick-me-up.
Farsons Brewery Tour
On a rainy day, take the Farsons Brewery tour, home of Malta’s famous Cisk beer. Find out all about how your favourite Maltese beer is made. A free beer is included in the entrance ticket, cheers to that.
Fontanella Tea Garden
The Fontanella Tea Garden in Mdina is known for its generous cakes and stunning views across the island, best enjoyed from a warm table indoors when it rains.
Valletta Food Walking Tour
This guided food tour of Valletta combines sightseeing with tastings of Maltese specialities, from pastizzi to local cheese. It’s a great way to experience the cuisine of Malta, with a local to provide answers to your questions.
Museums and galleries to visit when it rains in Malta
The inside of the Malta at War Museum air raid shelters
One of the best ways to spend a rainy day in Malta is by visiting one of its many museums or galleries. They provide shelter from the showers and help you understand more of the island’s history and culture.
I especially recommend the Malta at War Museum, where the underground air raid shelters stretch further than you’d expect, and the exhibits give a moving insight into the impact of the Second World War.
Fort St Elmo and National War Museum
Situated at the end of Valletta’s peninsula, Fort St Elmo played an active part in Malta’s military history and now houses the National War Museum, which spans Malta’s story from the Bronze Age to modern times.
Lascaris War Rooms
The Lascaris War Rooms are a brilliant way to spend a rainy day in Malta. Make sure you join one of the guided tours, as you’ll find out so much more this way. As a former history student, I found it so interesting to see the operations rooms used during the Second World War.
Malta at War Museum
The Malta at War Museum highlights the role that Malta played in World War II. The information here about civilian life is well displayed and extremely moving. The museum also houses a huge network of underground air raid shelters, which are worth the visit alone.
Malta Classic Car Collection
The Classic Car Collection in Bugibba displays a gleaming restored collection of vintage cars, memorabilia, and period backdrops. This is fun place to visit in Malta, come rain or shine.
Malta Maritime Museum
Temporarily closed as of autumn 2025.
Malta Postal Museum
In Valletta’s centre, the Malta Postal Museum traces the story of communication on the islands, starting from the 16th Century. It’s an alternative to some of the more heavy-going historical museums.
MICAS (Malta International Contemporary Arts Space)
Opened as recently as late 2024 and located in Floriana on the edge of Valletta. The Malta International Contemporary Arts Space showcases contemporary exhibitions in a striking setting.
Mdina Dungeons Museum
These Dungeons in Mdina offer a gruesome look at Malta’s past, with life-sized mannequins showing medieval punishments and torture.
Mysterium Fidei Museum
An unusual underground museum, located below a Monastery. Dedicated to Malta’s religious history, Mysterium Fidei explores themes of faith and devotion and includes a secret garden.
MUŻA
MUŻA in Valletta is Malta’s National Museum of Fine Arts, with galleries spanning centuries of European and Maltese art.
National Museum of Archaeology
Located in Valletta, the National Museum of Archaeology is home to artefacts from Malta’s prehistoric temples, including the iconic Sleeping Lady figurine.
National Museum of Natural History
Set inside an 18th-century palace, the National Museum of Natural History in Mdina showcases items from its huge collection, ranging from fossils to Maltese wildlife.
Mdina in the rain
Map of things to do in Malta when it rains
I’ve created a map that includes the things to in Malta when it rains listed in this guide, to help you locate the activities. Click the icon on the top left of the menu bar to view the name of each place.
Ancient temples
Ħaġar Qim, Malta
Malta’s ancient temples are some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world, and they make for a fascinating rainy day activity.
Many of them have visitor centres or nearby attractions, so you can easily combine a temple visit with something else. On Gozo, for example, the Ġgantija Temples sit right next to the Ta’ Kola Windmill, making it simple to explore both in one trip.
Ħaġar Qim
Ħaġar Qim is one of Malta’s most important prehistoric sites, with temple ruins dating back more than 5,000 years.
Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
The Hypogeum is an underground temple and burial site carved into the rock, a fascinating but confined space to explore. Book in advance, as this is a very popular attraction in Malta.
Ggantija Temples, Gozo
On the island of Gozo, the Ggantija Temples are older than the pyramids and give a remarkable insight into Malta’s ancient past. Don’t miss the brilliant visitor centre.
Tarxien Temples
The Tarxien Temples showcase five chambers and provide another perspective on Malta’s prehistoric culture.
Houses to visit
A rainy day in Malta
The interiors of many of these buildings are strikingly luxurious, with opulent furnishings and decorations. You can easily spend a rainy day in Malta looking around these incredible locations.
Casa Rocca Piccola
A lived-in palace in Valletta, Casa Rocca Piccola offers a glimpse into the life of a noble Maltese family, with elegant rooms and historic collections.
Domvs Romana
The Domvs Romana museum is built on the remains of a Roman townhouse, with mosaics and artefacts that reveal what life was like in ancient Mdina.
Grand Master’s Palace and Armoury
Located in Valletta, the Grand Master’s Palace once served as the residence of the Grand Masters of the Knights of St John and houses an impressive armoury.
Inquisitors Palace
A 16th-century Roman palace that later became the seat of the Inquisition, the Inquisitors Palace now tells the story of power and religion in Malta.
Palazzo Falson, Mdina
Palazzo Falson is a well-preserved medieval townhouse in Mdina, where you can wander through 17 furnished rooms to view the remarkable private collection. Tickets include an audio guide.
Palazzo Parisio
A visit to Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar is filled with views of gilded interiors and opulent furnishings. It’s also possible to take afternoon tea here. Check ahead, as the venue sometimes closes for weddings.
Rainy day attractions and activities in Malta
There’s no shortage of indoor attractions in Malta to keep you busy when the weather is bad. From looking around the 18th-century Manoel Theatre, to discovering marine life at the aquarium, there are plenty of options to choose from.
Aquarium
The Malta National Aquarium in Qawra has tanks filled with Mediterranean and tropical species, a relaxing way to spend a rainy few hours.
Esplora Interactive Science Centre
The free interactive Science Centre is full of hands-on science exhibits, making it a great option for families on a wet day.
Malta 5D
A short film experience that combines 3D visuals, Malta 5D uses moving seats and special effects to bring Malta’s history vividly to life.
Manoel Theatre
An 18th-century theatre in Valletta. You can take a guided tour of the ornate auditorium of the Manoel Theatre, or even book to see a live performance.
The Malta Experience
An audiovisual show in Valletta, the Malta Experience tells the story of Malta across the centuries in an engaging way.
Churches and catacombs
Mosta Dome, Malta
Exploring Malta’s many churches and catacombs is a fascinating way to spend a rainy day, with each site offering its own story.
Mosta Dome
The Mosta Dome is famous for surviving an incredible event during World War II, when a bomb pierced its vast dome but did not explode, sparing the congregation inside. The ornate decoration of the dome roof is also worth seeing.
St Augustine’s Catacombs
With a small and quiet set of catacombs, St Augustine’s offers an atmospheric glimpse into early burial traditions.
St John’s Co-Cathedral
One of Valletta’s highlights, St John’s Co-Cathedral is richly decorated with Baroque art and Caravaggio’s famous masterpiece.
St Paul’s Catacombs
A brilliant experience on a rainy day in Mdina, these catacombs reveal an underground world of early burial chambers, though I did find the small spaces were a bit spooky.
What to do on Gozo when it rains
Ta’ Kola windmill, Gozo
Gozo may be smaller than Malta, but there’s still plenty to enjoy on a rainy day. From quirky underground caves to the large Citadel complex in the capital, there are lots of things to do on Gozo when it rains.
Gozo Cookery Class
Join a 5-star rated cookery class with a local host to discover Gozo’s traditional dishes, starting with a market visit before learning to prepare a meal.
Ninu’s Cave
A fun spot to explore, Ninu’s Cave is a small but fascinating underground site in Xagħra in what looks like a normal house. I loved being able to visit such a unique local place during my stay on Gozo.
Ta’ Kola Windmill
This restored windmill tells the important role of grain and bread in Malta’s history, and makes for an interesting indoor visit on a rainy day.
Ta’ Pinu Church
One of Gozo’s most famous landmarks, Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary is a national shrine with striking architecture and a peaceful atmosphere.
Victoria Citadel Museums and Bastion Complex
At the heart of Gozo, the Citadel is home to several museums including the Prison Museum and the Gran Castello Historic House. In the past, all citizens of Gozo were required to sleep inside its walls overnight.
Wine Tasting
A wine tasting in Gozo is a lovely way to spend a wet evening, paired with food and stories that highlight the island’s traditions.
Wrap up
Rainy days in Malta are relatively few, but when the skies do turn grey, having a list of things to do means you won’t waste time on your trip. Instead, you’ll uncover a different side of Malta that many visitors don’t explore.
Before you finalise your Malta itinerary, think through which of these rainy-day activities you’d enjoy the most. A combined cultural pass can make life simpler, bundling entry to museums and attractions into one ticket so you don’t need to plan each one separately.
You’ll also want to think about how to balance these indoor ideas with the sun-soaked days Malta is better known for.
If you’re deciding where to start, my guide to the best swimming spots in Malta will help you make the most of brighter days. And for a made-for-you plan, take a look at my Gozo day trip itinerary, which blends history, adventure and sea views into one fabulous day out.
More Malta Resources
5 Day Malta Itinerary
10 Best Boutique Hotels Malta: A Guide to Where to Stay
15 Best Beaches on Gozo and How to Get to Them
15 Best Blue Lagoon Malta Boat Trips
Ferry to Gozo, Malta: Cheap & Fast Ways to Get to Gozo
Getting Around Malta by Public Transport
Gozo Hiking: Take the Slow Lane
Hondoq ir-Rummien Bay on Gozo: A Complete Guide
How to Get to Blue Lagoon Malta and Best Things to Do
Is There Uber in Malta?
Malta is in What Country? Where is Malta Located on the Map & Other Facts
Places to Go in Malta & Gozo: 5 Best Swimming Spots
What Language Do They Speak in Malta? A Guide
Wied il-Għasri Beach, Gozo, Malta: The Complete Guide
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