Weather in Malta
Malta's weather is one of its biggest selling points. Around 300 days of sunshine a year, the hottest sea temperatures of the western Med, and mild-enough winters that "winter sun" actually means winter sun. Whether you're after a spring holiday of festa season and wildflower walks, peak-summer beach days, or a winter sun escape from UK drizzle, Malta delivers top-tier vibes all year round.
What is the temperature in Malta?
Malta stays fairly warm, pretty much year-round, making it a top pick for sunseekers. Whether you're after sizzling summer highs or mild winter warmth, this island doesn’t disappoint. Let’s dive into the numbers and see just how toasty it gets.
Does it rain in Malta?
Most of Malta's annual rainfall lands in the cooler months between November and February. Summer (June to August) is pretty close to being rain-free, autumn brings the occasional shower, and even rainy-season winter days are typically short bursts rather than all-day rain. The chart below shows the monthly rainfall and dry-day count.
Malta Weather by Season
🌸 Spring (March to May)
Spring in Malta is a sweet stretch. Temperatures climb from 15°C to 24°C, the island flushes green with wildflowers, and the sea starts edging towards swimmable by late May. The festa calendar kicks off, and sightseeing in Valletta and Mdina is at its most pleasant before the summer heat takes hold.
🥾 Best for: Sightseeing, coastal walks and al fresco lunches without the midsummer sweat.
🧥 Top tip: Evenings can still be breezy in March and April, pack a light jacket for those golden-hour strolls.
☀️ Summer (June to August)
Summer in Malta is full-throttle Mediterranean. Expect 28-32°C daytime highs, near-zero rain, and sea temperatures peaking at 27°C in August. Beach days, boat trips out to the Blue Lagoon and Comino, snorkelling in the clear water, late dinners on shaded terraces. Every village runs its own annual festa across June, July and August, fireworks displays and processions that turn random Tuesday nights into proper occasions.
🏖️ Best for: Beach days, boat trips, watersports and long evenings.
🧴 Top tip: SPF 30+ minimum, especially mid-July onwards. If you're sensitive to the heat, an air-conditioned hotel and a base in Mellieha or Sliema (sea breeze) takes the edge off.
🍂 Autumn (September to November)
Autumn in Malta runs a long warm victory lap. September is essentially still summer at 26°C, the sea stays at 26°C+ well into October, and even November sits at a comfortable 19°C. Diving conditions peak in autumn (warmest sea, best visibility), and sightseeing is properly enjoyable without the August sizzle.
🤿 Best for: Diving, beach days, Valletta walking tours, and scenic island drives.
🌧️ Top tip: November brings the first proper rain of the year. A long lunch with sea views handles the hour or two of weather, then the sun's usually back.
❄️ Winter (December to February)
Malta in winter is genuine winter sun by UK standards. Daytime highs of 14-18°C, the most rain of the year (still nothing dramatic by northern European standards), and bright blue-sky days mixed in with the showers. Christmas in Valletta is a proper occasion, illuminations, nativity displays in the Co-Cathedral, the New Year's Eve party in St George's Square. Carnival hits in February with floats and music across the island.
🏛️ Best for: Culture-heavy trips, food, walking and quieter sightseeing.
🌊 Top tip: The sea's too cold for most swimmers (16-17°C), but cafés, cosy restaurants and Sliema's seafront promenade more than make up for it. A hotel with an indoor heated pool keeps the swimming option open.
All about Malta
What to do in Malta each season
🌸 Spring activity calendar (March to May)
Spring is Malta's quietest month for crowds and arguably its best for sightseeing. Mdina at sunset is the classic spring move, the silent city's golden stone glows hard in late-afternoon light without the August coach-tour rush. The Birgu by Candlelight festival hits in October most years but spring-equivalent village festas start kicking in from late April, especially around Easter. Wildflower walks along the Dingli Cliffs and around Mellieha are at their best mid-March to mid-April. The Malta International Fireworks Festival lands in late April.
☀️ Summer activity calendar (June to August)
Summer is the village festa peak season. Every parish runs its annual celebration across June, July and August, and you'll often catch fireworks from your hotel terrace without trying. Blue Lagoon boat trips to Comino are most reliable from mid-June to mid-September, when the sea's warm and the visibility's at its best. Open-water swimming and snorkelling at Ramla Bay (Gozo), Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha. Late-night dining on shaded terraces is the summer evening default. The big music festivals (Isle of MTV historically, then various replacements) cluster in late June and early July.
🍂 Autumn activity calendar (September to November)
September and October are arguably the best diving months of the year, sea temperatures still 24-26°C and visibility at its annual best. Boat trips, snorkel tours and dive courses all run into early November. Notte Bianca in Valletta (early October) turns the capital into an all-night arts festival, museums and palaces open late, music and theatre across the city. Birgu by Candlelight in October is one of Malta's most distinctive evenings, the entire fortified town lit only by candles. Walking tours of the Three Cities are at their best in October-November when temperatures are sightseeing-perfect.
❄️ Winter activity calendar (December to February)
Winter shifts the page from beach to culture and walking. Christmas in Valletta runs from late November through early January, illuminations across Republic Street, nativity scenes (presepji) in churches and palaces, the famous Ta' Qali Christmas market. New Year's Eve in St George's Square is the island's biggest party. Carnival hits in mid-February, four days of floats, costumed parades and competitions across Valletta and Nadur on Gozo. Walking and hiking along the Dingli Cliffs, the Victoria Lines and around Mellieha are at their best in the cooler months. Indoor pool sessions at hotels with year-round wellness facilities replace the beach.
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