In recent years Malta has had an image makeover. While it was once the preserve of more mature travellers and those seeking package holiday deals, its pristine beaches, the promise of almost year-round sun and a slew of new hotels mean that all ages now flock to this island nation in the middle of the Mediterranean.
There’s accommodation to suit everyone. Some people come for a sunbed by the pool or an umbrella on the beach at one of its fly-and-flop resorts, while the active seek out the dive centres, sailing charters or cliff-top walks.
Some drop in for one of its wide-ranging festivals, with everything from rock to baroque themes, and want laid-back stays to match. Many now visit for Malta’s USP: its unique and fascinating history (and prehistory) from Neolithic temples older than Stonehenge to the honeyed limestone legacy of the Knights of St John, and remains of the nation’s role in the Second World War. Historic buildings have been restored and converted into hotels full of character and comfort. Though there is also plenty of new accommodation to cater for different tastes.
These are the 10 best hotels in Malta for 2026, from family stays to five-star boltholes.
For the best beach hotels in Malta, the best hotels in St Julian’s and the best hotels in Valetta, see our guides.
Enter the fresh Art Deco foyer of the Phoenicia and step back in time to the heyday of this glorious grand hotel. Imagine the late Queen, as the newly married Princess Elizabeth, then resident in Malta, dancing with Philip in the ballroom. And the aristocracy – Maltese and British – in full bib and tucker, sipping cocktails on the terrace overlooking the garden. Things are more relaxed now, and besides standard rooms being small for a five-star, the Phoenicia is Malta’s best hotel, with prices to match.
Being just outside Valletta’s towering bastion walls, it is walking distance to everything in the capital, while having space for a long garden, pools (inside and out) and a spa. Service is attentive and friendly, with many long-serving Maltese staff. All in all, it is a destination in itself – and if you can’t stay here, drop by for a drink.
Address: The Mall, Floriana, FRN1478
Price: From £463
Read our full review of the Phoenicia Malta hotel
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Live like a Maltese aristocrat at Casa Rocca Piccola B&B within the only privately inhabited but publicly viewable palazzo in Valletta. Your hosts are the Marquis de Piro, a modern-day Knight of Malta, and his English wife. Oh, and their talkative parrot. Your stay includes a visit to the historic parts of the house full of fascinating furniture, art and objects. You’ll see everything from a portable altar to a Knights-era sedan chair, paintings from the Grand Master’s galley to silver surgical instruments from the Knights’ sacred hospital – not to mention the World War Two shelter beneath the house. You’re right in the heart of Malta’s tiny, walkable capital, just 100m from the main square and the Grand Master’s Palace.
Address: 74 Republic Street, Valletta, VLT1117
Price: From £171
Read more: The best Malta holidays – where to stay for luxury retreats and budget breaks
In Bormla-Cospicua (hence BOCO), a traditional area of the Three Cities, little touched by tourism, this enjoyable, good-value boutique hotel is full of contemporary art and humorous touches: life-size statues climb from floor to floor; glass shower doors are painted with colourful figures; and headboards become installations.
Outside, a five-minute walk takes you to the labyrinthine medieval streets of Birgu (also known as Vittoriosa), the Knights’ first base in Malta, or to Galley Creek, and it’s a picturesque 10-minute ferry ride across the Grand Harbour to Valletta.
Address: 65 Triq l’Oratorju, Cospicua
Price: From £83
Read more: Unmissable beach spots in Malta and Gozo
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In an upmarket residential area of Malta, opposite the palace of Malta’s president, this peaceful hotel offers a stay away from the tourist hordes. Corinthia Palace’s main restaurant occupies the original 19th-century villa around which the hotel was built. The spacious and traditional rooms all come with a private balcony, while in the garden there is a large multi-level outdoor pool, and behind a glass wall there’s a lovely indoor pool and spa, as well as a substantial gym.
Service is attentive and helpful, and there’s a complimentary shuttle into Valletta twice a day. On the roof is the restaurant and, in the foyer, with plenty of seating, a vegan cafe.
Address: De Paule Avenue, San Anton, Attard, BZN9023
Price: From £105
Read more: The best things to do in Malta, from hiking and sightseeing to sandy beaches and nightclubs
This low-rise, five-star Kempinski hotel is tucked into the landscape on the edge of a traditional village on Malta’s smaller, more rural island of Gozo. It boasts palm-fringed pools in the gardens and a substantial heated pool in the spacious spa.
An extensive menu of treatments ranges from the usual massages and facials to specialist Indian Ayurveda. It is a place to relax. Gozo moves at a more leisurely pace than the main island and the Kempinski has all you need for a real break, as well as easy access to the rest of Gozo. It is a few minutes’ walk to the village square with its oversized parish church, a bar and blacksmith, and less than half an hour to the dramatic coastal landscape of Dwejra, the “inland sea” and cave tunnel.
Address: Triq ir-Rokon, San Lawrenz, Malta
Price: From £150
Read more: The best things to do in Valletta, Malta
Villa Serenity is a lovely family-run Gozo B&B with large rooms, a great breakfast, a plunge pool in the garden and a wonderful location between the traditional village of Sannat and the towering Ta’ Cenc cliffs – the perfect place for a sea view sunset walk. Join locals in the village square (at the bar of the football club or the band club where musicians rehearse for the annual festa), or follow the cliffs down to Mgarr Ix-Xini for a swim or a snorkel in clear blue sea. Alternatively, take up your hosts’ offer of a personalised Gozo tour to see the sights with them, both on and off the beaten track.
Address: 5 Skerla Street, Sannat, SNT1265, Gozo
Price: Contact hotel
Read more: Exploring Gozo, Malta’s wilder, quieter island
The USP here is the view. Luxury boutique hotel Iniala is full of original contemporary art, and sits atop St. Barbara Bastion with a sweeping panorama of the famous Grand Harbour. It’s quite something to wake to this vast expanse of (almost always) sparkling blue water surrounded by history in golden limestone. Straight ahead is Fort St Angelo, Malta’s oldest castle and first base on the island of the Knights of St John (the Knights of Malta). The view continues over breakfast as you eat your fresh fruit, pancakes, or a full English in the rooftop restaurant. The vistas are equally spectacular by night, and, come evening, the rooftop turns into ION by Simon Rogan, Malta’s only restaurant with two Michelin stars.
Address: 10-11 St. Barbara Bastion, Valletta VLT1961
Price: From £296
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On the banks of the Grand Harbour’s most historic creek, Cugó Gran Macina is named for the masting-crane (il-macina) that used to stand on the Knights-period bastion into which the hotel is built. The hotel is close to the entrance to Senglea – one of the Three Cities (really three tiny towns) that fringe Galley Creek (or Dockland Creek as the British called it) – and backed by residential streets relatively untouched by tourism. Rooms are built into the fortifications, so they are all different shapes and sizes, some with glorious views over the water. Interior design is contemporary with lots of black slate, which is striking against the honeyed stone of the original structures. The roof terrace affords panoramic views, and just below it is the rooftop pool. The restaurant Little Bastion, which is at ground level, serves Mediterranean and fusion food for breakfast and dinner.
Address: Triq Il-31 ta’Marzu, L’Isla (Senglea), ISL1040
Price: From £191
Read more: Best hotels in Valletta
Malta has quite a few large resort hotels but The Westin Dragonara Resort is a cut above with large rooms, great food and facilities for all the family. In an enclave all of its own it has everything you need for a summer holiday – and is ideal for spring, autumn and even winter. Crucially, the main outdoor pool, two jacuzzis and a kids’ paddling pool are heated year-round. So too is the indoor pool, and there’s a spa and an on-site dive centre. The seaside Reef Club – with thatched umbrellas on the rocky beach and tiny sandy cove – is open in the warmer months. The Westin does the best buffet breakfast in Malta, which will set the whole family up for the day, be that in the resort or out exploring the island.
Address: Dragonara Road, St Julian’s, STJ3143
Price: From £346
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In the heart of historic Valletta, this 400-year-old townhouse has been converted into a 13-room boutique hotel with full facilities. The central courtyard in warm limestone at Palazzo Consiglia has been covered with a retractable roof, while the chapel is now a pretty breakfast room. Reception doubles as the bar (and serves food), while down in the vaulted cellar, the original cistern has been converted into a spacious hot tub – and there’s a room for spa treatments, too. The rooftop terrace boasts great views and a plunge pool, and the staff are helpful and friendly. It’s a welcoming place to return to after a day out seeing the sights.
Address: 102 St Ursula Street, VLT1234
Price: From £163
Read more:Discover Malta’s many charms – from warm seas to golden-hued villages
The hotels featured in this list have been carefully selected by The Independent’s expert travel writer Juliet Rix, with a deep knowledge of the destinations she covers. Our contributors either live in these locations or visit frequently, ensuring a personal and informed perspective. When picking which hotels to include, Juliet considered her own experience staying in the hotels and evaluated location, facilities, service and all the other details that make for an exceptional stay for all types of traveller.
When is the best time of year to visit Malta?
Festa season is a great time to go, when there are a series of feast days to celebrate patron saints. It runs from around May to October, with lively events, marching bands and firework displays.
In the peak summer months, expect very high temperatures of up to 32C. So, for a slightly cooler trip, aim for April to June, or September to October, when temperatures are in the mid to low 20Cs.
Where are the nicest areas to stay in Malta?
St Julian’s and Valletta are the most popular places to stay in Malta.
What currency do I need?
Malta uses the euro (€).
