Malta hike through the Southern Coast: from Blue Grotto to Mdina

Malta is a beautiful island country in the middle of the Mediterranean sea and it is surprisingly undervisited compared to other neighbours such as Italy. While there is a certain degree of tourism, a big part of it remains in its beautiful capital Valletta, since it is part of many Mediterranean cruise itineraries. This means that the rest of the country is not overcrowded at all and it is a real treasure to visit. One of our favourite activities in our latest trip to Malta was this wonderful Malta hike through the Southern Coast. We started our hike from the Blue Grotto, one of Malta’s most famous landmarks, and ended in the beautiful walled town of Mdina.

This Malta hike will take you through the country’s Southern coast and through many of the regions landmarks, including the Blue Grotto, the megalithic temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra and the Dingli cliffs, and then you will hike inland to be amazed at the beauty of the sibling cities of Rabat and Mdina. The route is roughly 17,5km. While it is quite the trek, it can easily be done in one day. Follow the tips & tricks at the end of the post to make it easier and better!

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Malta hike through the Southern Coast: from Blue Grotto to Mdina

Practicalities

This hike is relatively easy to do for people in many physical conditions. I followed this Malta hike in 2022 with my mom who is in good shape but is 60+. That being said, it is not an accessible hike, meaning that people with disabilities may struggle in some areas that have steep incline, gravel paths and rocky terrain, as well as areas that are very close to high cliffs.

It is important to notice that this hike is in Malta, so depending on the season you’re visiting it can get very sunny and hot, and there are not many trees to provide shade (I actually don’t remember any in the whole hike!). For this reason, try to avoid the hottest months of July and August, and even June and September if you’re particularly sensitive to heat or you burn easily. Bring plenty of sunscreen and a hat. Don’t forget to bring water, since there are very few villages during the hike!

Malta hike Stop 1. Blue Grotto

The first stop in our Malta hike was the Blue Grotto, an incredible stone arch over turquoise waters that you’ve probably seen all over instagram. Well, in this case, reality is more incredible than instagram! While it is quite known in Malta, it is a bit remote so the tourist crowds are minimal, especially early in the morning (we only saw 2 other people there!).

How to get there: since this is the first stop in the itinerary you may be wondering how to get to the Blue Grotto. We were staying in Marsaxlokk, so we just took a taxi using the Bolt app. If you are staying in Valletta you can use public transportation by taking bus 74 direction Zurieq from Floriani C (it’s actually in Floriana, a short walk outside the city walls). You can hop off at Blue Grotto itself if you want to take the boat tour or the next stop (Panorama), for the most amazing views!

Malta hike Stop 2. Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra

Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra are part of a megalithic temple complex located basically in the middle of nowhere. This incredibly preserved complex dates back to 3200 – 3600 BC (it is 5.5k years old!!! older than the pyramids) and, as such, it is considered one of the most ancient religious sites on Earth. Being surprisingly under the radar, we were able to visit the complex almost alone, and it is preserved very tastefully to avoid its destruction without removing the authenticity. It is really worth it! There is a magical charm to it.

Price: 10€ (discount 7,5€), Schedule: Mon-Sun 9-18h (17h during winter).

Malta hike Stop 3. Għar Lapsi

Travel tip: on the way down to Għar Lapsi, don’t forget to take a picture of the beautiful Xaqqa cliffs and the Għar Lapsi tower.

Malta hike Stop 4. Dingli Cliffs

The Dingli Cliffs are one of the most impressive coastlines in Malta, with a straight fall of over 200 m (around 660 ft) above the sea. It is one of the best viewpoints in the country and offers uninterrupted views to the isle of Flifla. Again, despite being one of the most famous natural occurrences in the country, we were absolutely alone.

The main viewpoint is St. Mary Magdalene chapel located next to Dingli village, which is the highest point and relatively well connected. As such, this is where you will find most tourists. Surprisingly, it also offers the worst views, with obstructed views of most of the cliffs. Instead, I suggest that you visit another spot which is not well connected but offers incredible views and also a natural rock window to take your best picture! I’ll mark the exact location in the map below.

Bonus stop. The Verdala Palace

Located next to Dingli village you can find the Buskett Gardens, atop of which you will see the Verdala Palace. It was a palace built for Hugues Loubenx de Verdalle, a Grand Master of the Order of Malta in the 16th century on the site of a hunting lodge. Currently serves as the summer residence of the President of Malta. It is most famous for appearing as Magister Illyrio’s house where he hosts Daenerys in Game of Thrones. For more on that, click on the link below:

→ ‘Game of Thrones’ locations that you can visit in Malta

We didn’t visit the palace itself during our Malta hike because it wasn’t open at the time (and it only is on occasion), but if you get the chance, get a guided visit where they will explain some history of the palace as well as some interesting ghost stories! Otherwise, you’ll be able to see it from the road.

Malta hike Stop 5. St. Dominic’s Priory

Our next stop was St. Dominic’s Priory (in full: “Church of St. Dominic and the Blessed Virgin”), a gorgeous piece of Renaissance architecture in the town of Rabat. It is built on top of a cave where Virgin Mary is said to have appeared around the 15th century. The cloister is absolutely gorgeous and, for some reason, we were the only people in there (including any people working there or even any friars or nuns!). Again, it may look familiar because it doubled as the Red Keep in Game of Thrones.

→ ‘Game of Thrones’ locations that you can visit in Malta

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 6 am – 6.30 pm; Sun 6 am – 11.15 am. Price: free

Malta hike Stop 6. St. Paul’s Catacombs

Keeping with the religious theme, our next stop takes us to the very heart of Rabat. In fact, under the very heart of Rabat. St. Paul’s Catacombs are ancient burial sites during Phoenician (Punic) times located outside the Roman town of Melite. They were used until the 7-8th century, and again during the re-Christianization of Malta during the 13th century, but they remained hidden until the late 19th century when the excavations began. Even though they are generally called St. Paul’s Catacombs, it is a massive complex of burial chambers, including the catacombs of St. Agatha, St. Katald, St. Agustine and many others.

Opening hours: Wed – Mon, 9 am – 5 pm. Price: 6€  (discounted 4.5€)

Malta hike Stop 7. Mdina

Mdina is one of the most beautiful towns I’ve ever seen and you MUST include it in any itinerary in Malta. It has the quintessential yellow limestone Medieval-Renaissance buildings in contrast with the clear blue sky. Every corner of this walled city is gorgeous. I’ve written about it throughly in it’s dedicated post, so have a look at the link below:

→ Mdina: a guide to the Silent City

Also, big surprise, it was also used in the filming of Game of Thrones, so here’s the link:

→ ‘Game of Thrones’ locations that you can visit in Malta

From here you can take a bus or taxi to your accommodation in Malta. It is pretty well connected, especially if you stay in Valletta.

A few tips & tricks for this Malta hike

• Start early to avoid the hottest hours and have a longer break during lunch time.
• Again, bring plenty of sunscreen, a hat, and potentially long-sleeved clothing if you’re prone to burning.
• Bring plenty of water. You’ll sweat it all out!
• Avoid the hottest months. I did this hike in early June, but it was VERY hot from noon to 4 pm.
• While you can walk the whole thing, there are a few spots that you can easily hack with a ride:
  • From Ghar Lapsi to the Dingli cliffs viewpoint there is a long mostly inland hike. We took a taxi through the Bolt app to save some time.
  • From the Dingli cliffs to St. Dominic’s Priory, if you don’t plan to stop in the Verdala Palace, you can take direct bus 201.
• Don’t forget your swimming suit! You’ll want to dip in those turquoise waters, especially during the summer.

Where to stay for this Malta hike

In order to make the most of your time during this Malta hike, I recommend that you stay at either end of the hike or in Malta’s capital Valletta:

• If you stay near the Blue Grotto, I suggest the beautiful fishing town of Marsaxlokk. We stayed at this convenient apartment with amazing views of the harbour. (Note that the shower has only a curtain separating it from the bedroom and stairs, so only stay here if you’re comfortable with that).
• Another option is to stay in the end of the hike, in Mdina (or Rabat for cheaper accommodation). If this is the case, you can either do the hike in reverse order. Conversely, you can travel to the Blue Grotto and hike back to your accommodation.
• The most likely option is that you are staying in Valletta.It is totally doable to do this hike from the capital (check how to get there in the beginning of this post). For accommodation recommendations in Valletta, have a look at its dedicated post.

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Closing statement

This Malta hike is one of my favourite activities in Malta. It takes you through some amazing landmarks, including natural beauty, gorgeous towns, cultural heritage and religious history of the country. All within one day and powered by your own legs! And the best part is that for most of it you will be alone, without the need to share it with other tourists!

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