Malta is wonderful country in the heart of Mediterranean, and many families choose it as a holiday destination!
See below a list of things your kids will enjoy apart from swimming in the sea or the pool (if you struggle to choose a hotel, check my guide to the best accommodations in Malta).
1. Explore the sights of Valletta
Valletta, the capital city of Malta, is probably the first on your list – and this is for a reason. This tiny historical gem surrounded by sea on three sides is a great place to start your journey throughout Malta.
There are quite a few attractions your kids will enjoy visiting, at least pop into the Upper and Lower Baracca Gardens (don’t miss a cannon firing at the Saluting battery!), main shopping streets, Grandmaster’s Palace (it has just reopened after a reconstruction), Casa Rocca Piccola (the traditional still inhabited aristocratic manor) and historical cafe Cordina.
Also, Valletta is full of different events: you’ll see it decorated for festivals and other special occasions. Check those before your visit: for instance, you can attend the Guardia military parade at Fort St Elmo, represented by a few dozen performers, It’s the historical ceremony of Grand Bailiff of the Order of the Knights of St John re-enacted live!
Also, you can watch the Valletta Pageant of the Seas with small traditional boats sailing between Valletta and Three cities.
The MUŻA (Mużew Nazzjonali tal-Arti) museum not only has a wonderful collection of Maltese and European artists masters but also has a number of screens where kids could make their own coat of arms or explore the historical pieces from the collection assembling their own still life!
Finally, you can take a ferry to go to Sliema or three cities!
2. Get lost at the Malta National Aquarium
If you’re on a family trip to Malta, a visit to the Malta National Aquarium is a must. It opened in 2013 in Qawra near St. Paul’s Bay, and it occupies a building that resembles a starfish (or a Sakura blossom if you ask me).
It’s divided into a few zones: Malta’s western shoreline and submarine, Valletta Harbour, Tropical Oceans, Roman Times (back to the times when St Paul’s ship crashed nearby), Gozo and Comino, Reptiles and Amphibian area. In total, there are about 175 species of fish, reptiles, etc! There are tanks, with La Nave Bistro being our all-time favourite!
Recently Heritage Malta exhibition about exploring the deeps around Malta has opened on the top floor of aquarium (and there’s even a tiny cinema theatre there too!)
3. Spend a day at the Playmobil FunPark
If you have kids, you’re definitely aware of Playmobil, a German ‘competitor’ of Lego, which sells themed play sets with small figures of humans and animals?
Actually, the concept was invented in 1974 by Hans Beck, and now they have three factories in Germany, Malta, and Spain. And there is a Playmobil FunPark shaped like a castle near the Maltese factory in Hal Far village, not far from the airport!
There are a few areas on site you can visit for a reasonable price. The indoor area with many tables is equipped with cars, castles, train rails, etc. Kids are given (literal) buckets of toys to play around in during their visit. There’s also a playground outside with a giant pirate ship, a pirate house and other facilities to enjoy.
4. Have fun at the Popeye village
Popeye Village is a filming set turned an entertainment centre on the seashore of a bay near Mellieha in Malta. It was presented as the Sweethaven for the Popeye the Movie, an American musical film with Robin Williams as Popeye (forever remembered for Dead Poets Society, 1989 and Good Will Hunting, 1997) and Shelley Duvall (known best for The Shining, 1980) as Olive, directed by Robert Altman.
Now you can enjoy many extra attractions there: a mini golf course, an obstacle course (George loved it!), a few cafes, a seaside area with sunbeds, a treasure hunt and a cinema. Also, during our visit, we received coupons to get free popcorn and a free postcard! If you love the character of Popeye, you can also visit the Popeye Comic Museum, with about a hundred original comics dating back to 1936. See more here.
5. Stroll at the San Anton Gardens…
Struggling to find a place to escape summer heat with kids in Malta? Then head to San Anton Gardens! This area was a private property of French Knight Antoine de Paule, and under British rule, this palace and the garden were the official residence of the British governors, and parts of the park were open to the general public starting from 1882.
Since 1974, when Malta became a republic, it has served as the president’s official residence. You cannot enter the palace, though, for obvious reasons; the palace is closed to the public. However, you can imagine how it looks if you’ve seen the Game of Thrones: it was used as a setting for Red Keep scenes!
6. … and visit the Ecopark
If you visit the San Anton Gardens, don’t misee the President’s Kitchen Garden and the Ecopark in a very short walk from it! There is a nice playground for kids of all ages, a cafe and mini zoo right behind the presidential palace.
Another cool playground is located right in front of historical Mdina gates.
7. Have a brunch at Palace Parisio
Palazzo Parisio is a hidden gem of Malta, and both you and your kids will enjoy visiting it! The palace is a private property of the Scicluna family: it’s been renovated, and now the visitors are welcomed at the palace and its gardens (you can buy tickets at the entrance). There are quite a few rooms to see there: the ballroom, the great staircase, the billiard room, the music room, sala Lombarda and others.
The gardens look absolutely idyllic with a small greenhouse, citrus trees, a fountain and gorgeous blooming plants. There are also cats, turtles, and a few children houses to play with.
And the restaurant Luna is definitely a must visit as well: we went there quite a few times for breakfast, brunch and lunch, and the experience was really good (but make sure you are not in a hurry as the service is very relaxed).
8. Visit the Birdpark (or not)
Birdpark (not to be confused with Salina Park nearby) is an aviary with many birds: you can meet about 200 species there, from flamingos and owls to parrots and ravens. You can take a bus there and walk a short distance towards the park.
Unfortunately, we found it not in the best condition and felt that this place lacked the funds (we visited shortly after the pandemic, so that might be the reason behind it). However, I must say that we noted that the birds still looked healthy and well-fed.
9. Learn the history of Aviation museum
Do you have kids who are fascinated by planes? Then head to The Aviation Museum, located not too far away from Ta’Qali craft village! Basically, it is what remains of the airstrip used by the British Royal Air Force during WWII. The museum’s goal is to find and restore the historical artefacts – and it does it eagerly, with many planes restored to their glory. It might not be the most modern museum you’ve ever visited, but is still well worths a visit.
It has a fantastic collection of various aircraft dating to different time periods split between three hangars. It’s very fun to visit with kids who are eager to learn about things like this!
10. Meet animals of Ta’Qali petting farm
Ta’Qali petting farm is not really a petting farm but more like a zoo open to visitors. There are many birds, like ducks and geese, peacocks, chickens, pheasants, parrots, canaries, etc.
And there are some larger animals too, like a llama, a donkey, a horse, some sheep and goats, all looking pretty well cared for – however, don’t feed them as many are on special diets due to the various health conditions. And you can still pet them because they deliberately come to you for some interaction (but please, if you’re visiting with kids, watch them all the time so they behave appropriately!).
You might also like my other Maltese guides:
- Mdina
- Valletta
- Gozo
- Victoria
- Popeye village
- Malta guides part 1 and 2
- Best hotel in Malta
Hope you liked my blog,
Yours,
Anna xxx
