Malta in the Rain: Top Things To Do

11/03/2025 Travel & Lifestyle created by Darsha S.

Malta sees up to 100 wet days a year, so it is worth knowing the things to do in Malta when it rains.

Malta is famous for its sunshine, but the island still sees roughly 80 to 100 wet days a year, usually in the autumn and winter months. A rainy day is no reason to lose one, because behind the beaches sits a dense layer of museums, historic palaces, aquariums and entertainment complexes, most of them a short bus ride apart. Here are the best indoor things to do in Malta when it rains, whether you are travelling with family, studying on a language course, or simply waiting for the clouds to pass.

Museums and historic sites

Attraction	Location	What you will find
St Paul’s Catacombs	Rabat, near Mdina	An extensive Roman and early-Christian underground cemetery, mainly from the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, managed by Heritage Malta
Malta National Aquarium	Qawra, in the north	More than 250 species across dozens of tanks, with a dedicated reptile and amphibian section
St John’s Co-Cathedral and Museum	Valletta	Lavish Baroque interiors and religious art, including Caravaggio’s Beheading of Saint John the Baptist
Malta Aviation Museum	Ta’ Qali	Restored aircraft in former RAF hangars, including a Supermarine Spitfire and a de Havilland Tiger Moth
Casa Rocca Piccola	Valletta	A lived-in 16th-century noble palace, seen by guided tour
Esplora Science Centre	Kalkara	Around 200 hands-on, interactive exhibits, ideal for families

Shopping centres and cinemas

When the rain really sets in, a mall is the easy answer. The Bay Street Shopping Complex in St Julian's is the largest, mixing high-street brands with Maltese craft shops, cafes and an arcade, and The Point in Sliema and the Shoreline Mall in Kalkara offer a similar dry day out. For a film, Eden Cinemas in St Julian's, Embassy Cinemas in Valletta and Galleria Cinemas in Fgura all screen current releases.

Family and group fun

For students and families, the standout is The Eden entertainment complex in St Julian's, right beside Bay Street, which brings bowling, a large arcade, darts, laser tag, karaoke rooms and escape rooms under one roof, with food and drink on site. It is worth booking bowling, karaoke, laser tag and escape rooms ahead, though you can drop in for the arcade. Combined with the Esplora Science Centre in Kalkara, it makes for an easy, weatherproof day with a group.

For adult visitors

Sliema's seafront strip and the Paceville district in St Julian's are lined with bars and restaurants, many of them sheltered and connected, so you can move between them without getting wet. Malta also has several licensed casinos, mostly in St Julian's and St Paul's Bay; entry is free but restricted to over-18s, and you will need photo identification to register.

Summary

A rainy day in Malta is easy to fill. Head indoors to the museums and historic sites (St Paul's Catacombs, the National Aquarium, St John's Co-Cathedral, the Aviation Museum), stay dry in a mall or cinema in Sliema or St Julian's, or gather a group at The Eden or the Esplora Science Centre. Opening hours shift with the season, so confirm them on each official site. Better still, turn the trip into something lasting with an English course in Malta with SPRACHCAFFE, rain or shine.

FAQ

Malta has plenty of indoor options: museums and historic sites in Valletta and Mdina, the interactive attractions such as the Malta 5D show, shopping centres, cinemas and thermal spas. A wet day is a good chance to explore its long history indoors.

Malta has a Mediterranean climate with around 300 sunny days a year, so rain is concentrated in the cooler months from October to March and usually comes in short bursts rather than all-day downpours.

Yes. The mild winters, lower prices and quieter sites make the off-season appealing, and the many indoor attractions mean a rainy day is easily filled. Spring and autumn offer warm days with far fewer crowds.

Families have good options, from the National Aquarium and interactive museums to bowling, cinemas and indoor play centres. Many of Malta's historic sites are also covered, so learning and fun continue whatever the weather.

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