Too Hot to Handle? Here's Where to Cool Down in Malta
Let’s be honest, Malta in summer is hot. Absolutely, relentless, sun-bouncing-off-limestone scorchio hot and it’s certainly not any cooler with a heatwave spreading across Europe! Tourists who arrive expecting a gentle Mediterranean breeze often find themselves wilting by 11am, desperately searching for shade and an ice-cold Kinnie.
The good news? You don’t have to hole up in your hotel room until sunset. Malta has lots of lovely spots where you can escape the worst of the heat, actually enjoy yourself, and still feel like you’re making the most of your trip. Here are five worth knowing about.
Esplora Interactive Science Centre, Kalkara
This one’s a proper crowd-pleaser, especially if you’ve got kids in tow, though adults get surprisingly absorbed too. Esplora is fully air-conditioned and packed with hands-on science exhibits, a planetarium, and interactive displays that’ll eat up a good few hours without anyone noticing the time. It’s based in a beautifully restored villa, which makes it a bit more atmospheric than your average science museum. Book tickets online in advance; it does get busy in peak season.
St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta
From the outside, St John’s is deliberately understated, you could walk straight past it. Inside is another matter entirely. The ceiling is covered floor to ceiling in intricate Baroque paintings, the floor is made up of elaborate marble tombstones, and Caravaggio’s The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist hangs in one of the side chapels. It’s one of the most impressive interiors in the Mediterranean. The thick stone walls keep it cool even on the hottest days, and the sheer scale of what you’re looking at means you won’t feel rushed.
The Grand Master's Palace, Valletta
A short walk from St John’s, the Grand Master’s Palace is worth adding to the same Valletta visit. The State Rooms and the Armoury are both housed inside, and once again those thick old walls do a brilliant job of keeping the temperature down. The Armoury alone, full of weapons and armour going back to the Knights of St John, is oddly fascinating even if history isn’t usually your thing.
Malta's Shopping Malls
When the thermometer hits 35°C and you’ve still got half a day to fill, an air conditioned shopping mall starts looking pretty appealing. The Plaza and Tigné Point Mall in Sliema are both solid options when you just need a few hours in the cool. Grab lunch, do a bit of window shopping. It’s a pleasant and a good way to dodge the worst of the midday heat before heading back out in the late afternoon when things calm down a bit.
The Malta National Aquarium, Qawra
Sitting along the seafront in St Paul’s Bay, the National Aquarium is another excellent shout for a hot afternoon. It’s well laid-out, and covers everything from local Mediterranean species to tropical fish. The indoor sections are cool and dim, which feels like a great relief after wandering around in the sun. It’s not huge, but it’s a quality couple of hours and perfect if you are here with family.
A local quick tip: whatever you’re doing in Malta in summer, try to shift your sightseeing to the morning or early evening. Valletta and the Three Cities in the golden hour before sunset are really something else, and you’ll enjoy them a lot more when you’re not melting.
