The best time to visit Malta

Without knowing the local weather, how many visitors there are likely to be, or when shops close for public holidays, it can be difficult to decide on when to take your holiday. Many people jetting off to Malta have asked the question ‘when is the best time to visit?’ This is why we decided to take a look at the weather and number of visitors to give you an idea of when might be the most enjoyable time for your chosen activities while you are away.

Weather

One of the first things to consider when planning a trip to Malta is the weather and how hot you would like it to be while you are away. One of the excellent things about Malta is that the climate is generally terrific as it does not suffer from extremes of temperature. It usually has a pleasant warmth because the sea breezes help to prevent the heat becoming too stifling. However, there is some variation to look at, the summers are generally dry and warm with the temperatures peaking a t their highest around the 30°C mark, and this high is usually around July. In the winter the temperatures drop to around 15°C with January as the coldest month and there is an increase in rainfall at this time, although there is not much rainfall in Malta year round. So, if you are looking for uninterrupted sunshine then the summer months are the best time to visit. However, Malta is also an excellent winter destination if you want to go for a walking or activity holiday the cooler months are just the ticket, although November and December tend to be the months with the most rain.

Busy?

Malta really is a superb year round destination, but this said, June and August are the highest peaks of the tourist season and the island can get quite crowded at this time. It can also be a little more expensive during these months. Between February and June the prices are a bit cheaper and there are fewer tourists and this makes some of the attractions easier to traverse.

Will it be open?

There is a famous shut-down in Malta during August, this means that some of the smaller family run restaurants and other businesses won’t be open at all. This lasts for around a week before the 15th August and a week following that date. However, don’t let that stop your fun as most tourist attractions stay open at this time. Surprisingly a lot of things stay open during the Christmas period making Malta a fantastic destination for Christmas celebrations, and although everything closes on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day you will find many restaurants and shops open around these days. It is also wise to bear in mind that shops in Malta usually close on Sundays and all public holidays the year through.

Which month?

For a quieter, sunny holiday May is the time. This is just before peak season offering warm weather, lighter crowds and access to all the attractions. For a busy holiday in the sun then the peak months of June and July would be an excellent choice where you can enjoy fun in the sun amongst the other holiday makers. For a cooler, quiet holiday then September or October is the best time. The end of September will still enjoy some heat but it is likely to be fresher than the summer months cooling further into October. This is a particularly excellent time for a walking holiday as the lower temperatures and thinning crowds are perfect for this kind of activity holiday without feeling stifled in the heat.