We’ve lived in Malta for over two years and during that time we were so surprised by the number of secret spots this tiny island holds (and by how hard it is to find information about such places online). The best way to find them is actually through social media – that’s how we discovered most of the places on this list!
If you’re looking for some unique places in Malta, you’re in the right place. Here are the top 20 most hidden gems in the archipelago:
1. The Church of St Paul The Hermit
Situated in a natural cave, The Church of St. Paul the Hermit is definitely one of the most unique places in Malta. It was built in 1656 on the site of an older one of unknown date and restored in the early 20th century.
It is located in the city of Mosta, in the Valley of Honey, and it’s best visited during winter and springtime when the greenery is really “greening”.
You can read all about this hidden gem in our The Church of St Paul the Hermit: one of Malta’s Best-Kept Secrets post.
2. Fomm ir-Riħ
A tricky pathway leads you to the most isolated beach in Malta: Fomm ir-Rih (meaning mouth of the wind) is a pebble beach surrounded by impressive cliffs and stunning landscapes. The water is crystal clear and it’s perfect for swimming and snorkeling when the sea is calm.
Located South of the popular Gnejna Bay, the only way to Fomm Ir-Rih Bay is via a steep, rocky, and winding pathway. The way down takes around 20 minutes and the beginning of the trail starts at a small car park (location here). The pathway runs along a ledge, so please be cautious!
Tip: check the wind before visiting as winds blowing from the north or northwest make the sea go rough.
3. Underground Valletta
Valletta was built in the 16th century by the Knights of St. John as a fortress and then as a city. As in any fortified city, a good underground system is a must – for grain storage, movement of troops, sheltering people during attacks, water storage, and in this case even a gravity-based sanitary system.
The thing is, Valletta’s underground system was only opened to public visitation in November 2021! Before that, it had last been used in the early 1940s when the Maltese people went underground to shelter from the bombings of World War II.
Now, you can experience what lies beneath Malta’s prestigious capital city in a guided tour offered by Heritage Malta and tickets can be purchased here.
🎟️ Tickets cost €15.00 for adults and €10.00 for children and senior citizens.
Also read: The Best Photo Spots in Valletta – Malta
4. St. Agatha’s Tower (Malta’s Red Tower)
In the 17th century, a system of watchtowers was built in Malta to guard the islands from enemies coming into attack from the sea.
The towers are positioned in a way where each tower can always see both neighboring ones. If a watch guard spotted a potential attack, a fire signal was started as a warning to the other towers, which in turn, would warn their neighboring towers, carrying the message throughout the island.
St Agatha’s Tower is one of those! Built in 1647, this specific tower played an essential role in communication with Gozo Island and it was painted red by the Knights of St John to be recognized from far away.
🎟️ Nowadays, the tower is open to the public daily from 10 AM to 4 PM and the admission ticket costs 2.50 euros per person.
5. Ghar Hasan Cave
Quite a few legends surround this cave on the southern coast of Malta. Most of them include a not-very-nice man named Hasan, who always ends up jumping from the cliff and dying. This tragic old wives tale is probably the reason a railing was placed at the cave’s opening, located over 75 meters above sea level.
The entire cave is almost 400 meters in length and offers different viewpoints – the last one being the most stunning! Make sure to bring some sort of portable lighting as you’ll have to walk through some very dark areas before reaching the viewpoints.
Important: It’s pretty common for people to visit the cave but officially, it has been closed for over 5 years due to the unstable nature of Malta’s cliffs. If you do decide to visit it – do so at your own risk and don’t get too close to the edges.
6. Ta’ Qassisu Window
One of the least-known rock windows on the Maltese islands, Ta’ Qassisu is truly a hidden gem!
To reach it, take the second left after the roundabout right after Ghadira Bay, then drive to the end of the road. Park here and take the rock stairs (location here) down the cliff, then follow the well-marked trail to the sea and you’ll get to the window!
🚌 It’s better to drive to the beginning of the trail, but if you don’t have a car, you can get a bus to Paradise Bay, and instead of taking the stairs to the beach, take the road left and follow the cliff until you reach the stairs linked above.
5. The Fisherman’s Cave
This magnificent cave opens in the middle of a cliff, 80 meters above sea level, facing the Mediterranean Sea. It is such a breathtaking location!
The trail to the cave is a short and easy one, but the entrance to the cave is not that easy to find and we have a complete guide on it here: Secret Spot in Malta: The Fisherman’s Cave.
After spending some time in the cave, make sure to walk a bit around the area. You can spot the island of Filfla on the right and the cliffs of Il-Mara on the left, both amazing views from up the cliff.
6. Il-Maqluba
Il-Maqluba was once a cave, just one like the many others on the Maltese Islands, until the 23rd November of 1343 when its roof collapsed due to erosion.
More fascinating than the fact local people kept records of the exact day it happened, is the absolutely beautiful environment that formed inside of this giant sinkhole. Different species of animals and plants thrive here, making it a very important ecological site.
Note: make sure to also visit St Matthew’s Chapel, located right by the entrance to the hole ⛪
7. St Paul’s Island
If you haven’t yet realized, Malta‘s history is absolutely incredible!
Even a biblical figure, Paul the Apostle, is believed to have shipwrecked on Maltese shores during a very bad storm back in 60AD. St. Paul and his crew all survived and were taken care of by the local people. At some point, Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake but suffered no ill effects. Islanders saw this as a sign he was a very special man. Given Malta is nowadays 98% Catholic, you can imagine what happened next.
Once Paul and his travelers were gone, the small island offshore was named St Paul’s Island in his honor.
⛵ You can visit the island by boat from Bugibba.
8. The Victoria Lines
Often overlooked, Victoria Lines is a historic fortification wall that stretches across Malta from coast to coast. It was built on top of a natural geographical barrier as a way to protect the South from invasions coming from the North, and it was used as a defensive barrier for centuries.
Nowadays, this 12 km fortification is more of a lesser-known hiking route that offers stunning views of the Maltese coast, from multiple vantage points above the valleys.
Tip: we recommend reading this guide for everything you need to know before you hike the Victoria Lines in Malta.
9. Tal-Mixta Cave (Gozo)
Probably not the most secret of places on this list, Tal-Mixta Cave in Gozo still feels like a hidden gem. It acts as a window to Ramla Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches in the country!
Fun fact: on the other side of Ramla Bay you’ll find Calypso’s Cave which is believed to be the one referred to by Homer in The Odyssey – where Calypso kept Odysseus as a “prisoner of love”. The cave is currently closed due to erosion, but the viewpoint above it is worth the visit!
10. Ras Il-Hamrija
One of the top things to do in Malta is to visit some of its Megalithic Complexes such as the Mnajdra Temples. What people don’t usually know is that just one (quite challenging) trail down the cliff from Mnajdra is another one of Malta’s arch formations, Ras Il-Hamrija. And it is stunning!
When we visited it, there wasn’t really a well-marked way down, so we just used Google Maps terrain view and did some trial and error until we made it down the cliff. The best way down starts from Congreve Memorial.
Hot tip: from here, you can do some amazing hiking to the next spot on the list: Ghar Lapsi. On the way, make sure to stop by this small inlet (location here) and by Pixxina Naturali (location here).
11. Ghar Lapsi
Ghar Lapsi is a natural swimming pool with crystal-clear waters located just one kilometer away from the popular Blue Grotto! Protected from the open sea by rock formations, the water here is undisturbed and you can see the fish swimming around.
The area is also popular amongst divers due to the great visibility and its caves leading out into the deep open sea. With not much space for sunbathing, Ghar Lapsi never gets much attention from tourists, but it sure gets super busy with locals during the weekends.
Also read: Top 10 Instagram Accounts to inspire your next trip to Malta
12. Buskett Gardens
One thing we really missed while living in Malta was the woods. There isn’t much greenery around here so you can only imagine our happiness when we found out about Buskett Gardens – the only real woodland area on the island.
The garden was planted by the Knights of Malta as a hunting ground and is home to Verdala Palace, built in 1588 and currently the official summer residence of the President of Malta.
Fun fact: Malta used to be covered by native trees, most of which were cut down for shipbuilding and agricultural purposes.
13. Ta Bumbarin Bay (Gozo)
This hidden bay is all you need for a summer day! Located right next to Hondoq Bay – an already off-the-beaten-track beach in Gozo Island, you’ll find this small inlet with crystal-clear waters and caves, overlooking Comino. To reach it, just walk over the rocky stretch to the right of Hondoq Bay.
Also read: Hidden places in Comino – Everything besides Blue Lagoon!
14. Ta’ Ċenċ Il-Kantra (Gozo)
We don’t usually include restaurants in these types of guides but we couldn’t leave this one out of this list! Ta’ Ċenċ Il-Kantra Bar & Restaurant is located at the top of the cliffs in Mgarr ix-Xini on the island of Gozo and serves deliciously fresh Mediterranean cuisine.
Below the restaurant, a rocky inlet that feels almost private has the most beautiful blue waters. During high season, the restaurant also rents sunbeds and towels to visitants.
Note: opening hours/days are subject to change, based on season and weather conditions. It’s worth giving a call beforehand.
15. Ta’ Marija Cave
Of all of the accessible hidden caves in Malta, Ta’ Marija Cave is probably the biggest! Around six meters tall and wide, stretching some more into the land, this giant white cave is located right by the sea in the city of Mgarr.
You can reach Ta’ Marija Cave by a 40-minute hike or kayaking tour from Gnjena Bay (we recommend Malta SUP Sea Treks). Note that when the wind is blowing from the west, neither hiking or kayaking is advised due to hazardous waves.
Hot tip: bring snorkeling goggles, the water inside and surrounding the cave is super clear 🤿
16. Ras id-Dawwara
The perfect winter activity in Malta is the hike from Ras id-Dawwara to Miġra l-Ferħa. The cliffs in this area make for some of the most breathtaking views on the island and surprisingly, it’s a hidden gem even for locals!
This 7 km hike passes through terraced hills, caves, almond trees, and if you’re lucky (and there’s been some heavy rainfall in the past few days) you might even spot a spectacular spring of water falling from the cliffs. You can follow this map from Start, going south, to the parking lot area.
Hot tip: MC Adventures often offers ziplining experiences from time to time in this region! Make sure to check their Facebook page for upcoming dates.
17. Kalanka Bay & Kalanka Sea Cave
If you love St. Peters Pool but find it too crowded, then you will absolutely love Kalanka Bay! The best part? This bay is located just a 7-minute ride away.
Kalanka Bay looks exactly like St. Peters Pool: smooth flat rocks, deep clear waters, and perfect for exhilarating plunges into the sea. It’s just like a twin sister, but blissfully unspoiled and delightfully uncrowded!
Kalanka Sea Cave is another great hidden gem just a 9-minute ride from St. Peters Pool that’s worth a visit. Walking from here to Kalanka Bay is also a great hiking itinerary with quite the views!
18. Wied Babu
You might visit the postcard-perfect Blue Grotto many times and never know that right next to it, Wied Babu Valley holds one beautiful secret: a hidden bay of perfectly still turquoise clear waters.
There isn’t a single sign in the area stating the existence of the bay or even the way to get there, which is quite an adventure! For starters, you’ll have to jump over the railing into a metal ladder, then follow a not-so-well-marked path where you might need to go down on your bum a few times.
We recommend reading this blog post for a detailed overview of this hiking trail.
19. Kantra Valley (Gozo)
Xlendi is one of the most popular bays in Gozo Island and for good reason – it is stunning! But just like most places in Malta during summertime, it gets super overcrowded. What most people don’t know is that just 10 minutes away from Xlendi Bay is the Kantra Valley, a small inlet nestled between two cliffs.
Important: the water is not shallow here and is recommended for those who know how to swim. There isn’t a strip of sand, so be prepared to settle on the rocks.
20. Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
This UNESCO World Heritage site is testimony to a long-lost civilization. Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is an outstanding underground burial complex used between 4000BC and 1500BC. It’s believed to be one of the only of its kind and it was accidentally re-discovered in 1902 by a stone mason who was laying foundations to build a couple of houses. How cool is that?!
🎟️ Tickets cost €35.00 for adults and €20.00 for children and senior citizens, and can be purchased here.
