While there are plenty of fun things to do in Malta’s capital, you shouldn’t miss the chance to venture out from Valletta to Mdina. Valletta serves as the island’s principal city today, but a Malta fun fact is that Mdina was actually the first (and oldest!) capital of Malta.

Known as the “Silent City,” magnificent and mysterious Mdina makes for a perfect day trip from Valletta. From its peaceful and picturesque alleyways to its sweeping landscapes, Mdina is a welcome change of pace from tourist-heavy Valletta. As soon as you enter the protected city through its cinematic gate, you’ll understand why it’s one of the ultimate Game of Thrones filming locations.

Are you ready to plan a memorable day trip to a whimsical wonderland? Then come discover the hidden gems that await in Mdina, Malta!

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The Silent City of Mdina is an absolute must-see when in Malta. Between the historic architecture and winding alleyways, Mdina is chock-full of hidden gems dating back to the Bronze Age.

Plus, considering it’s such an easy day trip from Valletta, there’s really no reason to skip it.

In addition, Mdina offers a much different and quieter energy than Valletta, so it’s definitely worth dedicating time to both.

While this post is designed around doing a full day trip to Mdina, you can realistically enjoy the city at a leisurely pace in a few short hours.

Otherwise, if you’re seeking a quieter alternative to Valletta, you may wish to base yourself in Mdina for a few nights. Although there aren’t a huge range of properties here, there are a handful of charming hotels.

You can easily explore the narrow, intimate streets of Mdina in about three hours or less. While the Silent City isn’t particularly large, it’s a wonderful place to wander the maze of winding streets and alleyways.

For a one-way fare from Valletta to Mdina, you can generally expect to pay just over $30 (30EUR) for a standard car and a little over $40 (40EUR) for a larger vehicle. While it’s definitely cheaper to travel with your own vehicle, a taxi helps you avoid the challenge of having to find parking once in Mdina.

While I don’t personally think it’s necessary to have a car when in Malta, getting to Mdina by car is an easy option from Valletta. At a little over 8 miles (13.5 kilometers), the short drive from Valletta to Mdina takes just over 20 minutes.

There are three different routes available that you can choose from: via Route 7, via Triq L-lmdina, and via Triq Dun Karm. Fortunately, the time difference between the different routes is nominal, so it pays to see which route has the least traffic when you plan to travel.

While the drive from Valletta to Mdina is straightforward, parking can be a bit tricky. The first thing to keep in mind is that Mdina is a walled city, so you’ll need to park outside of the main entrance gate and then walk in. Only residents who hold a designated parking permit are permitted to park within the city walls.

Parking tends to be more limited during the busy summer season, but you can find a couple of public car parks and public lots outside Mdina Gate. The largest lot sits just 200 meters from Mdina Gate. You’ll find it next to the Rabat bus terminal.

If this lot is occupied, there’s also a smaller car park outside Mdina Gate near the playground. Just keep in mind that this lot cannot accommodate many cars and tends to fill up quickly.

If both lots are full, you may get lucky with a street spot in Rabat, the nearest village. From Rabat, it takes just over 10 minutes on foot to reach Mdina.

If you don’t want to be bothered with parking but prefer to travel in a private vehicle, you may consider the option of a taxi, as I mentioned in the FAQ.

Taking the bus from Valletta to Mdina is the cheapest way to travel and my personal preference of the different transportation options.

There are a number of bus lines that travel from Valletta to Mdina, including 50, 51, 52, 53, and 56. Ideally, you’ll want to hop on line 53, which will take you from Valletta to Rabat in around 30 minutes. From here, it’s a five-minute walk to Mdina Gate on foot.

There are also alternative bus lines that go to Mdina from towns outside of Valletta, though the journey will be a bit longer. These include: 109, 181, 182, 186, 201, and 202.

If you’re unsure which bus to Mdina is best for you, be sure to check out the specific bus routes and timetables here to plan your journey.

You can pay your bus fare (in cash) directly on board. If you’re traveling from Valletta, the current fare costs just 2.60EUR. I recommend bringing exact change to avoid delays.

Mdina Gate is the first landmark you’ll see as you approach the town. You’ll need to cross over it to enter the stunning fortified city of Mdina.

Also referred to as “Vilhena Gate” or simply the “Main Gate,” Mdina Gate is a stone bridge that’s definitely worth photographing – just be aware that everyone else will probably have the same idea!

Mdina is a magnificent maze of golden-honey streets. Inside its protective walls, you’ll discover beautiful cathedrals, noble houses, and even private residences. That’s right –  people still live in Mdina to this day, though the modest population is less than 300 residents!

As you wander the winding alleyways protected by fortified walls, you may feel as though you’ve entered a time capsule.

While one of my favorite activities is to “get lost” in new cities, the good news is, you won’t be lost for long in tiny Mdina.

Some of Mdina’s prettiest streets include:

• Holy Cross Street (pictured above)
• Triq San Pawl (St. Paul’s Street)
• Triq L-Imhazen (Magazine Street)
• Triq is-Sur (Bastion Street)

The very first spot that inspired me to visit Mdina was the Insta-famous blue door. If you’re (somehow) not familiar with it, it’s the strikingly beautiful turquoise door shrouded in ivy that’s circulating all over the gram.

As a huge #doork, I definitely wasn’t missing this photogenic spot on our trip to Malta. While I was saddened to see the flowers weren’t yet in their prime when my husband and I visited in April, it was still a cool experience to see the door in real life after years of dreaming about it!

I was initially concerned that it would be difficult to find the door, but the best way to stumble upon it is simply by wandering the streets! Mdina is really not that large and you’ll eventually hit everything as you wander.

That said, if you’re looking for more specific directions, you can type “Blue Mdina Door” into Google Maps to navigate there. Personally, we didn’t find this necessary, and we found it after about 20 minutes or so of wandering.

17th-century St. Paul’s Cathedral technically dates as far back as the 12th century, when a Norman church stood in its place. Considered one of the main attractions of Mdina, this beautiful Baroque Catholic cathedral is definitely worth a visit on your day trip – even if you’re only admiring it from the outside.

However, if you wish to go inside, that’s certainly an option as well. You can check out the hours and ticketing information here.

St. Paul’s Cathedral is located at 2 Triq San Pawl, L-Imdina MDN 1061.

If you have the luxury of time and you’d like to learn about the fascinating history of Mdina as you stroll around, you can join a walking tour. Under the direction of a local guide, you’ll discover impressive palaces and admire intricate architecture, all while learning about Mdina’s history and the Maltese nobility.

Plus, many of the available tours offer a guided walk around both Mdina and Rabat, so you’ll get the bonus of learning about Rabat as well.

If you’re planning to be in Mdina for at least a few hours (and I hope you are!), you can’t miss a stop at Fontanella Tea Garden. This charming restaurant offers tasty bites and some of the most impressive views over Mdina. It may not look like much from the street view, but just wait until you see the upstairs patio!

Fontanella opens in the morning and offers everything from breakfast, to appetizers, to soups and salads, to pastries, to pizza. My husband and I ordered the bruschetta, but my personal favorite was my drink order – peach iced tea! It was so refreshing and not overly sweet.

You can check out their full menu here.

Fontanella Tea Garden is open daily from 10AM to 11:30PM.

Since Fontanella unfortunately doesn’t accept reservations, you’ll just have to walk in, give the host your name, and (likely) wait for a table. I highly recommend requesting a seat by the railing that overlooks the view. It’s definitely worth the wait!

We were initially sat directly atop the stairs and I wasn’t feeling the location. Not only is the prime view obstructed by other patrons, but you’ll also miss out on the cozy shade of an umbrella. (You’ll only have an umbrella if you sit by the railing.) When that sun hits, you’ll want the coverage, trust me!

I requested to change our seat and I have zero regrets about having to wait an extra 15 minutes for a prime spot!

Fontanella Tea Garden is located at 1 Bastion Street in Mdina.

While most people choose to stay in larger cities like Valletta, Sliema, or St. Julian’s, there are a few hotels in Mdina if you wish to base yourself directly in the Silent City.

Alternatively, if you’d prefer to stay in the capital and then travel from Valletta to Mdina as discussed, I highly recommend checking out these amazing pool hotels in Valletta. My husband and I stayed at The Gomerino Hotel and absolutely loved the wonderful rooftop pool with incredible views to match!

In any case, I hope this introduction to Mdina has piqued your curiosity in this fascinating destination. Have I convinced you to do a day trip from Valletta to Mdina yet (or perhaps spend a night or two in Mdina)? Let me know in the comments below!

Looking to explore more of Malta? Check out my other island guides:

• 12 Fabulous Valletta Hotels with Pools for a Relaxing Stay
• 15 Fun Things to Do in Valletta (Including Free Activities & Day Trip Ideas)
• Plan the Perfect Day Trip to Gozo from Malta
• 15 Awesome Things to Do in Gozo, the Gem of the Maltese Archipelago
• 33 Fun Facts About Malta You Probably Didn’t Know