Top Things to Do in Mdina Malta, The "Silent City"
Updated: Oct 29
Dating back over 4,000 years, this ancient walled city, dubbed "The Silent City", has been met with many different settlers over the years. I'm talking Phoenicians, Normans, Arabs, Romans and more. What an incredible place to ponder over the battles fought and won, the types of people who used to roam those streets, and the history and stories told if only the walls could speak.
Marvelous Mdina, the quiet and beautiful, has much to do for tourists in these modern days, but you will still feel transported back in time, or perhaps to a movie set. Famous for being a film location for the Game of Thrones, Mdina is so much more.
Discover the historic and fun things to do in Mdina and the neighboring town of Rabat, including tourist attractions, interesting sites, the best places to eat in Mdina (including a very special cave restaurant), and the most perfect Mediterranean retreat you can call home for a few nights - all this and more below.
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In this article you will find:
For a full one week in Malta Itinerary, go to my separate post here.
Things to Do in Mdina Malta
To properly see Mdina and Rabat, plan for two days. You'll need a car or to take a tour to get to most of these places, but several can be seen on foot.
Top spots in Mdina include:
St. Paul's Catacombs
This amazing place houses dozens of catacombs full of empty tombs. The crypts can be found by entering a frankly very lovely and cheerful garden graveyard full of stray black cats and wildflower blooms.
Inside each crypt find tunnels, passageways and hundreds of dugouts where human remains were buried.
With low lighting and plenty of spook factor, I included this on my list of spookiest places to visit around the world. Plan to spend about an hour or so ducking in and out of the different tombs - each very unique and different.
There are pathways to follow in many, but others require lots of crouching and crawling (for the more adventurous, spelunkers out there).
Even if you are not in the best shape for constant ducking, or maybe not a fan of the macabre, do not miss this place. It was truly very unique, and there is plenty to see even if you can't bend over.
See the Saint Paul Catacombs as part of a walking tour, which includes everything you may want to see on foot in Mdina.
Mdina Old City and Mdina Gate
Famous from Game of Thrones, the city walls and Mdina gate are a spectacle in and of themselves. Walk across the bridge into the old town to discover gorgeous streets, quiet lanes, and the occasional museum or shop.
It's true to be called the Silent City, because walking around you'll feel you are the only people there. It's quite nice!
Although tourist attractions are not shoved in your face in this calm city, there is one special little spot for tourists if you dare visit! When you find it (and you will find it), duck into the kitschy Mdina Dungeons Museum complete with gruesome wax figures, a 3D show and brutal depictions of Malta's dark past.
Afterwards, keep your camera ready to document scenes famous from the GOT series, like this one, where if you know, you know.
Wander around Bastion Square and you might find this spot.
Lastly, be sure to go back to the main gate of this charming walled city for night time shots of the bridge and wall. What a lovely and romantic place.
Visit Mdina's old city and neighboring Rabat on a small group tour (click here for more details)
Malta Aviation Museum
Just a few minutes outside of town, this great museum is full of big planes, some which you can go into, and artifacts from the Great War.
They have a charming little bunker cafe and plenty to keep you busy for under an hour before exploring more of the area.
Meridiana Wine Estate
Because I seek out wineries literally everywhere I go (even if it's not a good wine growing region), we had to visit the Meridiana Wine estate for some tastings.
It is easy to book online through their website, but there are also several tours that offer wine tasting days. The Malta Wine Lovers tour will take you to Meridiana, along with a visit to Dingli Cliffs (which you can learn about on my one week in Malta guide), as well as around Mdina to get some extra insider knowledge about the area.
Other Tourist Attractions and Places to Visit in Mdina
I'm going to be honest, I'm not a big fan of seeing churches and palaces, and for this reason I've simply listed some of the famous sites in town. I much prefer gastronomical tours (as you've seen above) and walking around or shopping.
But, to each his own, so here's a few more things to do in Mdina Malta:
Roman Ruins (Roman Villa)
Palazzo Parisio & Gardens
Vilhena Palace
Cathedral Museum
Aside from in town activities, it is also common to simply travel the island, due to the close proximity of everything, so be sure to consult my separate driving itinerary for the whole of Malta at this link.
You will find that the spots above are the must-see destinations in Mdina, and you can always browse Tripadvisor for additional attractions that suit your tastes. But, these were my fave and most recommended!
Where to Eat in Mdina
I'm the type of person who pours over maps, photos and Tripadvisor reviews for hours before carefully selecting where to eat in a new destination, and these two restaurants did not disappoint.
Grotto Tavern, Rabat
Modern and Michelin, the Grotto Tavern was a delightful addition to our trip. Dine in a cave-like setting full of romance and delicious Maltese cuisine.
For more information, visit their website or read reviews on Tripadvisor.
Bacchus
Full of history and moody medieval interiors, you'll want to have lunch here while browsing Mdina.
For more information, visit their website, or read reviews on Tripadvisor.
Where to Stay in Mdina
Lastly, setting up shop in Mdina there are so many wonderful options, but we chose to stay in an apartment for ultimate comfort.
Amelie is the perfect place to stay a few nights, or frankly your entire trip if you have a car and are good for driving around. With Mdina's central location, it's not a bad idea to spend your whole week at this great apartment.
In Rabat, just a matter of steps from Mdina, we spent two nights in a charming multi-level home full of character.
Make your own meals (there is a convenient market nearby, but be aware it is closed on Sundays), and at least breakfasts, and enjoy the stellar rooftop views of the city.
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