Autumn is a fabulous time to visit the Mediterranean Island of Malta.
The vast hordes of summer visitors have left and the island has a lovely peaceful and calm atmosphere. There are still plenty of people around and the bars, cafes and restaurants are all still open for the autumn and winter guests. There are lots of exciting festivals and cultural events on if you are looking for something to do and the museums and art galleries are all still showing fantastic exhibitions.
This is the perfect time of year for exploring the island with temperatures still warm and plenty of autumn sunshine. It is the perfect time of year for walking and there are lots of great places for walking and exploring this pretty island and its historical cities and villages. Boat trips are also a great idea with lots of different tours available from sightseeing to fishing or sailing and swimming in remote spots. In fact the water at this time of year is still very warm and it is a perfect time of year for sea swimming. Malta and the neighbouring island of Gozo are famous for their crystal clear water, sandy beaches and rocky coves and caves including the world famous Blue Grotto where the rocky enclave surrounds a glorious turquoise pool. This area is also famous for snorkelling and scuba diving so if that is your thing there are plenty of opportunities for diving here.
After Covid life on Malta has got back to normal and there are plenty of festivals and musical events on offer in Autumn on Malta.
Boats Regatta – this annual regatta happens in the Grand Harbour and involves local teams from 5 Maltese coastal towns sailing traditional Maltese wooden boats. It is an exciting and very photogenic even and well worth a visit.
Notte Bianca – aka “the White Night” this is a free one night event in Valletta which offers a whole host of music, theatre and dance performances. This is a huge event and everyone goes, visitors and locals alike and people come from neighbouring countries too. It really is an island party of the best kind celebrating everything about Malta.
Malta Classic Car Festival – This annual festival takes place in October in the beautiful city of Mdina. Owners of some of the gorgeous and rare vintage automobiles drive around showing off their cars in this historical city. One of the main highlights of the programme of events is Le Concours d’Elegance which is invitation only for the creme de la creme of the vintage cars.
Rolex Sailing Race – Malta is a popular sailing destination and attracts a lot of sailors to the area. There are lots of flotilla holidays as well as private yacht owners on the island. The Rolex Middle Sea Race is one of the area’s most exciting autumn sailing events, in fact it is one of the best sailing races in the world! Teams from around the world come to Malta to take part in the 608 nautical miles / 2 day race. The route of the race is a long one starting from Marsamxett Harbour on Malta and sailing around Sicily then Stromboli, Favignana, Pantelleria and Lampedusa, before crossing the finish line in Malta’s Grand Harbour. This race brings a real buzz to the area during the second week of October.
Qormi Wine Festival – this takes place in southern Malta and celebrates the local wines across various vineyards and includes wine tasting, local food specialities and live music.
Festival Mediterranea on Gozo – and finally dont miss the pretty little neighbouring island of Gozo which hosts a well respected performing arts festival in the autumn with a full programme of music concerts, theatre and even opera.
