South Eastern Malta covers fifteen towns around the Grand Harbour and the southeast coast, from the capital Valletta and the fortified Three Cities to the prehistoric Hypogeum and Tarxien temples and the fishing port of Marsaxlokk.
South Eastern Malta has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. July and August are the hottest months, with daytime highs around 31°C (88°F), while January and February are the coolest at about 15°C (59°F). Rain falls mostly between October and March, and the sea is warmest in August and September, at about 26°C. The figures on this page are approximate climate averages for the Valletta area; sea temperatures are indicative.
Best time to visit
Best: Year-round
Avoid: None
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
January
12°C/54°F
Mild and wet; quiet streets and lowest prices
February
12°C/54°F
Cool and breezy; Carnival and the St Paul's Shipwreck feast brighten Valletta
March
14°C/57°F
Spring begins with wildflowers; still cool at night
April
16°C/61°F
Pleasant and mostly dry; Easter and Good Friday processions
May
20°C/68°F
Warm and sunny with long days; start of the festa season
June
24°C/75°F
Hot and dry; sea warming for swimming
July
27°C/81°F
Hottest and driest; strong sun
August
28°C/82°F
Hot and busy; Santa Marija on 15 August
September
25°C/77°F
Warm sea and fewer crowds; Victory Day on 8 September
October
21°C/70°F
Warm but rain returns; BirguFest by Candlelight
November
17°C/63°F
Wet and cooler with occasional storms
December
14°C/57°F
Mild and rainy; Valletta Christmas lights
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Spring
Months: Mar-May
Mild to warm (16-23°C highs) with wildflowers and long days. Easter and Good Friday processions fall in this season, and festa season begins in May.
Summer
Months: Jun-Aug
Hot and dry (27-31°C highs) with warm sea (22-26°C). Santa Marija on 15 August and village feasts fill the calendar.
Fall
Months: Sep-Nov
September remains warm and good for swimming; October and November bring rain and occasional thunderstorms. BirguFest by Candlelight takes place in mid-October.
Winter
Months: Dec-Feb
Mild (15-16°C highs) and showery. Valletta Christmas lights and Carnival in February offer festive city breaks.
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- High Season
- Jul-Aug, plus Easter week and peak cruise-ship days in Valletta
- Shoulder Season
- Apr-Jun and Sep-Oct (best balance of weather, prices and crowds)
- Low Season
- Nov-Mar (quieter, cooler and wetter, with lowest prices)
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck
Valletta's patronal feast with a procession and a public holiday
Malta Carnival
Parades and costumes in Valletta and Floriana before Lent
Good Friday processions
Passion processions in towns and villages, including Valletta and the Three Cities
Santa Marija
Public holiday and the Assumption feast with celebrations in several villages
Victory Day
Commemoration of the end of the Great Siege, centred on the Three Cities
BirguFest by Candlelight
Evening of candlelit streets, music and exhibitions in Birgu (Vittoriosa)
Valletta Christmas
Lights, nativity displays and concerts in the capital