This Inexpensive Island Destination In Europe Is Full Of Rich History And Culture

Malta is a small country in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. It covers just 316 square kilometers, and sits about 58 miles south of Sicily. The island is known for warm water, clean coves, and lots of sun. Prices are low compared to other places in Europe. According to Julia X Eats, a popular snack called pastizz can cost about half a euro to a little over €1.00 (58 cents to $1.16 as of August 2025) in local bakeries, depending on location. Even in 2025, this snack often costs less than a dollar, though it was even lower before 2022.

It is cheap and easy to get around Malta. Public buses run all day and go across the islands. In summer, a single bus ticket costs €2.50 ($2.91) and lets you travel for two hours, including transfers. In the cooler months, the bus fare drops to €2.00, which is about $2.33. You can go to Gozo for a low cost, too. The Gozo Channel ferry ride takes about 25 minutes. A return ticket for one person on a standard passenger fare is €4.65, or about $5.41, while a standard passenger night fare costs €4.05 or $4.72. These low prices make it easy to visit beaches, walk on cliffs, and see towns without having to rent a car. Malta should be on your list of cheap Europe destinations. That list should also have Ibiza in Spain (one of the cheapest beach destination in Europe), Matera in Italy, which is a UNESCO Heritage Site with great wine and food, or any of the top five cheapest island destinations.

Malta's history goes back more than 7,000 years. The islands still hold proof of this in stone. The Megalithic Temples of Malta that are located in Ġgantija, Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra, Tarxien, Ta' Ħaġrat, and Skorba were built between the 4th and 3rd millennia BC. These temples are some of the oldest free-standing stone buildings that exist in the world. UNESCO added them to its World Heritage list in 1980 and updated the listing in 1992. Each temple complex has its own plan and style. Malta also has the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, a large underground site cut from rock and used for rituals and burials. It has been on UNESCO's World Heritage list since 1980.

Valletta is Malta's fortress capital and it has also been on UNESCO's World Heritage list since 1980. The Knights of St John built the city in 1566 after the Great Siege of 1565, and it is one of the world's most packed historic areas. In only 55 hectares, you can find 320 monuments. Malta's National Museum of Archaeology also has items from 5900 BC to 2500 BC, and Fort St Elmo's National War Museum shows 7,000 years of military history, including Malta's George Cross from World War II. Culture in Malta is not just in old buildings; it is part of daily life. UNESCO recognizes the Maltese Village Festa which is held each year with band marches, church processions, fireworks, and nougat stands. In 2023, it became part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. 

You should fly to Malta when prices are low or consider booking a vacation during the shoulder seasons. For example, Skyscanner shows that October is often the cheapest month to fly from the United States to Malta, but it is not consistent. You can also find good deals in September, which is less busy than summer. Use Skyscanner's whole month view to check flight prices from your city for each month. If you use it for flights from New York City to Malta, you will see August at $632, September at $439, October at $421, November at $441, December at $489, January at $485, February at $495, March at $538, April at $471, May at $612, and June at $841. These prices are the lowest found on Skyscanner in the last 45 days.

Plan your stay at times when hotels are cheaper. BudgetYourTrip's Malta dashboard, using real booking data from Kayak and last updated on June 30, 2025, shows that average hotel rooms cost about $97 per night in the low season. At the busiest times, the average is about $181 per night. This price gap means you can save a lot if you visit during the off-season as lower hotel rates and cheaper flights often come together when crowds are smaller. The highest prices and biggest crowds are from June through September. So for the best deals, aim for late fall to early spring, and book your flight and hotel when prices fall below the summer peak.