16 Most Instagrammable Places in Malta: Photo Guide With Map
Malta is a visual dream - all golden limestone, jewel-toned water, winding coastlines, golden-hued Medieval villages, and ancient architecture with dramatic backdrops - a dream to photograph. Here’s a curated list of the most Instagrammable spots across the island from my 7-day itinerary. Every one of these delivers.
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1. Valletta’s Historic Streets
The entire city is bathed in golden light, with cobblestone lanes, colorful balconies, and glowing stone architecture.
📍 Best Shot: Wander Republic Street and St. Paul Street for classic narrow alleys and staircases with flags, plants, and vintage shopfronts.
2. Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon
These turquoise waters are too stunning not to mention. The Blue Lagoon gets all the attention - but Crystal Lagoon is quieter, deeper, and arguably even more beautiful.
📍 Best Shot: Rent a small speedboat and jump into the glowing sea caves and neon blue water
3. Ta’ Kalanka Sea Cave
A hidden gem just south of St. Peter’s Pool - more rugged, more secluded, and even more photogenic.
📍 Best Shot: The curved sea cave opening into blue water - best captured from the rocky platform above.
4. Mdina Gate
The entrance to Malta’s ancient Silent City is straight out of a fantasy film. Game of Thrones fans will recognize it instantly.
📍 Best Shot: Frame yourself walking through the arched gate at sunrise for soft light and no crowds - or wait for a lull in the crowd to get a lucky shot.
5. Mdina’s Silent City and Mesquita Square
Inside the gate, ancient walled city is hauntingly beautiful, with its narrow limestone streets and medieval charm. The muted, golden tones create a moody, cinematic feel - Mesquita Square was used for many scenes in Game of Throne's season 1.
📍 Best Shot: The narrow alleys framed by arched doorways or the grand entrance gate, glowing at dusk.
6. Upper Barrakka Gardens
This is the postcard view of Malta. A public terrace overlooking the Grand Harbour and The Three Cities - with palm trees, archways, and the famed saluting battery.
📍 Best Shot: Frame Valletta’s skyline through the sandstone arches, or catch the cannon firing at noon with the harbor in the background.
7. Valletta's Street Cafes
Outdoor tables nestled between limestone facades and shaded by umbrellas give serious European summer energy and the perfect place for an Aperol Spritz.
📍 Best Shot: Grab a seat at Caffe Cordina or Lot Sixty One and snap your espresso with a backdrop of baroque balconies and colorful doors.
8. St. John’s Co-Cathedral
The most ornate interior in all of Malta. Every inch is covered in gold, marble, and dramatic paintings.
📍 Best Shot: From the back of the nave, looking toward the high altar under the carved arches. Dress code enforced, so plan ahead (shoulders must be covered, but a mini skirt is fine).
9. Birgu Harbour (Vittoriosa Marina)
One of Malta’s prettiest waterfronts - lined with yachts, old townhouses, and glowing bastions above. Peaceful, photogenic, and often overlooked.
📍 Best Shot: Shoot across the water with the boats in the foreground and Fort St. Angelo rising behind.
10. Birgu's Winding Streets and Colorful Buildings
One of the oldest parts of Malta, Birgu (also called Vittoriosa) is filled with winding alleys, crumbling stone facades, and a cinematic mix of laundry lines, archways, and colorful doors and windows on on the buildlings.
📍 Best Shot: Explore side streets around the Inquisitor’s Palace for soft light and old-world textures. Early morning is golden - and usually empty.
11. Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra Temples
Ancient megalithic ruins perched above the sea, dating back over 5,000 years. Stark, dramatic, and full of mystery.
📍 Best Shot: At sunrise or golden hour, when the light hits the stones just right.
12. Il-Ħofra Żgħira Bay
A secret spot in the Marsaskala area with a small beach, steep cliffs, and a calm, shallow inlet that feels otherworldly.
📍 Best Shot: Shoot from above to capture the full horseshoe curve of the cove with swimmers below, or take a boat into the bay
13. Golden Bay
Known for its reddish-gold sand and sweeping coastal views, Golden Bay is a perfect spot for sunset shots with a dramatic, fiery sky.
📍 Best Shot: The beach at golden hour, with the sun dipping below the horizon and the cliffs in silhouette.
14. Malta’s Famous Colorful and Ornate Doors
You’ll find these photogenic front doors across Valletta, Mdina, and the Three Cities - painted in bright colors, often with patterned tile or stone steps.
📍 Best Shot: Look for contrasting colors - deep blue doors on yellow walls, or mint green with pink flowers.
15. The Blue Wall And Grotto Viewpoint
Before heading down to the sea, stop at the lookout above for one of the most iconic views in Malta. From here, you’ll see the full limestone arch surrounded by swirling blue water.
📍 Best Shot: Use a zoom or wide-angle lens to frame the arch against the cliffs. Early morning gives the calmest water and the best light on the rock face.
16. On the Water: Malta by Boat
Some of Malta’s most unforgettable views are from the sea itself. Whether you're gliding past cliffs, swimming in hidden coves, or watching the sun drop behind Valletta, being on the water is the move.
📍 Best Shot: Charter a sailboat or rent a private speedboat to hit multiple spots in a single day - Blue Grotto, Crystal Lagoon, St. Peter’s Pool, and secret caves. Shoot from the bow with wind in your hair, or drop anchor and snap the coastlines from the sea.
