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.
Where To Stay Nearby: The Phoenicia Malta - Stay just outside Valletta’s city gate, a convenient base for its streets, cafés, and gardens.
What To Do Nearby: Valletta highlights walking tour - Explore the capital’s lanes and landmarks with a guide for context behind your photos.
2. Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon
These turquoise waters are too stunning not to mention. The Blue Lagoon gets much of the attention, while Crystal Lagoon offers another beautiful stop when sea conditions allow. Visitors going ashore at the Blue Lagoon need a free timed-access reservation through the official Blue Lagoon booking system; a boat ticket alone may not include it.
📍 Best Shot: Rent a small speedboat and explore the sea caves and blue water with an experienced skipper when conditions permit
What To Do Nearby: Comino, Blue Lagoon and Gozo cruise - Cruise from Bugibba to Comino and Gozo, checking the separate Blue Lagoon access reservation before you travel.
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.
What To Do Nearby: Round-Malta coastal cruise - See Malta’s southern coastline from the water on a full-day cruise from Sliema with a scheduled stop at nearby St. Peter’s Pool.
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.
Where To Stay Nearby: The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux - Stay inside Mdina’s walls for atmospheric evening walks after the day visitors leave.
What To Do Nearby: Mdina and Rabat food tour - Walk through Mdina and nearby Rabat while tasting Maltese specialties along the way.
5. Mdina’s Silent City and Mesquita Square
Inside the gate, the 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 Thrones season 1.
📍 Best Shot: The narrow alleys framed by arched doorways or the grand entrance gate, glowing at dusk.
Where To Stay Nearby: The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux - Stay inside Mdina’s walls for atmospheric evening walks after the day visitors leave.
What To Do Nearby: Game of Thrones filming-locations tour - Explore Malta’s filming locations, including Mdina, on a day tour for fans of the series.
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.
Where To Stay Nearby: The Phoenicia Malta - Stay just outside Valletta’s city gate, a convenient base for its streets, cafés, and gardens.
What To Do Nearby: Valletta harbour cruise - See the fortifications below Upper Barrakka Gardens from a cruise through the Grand and Marsamxett harbours.
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.
Where To Stay Nearby: The Phoenicia Malta - Stay just outside Valletta’s city gate, a convenient base for its streets, cafés, and gardens.
What To Do Nearby: Valletta food tour - Explore Maltese flavors on a guided walk with food and drink tastings around Valletta.
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 (dress modestly and check the cathedral’s visitor rules before entering).
Where To Stay Nearby: The Phoenicia Malta - Stay just outside Valletta’s city gate, a convenient base for its streets, cafés, and gardens.
What To Do Nearby: St. John’s Co-Cathedral guided tour - Go inside the cathedral with a guide to explore its ornate interior and history.
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.
What To Do Nearby: Three Cities electric-car tour - Start at Birgu’s waterfront and drive a small electric car around the Three Cities with GPS directions and audio commentary.
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 the buildings.
📍 Best Shot: Explore side streets around the Inquisitor’s Palace for soft light and old-world textures. Early morning is golden - and usually empty.
What To Do Nearby: Birgu walk and Inquisitor’s Palace visit - Explore Birgu’s streets with a guide and go inside the Inquisitor’s Palace.
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: Plan your photos within the temples’ published opening hours; early or late light outside the site does not guarantee access.
What To Do Nearby: Prehistoric temples guided tour - Visit Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra with a guide, along with Għar Dalam’s prehistoric cave and museum.
12. Il-Ħofra Żgħira Bay
A secret spot in the Marsaskala area with steep cliffs and a sheltered-looking inlet whose conditions vary 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
What To Do Nearby: Marsaxlokk market and fishing-village tour - Explore nearby Marsaxlokk’s harbor and market on a guided outing that also visits the Blue Grotto area.
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.
Where To Stay Nearby: Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands - Stay above Golden Bay for beach time and sunsets on Malta’s western coast.
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.
Where To Stay Nearby: The Phoenicia Malta - Stay just outside Valletta’s city gate, a convenient base for its streets, cafés, and gardens.
What To Do Nearby: Private Malta photo session - Choose a Valletta or Mdina session with a photographer to capture portraits among Malta’s colorful streets and doorways.
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.
What To Do Nearby: Blue Grotto hike and boat excursion - Explore Malta’s southern coast on a guided outing with a cave boat trip when sea conditions permit.
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.
What To Do Nearby: Private sailing charter to Comino - Book a private sailboat and skipper for a day on the water around Comino’s blue coves.
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