Travel with kids
Malta with kids: easy days without long drives
With children the question is not how much you can see but how long everyone sits in the car. On Malta that is easy to control: the stops below are all within roughly 30 minutes of each other, so each day has one or two short drives and plenty of time out of the car.
In short
- Add child seats as an extra when you book (where the car offers them) and check they are fitted before you leave the airport.
- Plan one main stop in the morning and one in the afternoon; town centres are slow at rush hour.
- Mellieħa Bay (Għadira) and Golden Bay are sandy with easy access; many other bays are rocky.
- Opening hours and prices of attractions change by season: check the official pages linked below on the day.
- Drive times are approximate, for normal daytime traffic.
A base that keeps drives short
For families the north (Mellieħa, Qawra, St Paul's Bay) puts sandy beaches and the aquarium within minutes. Sliema or St Julian's are more central for Valletta and the harbour. Either way, avoid planning drives across the island at 08:00 or 17:00.
Beach day in the north
Mellieħa Bay (Għadira)
Long sandy beach with shallow water far out, the easiest swim on Malta for small children.
- Drive
- Approx. 10 to 15 min from Qawra or St Paul's Bay
- Parking
- Large car park behind the beach; busy on summer weekends.
- Time to allow
- Half a day
- Families
- Shallow, sandy, kiosks and facilities in season.
Popeye Village (Anchor Bay)
The film set village from 1980, now a family park on a small cove.
- Drive
- Approx. 10 min from Mellieħa Bay
- Parking
- Car park at the entrance.
- Time to allow
- 2 to 3 hours
- Families
- Check the official site for the season's opening hours before you drive there.
Rainy or hot day: indoor options
Malta National Aquarium, Qawra
Aquarium on the Qawra point promenade with a play area outside.
- Drive
- Approx. 25 min from Valletta
- Parking
- Car park next to the aquarium.
- Time to allow
- 1.5 to 2 hours
Esplora Interactive Science Centre, Kalkara
Hands-on science centre in the Villa Bighi grounds above the Grand Harbour.
- Drive
- Approx. 20 min from Valletta
- Parking
- On-site car park.
- Time to allow
- 2 to 3 hours
- Families
- Best for ages from about 5 up.
Old towns that work with children
Mdina is small, car-free and flat inside the walls, so even young children can walk it. Park outside the walls and allow about two hours with a stop for food. In Valletta, the Upper Barrakka Gardens and the lift down to the waterfront are a good short loop.
A simple 3-day family plan
- Day 1: Mellieħa Bay in the morning, Popeye Village after lunch.
- Day 2: Malta National Aquarium, then Qawra promenade. Short drive back for an early dinner.
- Day 3: Esplora in the morning, Mdina in the late afternoon when it is cooler.
Open in Google Maps
On many cars child seats and boosters are offered as an extra in the booking. Add them when you book, one per child, and check the fitting at pick-up.
Sources
- Esplora opening hours, Esplora Interactive Science Centre (checked October 27, 2026)
- Visit, Malta National Aquarium (checked October 27, 2026)
- Visit Malta, Malta Tourism Authority (checked October 27, 2026)
Rules, prices and opening hours change. Check the official source before you travel. Drive times are approximate.
More guides
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