We just did a 4-day family trip to Malta (two adults + two girls, 14 and 8), and thought I’d share what worked for us in November which is considered off-season. It ended up being a great time to visit... fewer crowds, still warm enough to explore, and everything felt more relaxed.
Day 1 - St. Julian’s & Sliema Promenade
We landed in the morning and stayed in St. Julian’s because it’s easy with kids. After settling in, we walked the whole Sliema promenade. It’s flat, safe and perfect for families. Lots of cafés and small playgrounds along the way.
We had dinner at Gululu in Spinola Bay. It’s casual, has local dishes, and the view kept the kids entertained.
Day 2 - Valletta
Valletta was a full day for us. The city is really walkable even with kids, though there are a lot of steps. We visited Upper Barrakka Gardens, then walked down to Republic Street.
For lunch we stopped at Cafe Jubilee. Comfort food, relaxed, very child-friendly. We also grabbed pastizzi from a small shop near the bus station earlier that morning (they’re more of a breakfast/snack, not really a “meal,” but the kids loved them).
Day 3 - Gozo + Comino (Small-Group Tour)
We debated taking a rental and the Gozo ferry, but winter schedules + parking sounded like a headache. We ended up booking a small-group Gozo + Comino day tour that picked us up from near St. Julian’s and handled all the ferry logistics.
This was honestly the easiest day of the whole trip. The girls loved the caves around Comino and the views from Victoria, and we didn’t have to think about timetables.
This is the tour we booked: https://yippeemalta.com/info/gozo-jeep-safari-tour?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=jeep&utm_content=reddit5
They had a small discount (REDDIT5) when booking directly.
Even in winter, the boat part was worth it. No swimming, but the coves were beautiful and completely quiet.
Day 4 - Mdina & Dingli Cliffs
Mdina ended up being the kids’ favourite place on the whole island. They loved the narrow streets and kept calling it “the maze city.” We had cake at Fontanella (worth it for the view alone).
After lunch we went to Dingli Cliffs for a short walk. It’s peaceful in winter and one of the easiest scenic stops with kids.
Would we change anything?
Not much. Winter meant no beach days, but it made everything calmer. The Gozo day trip was the highlight. I’m glad we didn’t try to drive and coordinate ferries ourselves with two kids.
If anyone is planning Malta in the off-season or with children, feel free to ask anything!