Things to Do in Valletta in February
February weather, activities, events & insider tips
February Weather in Valletta
Is February Right for You?
Advantages
- Genuinely mild weather for walking tours - 15°C (60°F) highs mean you can comfortably explore the fortifications and steep streets without overheating, unlike the brutal summer months when stone walls radiate heat
- Smallest crowds of any month - February sits squarely in low season, meaning you'll actually get photos at St. John's Co-Cathedral without elbowing through tour groups, and restaurants in Strait Street won't require advance bookings
- Carnival season brings genuine local energy - typically late February, this is when Valletta stops being a museum city and becomes a party, with dance troupes practicing in Castille Square and float-building happening in back streets
- Hotel rates drop 40-60% compared to summer peak - you can stay in boutique properties along Republic Street for €80-120 per night instead of the €200+ they command June through September
Considerations
- Rain genuinely disrupts plans - those 10 rainy days aren't light drizzle, they're proper Mediterranean downpours that make the polished limestone streets dangerously slippery and force you indoors for 2-3 hours at a time
- Wind cuts through the bastions - Valletta sits exposed on a peninsula, and February brings gusty tramuntana winds that make the Upper Barrakka Gardens and waterfront walks feel colder than the actual 9°C (49°F) temperature suggests
- Some seasonal closures - a handful of smaller museums and the occasional restaurant take their annual break in February, and boat trips to Comino's Blue Lagoon run reduced schedules or cancel entirely in rough seas
Best Activities in February
St. John's Co-Cathedral and museum circuit
February is actually perfect for Valletta's indoor cultural highlights. The Co-Cathedral's Caravaggio paintings and marble floor tombs deserve 90 minutes minimum, and with low-season crowds you can actually stand and study them without being pushed along. The cooler weather also makes the walk between Palace Armoury, Casa Rocca Piccola, and the National Museum of Archaeology comfortable - these baroque buildings weren't built with climate control, so summer visits can be stifling. The variable February weather means you can duck into museums when rain hits without feeling like you're wasting sunny beach time.
Fortification and bastion walks
Walking Valletta's 16th-century walls is spectacular in February's mild temperatures - you can cover the full circuit from Fort St. Elmo around to Hastings Gardens in about 90 minutes without the summer sun beating down on the exposed limestone. The UV index still hits 8 on clear days, but the cooler air makes it manageable. That said, wind is your enemy here - the bastions catch every gust coming off the Mediterranean, so you'll want a windproof layer. The views across Grand Harbour to the Three Cities are actually clearer in winter months when there's less heat haze.
Three Cities boat tours and Vittoriosa exploration
The traditional dgħajsa water taxi rides across Grand Harbour are atmospheric in February - fewer tourists mean you can usually negotiate with boat operators at the Customs House steps without queuing. The choppy seas that come with February weather actually add drama to the crossing, though tours do cancel if conditions get rough. Once in Vittoriosa, the narrow streets and Fort St. Angelo are perfect for the cooler weather. The Inquisitor's Palace there is one of Malta's most underrated museums and stays comfortable year-round. February's low season means you might have entire courtyards to yourself.
Traditional Maltese food experiences
February is actually prime time for Malta's hearty winter dishes - this is when you'll find proper aljotta fish soup, stuffat tal-fenek rabbit stew, and bigilla bean paste at their seasonal best. The cooler weather makes sitting in traditional hole-in-the-wall spots along Old Bakery Street comfortable, and pastizzi straight from the oven at 9°C (49°F) mornings hit differently than in summer heat. Carnival season also brings special sweets like prinjolata almond cake. The low tourist season means family-run places aren't rushed and will actually explain what you're eating.
Mdina and Rabat day trips
The old capital Mdina sits 20 minutes inland by bus and feels completely different in February - the medieval streets empty of day-trippers by 4pm, and the cooler temperatures make walking the bastions and exploring St. Paul's Catacombs in Rabat actually pleasant. Summer crowds turn Mdina into a theme park; February returns it to the silent city nickname. The variable weather adds atmosphere - watching storm clouds roll in from the ramparts is properly dramatic. Just note that buses back to Valletta reduce frequency after 6pm in winter months.
Gozo ferry and island exploration
Malta's sister island Gozo is less crowded in February but also more weather-dependent - the 25-minute ferry crossing from Cirkewwa can get rough in winter seas, and some coastal sites like the Azure Window area get battered by waves. That said, if you catch a calm day, you'll have the Ggantija Temples and Victoria Citadel practically to yourself. The green hillsides after winter rains are actually more attractive than the brown summer landscape. Just build flexibility into your plans - you might need to postpone a day if seas are too rough for comfortable crossing.
February Events & Festivals
Carnival celebrations
Malta's Carnival typically runs the weekend before Ash Wednesday, which in 2026 falls in late February. Valletta becomes the center of action with float parades along Republic Street, dance competitions in St. George's Square, and costumed crowds filling every bar and street corner. This is genuinely local culture, not tourist performance - families have been building floats and practicing routines for months. The Friday night grotesque parade featuring satirical costumes is particularly Maltese. Worth noting that accommodation prices spike during Carnival weekend and many places book out months ahead.