Things to Do in Valletta in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Valletta
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Spring weather hits the sweet spot - you'll get daytime highs around 17°C (63°F) that make walking Valletta's steep streets actually pleasant, unlike the sweaty 35°C (95°F) summer months when locals hide indoors between noon and 5pm
- Shoulder season pricing means accommodation costs drop 30-40% compared to peak summer, and you can actually book decent places in Valletta proper without the three-month advance planning that July and August demand
- The city feels genuinely livable in March - cafes have outdoor seating without the crush, you can photograph the Upper Barrakka Gardens without waiting for tour groups to clear, and the 8:30am-6pm daylight window gives you proper time to explore without the summer's oppressive midday heat forcing indoor breaks
- Holy Week preparations create this interesting energy where you'll see locals decorating parish churches and practicing for processions - it's Valletta still functioning as Malta's administrative capital rather than just performing as a tourist stage set
Considerations
- That 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain across 10 days means you're looking at roughly one-in-three chance of showers on any given day - they're usually brief but Malta's limestone streets get slippery when wet, and many outdoor restaurant tables disappear when it drizzles
- The Mediterranean hasn't warmed up yet - sea temperatures hover around 15-16°C (59-61°F), which means swimming is realistically off the table unless you're unusually hardy or wearing a wetsuit, limiting one of Malta's main draws
- March sits in this awkward spot where it's too early for summer festivals but past the winter cultural season - you'll miss both Carnival (February) and the major summer festa season, so the evening entertainment scene feels quieter than you might expect from a capital city
Best Activities in March
Valletta Walking Tours and Fortification Exploration
March weather is actually ideal for tackling Valletta's vertical geography - those 17°C (63°F) afternoons mean you can climb from the Grand Harbour waterfront up to the bastions without arriving drenched in sweat. The city's honey-colored limestone looks particularly rich in spring light, and you'll have space to actually stop and read the historical plaques without crowds pushing past. Focus on the fortification walls, the Hastings Gardens viewpoint, and the less-trafficked Marsamxett side of the peninsula. The occasional rain shower gives you a perfect excuse to duck into the co-cathedral or one of the small museums.
Mdina and Rabat Day Trips
Malta's old capital sits 20 minutes inland by bus, and March is genuinely the best time to visit before summer tour buses clog the narrow streets. The medieval city stays cooler than coastal Valletta, and you can walk the bastions without the 35°C (95°F) heat radiating off those ancient walls. The catacombs in neighboring Rabat maintain a constant cool temperature that feels refreshing rather than necessary. Combine this with a stop at the Mosta Dome - the church with the famously unexploded WWII bomb - for a half-day trip that costs under 5 euros in bus fares.
Three Cities Harbor Tours
Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua sit across the Grand Harbour from Valletta and see maybe 10% of the tourist traffic despite being equally historic. March's mild weather makes the traditional dgħajsa water taxi rides comfortable - these traditional Maltese boats tour the harbor creeks and fortifications from water level. The boat operators wear jackets in March rather than summer tank tops, which gives you a sense of the temperature. Walking tours through the Three Cities' narrow streets work well now because you're not dealing with that punishing summer sun reflecting off limestone walls.
Gozo Island Day Trips
Malta's sister island sits 25 minutes by ferry and feels noticeably more rural and relaxed. March brings wildflowers to the countryside - those famous Maltese endemic species bloom now before summer heat kills everything off. The Azure Window collapsed in 2017, but the Dwejra area, Victoria Citadel, and Ggantija temples make worthy visits. Sea conditions in March can be choppy, so if you're prone to seasickness, take the ferry early morning when waters tend calmer. The island's pace suits March's shoulder-season mood - things open but not frantically busy.
Malta Museum Circuit
Those 10 rainy days in March make museum planning actually useful rather than just backup. The National Museum of Archaeology, the Grand Master's Palace State Rooms, and MUZA (the new national art museum) give you solid indoor options that aren't just killing time. The Malta Experience audiovisual show in Valletta provides useful historical context, though it's admittedly touristy. The Lascaris War Rooms - the underground WWII headquarters - maintain a constant cool temperature that feels appropriate in March rather than shocking like it does in summer. Combined museum passes cost 15-20 euros and make sense if you're hitting three or more sites.
Local Food Market and Cooking Experiences
The Marsaxlokk Sunday fish market runs year-round but March brings seasonal produce - fresh broad beans, artichokes, and the last of the winter citrus. The experience feels more authentic now than in peak summer when it's 60% tourists. Valletta's smaller daily market near Merchants Street operates Monday-Saturday mornings and caters primarily to locals. Cooking class experiences have grown in Malta - typically 3-4 hour sessions covering traditional dishes like bragioli, stuffat tal-fenek (rabbit stew), or pastizzi. March timing means you're working with actual seasonal ingredients rather than imported substitutes.
March Events & Festivals
Holy Week Processions (Late March/Early April)
Malta's Holy Week traditions are genuinely impressive - life-size statue processions, parish church decorations, and evening ceremonies that locals actually attend rather than just perform for tourists. Seven different parishes in Valletta and surrounding towns hold elaborate Good Friday processions with participants in period costume carrying heavy religious statues. The timing varies year to year based on Easter dates, but when it falls in late March, you'll see the city transform. This isn't packaged folklore - it's active religious practice that happens to be visually spectacular.