If you’re considering heading to Europe this fall, and you’ve been wondering whether it’s already too late for an off-season dip in the Mediterranean, or sipping red wine alfresco with breathtaking vistas, we’re here to tell you not all hope is lost.
While it’s true that in a lot of locations leaves have actually turned amber, and pumpkin spice latte has made its yearly return to Old Town coffee shops, there’s one European island still reminiscing of summer season.
With average fall temperature levels of 76 ° F, the tiny Mediterranean country of Malta is one of the warmest areas you can go to throughout the pond right now– and trust us when we say, you have actually never seen water this clear before.
The Warmest European Island This Season An archipelagic nation situated south of Sicily, Malta is the
best off-season beach vacation if you’re not all set for the seasonal switch. For beginners, the autumnal period here is a lot milder than in other parts of the continent, due to Malta’s southerly area: if you consider it, it’s almost halfway between Europe itself, and the coast of Africa, so it’s generally hit full-on by any Saharan heat waves coming from the south.
Then, there’s the truth that Malta is a very dry, nearly desert-like landmass: there aren’t any rivers, plant life coverage is minimal, and in 2015, it registered just 69 days of rain– when we break it down to heavy rainfall with, say, over 20 mm of rain, that’s an even lower 10– 20 days.
Usually, fall temperature levels in Malta reach as high as 76 ° F, whereas the typical low, generally observed at nights, is an enjoyable 63 ° F.
< img width="1200 "height ="1200"src="https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/La-Valletta-Seen-From-Across-The-Bay-In-St.-Julians-Malta.jpg"alt ="La Valletta Seen From Across The Bay In St. Julians, Malta"/ > A Postcard-Ready Capital City With A Town Feel The summer-like temps and minimal rain are not Malta’s only perk this season: in case you’re unfamiliar with the country, it’s packed with ancient sights, Baroque cities frozen in time, and paradisaical beaches that look like a live postcard. Naturally, there’s no Malta without Valletta, its compact harbor-side capital. The smallest capital in the European Union, at a mere 0.24 square miles, it is an uneven labyrinth of narrow streets lined with vibrant covered balconies.
Located on a pedestrianized Republic Street, St. John’s Co-Cathedral is lavishly-decorated with gilded ceilings and intricate carvings, and it houses Caravaggio’s masterpiece The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.
If you’re passionate about History, you can’t miss out on the 16th century Grand Master’s Palace, the historic seat of the Knights of St. John, who established Valletta. It now houses the Workplace of the President of Malta
, however travelers are still welcome to check out the museum. Along the edges of the walled city, the Upper Barakka Gardens deal extraordinary views of Malta’s heavily-fortified Grand Harbor, and the ‘3 Cities’ in the range. It also features grand memorials, shaded sidewalks, and elaborate fountains.
Medieval Towns Galore
Mentioning the ‘Three Cities’, they’re a trio of historical municipalities that now form a single city, lying across the Grand Harbor from Valletta.
The earliest of them, Vittoriosa was the initial seat of the Knights before Valletta was developed. Senglea is beautiful and more laid-back, with Gardjola Gardens being a particularly-great lookout over the capital. Finally, there’s Cospicua, a double-fortified town with imposing seaside walls.
It does not end there: Malta is cluttered with well-preserved medieval ‘cities’– they’re technically all villages, however let’s play along here.
Mdina, referred to as the ‘Silent City’, is totally surrounded by walls and a moat, and cut through with cobblestone alleys that result in concealed patios. Simply outside Mdina, Rabat has Roman-era catacombs, standard Maltese houses, and regional cafes.
Everybody’s heard of the ‘Three Cities’, however really tourists understand Malta’s’Three Towns’: Lija, Balzan, and Attard, all sophisticated old towns dominated by Baroque cupolas, and characterized by a virtually-unchanged medieval streetscape.
Beach-Hopping In October? Why Not?
October (and early November) are perfect for beach-hopping around Malta as the summer season crowds have actually totally dissipated, water temps are still pleasant enough to swim in, and you’ll get most of the beaches all to yourself.
This includes Golden Bay, perhaps Malta’s most popular sandy beach, due to its crystal-clear water, Mellieħa Bay, an equaling sandy strip with family-friendly shallow seas, and naturally, Malta’s renowned ‘Blue Lagoon’:
Something you need to understand, however, is that Malta isn’t a single-island country. It consists of three main landmasses: Malta itself, the biggest island and main administrative center, Gozo, the second-largest island, and Comino, an islet that’s temporarily lived in, situated in between the other 2. The Blue Lagoon is in Comino, and you’ll need to schedule a boat tour to get there. Thankfully, they run year-round, as travelers originated from all over the world, regardless of season, to marvel at the impossibly-turquoise waters
of this natural pool. Discover Malta’s Smaller sized Lesser-Known Sibling
When it comes to Gozo, it’s a location in its own right, with lots of pristine bays and swimming coves to check out, and a lot more ancient settlements to be found. Ferryboats to Gozo leave from the Northern Maltese port of Ċirkewwa, and the crossing to Mġarr port takes about 25 minutes. From Mġarr, there are routine buses going to Victoria, the capital of Gozo, and a prepared castle with a Baroque cathedral at its center.
Other must-see websites around the island consist of Xaghra, the area of an ancient historical site, Nadur, an inland town with family-owned Maltese trattorie and ocher-colored structures, and Ramla Bay, well-known for its red-sand beach and azure, warm waters.
Fall temperatures in the island of Gozo resemble those in neighboring Malta, just a little cooler. Typical high is 73 ° F, average low is 63 ° F, and just a few rainy days, mostly light showers throughout the season.
Nonstop Flights From The U.S. To Malta Launching In 2026
Starting next year, Americans will be able to fly nonstop to Malta for the first time in over twenty years. You check out that right: no more layovers in mainland Europe.
Delta Air Lines revealed they will be servicing Malta International Airport (MLA), the country’s only gain access to point, from their JFK base beginning June 7, 2026.
Flights will operate three times a week, and they will run through October of that exact same year, on a wide-body Boeing 767-300ER.
This will make Malta a lot more accessible, and within easy reach of U.S. tourists searching for a sun-drenched cultural vacation.
< img alt=""src ="https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/670a9f78091c16bd874672b1cb939f4e22e64fe6c391eb68b0f897b10dbfd49e?s=96&d=mm&r=g"height ="96" width="96"/ > Vinicius Costa Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Course, has over 60+ nations under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a flair for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into useful stories that will have you loading your bags.
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