With the first hints of autumn in the air, Malta welcomes visitors to its sun-warmed islands in October 2025, where days stay mild enough for beach dips and evening strolls. Temperatures hold steady around 24°C during the day, dipping to 19°C at night, while the sea lingers at a comfortable 23°C for those keen on a final swim. Expect about 10 days of scattered showers across the month, often short-lived, leaving plenty of clear skies for exploring the archipelago’s honey-coloured stone towns and rugged coasts. Crowds thin out compared to summer, making it easier to wander Valletta’s baroque streets or hop a ferry to Gozo without queues, and hotel rates drop to around €120 a night in many spots.
Start in the capital, where the Upper Barrakka Gardens offer sweeping views over the Grand Harbour, perfect for a morning coffee as ferries chug below. From there, a short bus ride takes you to Mdina, the old walled city known as the Silent City for its quiet lanes and medieval gates; climb the bastions for panoramas that stretch to the sea, or pop into a bakery for a pastizzi – flaky pastry filled with ricotta or peas, fresh from the oven for €1 a piece. Food stalls and simple eateries keep costs low, with a full Maltese lunch of rabbit stew and ftira bread running about €15.
Beaches remain a draw this month, with Golden Bay on the northwest coast standing out for its wide sands and gentle waves, ideal for a relaxed afternoon under the sun. Families often head to Mellieha Bay nearby, where shallow waters suit younger swimmers, and a few beach bars serve cold Cisk lager for €3. If rain threatens, indoor spots like the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta showcase Neolithic artefacts from sites like Ħaġar Qim, with entry at €5 and audio guides in English. Diving stays popular too, as visibility holds clear around 20 metres; operators offer half-day trips from €50, spotting octopus and groupers amid Second World War wrecks.
Music fans have good reason to time their trip early, with Defected Malta filling the air from 3 to 5 October at venues in St Paul’s Bay and Attard. House beats echo from beach clubs like Café del Mar, where day parties blend with sunset sets, tickets starting at €100 for the weekend pass. A week later, Anjunadeep Malta from 9 to 12 October shifts to deeper electronic sounds across gardens and open-air spots, with boat parties adding a sea breeze for extra €40. Mid-month brings the Rolex Middle Sea Yacht Race, a 1,000-kilometre loop starting and finishing in Malta; spectators line the harbours in Birgu and Sliema to watch sleek boats slice through the waves, free from any vantage point.
Towards month’s end, the pace slows for quieter pursuits. Bird migration peaks, drawing watchers to Buskett Gardens or the cliffs at Dingli, where binoculars spot honey buzzards overhead – no guide needed, just a €2 bus from Valletta. The Mdina Grand Prix revs up classic cars through the island’s streets around 25 October, a nod to motoring history with parades that pause traffic for an hour or so. Halloween creeps in on 31 October with family-friendly haunts at Popeye Village in Mellieha, where the old film set turns into a pumpkin-lit maze for €15 entry, complete with trick-or-treat trails.
Getting about proves simple on a budget: buses link main spots for €21 on a seven-day Explore card, or rent a bike for €10 a day to pedal coastal paths. Ferries to Gozo run hourly from Ċirkewwa for €4.75 return, landing you at a green island ready for hikes around the Cittadella or a dip in Ramla Bay’s red sands. Evenings wrap up nicely with a meal in Sliema’s waterfront cafes – fresh lampuki fish grilled simply for €18 – before the lights of fishing boats dot the horizon.
Malta in October suits those after a balanced break: warm enough for outdoors, calm enough for unhurried days. Pack layers for breezy evenings, and check forecasts for the odd shower, but the island’s easy rhythm makes any plan adaptable.
