Visit Mdina

Beyond a baroque gate, narrow lanes wind between noble palaces and churches with no engine noise. From the bastions, the whole of Malta spreads out to the sea. Half a day covers Mdina, a full day adds the catacombs of neighbouring Rabat.

Why visit Mdina?

Mdina was Malta's capital until the Knights of St John settled around the Grand Harbour in the 16th century. Its walls, palaces and baroque cathedral form a compact ensemble reserved for pedestrians and residents. It lies about twelve kilometres from Valletta.

Mdina's must-sees

Four addresses packed inside walls you can explore entirely on foot.

Main Gate

A baroque entrance built in 1724 under Grand Master Vilhena, reached by a stone bridge over the old ditch, it offers the first view of the city.

St Paul's Cathedral

Rebuilt by Lorenzo Gafà after the 1693 earthquake, it impresses with its dome, its inlaid marble tombstones and the cathedral museum next door.

Palazzo Falson

One of the best-preserved medieval houses in town, it displays a collector's treasures: weapons, paintings, silverware and furniture, in intimate rooms.

Bastion Square

From this lookout on the northern walls, the view sweeps over much of the island, from the Mosta countryside to the sea towards St Paul's Bay.

What to see in and around Mdina?

The walled town and its lanes

Mdina sits entirely on a rocky spur in the centre of the island and can be crossed on foot in fifteen minutes, yet its crooked lanes invite you to get lost. Only residents may drive inside, hence its nickname, the Silent City. Arrive before 10 am or late in the afternoon: around midday, coach groups from the resorts fill the main street. In the evening, once the street lights come on, is the best moment to photograph the honey-coloured facades, one of the oldest faces of the Maltese islands.

Rabat, the suburb below the walls

Outside the walls, Rabat is a five-minute walk away. This is where you find St Paul's Catacombs, a vast network of early Christian burials cut into the rock, and the Domus Romana, a Roman house with well-preserved mosaics. The grotto where, according to tradition, the apostle Paul stayed after his shipwreck lies beneath St Paul's Church. Allow two to three hours for these three sites, and have lunch in Rabat, where prices are gentler than inside the walls.

Dingli and the western countryside

About 5 km south-west, the Dingli Cliffs drop into the sea from nearly 250 m, the highest point in Malta. A path follows them for several kilometres, between dry-stone walls and small cultivated plots. Sunset is particularly popular here, but the site offers almost no shade: in summer, come late in the day and bring water. Buses link Rabat to Dingli in about fifteen minutes, so both fit easily into the same day.

Frequently asked questions about Mdina

Was Mdina used as King's Landing in Game of Thrones?
Yes. Mdina's Main Gate and some of its lanes were used in the first season of the series, notably for King's Landing scenes. Filming later moved elsewhere, but the gate remains a favourite photo spot for fans.
Why is Mdina called the Silent City?
Because traffic is restricted to its few residents and the town is made up mostly of palaces, convents and churches. Once the groups have left in the evening, you hear little more than your own footsteps on the paving, hence the nickname.
Can you stay overnight inside Mdina's walls?
Yes, but options are very limited: a luxury hotel in a former palace and a few guest rooms. Most visitors stay in Valletta, Sliema or St Julian's and come to Mdina for the day or the evening.
Do you have to pay to enter St Paul's Cathedral in Mdina?
Entering the town is free, but the tourist visit to the cathedral is paid, usually with a combined ticket that includes the cathedral museum on the neighbouring square. Worshippers attending Mass enter freely.
How long should you allow for Mdina and Rabat's catacombs?
Allow two hours to wander Mdina with the cathedral and Bastion Square, then two to three hours in Rabat for St Paul's Catacombs and the Domus Romana. A full day lets you add the Dingli Cliffs at sunset.

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