Malta in December: Weather, Christmas and What to Do

Malta in December is mild and festive: days around 16°C, Valletta strung with Christmas lights, markets and cribs across the islands, and a big New Year's Eve celebration in the capital. It's a winter city break with a seasonal glow rather than a beach trip – too cool to swim, but ideal for sightseeing, long lunches and the festive buzz. Prices are low except for the Christmas and New Year peak. Here's what to expect and how to plan it.

What's the weather like in Malta in December?

Mild rather than cold. Daytime temperatures sit around 16°C, dropping to roughly 11°C after dark, so it's jacket weather rather than winter coats. The sun still appears regularly – the islands average around 300 sunny days a year – between the cloudier, occasionally wet spells.

Rain is more likely than in summer, though it tends to fall in short bursts rather than all-day grey, often clearing to bright skies. Days are at their shortest, with early sunsets, so plan to be out and about earlier.

The sea is cool, around 17°C, and beach facilities are largely closed for winter. December is firmly a month for the towns, the festive lights and the table, not the water.

Is Malta worth visiting in December?

Yes, for a mild, festive city break. The Christmas atmosphere, the calm low-season sights and the generally pleasant walking weather make it a good winter escape – and outside the Christmas and New Year peak, prices are among the lowest of the year.

It's not the month for swimming or sunbathing. But if you want history, festive sparkle and value, December delivers. See our best time to visit Malta guide for how it compares with the rest of the year.

Christmas and New Year in Malta

December is when Malta gets festive. Valletta strings its streets with lights and stages a Christmas market, traditional cribs – the presepji – appear in churches and squares across the islands, and the Baroque capital looks the part after dark. It's an atmospheric backdrop for a winter stroll.

New Year's Eve is the big night, with fireworks and celebrations centred on Valletta and the Grand Harbour. If you're coming for Christmas or New Year, book early: it's the one stretch of winter when prices and demand spike, in contrast to the cheap, quiet rest of the month.

The best things to do in Malta in December

Festive sightseeing is the heart of it. Walk Valletta for the lights, the market and the cathedral, and lose an afternoon in walled Mdina and Rabat, atmospheric in the low winter light. Add the Three Cities, the temples and a museum or two for wet-weather cover.

Round the days off with long lunches – Maltese winter food is hearty – and the wider things to do in Malta guide is easy to work through at this calm pace. As with the rest of winter, Comino boat trips and beach days are out until the weather warms.

Prices and what to pack

December is a tale of two halves on price. Most of the month is cheap and quiet, fitting the value picture in our is Malta expensive guide – but the Christmas and New Year peak pushes hotel rates and demand up sharply, so book that window early. Browse the best hotels in Malta to lock in a festive base.

Pack layers: a jumper, a light waterproof jacket and comfortable walking shoes, with something warmer for the evenings. Leave the swimwear at home unless you're a committed cold-water swimmer, and bring sunglasses for the bright spells between showers.