Malta vs Sicily: Which Mediterranean Destination to Choose? (2026)

Malta and Sicily are 90 kilometres apart, connected by ferry and historically intertwined, but they offer fundamentally different holiday experiences. Malta is a micro-island nation of 316 square kilometres; Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean at over 25,000 square kilometres. Choosing between them is less about which is better and more about what kind of trip you want.

Size and how you travel

The size difference between Malta and Sicily is the most important practical fact in this comparison. Malta is small enough to drive across in 45 minutes. Sicily takes days to traverse and has genuinely distinct regions – the Arab-Norman architecture of Palermo, the baroque towns of the Val di Noto, the Greek temples at Agrigento, the beaches of Taormina, Etna looming over the east coast.

In Malta, that variety is compressed into a tiny space. You can visit the walled capital, an ancient temple, a fishing village and a Blue Lagoon beach in a single day. In Sicily, you pick a region and base yourself there, exploring outward.

This means Malta suits short breaks and first-timers. Sicily suits longer stays and repeat Mediterranean travellers who want to go deeper into one place.

History and UNESCO sites

Both destinations punch well above their weight historically. Malta has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Valletta, the Megalithic Temples (the oldest free-standing structures on earth) and the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum. All are accessible within half an hour of each other.

Sicily has three as well: the Aeolian Islands, the Arab-Norman Palermo and Cefalù, and the baroque Val di Noto towns. But they are spread across a large island that requires planning and driving to connect.

If you want to cover significant historic sites efficiently, Malta delivers more per day. If you want to immerse yourself in a specific historical layer – Arab, Norman, Greek, Baroque – Sicily's depth is unmatched.

Food

This is Sicily's clearest advantage. Sicilian food is one of the reasons to visit the island: arancini, pasta alla norma, fresh swordfish, granita with brioche, cannoli, the street food markets of Palermo and Catania. The influence of Arab, Greek, Norman and Spanish cuisines has produced something genuinely distinctive.

Malta's food scene has improved steadily and there are good restaurants in Valletta and Sliema, but it is not the same kind of draw. Traditional Maltese food – pastizzi (flaky pastry with ricotta or peas), rabbit stew, ftira bread – is worth trying but not a reason to choose Malta over Sicily.

If food is central to your trip, Sicily wins by a clear margin.

Beaches

Both have good beaches, but of different types. Sicily's coastline is longer and more varied: the white sands of San Vito Lo Capo in the west, the dramatic Scala dei Turchi chalk cliffs, the black volcanic beaches near Catania, the Aeolian Islands. There is more range.

Malta's coastline is mostly rocky, with a handful of sandy beaches – Mellieħa Bay is the largest – and a dramatic, clear-water coast that suits snorkelling and swimming from rocks. Comino's Blue Lagoon is the standout: turquoise water in a sheltered bay that has no equivalent in Sicily for sheer intensity of colour.

If you want a sandy beach holiday, Sicily offers more options. If you want vivid clear water and unique swimming spots, Malta holds its own.

Cost

Both use the euro. Sicily can be cheaper for accommodation, particularly outside the main tourist season and in smaller towns away from the coast. Sicilian food and local restaurants offer excellent value.

Malta is similarly priced overall. Hotel costs vary more by area and standard, and the small size means transport costs (taxis, transfers) stay low – nowhere is more than 45 minutes from the airport. Package deals to Malta from the UK have become more competitive as the destination has grown.

Neither destination is significantly more expensive than the other. Sicily's larger size means more budget accommodation options in rural areas, which can reduce costs on a longer trip.

Language and practicality

English is widely spoken in Malta – it is an official language alongside Maltese. Navigating public transport, restaurants, museums and hotels is straightforward without any Italian. In Sicily, English is common in tourist areas but limited elsewhere; some Italian helps.

Malta's compact size also makes logistics easier. There are no long drives between sights, public transport covers the main areas, and the whole island is familiar within a day or two.

Can you visit both?

Yes. A ferry runs seasonally between Valletta and Pozzallo in southern Sicily, taking around 90 minutes to two hours. Some travellers combine a few days in Malta with a few days in Sicily as part of a longer Mediterranean trip. The combination works well – the two destinations complement rather than duplicate each other.

The 90 kilometres between them is short enough that the choice is rarely permanent – many people end up visiting both, in the same trip or in different years. If Malta is the destination you are leaning towards, things to do in Malta is the place to start; for where to base yourself, where to stay in Malta covers every area.