This page covers a single month. To compare the whole year, see our guide to the best time to visit Malta.
Malta in February is a cultural break in winter sun: around 15.5 °C (60 °F) in the afternoon and 9 °C (48 °F) at night, 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain over the month and a sea at 14 °C (57 °F). Verdict: with reservations. Excellent for Valletta, Mdina and the carnival, but not for the beach.
February is one of the coolest and windiest months in the archipelago, but also one of the cheapest. Sites, museums and restaurants stay open: Malta does not « close » in winter. On dry days, the light is beautiful on the limestone and the Gozo countryside is green. Our guide to visiting Gozo covers the citadel, Ġgantija and the ferry crossing.
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Malta in February: key facts
- Temperature: 15.5 °C (60 °F) average maximum and 9.3 °C (49 °F) average minimum at Luqa
- Rain: 61 mm (2.4 in), less than in December (112 mm (4.4 in)) and January (89 mm (3.5 in))
- Sea: about 14 °C (57 °F), the yearly minimum
- Sunshine: about 6 hours a day
- Ideal for: city breaks, sites and museums, hiking, the carnival
- To plan for: wind, sometimes poorly heated accommodation, Gozo ferries disrupted in rough weather
What is the weather like in Malta in February?
The normals for the Luqa station, a few kilometres from Valletta, apply to the whole archipelago, whose relief is low.
| Month | Max | Min | Rain | Sea | Sunshine (h/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15.2 °C (59 °F) | 9.2 °C (49 °F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 15 °C (59 °F) | 5.1 |
| February | 15.5 °C (60 °F) | 9.3 °C (49 °F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 14 °C (57 °F) | 6.0 |
| March | 16.7 °C (62 °F) | 10.1 °C (50 °F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 15 °C (59 °F) | 7.4 |
Rain generally falls in spells, often with wind, between which days can be bright. Sea crossings to Gozo, Sliema or the Three Cities can be disrupted in rough weather, so avoid the shoreline and sea-front promenades in a storm.
Things to do in Malta in February
- Valletta and the Three Cities on foot, without the heat or crowds of summer.
- Mdina and Rabat, quieter than ever out of season.
- The megalithic temples (Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra, Ġgantija on Gozo).
- Hiking on the Dingli Cliffs or the coastal paths of Gozo, green in winter; allow a margin for the return ferry in bad weather.
- Diving, possible all year with a thick wetsuit.
Events in Malta in February
Carnival takes place in the days before Ash Wednesday, so it falls in February or March depending on the date of Easter. In 2027, with Easter on 28 March, Ash Wednesday falls on 10 February and the carnival takes place just before. The float and costume parades are held mainly in Valletta, and in Nadur on Gozo. 10 February is also the feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck, a public holiday in Malta (Visit Malta, read 11 November 2026). Check the programme with the tourist office before booking. For the following month, often milder and less windy, our page on Malta in March covers the weather and crowds before Easter.
Crowds and prices in February
This is low season: few people at the sites and low hotel prices, except during the carnival and winter school holidays, which push demand up. Most international visitors arrive at Malta International Airport (MLA).
What to pack for Malta in February
- A warm sweater and a waterproof windbreaker
- Clothes you can layer: you go from 15 °C (59 °F) in the sun to under 10 °C (50 °F) in the evening
- Comfortable closed shoes for the cobbled streets
- A travel adapter if your devices do not fit local sockets
- Possibly a thick wetsuit for diving
Where to stay and how to get around Malta
Out of season, the choice of neighbourhood matters more than the beach. Valletta is ideal for a cultural stay: everything is done on foot, and the boats to the Three Cities and Sliema leave from the harbour. Sliema and St Julian’s have many hotels and restaurants open all year, as well as boat links to Valletta. Mdina and Rabat suit those looking for quiet. Gozo is good for a few nights in a farmhouse, provided you accept depending on the ferry.
The bus network covers the whole archipelago, but journeys can be long at peak times. A rental car gets you to the cliffs and Gozo faster. See our guide to car rental in Malta.
- For 3 to 4 days: Valletta, the Three Cities, Mdina and the temples in the south
- For a week: add two to three days on Gozo and a trip to Comino if the sea allows
- On a tight budget: accommodation in Valletta or Sliema and the buses
Normals or forecasts: how to read these figures
The temperatures and rainfall totals on this page are climate normals: averages calculated over several decades by official weather services. They show what is usual for the month, not the weather you will get during your stay. A given year can be warmer, cooler, drier or wetter, and a month’s rain can fall on just a few days. To plan your trip, use the normals to choose the period and the region; in the week before departure, check the national weather service forecast and adapt your plans day by day, keeping fallback activities for the less favourable days.
If February does not suit you
For more mildness, April (19 °C (66 °F), 23 mm (0.9 in)) is ideal for hiking, and May combines sightseeing and first swims. We also cover Malta in October and Malta in November.
For more warmth in February: Tenerife and the Canary Islands, Madeira in February, or Egypt further afield. All our ideas: where to go in February. To plan your stay: our Malta travel guide; for passport and entry rules, see our entry requirements for Malta.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Malta in February?
Mild and changeable: around 15.5 °C (60 °F) in the afternoon and 9 °C (48 °F) at night at Luqa, with 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain on average and wind on some days.
Can you swim in Malta in February?
The sea is at about 14 °C (57 °F), its yearly minimum: swimming is for the hardiest or for divers in wetsuits.
Is it worth going to Malta in February?
Yes for a low-cost cultural break: sites without the crowds, and the carnival in some years. Not for a beach holiday.
When is the Malta carnival?
In the days before Ash Wednesday, in February or March depending on the date of Easter. In 2027, Ash Wednesday is on 10 February.
What should you wear in Malta in February?
Layers: a light outfit for the afternoon sun, a sweater and a waterproof windbreaker for the evening and windy days.
Our sources
- Malta Meteorological Office, via the WMO World Weather Information Service: 1961-1990 normals for the Luqa station
- Deutscher Wetterdienst, Klimatafel von Luqa: sea temperature (1946-1960) and sunshine (1961-1990)
- Visit Malta, public holidays in Malta and Gozo (read on 11 November 2026)
- UK FCDO, foreign travel advice for Malta, safety and security (GOV.UK, page read on 11 November 2026; advice last updated 11 August 2026)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.