Despite its small size, Rabat Malta is definitely worth a visit. Located a short distance from the city of Mdina Malta, Rabat is home to some impressive catacombs and archaeological remains that conceal the great historical and cultural value of this small city and its traditions.
It may be the ideal destination if you’re looking for a quieter trip, as well as getting away from the hustle and bustle of cities like Mdina or Victoria. You can wander around its interesting museums and narrow streets while you soak up the unique atmosphere. In addition, in the old town you can stop for a drink in one of the bars or restaurants overlooking the impressive Saint Paul’s Church. If you want to discover all the details of what to visit in Rabat Malta, keep reading!
What are the best places to see in Rabat Malta?
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1. Domus Romana Museum
The Domus Romana is undoubtedly the most important Roman building to see not only in Rabat but on the whole island of Malta. It dates back to the 1st century BC, although its archaeological site was only discovered in 1881. Moreover, this museum was built on top of the ruins in order to preserve the discoveries.
Inside you can take an interesting tour while admiring the beautiful mosaics all over the floor, as well as many valuable artefacts belonging to the house. The building was constructed for the purpose of preserving the mosaics, which now serves as an archaeological museum. During your visit you will be able to learn about the customs and lifestyles of families during Roman times, as well as the education they received, the fashion they wore, the food they ate, etc. Don’t miss a visit to this spectacular museum and learn more about the history and traditions of Rabat Malta.
Organise your travel itinerary with Passporter, completely free to use, easy and practical. Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that interest you most by adding them to your route map.
2. Catacombs of St Paul in Rabat Malta
The Catacombs of St. Paul, also known as the Catacombs of St. Pablo, are imposing underground galleries dating back to the 3rd century A.D. You can take a very interesting 4 kilometre tour while you learn about the Christian burial traditions of the time in Rabat Malta.
Inside you can visit up to 30 hypogea divided into two large areas. The legend that gives this place its name tells that Saint Paul himself hid in these catacombs for a time due to a shipwreck. You will be fascinated by how well the the tombs and frescoes have been conserved. These catacombs are located on the outskirts of the city, as they was considered unhygienic in the past. You can visit them any day of the week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. And all for a very affordable price!
3. Saint Paul’s Church
The Church of Saint Paul is an impressive structure dating back to the 17th century and is a must-see in Rabat Malta. It has a beautiful baroque facade and was built above the cave.
Inside it is home to some of the most important monuments in Rabat Malta, such as the statue of St. Paul by the Grand Master Pinto, or the impressive silver galley offered by the Knights of the Order of St. John during the 1960’s. In this church you can learn more about the religious mythology of Rabat Malta, as well as experience various stories told in the Bible, so don’t hesitate to come and visit it!
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4. Wignacourt Museum
The Wignacourt Museum, also known as the Wignacourt Collegiate Museum, is one of the most interesting and significant places to see in Rabat Malta. This place belongs to the famous St Paul’s Catacombs.
Before becoming a museum, this place was once the residence of Aloph de Wignacourt, one of the first Grand Masters of the Order of the Knights of Malta. This building was completed in 1749 and has now become the beautiful baroque-style museum it is today. Inside you will find a collection of excavated remains belonging to different styles, from Carthaginian to Roman, as well as air-raid shelters dating from the Second World War. This museum has a beautiful painting gallery, where you can find works by some of the best-known Maltese artists such as Antoine Favray and Mattia Preti, as well as a collection of gold and silverware of Italian and Maltese origin.
5. Dingli Cliffs
The Dingli Cliffs are impressive cliffs located more than 250 metres above sea level, offering film-worthy views. They are just 2 kilometres outside Rabat, making them an ideal spot to get out of the city for a while and immerse yourself in nature.
The beautiful chapel of St Mary Magdalene was built at the top of these cliffs in 1646, and was later restored in the 17th century. Nowadays it has a new addition, a balcony that allows you to enjoy the cliffs to the fullest. From there we recommend a trip to the Blue Grotto, an impressive natural arch that offers breathtaking views and a picture-perfect view of the sea. You’ll be able to complete this route in about 4 hours, along a landscape that is definitely worth the hike. Along the route, you will pass a curious prehistoric settlement dating from the Bronze Age. This is a natural site that you should definitely see on your trip to Rabat Malta.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Map and travel itinerary to Rabat Malta
Here we leave you our map with the places we recommend to visit in Rabat so you can organize your trip easily and quickly. You can also add important documents such as travel tickets, hotel reservations and even invite your friends to be part of the itinerary organization. Using Passporter is free of charge and will help you travel in a more organized way. You have the option of registering on the website or downloading the app to keep everything centralized and in your pocket.
Tips for a trip to Rabat Malta
- Bring enough sunscreen
- Explore which area you are most interested in staying in
- Try different types of accommodation
- Don’t forget to plan your route in advance to make the best use of your time.
- Find out about the free tours available in the city
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Frequently asked questions about a trip to Rabat Malta
There are several ways to get to Rabat, depending on where you are travelling from. The easiest and most direct way to get there is from Malta’s capital, Valletta.
– You can take the 51, 52 or 53 bus from the city centre, or bus 201 from the airport. The journey takes approximately 35 minutes.
– If you prefer to rent a car, we recommend giving yourelf plenty of time as parking in Rabat can be difficult. If you’re leaving from Valletta, you’ll need to take Route 7 and drive for about half an hour to Rabat.
Admission to the Catacombs of Saint Paul is €5 for adults and €3.50 for young people, students and senior citizens.
To get to the Dingli Cliffs from Rabat, you can choose to go by bus or hire a car.
– If you are going by bus, you have to take bus 201 or 52 and tell the driver that you are going to get off at the cliffs.
– If you are going by car, which we consider the better option, you have to take the Trïq Ir-Rabat road and drive for approximately 12 minutes. It’s a quick and easy way to get to your destination.
How to organise your itinerary of places to see in Rabat Malta?
Forget the pre-travel hassle and organise your itinerary on the Passporter website where you can do the following:
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Save websites with information that you consider important for your trip.
- Keep your tickets and reservations with you.
- Plan your route with Google Maps starting from wherever you are.
- Figure out transport options.
- Save and publish photos of each of the places you have visited, sharing them publicly on your Passporter profile so that other travellers can be inspired to visit these places.
If you liked everything you can do in the app and you want to know more, visit our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
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