NEED TO KNOW
LOCATION Various sites are located on the island of Malta and neighboring Gozo
ACCESS Open 9am–5pm daily; admission fee – a multi-site ticket is available
DAYTIME TEMPERATURES
Jan: 54°F (12°C); Apr: 59°F (15°C); Jul: 77°F (25°C); Oct: 72°F (22°C)
Dawn, either during equinox or solstice, is the time to visit the Mnajdra megalithic temples on Malta’s southern coast. The site opens early to catch the sun as it creeps over the massive, decorated slabs of the temples and warms their weathered surfaces.
Mnajdra is perhaps the most appealing of the half-dozen extraordinary temple complexes on the island and on neighboring Gozo, although each has its plus point, such as the animal carvings at Tarxien.
Older than Stonehenge, these magnificent temples date from 5000 BC and were at their peak between 3600 and 3200 BC, a time known as the Ggantija, or Giant, period – for who else but giants could have made them?
Practical Information
Getting There and Around Malta’s main airport is 5 miles (8 km) from the capital, Valletta. Either rent a car or go on a tour. The shortest crossing to Gozo is from Cirkewwa and takes 20 minutes.
When to Go High summer can be uncomfortably hot – the best time to visit is in Apr–May.