Hotels in Mdina

Mdina: Malta's Walled Medieval Capital

Mdina sits on a limestone ridge 150 metres above sea level, roughly 13 km west of Valletta. Founded by the Phoenicians and later fortified by the Arabs — who gave it the name meaning "walled city" — Mdina served as Malta's capital until the Knights of St John shifted power to Valletta in 1571. Today fewer than 300 residents live inside the walls, earning it the enduring nickname the Silent City.

Visitors arrive for the layered architecture: St Paul's Cathedral, rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake in Baroque style by Lorenzo Gafà, anchors the main square, while Palazzo Falson (dating to the 13th century) operates as a museum of arms, paintings, and silverware. The narrow limestone streets are largely car-free. Game of Thrones filmed King's Landing gate scenes here in 2011, drawing fans who cross the Mdina Gate built under Grand Master Miguel de Vilhena in 1724.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Buses 51, 52, and 53 run from Valletta's City Gate terminus to Rabat, a 5-minute walk from Mdina Gate.
• Timing: Arrive before 09:00 or after 17:00 when day-trip crowds thin.
• Dress: Cathedral entry requires covered shoulders and knees.
• Rabat: The adjacent town of Rabat holds the St Paul's Catacombs (3rd–4th century), a practical add-on requiring roughly one hour.