TL;DR
The main island of Malta covers about 246 km2 (95 sq miles). Add Gozo and Comino and the whole country is around 316 km2 (122 sq miles). Malta is roughly 27 km (17 miles) long and 14.5 km (9 miles) wide, so it is a little smaller than the Isle of Wight but about four times the size of Manhattan.
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You can drive from one end to the other in about an hour, which is why one central base sees the whole island. I am Susan, and I host my villa here in Sliema, so I know exactly how quick it is to get around.
Insider Tip
Because Malta is so small, you never need to change hotels mid-trip. Pick one central base, in Sliema or St Julian’s, and day-trip to everywhere else. Nothing on the main island is more than about 45 minutes away, so moving your bags around just wastes precious holiday time.
Malta is one of the smallest countries in the world, and one of the most densely populated. That combination surprises a lot of first-time visitors: it is tiny, yet packed with towns, harbours, history and things to see. Knowing the actual size genuinely helps you plan, because it means you can settle into one place and reach the whole island with ease.
Guests often ask me whether they need to move around the island to see everything, or hire a car to cover the distances. The happy answer is no, and the reason is simply how compact Malta is. Here are the real numbers, in both square kilometres and square miles, plus how Malta compares to places you might already know and how long it takes to get around.
How big is Malta? The numbers
- Main island of Malta: about 246 km2 (95 sq miles)
- Whole country (Malta, Gozo and Comino): about 316 km2 (122 sq miles)
- Length: roughly 27 km (17 miles) from end to end
- Width: roughly 14.5 km (9 miles) at its widest
- Population: around 535,000 people, making it one of the most densely populated countries on earth
So Malta is genuinely small. The whole country would fit comfortably inside a single large city elsewhere in Europe, yet it holds three inhabited islands, dozens of towns and villages, and thousands of years of history. That density is part of the charm: everything is close, and you are never far from the next harbour, church or café.
One small island, one central base
Because Malta is so compact, a single base in Sliema sees it all. My villa, Aster House, sleeps up to 9, a 2 minute walk from the sea. See live rates.
See ratesMalta’s size compared
Numbers on their own are hard to picture, so here is how Malta stacks up against places many visitors already know.
| Place | Area (km2) | Area (sq miles) |
|---|---|---|
| Manhattan (New York) | 59 | 23 |
| Comino | 3.5 | 1.4 |
| Gozo | 67 | 26 |
| Malta (main island) | 246 | 95 |
| Malta (whole country) | 316 | 122 |
| Isle of Wight (UK) | 380 | 147 |
So the main island of Malta is a little smaller than the Isle of Wight, and even the whole country, with Gozo and Comino added, does not quite match it. Compared with Manhattan, though, the main island is about four times larger. It is genuinely small, which is exactly why it is so easy and rewarding to explore.
How far is it across Malta?
At about 27 km (17 miles) long and 14.5 km (9 miles) wide, Malta is quick to cross. Driving from Valletta in the centre up to the northern beaches around Mellieha takes roughly 45 minutes, and most journeys between the main towns are 20 to 30 minutes. Buses cover the same routes for a couple of euros, and the Sliema to Valletta ferry crosses the harbour in about 10 minutes. Nothing on the island is truly far away, which is why day trips are so easy and you rarely spend long in transit.
“It was super easy to see all of Malta from here, with the ferry to Valletta and then on to the 3 Cities just 10 minutes walk away. We felt like we were living truly local lives in this beautiful place.”
Malta, Gozo and Comino
Malta is an archipelago of three inhabited islands. The main island of Malta holds almost all the population and the major sights, from Valletta to the old capital Mdina. Gozo, at about 67 km2 (26 sq miles), is greener, quieter and more rural, reached by a short car ferry from the north of Malta. Comino, just 3.5 km2 (1.4 sq miles), is almost uninhabited and famous for the turquoise Blue Lagoon, best visited as a boat trip. Together the three islands make up the roughly 316 km2 total. For most visitors, the main island is home base, with Gozo as a wonderful day trip or a relaxed second week.
What Malta’s size means for your trip
The practical upshot of Malta being so compact is simple: base yourself once, centrally, and see everything from there. There is no need to split your stay between towns or move hotels mid-holiday. A central base in Sliema or St Julian’s puts the ferry, the buses and the restaurants on your doorstep, with the whole island within an hour. If you are still deciding where to settle, my area-by-area guide to where to stay in Malta walks through every option, and my guide to whether Malta is expensive covers the budget.
How many days do you need in Malta?
Because the island is so small, three to five days is enough to see the main highlights from a single base: Valletta and the harbour, Mdina and the old towns, a beach day in the north, and a boat trip to the Blue Lagoon or Gozo. Add a full week if you want to include Gozo properly, plenty of beach time and a slower pace. Families travelling with children often find a week the sweet spot, with easy days built around the sea and short outings, rather than long drives. My Malta with kids family guide has more on planning a relaxed family trip.
A look inside Aster House
Planning a Malta trip? Here is where to stay
Because Malta is so small, a central base sees the whole island. Read my area-by-area guide, or stay with me at Aster House, my lovingly restored Art-Deco villa in the heart of Sliema, 150 metres from the sea and sleeping up to 9. From EUR 229 a night.
Where to stay in Malta Visit Aster House →