Valletta · Month comparison
January vs September
September ranks #1 overall vs January at #10. The other golden window: sea still warm, heat easing, prices dropping, crowds manageable again.
January
#10 of 12 months
Strong option
The quietest and cheapest month — mild winters and near-empty streets for those who don't need the beach.
- ↑Accommodation at its lowest prices of the year — 50–60% below peak summer rates
- ↑St John's Co-Cathedral and the Grand Masters' Palace with virtually no queues
September
#1 of 12 months
Best match
The other golden window: sea still warm, heat easing, prices dropping, crowds manageable again.
- ↑Sea at 25°C — the best swimming month if you want warm water without the summer madness
- ↑Temperatures drop from 32°C to 29°C: warm but no longer punishing, and sightseeing in Valletta becomes pleasant again
| Factor | January | September |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 4 | 9 |
| Value score | 9 | 6 |
| Crowd score | 9 | 6 |
| Events score | 3 | 6 |
| Atmosphere | 4 | 9 |
| Avg high temp | 15°C | 29°C |
| Monthly rain | 86mm | 21mm |
| Daily sunshine | 5hrs | 8hrs |
January trade-offs
- ↓January is Malta's wettest month (86mm) — rain is a real factor, not a footnote
- ↓Short daylight hours and 5 sunshine hours per day on average — overcast stretches are common
- ↓Sea too cool for swimming; beach culture entirely absent
September trade-offs
- ↓Still busy early in the month — the first two weeks of September retain much of August's tourist volume
- ↓First light rainfall returns (21mm), though the month is still very dry overall
- ↓Flight prices remain elevated through most of September from Northern European holiday routes
Scores compare months within Valletta. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →