Mdina Bastions
City Walls in Mdina
The Mdina Bastions are where Mdina's long defensive story and its present-day calm really come together. From these high stone walls, you can trace the island's contours from coast to coast, looking out over villages, fields, church domes and, on clear days, the glittering line of the sea. It is easy to see why this hill has been fortified since Phoenician times, and why the Knights of St John invested so much effort into shaping the bastions that still define the skyline.
Today, the bastions are as much about slow strolls and sunset photos as they are about cannon embrasures and curtain walls. Walking the perimeter paths, you move between viewpoints with different angles and moods: quiet corners above the moat, broader terraces by the main gate, and more intimate balconies near noble palaces. This is a highlight of any walking tour of Mdina and a perfect place to get a sense of just how central this “Silent City” once was to controlling the whole island.
Table of Contents
- History and Significance of the Mdina Bastions
- Things to See and Do in the Mdina Bastions
- How to Get to the Mdina Bastions
- Practical Tips on Visiting the Mdina Bastions and Viewpoints
- Where to Stay close to the Mdina Bastions
- Is the Mdina Bastions Worth Visiting?
- FAQs for Visiting Mdina Bastions
- Nearby Attractions to the Mdina Bastions
History and Significance of the Mdina Bastions
The fortifications of Mdina began life as simple defensive embankments in the Phoenician period, around the 8th century BC, when the settlement was known as Maleth. The hilltop location, close to the centre of Malta and commanding long views, made it a natural stronghold. Under Roman rule, when the city became Melite, the walls were strengthened and extended to match its role as an administrative centre, with fortifications that had to protect both citizens and the island's political power.
Byzantine and Arab rulers later reshaped the city, refining its boundaries and tightening the footprint for better defence. The Byzantines reinforced the walls in the 8th century AD, while the Arabs in the 11th century deliberately reduced the size of the city, focusing on a compact, easily defensible core that matches much of what we see as Mdina today. These early interventions laid the groundwork for the layered fortifications that still ring the old city, even if many of the original structures now lie beneath later work.
The most visible bastions and viewpoints, however, owe their form to the period of the Knights of St John, between the 16th and 18th centuries. After the Great Siege of 1565, the Order reconsidered Malta's defences and commissioned engineers to modernise Mdina's walls in line with evolving artillery warfare. Thick bastions, angled walls, cavaliers and outworks were added or reshaped, especially under engineers like Charles François de Mondion. While Valletta became the main fortified capital, Mdina retained a noble and strategic role, and its bastions remained an essential inland lookout. Today, walking these walls lets you read that story in stone, from medieval towers to Baroque-era ramparts.
Things to See and Do in the Mdina Bastions
The simplest, and best, thing to do is walk the bastion circuit at your own pace. Starting near Mdina Gate, you can follow the paths along the walls, stopping at the main terraces overlooking Malta's central plains. These spots offer some of the most expansive views on the island, especially towards Mosta and the north, and make Mdina Bastions and Viewpoints one of the top attractions in Mdina for photographers and sunset chasers.
As you wander, look closely at the structure of the fortifications themselves: the sloping outer stonework designed to deflect cannon fire, the angled bastions that remove blind spots, and the moats and ditches that once added extra layers of defence. Interpretation boards in and around Mdina help connect these features to specific time periods and engineering ideas, but even without them you can appreciate how the city was sculpted to resist attack from every direction.
Many visitors combine the bastions with short breaks on benches or at nearby cafés. The viewpoints are ideal places to pause with an ice cream or coffee while you trace your route across the island with your eyes. In the evening, the walls are softly lit and the surrounding countryside darkens, making this spot one of the best places to see in Mdina if you enjoy a quieter, more atmospheric experience after day-trip crowds have thinned out.
How to Get to the Mdina Bastions
Most travellers arrive in Malta via Malta International Airport (MLA), around 20-25 minutes by taxi or pre-booked transfer from Mdina; once you are dropped at the main gate, it is only a few minutes' walk up into the city and out onto the bastions. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Mdina on Booking.com. There is no rail network on Malta, so you will be relying on road transport, buses or taxis rather than trains to reach Mdina.Train schedules and bookings can be found on Omio.
Public buses run frequently to Rabat and Mdina from Valletta, Sliema and other major towns. The bus stops are just outside the Mdina and Rabat walls; from there, you enter Mdina on foot and quickly reach the bastion viewpoints via the main streets or side alleys. If you are driving, clear signs direct you towards Rabat and Mdina from most parts of the island; you will park outside the fortified city and then walk in, as the historic core itself is largely traffic-free. Once you are through Mdina Gate, simply follow the streets towards the outer edge of the city and you will soon find yourself on the walls.
Practical Tips on Visiting the Mdina Bastions and Viewpoints
- Suggested tips: Wear comfortable shoes suitable for stone pavements and bring a light layer, as it can be breezy on the walls even when the streets below feel warm.
- Best time to visit: Early morning for quiet, soft light and cooler temperatures, or late afternoon into sunset for golden views and a more romantic atmosphere.
- Entrance fee:
- Opening hours:
- Official website:
- How long to spend: Allow 30-60 minutes to stroll the main bastion viewpoints, longer if you like to stop for photos or combine the walk with visits to nearby palaces and museums.
- Accessibility: Surfaces can be uneven with occasional steps and slopes; some viewpoints are more accessible than others, so visitors with limited mobility may prefer the wider terraces near Mdina Gate.
- Facilities: There are no facilities directly on the bastions, but cafés, restaurants and toilets are available inside Mdina and in neighbouring Rabat just a short walk away.
- Photography tip: For wide landscape shots, use the terraces looking north and east; for atmospheric city images, frame Mdina’s domes and palaces against the sky from the outer angles of the bastions.
- Guided tours: Consider joining a guided Mdina walking tour that includes the fortifications; guides can explain how each period-Phoenician, Roman, medieval and Knights of St John-left its mark on the walls.
- Nearby food options: After your walk, head to the main square or side streets of Mdina and Rabat, where you will find everything from simple snack bars to atmospheric restaurants in historic buildings.
Where to Stay close to the Mdina Bastions
Staying within Mdina itself is a memorable way to enjoy the bastions, as you can wander out to the viewpoints early or late in the day when the city is at its quietest. The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux offers luxurious rooms in a converted 17th-century palazzo, many with wonderful views over the countryside and easy access to the walls just a few steps away.
If you prefer something more relaxed and local, Rabat next door offers appealing options. Point de Vue Guest House overlooks the valley below Mdina and is just a short walk from the main gate, making it convenient for early morning bastion walks. Another good choice is Casa Azzopardi Guesthouse, a traditional townhouse guesthouse with characterful rooms and an easy stroll up to Mdina’s fortifications whenever you want to revisit the views.
Is the Mdina Bastions Worth Visiting?
Yes, the Mdina Bastions and Viewpoints are absolutely worth including in any Mdina itinerary. They offer not only some of the most expansive views in Malta but also a very tangible sense of how important this hilltop city has been across three millennia of history. From here, you can see why so many powers fought to hold this position and how the walls themselves evolved to keep pace with changing warfare and politics.
Even if you are primarily interested in pretty views rather than fortification details, the experience of walking the walls, feeling the breeze and watching the light shift across the island is unforgettable. Combined with Mdina's palaces, cathedral and quiet streets, the bastions help make the city one of the best places to visit in Mdina for anyone who loves history, architecture and landscape all in one place.
What Other Travellers Say...
Bastion Square in Mdina is a central, always-open public square set within the walled city that visitors consistently recommend for a visit; reviewers describe it as well worth seeing and many praise the experience while others give mixed reactions, suggesting it's a popular tourist attraction and point of interest to include on a Mdina visit.
FAQs for Visiting Mdina Bastions
Nearby Attractions to the Mdina Bastions
- Saint Paul's Cathedral - Mdina's grand Baroque cathedral, traditionally linked with the legend of Saint Paul's meeting with Publius, with an ornate interior and adjacent museum.
- Palazzo Falson - A beautifully preserved historic house museum showcasing noble interiors, antiques and a rooftop terrace with more views over Mdina and beyond.
- Saint Sofia Palace - One of Mdina's oldest surviving domestic facades, with a documented 13th-century ground floor that illustrates the city's medieval architectural roots.
- Domus Romana - An archaeological museum just outside Mdina's walls, built around the remains of a Roman townhouse with intricate mosaic floors and everyday artifacts.
- St Paul's Catacombs - Extensive early Christian underground burial complexes in nearby Rabat, offering a fascinating look at Malta's late Roman and Byzantine-era communities.
The Mdina Bastions appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Mdina!
Moira & Andy
Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!
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