This year, brace yourself for an epic Easter in Malta! Sunday, 20th April 2025, marks the day, and with Good Friday being a public holiday in Malta on 18th April 2025, the islands are gearing up for an Easter celebration like no other. With over 95% of the Maltese identifying as Catholic, Easter weekend here is celebrated with gusto, devotion, tradition, and fanfare. As the countdown starts, we’ll be heading into early Spring, bringing warmer weather to the islands! (Yay!) and setting the stage for even more things to do in Malta Between the 20°C day temperatures and all the cultural festivities, spending Easter in Malta might just be the perfect time for you to visit. But before, I get into why, here’s a quick question: When did you last see life-sized exhibitions depicting the Last Supper? How about colourful open-air processions? Or euphoric marches celebrating the true spirit of Easter? Well, you’ll have that to look forward to + traditional foods, and more!
Easter in Malta 2025: Dates for Your 📅
Easter weekend starts with a sombre retelling of the most important Christian event…before building up to The Risen Christ and culminating with jubilant scenes. If you’re looking to do something a little special this Easter and specifically in Malta, then do read on…
- Maundy Thursday in Malta
- Easter Malta Foods to Eat
- Good Friday: Processions & Things to do
- Things to do on Holy Saturday in Malta
- How to Celebrate Easter Sunday in Malta
Things to do on Maundy Thursday in Malta
Start Easter weekend by heading out on Maundy Thursday (the day before Good Friday). Visit the enthusiastic exhibitions re-enacting The Final Supper. These are crafted by volunteers and are well worth a visit. You’ll discover these exhibitions in many churches and squares across Malta and Gozo.
Seven Visits
Join in with the traditional Seven Visits. This involves visiting The Altars of Repose in seven different churches. It’s an excellent opportunity to make a night of it and visit Malta’s beautiful churches. The most notable places to visit are Rabat, Mdina and Valletta. Oh, and so you know, there are eight churches/chapels in Mdina 😉
Girgenti Procession
For something outdoorsy, how about joining a pilgrimage taking you through the countryside? Starting from Girgenti Square in Siggiewi, you can join a procession. The candlelit walk is symbolic of the walk of the cross and takes you up to Laferla Cross.
Easter in Malta: Try these Traditional Foods
Now is a great time to experience some more Malta traditions – food! Just like, its tradition to eat a juicy Turkey (and all the trimmings) at Christmas, Easter, isn’t much different. (Well, with the exception of a turkey!) So, you absolutely must try some traditional foods, which are specially prepared and eaten during Easter.
Qaghaq tal-Appostoli
Try Qaghaq tal-Appostoli – a bread traditionally eaten during Easter in Malta and made with honey and almonds. Qaghaq tal-Appostoli is traditionally eaten after the Seven Visits on Maundy Thursday. But, still, give it a try, I mean if you don’t complete all the seven visits. You can buy these in local village Squares near the parades.
Kwarezimal
Another Maltese traditional food to try is krarezimal. This is a sweet, nutty local biscuit traditionally eaten during lent. Think like how the tradition of Pancake Day came about. You do know the story, right? During lent, people give up sugar and sweets, or rather, devout Christians do. So, kwarezimal is the lent-proof substitute biscuit. Anyways, never mind all that; give it a try.
Good Friday: Processions and Things to Do
Good Friday draws in the solemn open-air re-enactment of the crucifixion of Christ. You’ll catch such processions in their hundreds taking place in many villages. Communities across Malta and Gozo commemorate the Passion of the Christ in processional marches… complete with Roman soldiers, large statues and biblical characters. This event is a spectacular show, flooded with colour, parades and religious fervour. The most dramatic is a reconstruction featuring floats and horses. Long robes too. (Nope, not on the horse).
Good Friday Processions
The best thing to do on Good Friday is to join a procession -it’s tradition! You can catch one from all over the island. Żebbuġ, Mosta, Birgu (Vittoriosa), Isla (Senglea), Bormla (Cospicua), Luqa, Naxxar, Paola, Qormi (San Ġorġ parish), Rabat, Valletta and Żejtun to name but a few.
It is hard to choose (and has been the source of much debate), but the best ones to visit are in Mosta Qormi and Żebbuġ in Malta. Xaghra is the best to see if you’re in Gozo. Even if you’re a non-believer, don’t worry. The processions will tell you the story in an unforgettable fashion. Easter in Malta is a good time to visit for the cultural experience.
Where to enjoy a Good Friday Procession on the Maltese Islands
| Location | Time |
|---|---|
| Malta | |
| Birgu (Vittoriosa) | 18:00 |
| Bormla (Cospicua) | 17:30 |
| Isla (Senglea) | 17:30 |
| Luqa | 17:30 |
| Mosta | 17:30 |
| Naxxar | 17:30 |
| Qormi (San Ġorġ) | 17:30 |
| Żebbuġ | 17:30 |
| Żejtun | 17:00 |
| Gozo | |
| San Lawrenz | 15:00 |
| Nadur | 18:00 |
| Xagħra | 18:00 |
| Żebbuġ | 18:00 |
| Victoria (Basilica of St. George) | 17:30 |
Things to do on Holy Saturday in Malta
Holy Saturday continues with a sombre vibe. In the early evening, people flock to the church squares with unlit candles to mark The Rising of Christ. Throughout the night, churches in Malta start out in complete darkness. Candles are lit one by one until light fills the entire church.
Hang out in the Village Square
The best thing to do on Holy Saturday is: to hang out in the village Square. Village Squares are like the heart and soul of the community anyways. So spend some time here, and you will see (and take part) in a Rising of Christ celebration. Make sure you bring a jumper with you. It can get down to a nippy 10°C at this time of year in Malta. Still, nothing a rousing version of the hymn Glorja can’t fix, right?
How to Celebrate Easter in Malta
Come Easter Sunday, the mood of the Islands switches up from one of mournful contemplation to one of joy. All I’m gonna say is: Get ready to celebrate!
Church doors are swung open, bells ring out through the villages, and band clubs fill the streets with music to rejoice in the occasion. Communities from across the Maltese islands gather to celebrate, and its here you’ll see (several) statues of The Risen Christ coursing through the streets.
Easter Sunday Processions
Catch the Easter Processions in The Three Cities; the best one is in Vittoriosa( Birgu). Groups of men run through the streets with, The Risen Christ whilst people throw confetti.
Where to enjoy an Easter Sunday Procession on the Maltese Islands
| Location | Time |
|---|---|
| Malta | |
| Birgu | Vittoriosa | 10:00 |
| Birkirkara | 18:00 |
| Birżebbuġia | 19:00 |
| Bormla | 09:00 |
| Għargħur | 09:00 |
| Gżira | 09:45 |
| Isla | Senglea | 09:00 |
| Kalkara | 18:30 |
| Luqa | 09:30 |
| Mosta | 18:30 |
| Naxxar | 08:30 |
| Paola | 09:00 |
| Qormi – San Ġorġ | 09:00 |
| Qormi – San Bastjan | 09:15 |
| Rabat | 10:00 |
| Sliema – St. Gregory | 17:30 |
| St. Julian’s | 10:30 |
| Valletta – Tal-Ġiżwieti | 18:15 |
| Żebbuġ | 09:00 |
| Żejtun | 10:00 |
| Gozo | |
| Il-Fontana | 11:00 |
| L-Għarb | 18:00 |
| Ir-Rabat – Katidral | 10:45 |
| Ta’ Kerċem | 18:45 |
| In-Nadur | 09:15 |
| Qala | 11:00 |
| Ir-Rabat – San Ġorġ | 08:45 |
| Ix-Xagħra | 18:00 |
| Ix-Xewkija | 09:30 |
| Haż-Żebbuġ | 17:00 |
Attend an Easter Sunday Mass Service
Attend a special Easter Sunday Mass at one of Malta’s churches. You’re spoilt for choice and if you’re looking for things to do in Valletta, St John Co-Cathedral is worthy of a visit. Most of the services are in Maltese. But, even if you don’t understand, it’s still a pretty awesome event to see and experience.
Grab a Sunday Roast This Easter in Malta
After heading to mass and/or watching the festivities, it’s time to eat! Do what most Maltese families do on Easter Sunday… treat yourself to a gorgeous traditional roast. Visit Nora’s Lounge Diner , Rusty Spoon, and Fiddler’s Green Pub. They all serve pub(ish) roasts with all the trimmings.
Eat Figolli
Figolli is a traditional Easter sweet and is Malta’s answer to Easter eggs (even though these are eaten too). Sweet and almond rich, these are handed out on Easter Sunday as treats by nannas and nannu’s. For everyone else, you can buy them from bakeries and tea shops around Malta and Gozo. Overindulge in as many as you like. After all, this is one of the best things to do during Easter in Malta. So go on, treat yourself to an egg-cellent Figolli or three!