Is Malta Warm in Winter? December Numbers Explained
The short answer
Malta stays mild through winter rather than cold. In Valletta, December's average day high is 16.3°C, with nights cooling to around 14°C and rain falling on roughly 16 days of the month. That's a climate of soft light, jacket-weather afternoons, and showers that tend to pass rather than linger — closer to a Nordic early autumn than a true winter.
November is noticeably warmer still, while the season bottoms out in February rather than January in the recent normals below. None of the four winter months bring the kind of cold that requires serious winterwear.
Malta's winter months at a glance
The table below shows real Valletta climate normals for the whole season — multi-year Open-Meteo averages, the same data pipeline the Fjärran engine uses.
| Month | Avg day high (°C) | Avg night low (°C) | Rain days/month | Feel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 20.4 | 18.2 | 17 | Still holding onto autumn warmth, frequent short showers |
| December | 16.3 | 14 | 16 | Mild days, cool evenings, frequent light rain |
| January | 15.4 | 12.9 | 15 | Cool by Maltese standards, showery but not the wettest |
| February | 14.1 | 11.6 | 16 | The coolest point of the season, breezy and changeable |
Even at its coolest, Malta's winter rarely drops into the kind of chill that shuts down outdoor life — locals still sit outside at cafés on clear afternoons.
What a winter day in Malta actually feels like
With December rain spread across 16 days, showers are common but rarely all-day events — expect spells of sun between fronts rather than sustained grey skies. A day high near 16.3°C means a light jacket or layered knitwear covers most afternoons, while the drop to around 14°C at night calls for something warmer once the sun sets, especially near the water in Valletta or the Grand Harbour.
Wind is the variable the numbers don't show directly: winter in Malta is often breezier than the temperatures suggest, which can make an otherwise mild day feel sharper on an exposed bastion or ferry crossing.
Who winter-in-Malta suits
This is a season for walking cities, museums, and long lunches rather than beach days. It suits travellers who want:
- Mild daytime temperatures without summer's heat or crowds
- A realistic chance of sun between rain showers
- Lower-season pricing on flights and accommodation (check current rates before booking, as these shift year to year)
It suits less well anyone set on guaranteed swimming weather — for that, Malta's summer months are the safer bet.
If you're weighing Malta against other low-cost winter-sun options, our guide to warm Europe in November on a budget covers destinations with a similar mild-but-not-hot profile.
Planning around Malta's winter climate
Given the December normals — 16.3°C by day, 14°C by night, and rain roughly every other day — a practical winter packing list leans on layers: a breathable jacket, one warmer layer for evenings, and something waterproof for the 16 rain days. Sturdy shoes matter more than sandals here, since much of Malta's winter appeal is walking its fortified towns rather than lying on a beach.
Want to see how a real itinerary handles this kind of shoulder-season climate, day by day? See a full example plan built by the Fjärran engine, which weighs real climate normals like these against your dates and budget before suggesting where to go.
FAQ
Is Malta warm enough to swim in winter?
Not comfortably for most travellers. Air temperatures around 16.3°C by day are mild, but sea temperatures lag behind air temperatures in winter, so swimming is generally a fair-weather-season activity rather than a winter one.
Does it rain a lot in Malta in December?
Rain falls on about 16 days in December, which is roughly every other day — but showers tend to be brief rather than day-long, so plenty of dry hours remain for sightseeing.
What should I pack for Malta in winter?
Layers work best: a light jacket for day highs near 16.3°C, a warmer layer for nights around 14°C, and something waterproof given the frequent rain days. Comfortable walking shoes matter more than beachwear.
Is January colder than December in Malta?
Slightly: January averages a 15.4°C day high against December's 16.3°C. In the recent normals used here, February is actually the coolest month at 14.1°C by day — still mild by northern-European standards.