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Averages for Malta in March

Weather lowdown

During March temperatures typically rise a little in Malta, though the rate of warming in early spring is limited by the moderation from the surrounding seas, which are typically at their coldest in February and March. The mean maximum temperature at Luqa Airport is 17°C and the mean overnight minimum is 10°C. Frosts are almost unheard of and the lowest temperature recorded at Luqa in March is 2.2°C. Although heat is very rare during March, temperatures above 30°C have been known.

Deep rain-bearing low pressure systems are less likely to take a southerly track in March than in January and February, and the mean monthly precipitation total is just 41mm, with a mean of 9 days per March with measurable precipitation. Rainfall amounts can vary considerably from one March to the next, however, depending on the position of the jet stream and the associated track of low pressure systems.

The mean monthly sunshine total is 223 hours, an average of just over seven hours per day, which is well over half of the possible total. Due to the moisture from the surrounding sea, March is a fairly humid month in Malta with a mean relative humidity of 79%. The sea temperature averages 15°C during March, the coolest of any month of the year, which is on the cool side for swimming or diving in.

Weather hazards are rare during March, although the hot, dry and dusty sinoco wind from northern Africa blows occasionally which makes for rather unpleasant conditions. Snow is almost unheard of, but wet snow was observed in parts of the island in March 1949, which failed to settle.

Dates for the diary

There are not many notable festivals and events during a typical March in Malta. On the 19th March, St Joseph is celebrated at Rabat each year, and features band performances and widespread partying at the location. The Annunciation of Our Lady festival is held on the 25th March each year, and is a traditional solemn religious festival.

Things to do

Malta has quite a lot of traditional sporting entertainment. Visitors can try out Eden Superbowl at Saint Julian's, which is a ten pin bowling alley offering 20 alleys, and it also contains an on-site cinema, making it a good outlet for combining the chance to see a film with a ten pin bowling trip. There are offers where visitors can pay a relatively large fee for an unlimited spell of bowling, and there are also offers for “disco bowling” after 9pm, which offer a combination of dancing and bowling opportunities. There are TV screens broadcasting sporting events, and the centre also organises musical entertainment on some evenings.

March is a reasonable time of year to try out some fun tours of the island, and during a significant stay at Malta, chances are at least some days will have conducive weather. Malta Segway Tours offer tours of Dingli and Valetta on Segways, which are regarded by many customers as good fun to ride around on. Dingli Funtastic is a seaside tour, while Dingli Adventure Tour visits a wide range of attractions around Dingli, including Boschetto Gardens, Palazzo Gingenti, and Magdalena Chapel.

There is also a two-hour tour of Valetta, showcasing its museums and historical and architectural sites. They also offer team building exercises in Dingli, again involving the use of Segways. The tours depart daily from their main centre in Dingli, and should provide plenty of fun.

Where to eat & drink

Malta hosts a wide range of excellent restaurants, bars and pubs to eat and drink at. I Cannoli at English Bar, at 160 Triq San Xmun, is a good Italian restaurant with a Sicilian theme. For primarily Asian cuisine, consider ZEST at 12 St. George's Road, Saint Julian's, which is especially good for Thai and sushi menu options.

The Ta Fra Ben Reggae Bar at Qawra is a popular beach bar which serves good traditional pub food and drinks, and is also good for its live music events. Incognito Nightclub, at Fliegu Street, Qawra, serves pub meals and drinks during the daytime and then during evenings and overnight has frequent musical entertainment including karaoke, so it serves as both a pub and a nightclub and can thus cater for a wide range of tastes.

Hit the beach

The weather tends to become more reliable as spring gets underway, but in March the weather is still often on the cool side for having a beach trip. Nonetheless, it is certainly possible to have an enjoyable relaxing time at this time of year, especially as there are usually relatively few tourists around.

Ghadira Bay at Mellieha Bay, the largest beach in the Maltese islands, has facilities for water skiing, parasailing and other activities such as pedalos and banana boat rides, and thus is particularly suitable for water sports fans. Armier Bay and Little Armier represent a pleasant beach for relaxation, which are adjacent to some eateries and some boat houses nearby.

Where to stay

There are many good accommodation options in Malta and visitors are spoilt for choice. A good luxury option is InterContinental Malta at St George's Bay, Saint Julian's, which has a good fitness and wellness centre and has 5-star accommodation. A good boutique option is the 4-star Park Lane Aparthotel which is handy for access to various nearby restaurants. The four-star Solana Hotel at Gorg Borg Olivier St, Mellieha has good 4-star accommodation and there is a Tosca A La Carte Italian restaurant on-site.

For those with tight budgets, the Luna Holiday Complex at Marfa Road, Mellieha is a reasonable option. The Encarto Holiday Apartment is a good self-catering option, and offers up to 6 sleeps and is only 5 minutes from the sea.