Visiting the Silent City? Compare cars for Mdina, Rabat and the centre of Malta — and know where to park.
Local tips
Practical pointers from the CarsMT team in Malta, so there are no surprises at the rental desk.
Mdina sits in the centre of Malta, about 20–25 minutes' drive from Malta Airport, and there are few rental offices in Mdina or Rabat themselves — so most visitors pick up at the airport. Some companies deliver to hotels around the island; check the delivery terms when you compare.
Mdina is almost car-free: only residents and permitted vehicles can drive in. Park outside the walls, near the Main Gate or in Rabat, and walk in. Spaces fill up at weekends and during events, so arrive early.
From Mdina it's a short drive to Dingli Cliffs, the Ta' Qali crafts village and Mosta, and Rabat's catacombs are within walking distance of the walls.
In pictures
Questions
No — visitors' cars aren't allowed inside the walls; only residents and permitted vehicles can drive in. Park outside, near the Main Gate or in Rabat, and explore Mdina on foot. It's small, so everything is within a few minutes' walk.
There's parking just outside the walls and in the streets of Rabat next door. It gets busy at weekends and during events, so arriving in the morning helps. Check the signs and bay colours — some bays are for residents only.
There are few rental offices in Mdina or Rabat, so most visitors pick up at Malta Airport, 20–25 minutes away, or in Sliema or St Julian's if they're staying there. Some companies deliver to hotels around the island.
Dingli Cliffs, Malta's highest point, is a short drive south-west — best at sunset. The Ta' Qali crafts village and Mosta, with its huge domed church, are a few minutes away, and the north-west beaches are within half an hour.
Usually around 20–30 minutes by car, longer at rush hour. Mdina is right in the middle of Malta, which makes it an easy stop on a day trip between the coast and the countryside.
Updated October 2026 by the CarsMT team in Malta. About us
Other pick-up points
Read our full guide to renting a car in Malta — documents, insurance, parking and taking the car to Gozo.
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