Picolo recommends · Hotel in Mdina, Malta
The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux
A palazzo set into the ramparts of Mdina, where the town falls silent at dusk and the view runs across half of Malta to the sea.
By early evening the coaches have gone, the lanes of Mdina empty, and you have the old capital almost to yourself. The Xara Palace is part of the fortifications, and rooms on the bastion side look out over the eastern half of the island to the sea.
Mdina is the walled hilltop town at the centre of Malta, older than Valletta. The hotel is small, with only a handful of rooms, antique furniture and service that knows your name. Valletta is about half an hour away by car or taxi when you want the coast.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux
This is our pick for romance on Malta. You get history you can touch, a hushed town once the visitors leave and dinner on a terrace high above the walls.
There is no pool, no beach and very little to do in Mdina after dark beyond the hotel itself. If you want to swim every day or go out in the evening, base yourself on the coast or in Valletta.
What you get
- Palazzo rooms built into the city wall
- Views across Malta from the bastion
- Terrace dining above the walls
- Personal service in a small hotel
- Rooms furnished with antiques
A day at The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux
- Morning
- A quiet stroll through Mdina before the day visitors arrive.
- Midday
- Down the hill to the catacombs in neighbouring Rabat.
- Afternoon
- A rest in your room while the town fills with tour groups.
- Evening
- Dinner on the terrace as the lights spread across the island below.
Location
Mdina, Malta
Open in MapsQuestions about The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux
Is The Xara Palace inside Mdina?
Yes. It is the only hotel within Mdina's walls, built into the fortifications that ring the old hilltop capital in the middle of the island.
Does The Xara Palace have a pool?
No. There is no pool, and the nearest beaches are a drive away, so it suits a stay focused on history and food.
Is Mdina quiet at night?
Very. Once the day visitors leave, the streets are almost empty, which is the main reason many guests choose to stay here.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
How Picolo chooses
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