New Aer Lingus flights this year shows Malta to be hugely popular with Irish visitors in first half of 2025!  

Malta is certainly proving to be a very popular destination with Irish visitors in 2025.  Thanks to the new Aer Lingus flights there has been a significant increase in visitors to Malta from Ireland in the first six months of 2025 according to the latest figures from the Malta Tourism Authority.

Figures show that there have been 41,945 visitors from Ireland to Malta from January to June. This is an increase of 77% compared to the same period in 2024, which had 23,593 visitors from Ireland.

This resulted in a 71.9% increase in expenditure from Irish visitors in Malta when compared to the same period in 2024!

Overall, total inbound visitors (including overnight cruise passengers) to Malta from all markets increased by 14.4% in the first half of 2025, compared to the same period last year, resulting in a 21.1% increase in expenditure spend.

Visitors can now fly direct from Dublin to Malta with both Aer Lingus and Ryanair, and from Belfast with Jet2. Visitors can also fly from Shannon to Malta with Ryanair.

So, if you’re planning a visit to this popular destination in the next few months, then you certainly won’t be short of things to do and see.

This October and November are set to be busy months in Malta with lots of events taking place that you won’t want to miss.

TRAKAFEST, Malta’s one-of-a-kind world music festival, will take place in the dynamic Indoor BMX Warehouse in Pembroke from October 17th to 19th. On Saturday, 18th October the festival will transform into a lively hub of activities. Visitors can enjoy an Artisan Market, indulge in local and international cuisine from food trucks, explore fun family-friendly activities, and dance the night away with a live concert.

Anyone with a sweet tooth won’t want to miss the Hamrun Chocolate Festival which will take place on Saturday 18th October in the city centre of Hamrun. Visitors will undergo the ultimate chocolate experience. Chocolate makers from Malta, Italy, Germany, Belgium, America, Brazil, the UK, and Morocco will all be in attendance for what is sure to be a fantastic occasion. No golden ticket required!

If you’re looking for something a bit different then you won’t want to miss the exclusive evening opening of Underground Valletta on 1st November as part of the Dark Tourism Weekender. Join an immersive 45-minute journey that goes through the capital’s subterranean world. Descend into centuries-old cisterns and reservoirs excavated after the Great Siege of 1565 and walk through the wartime shelters carved beneath the city to provide cover from the 16,000 tonnes of bombs dropped over Malta during the Second World War. Tickets are priced at €20 per person. Pre-booking is required.

With Sunway, you can depart Dublin on the 7th October and stay seven nights at the 4* Pebbles Hotel, St Pauls Bay (RO) from €475 per person or you can depart on the 24th November and stay seven nights at the 3* Valentia Hotel (RO) from €349 per person. Offers are for two sharing and include flights & hotel.

With Budget Travel, you can depart Dublin on the 16th October and stay seven nights at the 4* Maritim Antonine Hotel & Spa, Mellieha (RO) from €569 per person (Aer Lingus flights include 10kg checking bag per person). Or you can depart on the 6th November and stay seven nights at 4* Hugo’s Boutique Hotel, St. Julian’s (RO) from €385 per person with flights from Ryanair (Small bag only, bags can be added at an extra cost).

Speaking about the visitor numbers from Ireland, Tolene van der Merwe, Director of the Malta Tourism Authority for the UK & Ireland said “It is great to see such a positive increase in visitor numbers from Ireland for the first half the year. Malta is just a three and a half hour flight from Ireland and there are now direct flights with both Ryanair and Aer Lingus. Malta also offers excellent value for money and I think this has been reflected in the visitor numbers. We look forward to welcoming more visitors from Ireland in the second half of the year.”

Visit www.visitmalta.com for further information on Malta