Staying inside Mdina’s fortified walls already feels like stepping into another chapter of Malta’s history. The Xara Palace is taking that sense of access farther with a collection of private experiences that reaches from the ornate interior of St. John’s Co-Cathedral to the coves and lagoons surrounding Malta, Gozo and Comino.
The experiences are designed for travelers who want more than a conventional sightseeing itinerary. Guests can enter important landmarks after public hours, meet people connected to Malta’s living religious traditions, explore the islands by private boat, visit local wine producers or arrange a wellness session without leaving their suite.
Together, the collection positions the 17-room hotel as both a historic place to stay and a base for discovering Malta through encounters that are difficult to arrange independently.
St. John’s Co-Cathedral After the Crowds Leave
St. John’s Co-Cathedral is one of Valletta’s defining landmarks, known for its elaborate Baroque interior and works by Caravaggio. It is also one of Malta’s most visited attractions, which can make it difficult to appreciate the building’s details during the busiest parts of the day.
The Xara Palace can arrange access outside regular opening hours, allowing guests to explore the cathedral in a quieter setting. Without the usual flow of daytime visitors, there is more space to examine its decorated chapels, marble floor and artworks at an unhurried pace.
The experience requires traveling from Mdina to Valletta, but that contrast is part of its appeal. Guests move between Malta’s former capital and its present one while encountering two of the island’s most important historic settings.
A Private Encounter with the Order of Malta
Another experience focuses on the Sovereign Order of Malta, whose history remains deeply connected to the islands. Accompanied by a Knight of the Order, guests receive private access to the Order’s embassy in Malta.
The visit looks beyond the familiar story of armored knights and fortifications to consider how the Order’s traditions and institutions have continued into the present. For travelers interested in European, military or religious history, the opportunity to discuss that legacy with a current member provides context that a standard museum visit cannot easily reproduce.
Inside a Centuries-Old Monastery
The hotel can also arrange private access to a secluded monastery that has remained in religious service for more than 400 years.
Guests are welcomed into the monastery church, where relics associated with the Order of the Knights of Malta are preserved. The visit also includes an encounter with the resident nuns, offering insight into a living community rather than treating the monastery solely as a historic monument.
As with any visit to an active religious site, availability may depend on the community’s schedule. Guests should also confirm appropriate clothing and photography rules before arriving.
Exploring Malta, Gozo and Comino by Sea
Malta’s history is inseparable from the Mediterranean, and its coastline often looks most dramatic from the water. Private yacht and boat charters arranged through The Xara Palace can be tailored around a leisurely cruise, a sunset outing or a longer island-hopping day.
Possible routes include secluded coves, sheltered lagoons, sea cliffs and harbors around Malta, Gozo and Comino. A private charter gives travelers more control over the pace and stops than a larger group excursion, although the final itinerary will always depend on weather and sea conditions.
Comino’s Blue Lagoon is among the country’s best-known coastal attractions, but a knowledgeable skipper may also help guests experience quieter areas away from the busiest arrival times. Travelers planning a broader trip can find additional ideas in DRIFT’s guide to some of the best places to experience in Malta.
Discovering Maltese Wine
Malta’s wine industry is small compared with those of its Mediterranean neighbors, which makes meeting local producers especially valuable. The hotel’s private wine experiences can include boutique vineyards and historic cellars, with tastings centered on Maltese and wider Mediterranean wines.
These visits introduce travelers to the effects of Malta’s climate, soils and limited growing area while giving family-run producers an opportunity to explain their work directly. Tastings can be arranged as a dedicated excursion or incorporated into a day exploring the island’s countryside.
Wellness Without Leaving the Palace
Not every experience requires a journey beyond Mdina. Guests can arrange an in-suite massage or a private yoga session tailored to their preferred pace and wellness goals.
The privacy of an individual room or suite makes this a useful option after a full day in Valletta or on the water. It also suits shorter stays when travelers want restorative time without adding another transfer to the itinerary.
Staying Inside the Silent City
The Xara Palace occupies a restored 17th-century palace on Mdina’s bastions. The boutique hotel has 17 individually designed rooms and suites furnished with antiques, artworks and richly textured fabrics.
Mdina is commonly called the Silent City, and its narrow lanes become particularly atmospheric after daytime visitors leave. Staying within the walls gives guests the opportunity to walk through the old city in the early morning and evening, when its architecture and enclosed courtyards feel most removed from modern Malta.
The hotel’s position also creates a natural link between Malta’s history and its cinematic appeal. Readers interested in the island’s screen appearances can explore DRIFT’s guide to filming locations for The Odyssey in Malta, Rome and Morocco, which also features The Xara Palace.
Planning a Private Malta Itinerary
These experiences are individually arranged rather than offered as a fixed group program. Travelers should contact the hotel well before arrival, particularly for after-hours access, embassy and monastery visits, or yacht charters during the busy summer season.
Availability may vary according to religious services, official functions, weather and the schedules of private hosts. Transportation requirements and accessibility should also be discussed in advance, since several experiences take place in protected historic buildings or aboard boats.
The strength of the collection lies in its range. One day might involve the artistic grandeur of St. John’s Co-Cathedral; another could be spent swimming off Comino, speaking with a winemaker or walking through Mdina after dark. By connecting those experiences through a historic hotel, The Xara Palace offers a way to see Malta not as a list of attractions, but as a place shaped by faith, seafaring, craftsmanship and centuries of cultural exchange.
