Updated in September 2026, this National Museum of Natural History guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The National Museum of Natural History is a science and heritage museum inside Palazzo Vilhena, at the entrance to the fortified city of Mdina, Malta. The building has housed the museum since 1973, after serving for decades as a hospital. As of September 2026, adult admission costs €5.00, and the museum stays closed on both Mondays and Wednesdays, a detail some older guides list incorrectly.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Tuesday, and Thursday to Sunday, 09:00–17:00. Closed Monday and Wednesday. |
| Ticket prices | Adults €5.00; concessions €3.50; children 6–11 €2.50; under 6s free |
| Address | Vilhena Palace, Pjazza Publju, L-Imdina, Malta |
| Nearest transport / parking | Bus 51, 52 or 53 to Mdina Gate; free parking outside the gate |
| Typical time needed | 1 to 2 hours |
The National Museum of Natural History opening hours
The museum opens Tuesday, and Thursday to Sunday, from 09:00 to 17:00. It is closed on Monday and Wednesday, including in the summer months.
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing, at 16:30. Heritage Malta publishes separate winter opening times each year, which can differ from the hours above. Confirm the exact dates on the official opening hours page if you plan to visit between November and February.
The museum is also closed on 1 January, Good Friday, and 24, 25 and 31 December, in line with Heritage Malta’s policy for all its sites.
The National Museum of Natural History ticket prices
Standard adult admission costs €5.00. Reduced rates apply to several visitor groups, and some categories enter free of charge.
- Adults (18–59): €5.00
- Youths (12–17): €3.50
- Senior citizens (60+): €3.50
- Concessions and students: €3.50
- Children (6–11): €2.50
- Infants (1–5): free
- Heritage Malta members and Passport holders: free
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in September 2026. Check the official site for the latest figures before you travel.
The museum is included in a multi-site heritage pass sold by third-party operators, alongside Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum, MUŻA, Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra Archaeological Park, and Domvs Romana. This can work out cheaper than paying for each site separately if you plan to visit several of them.
How to get to the National Museum of Natural History
Buses 51, 52 and 53 run from the Valletta bus terminus to Mdina Gate, taking roughly 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. Buses 50, 36, 109, 181, 182, 186, 201 and 202 also serve the Rabat and Mdina area from other parts of the island.
A single two-hour bus ticket currently costs €2.50 in summer, dropping to €2.00 in winter, with free transfers within that period. No buses enter Mdina itself, so you will get off just outside the gate and walk roughly five minutes to the museum. Taxis and ride-hailing apps such as Bolt also serve Mdina directly.
Parking at the National Museum of Natural History
Free public parking is available just outside Mdina Gate, in the car park known locally as the ditch, and near Domvs Romana. Unlike Valletta, Mdina has no paid parking scheme for visitors arriving by car.
Driving from Valletta takes around 25 minutes. From Sliema or St Julian’s, allow 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Roads leading up to Mdina Gate are narrow, so allow extra time during busy midday periods in summer.
How long to spend at the National Museum of Natural History
Most visitors need 1 to 2 hours to see the permanent collection at a comfortable pace. Allow extra time if you are visiting with children, joining a guided tour, or combining the visit with a walk around Mdina itself.
Accessibility at the National Museum of Natural History
Some areas of the museum cannot be fully accessed by visitors with mobility impairments, due to the building’s historic layout. Fully accessible toilets, lockers and a nappy-changing facility are available on site.
The museum has designated quiet spaces for autism-friendly visits every Tuesday from 13:00 to 16:00. A sensory map and social story can be downloaded from the official accessibility page before your visit.
Inside the National Museum of Natural History
The ground floor covers Maltese geology and palaeontology, with displays of local rock formations and fossils found across the islands. This section explains how Malta’s landscape formed over millions of years.
A marine biology hall presents fauna from Maltese waters, including fish, molluscs and other sea life. Nearby cases hold collections of insects and shells gathered from across the archipelago.
The museum’s full collection is far larger than what is on permanent display. It holds more than 10,000 mineral and geological specimens, and around 12,000 specimens of birds and mammals, alongside hundreds of thousands of insects and molluscs kept for research.
The Joe Sultana Hall focuses on the ecology of Malta’s satellite islets: Filfla, Fungus Rock, St Paul’s Islands and Comino. Displays explain the wildlife found on each of these small, largely uninhabited outcrops.
The ornithology hall, named after the museum’s first curator, Giuseppe Despott, presents a global overview of bird diversity through systematic classification. Cases include both Maltese species and specimens from further afield.
The Lewis Mizzi Hall displays a significant part of Mizzi’s historic mineral collection, covering a wide range of geological specimens. A separate section addresses human evolution, placing Malta’s natural history within a wider global context.
Temporary exhibitions and public lectures run throughout the year, often tied to the museum’s ongoing research and fieldwork programme. The museum also publishes its own peer-reviewed journal, the Bulletin of the National Museum of Natural History, Malta, which is freely available to download from the official website.
Practical visitor tips
| Aspect | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive soon after the 09:00 opening to explore the halls before coach groups reach Mdina. |
| Crowds | The museum is far quieter than Mdina’s cathedral and main streets, so queues are rare. |
| Layout | Displays are arranged across the palace’s original rooms, so allow time to locate each named hall. |
| Entry process | Tickets can be bought at the door, or booked online in advance through the official Heritage Malta store. |
| On-site logistics | Lockers are available for bags, but there is no café inside, so plan refreshments elsewhere. |
Frequently asked questions about the National Museum of Natural History
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the National Museum of Natural History suitable for children? | Yes. Displays cover geology, fossils, birds and marine life, which appeal to most age groups. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | No, tickets are normally available at the door, though online booking is possible. |
| Is the National Museum of Natural History open on Mondays? | No, the museum is closed on both Mondays and Wednesdays. |
| Are bags allowed inside? | Small bags are permitted, and lockers are available for larger items. |
| Is the museum wheelchair accessible? | Only partially. Some areas cannot be fully accessed by visitors with mobility impairments. |
Things to do near the National Museum of Natural History
- Mdina Cathedral and Cathedral Museum: a Baroque cathedral and adjoining museum a short walk from Palazzo Vilhena.
- St Paul’s Catacombs: underground Roman-era burial chambers in nearby Rabat.
- Domvs Romana: a preserved Roman townhouse with mosaic floors, just outside Mdina’s walls.
- Palazzo Falson Historic House Museum: a restored medieval palace with period furnishings, inside Mdina.
- Mdina’s bastions and streets: the fortified city’s quiet lanes and walls offer views over much of central Malta.
Alternative attractions
- Malta National Aquarium, Qawra: a large aquarium covering Mediterranean and tropical marine life.
- Esplora Interactive Science Centre, Kalkara: a hands-on science museum aimed at families and school groups.
- Għar Dalam Cave and Museum, Birżebbuġa: a prehistoric cave with fossil remains of extinct animals.
- Mediterraneo Marine Park, Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq: a marine park with animal shows and a small zoo.
- Dingli Cliffs: Malta’s highest sea cliffs, reachable within a short drive of Mdina.
More Malta travel
Other Malta travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to expect at the Farson’s Brewery Experience in Malta.
- Marvel at the unsupported dome at the Mosta Rotunda in Malta.
- Plan your visit to Malta’s San Anton Gardens.
- Practical guide to visiting St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.
- National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta: Visitor guide with ticket prices and opening hours.
