Palazzo Falson is a medieval historic house museum on Villegaignon Street in Mdina, Malta, with foundations dating to the 13th century and once home to collector Captain Olof Gollcher. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and practical tips for planning your visit.
This guide was updated in August 2026. The museum’s own website confirms children under 6 are not permitted inside at all, a stricter rule than the general “children go free” policies common at many historic house museums.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00–16:00 (last entry). Closed Mondays, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day |
| Ticket prices | Adult €12.50, senior/student/ISIC/ICOM €6. Children 6–12 free with an adult; under 6 not admitted |
| Address | Villegaignon Street, Mdina MDN 1191, Malta |
| Nearest transport | Bus to Rabat, then walk through Howard Gardens to Mdina’s Main Gate |
| Typical visit length | 1 to 1.5 hours |
Palazzo Falson opening hours
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 16:00, with 16:00 as the last entry time.
It is closed on Mondays, as well as Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
After-hours visits can sometimes be arranged for private events, though these are separate from standard opening hours.
Palazzo Falson ticket prices
An adult ticket costs €12.50. Senior, student (with a valid student card), ISIC, and ICOM tickets cost €6, and EYCA cardholders receive a 10% discount.
Children aged 6 to 12 visit for free when accompanied by an adult. Children under 6 are not permitted inside the museum at all.
The ticket price includes an audio guide in six languages, printed and digital information in over 20 languages, and a 10% discount at the rooftop Gustav Café.
Group visits of up to 15 people qualify for a reduced rate of €10 per person, and school groups pay a €2 per student donation.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026.
Why book the Mdina and Rabat Walking Tour?
- 🏰 Mdina’s Medieval “Silent City”: Wander through the narrow, honey-hued stone streets of Malta’s ancient fortified capital, admiring baroque palazzos, historic convents, and grand aristocratic residences.
- 🏛️ St. Paul’s Grotto & Catacombs: Step underground into the historic Wignacourt Museum complex to explore sacred early Christian catacombs and the revered cave shrine associated with St. Paul.
- 🛡️ WWII Underground Air Raid Shelters: Experience a moving look into 20th-century Maltese resilience while walking through the hand-dug subterranean shelters used during wartime bombardment.
- 🕌 Rabat’s Historic Streets: Transition outside the ancient city walls into neighboring Rabat to discover charming convents, historic churches, and quiet suburban alleyways full of local character.
- 📜 Immersive Local History & Views: Take in sweeping panoramic vistas across the island from the fortified bastion walls while a knowledgeable guide shares stories of sieges, knights, and local uprisings.
How to get to Palazzo Falson
The museum is on Villegaignon Street, reached on foot from either the Main Gate or Greek’s Gate of Mdina.
Buses connect to Rabat, just outside Mdina, from where it is a short walk through Howard Gardens to the Main Gate: routes 51, 52, 53, and 56 from Valletta; 214 or Airport 1 Direct from the airport; 202 from Sliema; 186 from Buġibba; and 181 or 182 from the University and Mater Dei area.
Check current routes on www.publictransport.com.mt before travelling, since services can change.
Parking near Palazzo Falson
Parking inside Mdina itself is prohibited. Visitors arriving by car should use the parking areas outside the Main Gate, outside Greek’s Gate, or near the Roman Domus, and walk in from there.
How long to spend at Palazzo Falson
Most visitors need 1 to 1.5 hours to see the historic rooms and courtyard, with the included audio guide.
Allow extra time for a stop at the rooftop Gustav Café, one of the highest cafés on the island.
Accessibility at Palazzo Falson
A wheelchair ramp is available at the side door on Triq is-Salvatur, giving access to the ground-floor spaces: the courtyard, refectory, armoury, kitchen, and studio.
As a Grade A historic building, there is no lift to the upper floors or to the rooftop café, so these areas are not wheelchair accessible.
A wheelchair-accessible restroom is available on the ground floor; further restrooms are at rooftop level.
Inside Palazzo Falson: what to see
Palazzo Falson is the second oldest structure still standing in Mdina, with foundations dating to the 13th century and later additions from the 16th century onwards.
Captain Olof Gollcher bought the palazzo in 1927 and filled it with his personal collections of paintings, armour, silver, furniture, and oriental rugs.
Following his death in 1962 and a five-year restoration beginning in 2002, the house opened to the public as a museum in May 2007.
Highlights include the armoury, kitchen, study, and drawing room, alongside a rooftop Pollinator Haven garden and views over Mdina’s rooftops.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip |
|---|
| Use the free lockers at reception for larger bags, since there is no cloakroom facility. |
| Combine your visit with Gustav Café on the rooftop, which offers a 10% discount to ticket holders. |
| Confirm your route on www.publictransport.com.mt before travelling, since bus routes to Rabat can change periodically. |
| Wear comfortable shoes for the walk from Rabat through Howard Gardens to Mdina’s Main Gate. |
| Book ahead for the augmented reality game “Secrets of Palazzo Falson” if travelling with children aged 6 and over. |
Frequently asked questions about Palazzo Falson
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Palazzo Falson suitable for children? | Yes, for children aged 6 and over; children under 6 are not permitted inside. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance? | Not for general entry, though group and after-hours visits should be arranged ahead. |
| Is Palazzo Falson open on Mondays? | No, the museum is closed on Mondays year-round. |
| Are bags allowed inside? | Larger bags can be left in free lockers at reception, since there is no cloakroom. |
| Is Palazzo Falson wheelchair accessible? | Partly; a ramp gives access to ground-floor rooms, but there is no lift to upper floors. |
Things to do near Palazzo Falson
St Paul’s Cathedral and its museum stand a short walk away, also on Villegaignon Street. Mdina’s Main Gate and the bridge over the former moat make a scenic entry point to the old city.
The Roman Domus, near the Main Gate, displays mosaics and artefacts from a Roman-era townhouse. Rabat, just outside Mdina’s walls, offers further historic sites including the Catacombs of St Paul.
Alternative attractions
Casa Rocca Piccola, in Valletta, is another historic house museum offering a similar glimpse into aristocratic Maltese family life. The Grandmaster’s Palace, in Valletta, provides a grander, state-scale historic interior by comparison.
Casa Bernard, also in Mdina, is a smaller, family-run historic house open for guided tours. Vilhena Palace, at Mdina’s Main Gate, houses the National Museum of Natural History in a former Baroque palace.
