landmark
Mdina
Malta's ancient walled capital known as the 'Silent City', with narrow medieval streets and sweeping views over the island.
1 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeMaltaIr-Rabat
Rabat
Ir-Rabat, Malta · Europe
About Rabat
Rabat works well as a base: 5 minutes from Mosta, 8km from Blue Grotto, Malta.
Rabat is in Ir-Rabat, Malta, with about 12,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Mosta, about 4 km away.
Rabat (Maltese: Ir-Rabat [ɪˈrːɐbɐt]) is a town in the Western Region of Malta. It adjoins the ancient capital city of Mdina, and a north-western part of Rabat was in the Roman city of Melite until its medieval retrenchment. The population of Rabat was 12,329 in July 2024. This included 6,249 males and 6,080 females;Read more
10,996 Maltese nationals and 1,333 foreign nationals.
The Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See to the Republic of Malta is seated in this village. The Local Council of Rabat is also the administrator of Baħrija. Parts of the films Munich and Black Eagle were shot in Rabat. In December 1999, Mtarfa was split from Rabat to form a separate Local Council by Act XXI, an amendment to the Local Council Act of 1993 (Act XV). In 2021, Rabat was transferred from the Northern Region to the newly-created Western Region as part of a reorganization of the regions of Malta.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Rabat?
Within an hour or so of Rabat: Mdina (1 km), Dingli Cliffs (4 km), Rotunda of Mosta (4 km), Megalithic Temples of Malta (7 km).
Where is Rabat?
Rabat is in Ir-Rabat, Malta, about 4 km from Mosta.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 11,936
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Malta
- Region
- Ir-Rabat
- Timezone
- Europe/Malta
- Coordinates
- 35.8815, 14.3987
Tags
Worth the detour from Rabat
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
scenic viewpoint
Dingli Cliffs
Malta's highest sea cliffs on the island's west coast, with a clifftop road, chapel and open views towards the islet of Filfla.
4 km · about 5 min drive
cathedral
Rotunda of Mosta
Parish church with one of the world's largest unsupported domes (37 m), modelled on the Pantheon and built by villagers between 1833 and 1860. In 1942 a Luftwaffe bomb pierced the dome during Mass and failed to explode: a replica sits in the sacristy.
4 km · about 10 min drive
ancient ruins
Megalithic Temples of Malta
UNESCO-listed prehistoric temples including Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, among the oldest freestanding structures on Earth.
7 km · about 15 min drive
ancient ruins
Ħaġar Qim
UNESCO-listed megalithic temple complex from about 3600 BC on a ridge above Malta's south coast, with a visitor centre and car park.
7 km · about 15 min drive
ancient ruins
Mnajdra
Prehistoric temple group aligned to solstice sunrises, sited on a slope above the sea a short walk downhill from Ħaġar Qim.
7 km · about 15 min drive
natural wonder
Blue Grotto, Malta
Series of sea caverns on Malta's southern coast where sunlight creates a luminous phosphorescent blue glow on the water.
8 km · about 15 min drive
beach
Golden Bay
Sandy bay backed by clay slopes in northwest Malta, one of the island's larger beaches with a road-accessible car park.
8 km · about 15 min drive
Driving roads near Rabat
- Right hereDingli CliffsMalta's highest sea cliffs on the island's west coast, with a clifftop road, chapel and open views towards the islet of Filfla.
- Right hereUpper Barrakka GardensTerraced garden on Valletta's bastions overlooking the Grand Harbour and Three Cities, with a daily saluting battery firing.
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