Mdina and Rabat taste like Malta should. I love how this tour braids Game of Thrones filming locations into the walk, then lands you right in the middle of everyday Maltese life. You’re moving through narrow streets and real neighborhoods, not just posing in front of sights.

My second favorite part is the food and drink that actually feel like dinner. You’ll start with Maltese street food favorites like pastizzi and a local soft drink (Kinnie), then keep going through tastings and bread-making, with beer and wine to finish.

One thing to think about: it’s a solid walking plan with moderate fitness expected, and the tour does not include entry tickets for churches, museums, or historic sites. If you’re hoping for lots of indoor stops, plan to be out in the streets more than you might expect.

Key things to know before you go

• Game of Thrones Season 1-style stops woven into both Mdina and Rabat
• A real meal pace, not tiny samples, with lunch and multiple tastings
• Craft beer plus red wine included as the tour winds down
• Wood-burning oven and local café style stops that feel like how locals actually eat
• Small group size (max 10) for a calmer, more conversational tour
• Bread-making fun with ħobż biz-żejt, where you get hands-on

Why Mdina + Rabat together work so well

Mdina and Rabat sit close, but they feel different in a way you notice fast. Mdina is the old-stone “quiet postcard” city, with winding streets that make you slow down and look up. Rabat is where the daily rhythm shows through more clearly, with neighborhood food stops and busy local corners.

This tour starts at 4:30 pm, which is a smart time choice. You’re not cooking in midday heat, and the streets feel lively as evening approaches. It also means you get to see both places as living towns, not only as daytime sightseeing targets.

And the Game of Thrones angle isn’t just a side quest. The filming locations are built into the route, so the story gives you an extra reason to pay attention to street shapes, viewpoints, and the feel of each area.

Meeting point and the small-group setup that keeps it fun

You meet at Is-Serkin – Crystal Palace Bar in Ir-Rabat (Triq San Pawl). Starting at a local bar makes the tone easy and social from minute one, and it lines up with the first food-and-drink moments of the tour.

The group is limited to up to 10 people, which matters more than it sounds. In cities like Mdina, where streets can get narrow, smaller groups mean fewer bottlenecks and more time to ask questions. It also makes the tasting stops feel less rushed.

You’ll want to be comfortable with a walking-focused experience. The tour lists moderate physical fitness as the expectation, so bring shoes you trust. Also, this experience requires good weather—if conditions are poor, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Mdina Old City: narrow lanes, views, and Season 1 filming spots

The Mdina portion runs about 1 hour, and you’ll spend it where Mdina shines: the narrow, winding streets. This is the part where you start to feel the city’s atmosphere. Buildings press close, corners turn suddenly, and you’ll notice how space works when you’re actually walking it.

The guide will also point out a number of Game of Thrones locations connected to Season 1. What you should look for is the relationship between the streets and the views. Even if you’re not a superfan, it helps you understand why these scenes worked on location—stone walls, street lines, and the way certain streets open into a sightline.

Because there’s no mention of included entrance tickets here, think of this as a street-level experience: walk, observe, and connect the dots between the city’s layout and its screen-world look.

Practical tip: Mdina can feel slightly cooler than Rabat at evening, but the wind can flip on you. A light layer helps you stay comfortable throughout the walk.

Rabat walking: St Paul’s area, catacombs views, and local food life

Rabat takes about 2 hours, which is long enough to feel like you’re not just passing through. You’ll cover some of the classic tourist areas—like St Paul’s Collegiate Church and the Grotto and Catacombs area—while still getting time in less-known parts.

What I like about this mix is that you don’t get stuck in the obvious photo route. The tour aims to show you Rabat as it functions day to day, including through food stops tied to local routines.

And yes, you’ll get more Game of Thrones filming locations here too. In Rabat, the screen-related points often feel more grounded because the streets feel more “current” and less museum-like. You’ll likely find yourself paying attention to building fronts, small alley angles, and where people actually gather.

The big highlight is that Rabat is where the tasting becomes more than a novelty. You’ll visit food-focused spots such as places with wood-burning ovens, plus grocery-store and butcher-style stops, and traditional cafés where locals hang out.

Just know: you won’t automatically get entry to churches or historic interiors, since the tour doesn’t include those admission tickets. So if you want to go inside St Paul’s or any similar sites, you’ll need to plan that separately.

The tasting plan: pastizzi, Kinnie, ħobż biz-żejt, craft beer, rabbit and bragioli

This is a food tour, and the best way to describe it is: you eat in stages, not in one rushed grab-and-go moment. Food and drink are included in the tour price, and the pacing is built around multiple stops.

How the tour starts: pastizzi and Kinnie

Early on you’ll taste pastizzi, one of Malta’s most famous street foods. Expect warm, flaky pastry goodness filled with something savory. Right after that, you’ll also get Kinnie, the local soft drink that’s often a first-timer favorite because it has a distinct bittersweet character.

This setup matters: pastizzi and Kinnie are easy “entry points” for Malta flavor. They also give you energy for the walking before the tour gets heavier.

Hands-on moment: making ħobż biz-żejt

Later in the route, you’ll do your own ħobż biz-żejt. That’s the fun, active element of the tour. Rather than watching someone cook, you get a chance to take part in the bread experience, which makes the food feel more personal.

If you like interactive travel moments—small workshops, hands-on bites—this is one of the parts you’ll remember after the trip.

Beer and wine finish strong

The tour includes two different local craft beers. This is a genuinely useful inclusion if you want to taste Maltese beer without having to figure out where to start. You’ll also get red wine to close out the meal.

That alcohol finish pairs with the final courses, which are very Maltese.

The “King of Maltese food” ending: rabbit and bragioli

The tour ends by washing down hearty dishes like rabbit and bragioli (also spelled bragioli). These are classic comfort-food style dishes: savory, filling, and meant to be eaten slowly enough to appreciate the flavor.

This is where the tour earns its keep. You aren’t just sampling. You get enough variety and quantity that it can feel like a full dinner out, and multiple stops mean you taste more than one side of Maltese cuisine.

If you’re watching what you drink, you still should go with an open mind. The tour includes alcoholic beverages, so come prepared for a tasting that includes beer and wine.

Game of Thrones stops: what you should actually pay attention to

If you’re coming for the screen locations, here’s the practical angle: don’t treat it like trivia hour. Use it like a walking guide.

In Mdina, focus on the street geometry. Narrow bends, stone textures, and where the street suddenly opens matter for why scenes look the way they do. In Rabat, pay attention to where people live and eat now. Those same streets and buildings are still part of daily life, which makes the filming points feel less like relics.

Also, Season 1 is emphasized on this tour. That’s helpful because it narrows what you need to remember. If you’re a casual viewer, you’ll still get the big connections. If you’re a superfan, you’ll likely enjoy how the guide ties scenes to place.

Price and value: what you get for $112

At $112 for about 3 hours 30 minutes, you’re paying for more than guided walking. You’re paying for a packed route plus a full menu of included tastings—snacks, desserts, local delicacies, soda, and alcohol.

Here’s the value logic I like: you aren’t making separate decisions for food. With a tour like this, you don’t have to hunt down which places are worth it or what to order. The guide brings you to a sequence of foods that make sense together—savory first, then more substantial dishes, then a beer and wine finish.

One caution for value-seekers: the tour does not include museum, church, or historic site entrance tickets. So if you want paid interiors as part of your day, budget for those separately. If you’re happy with street-level viewing, you’re fine.

Group size and guide professionalism also factor in. The tour is run by a fully licensed tourist guide, and the small group (max 10) helps the experience feel personal instead of factory-made.

Overall, the strongest argument for the price is simplicity: you get fed and watered across multiple Maltese staples, without you having to do extra planning.

Who should book this Rabat and Mdina Food Tour?

This is a great fit if you want one evening that checks multiple boxes at once:

• First-timers to Malta who want history-by-street and food-by-desk-less
• Game of Thrones fans who want filming locations paired with real-world context
• Food lovers who prefer local specialties and guided ordering
• People who like talking—the small group format gives room for questions

It may be less ideal if you strongly prefer museums or must-do interior visits, because included entries aren’t part of the plan. It’s also not the best choice if you hate walking or have tight mobility limits, since the tour is built around moving through Mdina and Rabat.

Should you book? My honest call

I’d book this tour if your goal is a well-fed evening that mixes old streets, local life, and film-location storytelling. The highlight for me is that it doesn’t treat food like a side garnish. Pastizzi, Kinnie, hands-on ħobż biz-żejt, craft beer, and a rabbit-and-bragioli ending mean you leave satisfied.

The one reason to pause is the walking and the fact that entrances to churches or museums aren’t included. If you’re okay with street-level exploration and want your dinner handled for you, this feels like strong value.

If you end up with a guide in the spirit of the Rabat-local hosts people talk about—someone like Chris—your experience may become extra personal. And if the guide is Carl, the tone is often described as fun and very Malta-focused. Either way, go hungry and bring curiosity.

FAQ

How long is the Rabat and Mdina Food Tour?

It runs for about 3 hours 30 minutes.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is Is-Serkin – Crystal Palace Bar on Triq San Pawl in Ir-Rabat, Malta. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the tour begin?

The start time is 4:30 pm.

How much does the tour cost?

The price listed is $112.

Is food and drink included?

Yes. The tour includes snacks, desserts, local delicacies, lunch, plus soda and alcoholic beverages.

What are some specific foods you’ll try?

You can expect pastizzi, Maltese street-food tastings, ħobż biz-żejt (where you do your own), two local craft beers, and the tour ends with rabbit and bragioli plus red wine.

Are Game of Thrones filming locations part of the tour?

Yes. The walk includes Game of Thrones locations in both Mdina and Rabat, with Season 1 stops mentioned.

Are entrance tickets to churches or museums included?

No. Museum, church, or historic site entrance tickets are not included.

What if the weather is bad?

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund.

What’s the group size?

The tour has a maximum of 10 travelers.

Is free cancellation available?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund (and the policy is based on the local time of the experience).

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