National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of Natural History
3.2
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The National Museum of Natural History, situated within the Vilhena Palace, including display areas that cover various topics such as Maltese Geology and Palaeontology, exotic mammals, marine fauna, insects, shells and birds and other topics like human evolution.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.2
274 reviews
Excellent
47
Very good
56
Average
98
Poor
48
Terrible
25
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jim m
Holymoorside, UK1,199 contributions
Mar 2022
This is a prime location and an impressive building that has an entrance that is well designed. This all leads you to think that the inside will be full of modern displays that are interesting and educational and set within a building with its own interesting charm. However, the reality is that the inside is on a number of levels and all involve stairs. The building does have some interesting aspects but a lot of it is concealed by the museum displays - even the windows are frosted.
The displays are dated in style, mainly static and sometimes lacking adequate labelling. I didn't notice how much it was as I had a multi-pass that covered it. These give access to almost all heritage Malta sites for €30 (€20 for seniors) and last 30 days from first day of use.
The displays are dated in style, mainly static and sometimes lacking adequate labelling. I didn't notice how much it was as I had a multi-pass that covered it. These give access to almost all heritage Malta sites for €30 (€20 for seniors) and last 30 days from first day of use.
Written March 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Skiourina
237 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
It's not the best natural history museum you've seen but it's definitely worth a visit, especially if you're bringing kids. It is quite instructive the way in which some subjects are presented, for example the skeletons of animals.
Those in charge would do well to think about a renovation.
The building is impressive from the outside.
Those in charge would do well to think about a renovation.
The building is impressive from the outside.
Written April 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tiberiu_Baranyi
Timisoara, Romania19,123 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
The National Museum of Natural History can be find in Mdina - right after entering the main gate to the city - it is located in the old Vilhena palace - Antonio Manoel de Vilhena - Grand Master of the order of the Knights of St. John - born in Lisabon , Portuguese by birth - he commissioned the building of the palace and was erected between 1726 and 1728 that today is housing the museum.
The palace is beautiful and it is a great "house" for the Natural History museum - entrance is a few euros - you can pay by card too.
It is showing you all kinds of interesting exhibits , from the prehistoric times, to minerals and the fauna from the seas and land of the Maltese islands.
From collections of butterflies, to petrified tooth of a Megalodon shark - it is interesting for kinds and adults alike , at least from my perspective and you can visit it in about 1-1,5 hours so it is not that much time invested.
Bottom line is , I do recommend you put this museum on your list of spots to visit when you visit Mdina.
The palace is beautiful and it is a great "house" for the Natural History museum - entrance is a few euros - you can pay by card too.
It is showing you all kinds of interesting exhibits , from the prehistoric times, to minerals and the fauna from the seas and land of the Maltese islands.
From collections of butterflies, to petrified tooth of a Megalodon shark - it is interesting for kinds and adults alike , at least from my perspective and you can visit it in about 1-1,5 hours so it is not that much time invested.
Bottom line is , I do recommend you put this museum on your list of spots to visit when you visit Mdina.
Written September 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jurgen V
Dendermonde, Belgium99 contributions
Aug 2023
The beautiful Palace Vilhena also has a museum attached to it for which you have to pay 5 euros. You can view some stuffed animals, skeletons and soil finds (including minerals). There are also models and photos/drawings of the former Malta. You won't spend more than an hour in this outdated museum. Informative at times, but in my opinion not really worth the price.
Written August 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Old Surehand
Germany142 contributions
Nov 2023 • Friends
The museum is terrible!
The König Museum in Bonn was more modern 50 years ago.
The exhibits consist largely of poorly preserved or even worse displayed animals. There is no particular concept to be seen.
If the entrance fee had not been included in the "History of Malta" card, it would not have been worth the money.
The König Museum in Bonn was more modern 50 years ago.
The exhibits consist largely of poorly preserved or even worse displayed animals. There is no particular concept to be seen.
If the entrance fee had not been included in the "History of Malta" card, it would not have been worth the money.
Written November 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
moraira
UK870 contributions
Dec 2024 • Couples
I honestly did not think that museums like this existed any more.
As I approached this fantastic piece of architecture to buy my ticket, I thought that I was going to be in for a treat, but sadly no.
I think someone has been given this large building, had no idea what to do with it, then decided to fill it with “natural history”
One room is filled with rocks, few of which come from Malta. These rocks are badly laid our, and have few readable labels
Another room is filled with stuffed birds. Again few from Malta, and badly labelled.
And so on through about ten rooms. The museum has little thought given to what it is trying to convey. The exhibits are mainly looking moth-eaten. The labelling is bad/non existent. The lighting of the exhibits is dreadful
The position of the museum at the entry to Mdina should make it a showcase for Malta and its history. There is not enough available for a Natural History Museum. This place should be closed and something better fitted to promote Malta should be opened here
As I approached this fantastic piece of architecture to buy my ticket, I thought that I was going to be in for a treat, but sadly no.
I think someone has been given this large building, had no idea what to do with it, then decided to fill it with “natural history”
One room is filled with rocks, few of which come from Malta. These rocks are badly laid our, and have few readable labels
Another room is filled with stuffed birds. Again few from Malta, and badly labelled.
And so on through about ten rooms. The museum has little thought given to what it is trying to convey. The exhibits are mainly looking moth-eaten. The labelling is bad/non existent. The lighting of the exhibits is dreadful
The position of the museum at the entry to Mdina should make it a showcase for Malta and its history. There is not enough available for a Natural History Museum. This place should be closed and something better fitted to promote Malta should be opened here
Written December 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristian W
6 contributions
Dec 2023 • Business
Lovely building from the outside but inside it’s like a 70s time warp and very old fashioned. Lots of stairs as well, no signage. I think it needs a bit of money and tlc to refresh it for the 21st century. Opened in 1973 and I think a lot of the displays and signage has not been updated since. Could be very interesting but needs a rethink.
Written December 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CheekyLondon
Southend-on-Sea, UK1,645 contributions
Jun 2022
This museum was part of a four activity package in and around Mdina, so we went. Sadly, it's very out of date and sad looking. Lots of old fashioned cabinets in a rundown building. Very little interactive stuff for kids. It reminded me of museums when I was a kid, 60 years ago - a bit like stepping back in time. Unfortunately, I think it's not what most people expect of a museum now.
Written June 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FranBo2013
Northampton, UK32 contributions
We delighted in wandering around looking at the exhibits - simple but nice. Well laid out in a beautiful building especially impressed with the Galeen Whale bones
Written August 17, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MrsDoherty
Derry, UK83 contributions
Dec 2011 • Couples
We went to the Natural History Museum just inside the gateway of Mdina with open minds. Which was just as well as the place is ghastly. The interior looks like an Institution with lots of stairs and no lifts that I could see. Animals/reptiles were badly stuffed and very poorly described in the accompanying labels. Unlike most museums there were no digital presentations or visual computerised imagery used. Investment is sorely lacking. For some weird reason the female guard followed us throughout the museum!
Written December 19, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, is this the museum where they exhibit the jaws of the largest great white shark, caught off Malta in 1987? I am trying to find out where these jaws are exhibited, but I cannot find any info. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
Written May 12, 2016
A Tripadvisor member
Hello, I believe it is the place with the jaws. However, we saw them on an outside balcony near the mineral section. They were lying on the floor and roped off.
Written May 14, 2016
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