St Paul's Catacombs
St Paul's Catacombs
4
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
St.Paul's Catacombs are a typical complex of interconnected, underground Roman cemeteries that were in use up to the 4th century AD. They are located on the outskirts of the old Roman capital Melite (today's Mdina), since Roman law prohibited burials within the city. St Paul's Catacombs represent the earliest and largest archaeological evidence of Christianity in Malta. The site was cleared and investigated in 1894 by Dr A.A. Caruana, the pioneer of Christian era archaeology in Malta.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- Glenn MPenrith, United Kingdom41 contributionsVery interesting and different historical siteWhat an interesting place a must see. You get the chance to explore the catacombs with explanations while you go. Each one is different but look for the must see sticker on the sign by the door if you want to skip a few. Word of warning some are tight with low head hight and narrow corridors. A very different historical site to visit.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 26, 2023
- Danby35London, United Kingdom30 contributionsWell worth a visitHave visited a few catacombs and cemeteries over the years and this is the best we have been to. Very well laid out site, lots of information in a digestible format. Make sure you download the audio guide and have headphones as whilst it's the same info as on the boards it's more easily absorbed (by us at least) We had expected to be here an hour and spent three and talking to someone at the bus stop she had done the same. Lots of steps into the different sections and some tunnels are low or narrow. If you are not interested in either how these were built or old funeral practice it probably isn't for you though.Visited January 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten January 17, 2024
- soinic2,839 contributionsCreepy but must visit!2000m2 of tombs and much more to see! Have a look at the unique "agape tables"/triclinia (first time I see those in catacombs). A lot of very steep stairs and narrow "tunnels"! Watch your step and mind your head! Not for people who are claustrophobic!Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten February 6, 2024
- anaowenChorley, United Kingdom969 contributionsOkIt was a good trip, however there was no guided tour, only an app if you wanted - I don't want an app, people are always on their phones, so a trip out like that, would be nice to just get away from apps and phones! Interesting but would be even better if someone told us about its history. We paid 6 euros each, which was a reasonable price. Good but could be better.Visited April 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten April 1, 2024
- Matthew PLondon, United Kingdom6,288 contributionsLoads of gravesSet on both sides of the road, and if you do not mind walking on glass floor worth a visit. Lots of steps to go down to see almost the same thing in each place. Worth a look but after a while you get a bit bored as it all looks the same.Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 20, 2024
- Manuito110 contributionsInteresting but repetitiveSt. Paul's Catacombs in Mdina are worth visiting, especially if you’re interested in Malta’s ancient history. The site is only a 10-minute walk from the public parking areas, making it convenient to include in your visit to Mdina. However, after seeing a couple of catacombs, the experience does become somewhat repetitive. Despite this, it's still a fascinating glimpse into early Christian burial practices and worth a visit if you have the time.Visited August 2024Traveled with familyWritten September 1, 2024
- Amy MBerkhamsted, United Kingdom12 contributionsInterestingVery fascinating location, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to explore. I would also suggest going as early as possible, or towards the end of the day to avoid the crowds - not one for anybody who suffers with being in enclosed small spaces! It would also not be appropriate for anybody with mobility issues, as there are quite steep steps into each catacomb (although there are information points dotted around that are easily accessible, so you can still learn about the history).Visited September 2024Traveled with familyWritten September 17, 2024
- Ian0090Bournemouth, United Kingdom34 contributionsShame that we did not have a guided tourVery interesting visitors’ centre at the beginning of the visit to explain Roman burial practices with a few exhibits on show. The site is divided into two by a road, which you cross to get to further and more numerous catacombs. I was surprised by a general lack of decoration/frescoes/carving especially after visiting the catacombs on the Appian Way outside Rome. Perhaps they have eroded over time or been removed to another location. Shame that we did not have a guide, as eventually going up and down the stairs of so many similar tombs became repetitive. Could the site not issue a leaflet with a route to the more interesting areas? One morphed into another and eventually we lost the inclination to see them all.Visited September 2024Traveled with friendsWritten September 20, 2024
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
1,602 reviews
Excellent
650
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640
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238
Poor
46
Terrible
28
Mark2879
Grays Thurrock, UK19 contributions
Aug 2022 • Solo
I visited on my own as my wife preferred sitting in Valletta drinking coffee. I got the bus from Valletta bus station (no 52) and it took about 45/50mins to get to Rabat. Bus was €2 each way (€4 in total)
I used my Google maps to get to the Catacombs which took about 8 minutes walking. The entry fee was €6 which I thought was fair.
The museum display is very interesting and it was nice to immerse myself for an hour or so.
The Catacombs are amazing & incredible to think about the religious beliefs and culture of our ancestors. Some of the Catacombs are better than others and these are labelled by a display on the outside.
People have mentioned in reviews about lack of labelling, I just took a picture before going down into the Catacomb.
Took me about 2 to 2.5 hours to wander round and once I was done I returned back to Vallarta by bus again about 45/50mins.
In total I think I was gone for about 4 hours so keep that in mind as I can’t see how you’d be able to make a day of it.
Would recommend.
I used my Google maps to get to the Catacombs which took about 8 minutes walking. The entry fee was €6 which I thought was fair.
The museum display is very interesting and it was nice to immerse myself for an hour or so.
The Catacombs are amazing & incredible to think about the religious beliefs and culture of our ancestors. Some of the Catacombs are better than others and these are labelled by a display on the outside.
People have mentioned in reviews about lack of labelling, I just took a picture before going down into the Catacomb.
Took me about 2 to 2.5 hours to wander round and once I was done I returned back to Vallarta by bus again about 45/50mins.
In total I think I was gone for about 4 hours so keep that in mind as I can’t see how you’d be able to make a day of it.
Would recommend.
Written August 8, 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.
Gary H
Linthwaite, UK119 contributions
Jan 2022
I visited St Paul's Catacombs as part of a day trip to Mdina in January. Upon arrival I was greeted by a very helpful sales assistant who sold me a ticket for €5 that included the four main parts to the attraction. These were the grotto, the WW2 shelters, the Catacombs and the museum. Whilst the first and last of these sections were ok, it was exploring the vast catacombs and shelters that proved to be the coolest part of the experience. The reason it was so amazing though was due to the fact that I visited in the off season at 10am and for the whole time (around 40 minutes) I was the only one down there. Some of the passage ways are very narrow or low and being 6ft, you did need to mind you head, but this just added to the fun of it all. Would I want to go down there in the height of summer and jostle around with loads of tourists? Probably not, but visiting during such a quiet time truly made this feel like a VIP experience.
Written January 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.
Jean H
London687 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Although this was a site we wished to visit like another reviewer I have to admit I was unimpressed and we left after a very short time. You have to be very interested in history and archaeology to really enjoy this tourist location. However the museum artefacts at the entrance were truly magnificent with pieces in perfect condition and well worth taking time to see. The catacombs give you a glimpse into the past but after a while it was definitely more enjoyable for us to move on. I’d only suggest visiting if you have a lot of free time in Malta and have seen many other sites. Unless of course you are a fan of catacombs!
Written January 6, 2020
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, UK1,669 contributions
Jun 2022
A fascinating place where you descend to see the ancient burial places. There are steps and a handrail in all places, so you feel safe. There are two parts to the catacombs. As you walk away from Rabat centre towards the catacombs, there are two sets - one on the left and one on the right. Both are interesting but, if you want an overview and to see the most extensive ones, go to the ones on the left as these are bigger and more interesting. We bought a combined ticket for Euros 20 and this included the catacombs, the sightseeing tourist train ride, the Roman Museum and the National Museum. Good value for money!
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.
Katy P
29 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
We decided to visit on a rainy day, and it was nice and quiet giving us time to explore. However after visiting several catacombs in Europe this one left us feeling underwhelmed. There was some interesting information in the museum, but all of the catacombs you can explore are empty and very similar, hence why we decided not to visit all 20+ as once you have seen one you have pretty much seen them all!
If you are going for the macabre experience of seeing the skeletons etc this isn’t for you.
By the way it seems people forget to cross the road the other 15+ catacombs
If you are going for the macabre experience of seeing the skeletons etc this isn’t for you.
By the way it seems people forget to cross the road the other 15+ catacombs
Written October 28, 2021
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.
eastlight54
solihull245 contributions
Sep 2021
This was a great experience, so interesting to wander through these catacombs. Rather a tight squeeze in parts so give it a miss if you are claustrophobic. Great value as the ticket includes the WW2 shelters, the museum and St. Paul’s catacombs. Definitely a must see.
Written September 24, 2021
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.
111AnJ111
London, UK239 contributions
Sep 2021 • Solo
Really pleasant experience. Especially during COVID19 pandemic rules, the limited number of visitors allowed me to walk around the catacombs uninterrupted and without worrying about tight spaces (and there are a lot of them down there!).
Well-lit, with a secure flooring in all of them, useful signs allowed me to know the basic features at each entrance.
Wish the leaflet explained more about the different items in the signs at the entrances and how they differ.
The passage between the two sides of the entrances (via an exit-entrnace through the street) was not exactly easy to grasp without looking at the leaflet map. A couple of the doors were locked for maintenance, but I am okay with this.
Great thing: you can take pictures! Just no flash.
Well-lit, with a secure flooring in all of them, useful signs allowed me to know the basic features at each entrance.
Wish the leaflet explained more about the different items in the signs at the entrances and how they differ.
The passage between the two sides of the entrances (via an exit-entrnace through the street) was not exactly easy to grasp without looking at the leaflet map. A couple of the doors were locked for maintenance, but I am okay with this.
Great thing: you can take pictures! Just no flash.
Written September 26, 2021
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.
Mustafa Grump
East Garston, UK184 contributions
Oct 2021
Quite small but well laid out with a smart little museum by the ticket office and one large catacomb to walk around, followed by a number of smaller catacomb entrances scattered around the site on both sides of the road. Very quiet when we visited so we could jump ahead of the single tour group that was also there to avoid queuing for the smaller sites.
One thing to note for those travelling with young children is that the tombs are clean as a whistle with no piles of skulls, partially embalmed remnants or scattered skeletons so your kids probably won't enjoy it very much.
One thing to note for those travelling with young children is that the tombs are clean as a whistle with no piles of skulls, partially embalmed remnants or scattered skeletons so your kids probably won't enjoy it very much.
Written October 7, 2021
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.
Richard
25 contributions
Dec 2019
Really cool place. Well preserved and the history is nicely documented. There are lots of separate tombs, so be sure to go into the big ones and one or two of the smaller ones, but after a while they all look the same, so don't ruin it by going into too many. an hour here is worth it. Get the Heritage Malta pass to gain entry into lots of sites throughout Malta if you plan on seeing a lot!
Written January 8, 2020
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.
Happy Canadian13
190 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
Part of the Malta Heritage Pass. Catacombs on both sides of the road. Signboard outside each with information about what to look for number of stairs down and suggested capacity.
On the way from Domus we stopped at an excellent sandwich shop -Chalk. Large sandwiches (we shared) and they were the only restaurant we visited that offered Huskie, a local beer.
On the way from Domus we stopped at an excellent sandwich shop -Chalk. Large sandwiches (we shared) and they were the only restaurant we visited that offered Huskie, a local beer.
Written October 4, 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.
Where is the excavated rock from St Paul’s catacombs? All too easy to say spread around. Where there are mines in England Wales etc the discarded spoils are nearby. No effort made to spread the unwanted spoil.
Also, I was told the earthquake in 1653 had no effect on the catacombs! Right or wrong? The Cathedral was extensively damaged.
Written June 13, 2023
Where is the excavated rock from St Paul’s catacombs? All too easy to say spread around. Where there are mines in England Wales etc the discarded spoils are nearby. No effort made to spread the unwanted spoil.
Also, I was told the earthquake in 1653 had no effect on the catacombs! Right or wrong? The Cathedral was extensively damaged.
Written June 13, 2023
Is there a dress code for visiting? Eg are shorts ok to wear?
Written September 6, 2019
Hi.
What happened to all the skeletal remains?
Were there remains,when the catacombs were discovered?
Just thought I would ask.
Regards
RSA
Written May 29, 2019
Some remains are still there, but others I guess must have been excavated and stored somewhere else.
Written May 30, 2019
Eu fui inserido num grupo de uma agência de viagens mas verifiquei que não existem problemas em se ir de autocarro que demora 44 minutos de La Valletta.
publictransport ponto com ponto mt / en / trip-planner
Written June 25, 2019
Hi!
If you had only time to visit one of the two catacombs (St. Paul's or St. Agatha) wich would you choose?
Thanks a lot!
Written August 29, 2018
Si solo hay tiempo para elegir entre visitar las catacumbas de San Paul ó las de Santa Ágata y teniendo en cuenta que las catacumbas de San Paul a mi me resultaron tediosas, aconsejo ver las de Santa Ágata, aunque a mi la GRUTA de San Paul ( la gruta es otra visita aparte de las catacumbas de San Paul) me gusto mucho y es una visita muy completa porque se puede ver la propia cueva donde se supone estuvo refugiado San Pablo tras sufrir un naufragio cuando los romanos lo llevaban preso a Roma, También se visita la iglesia, unas catacumbas, un refugio antiaéreo y el museo Wignacourt.
Written August 29, 2018
How long do I need to put aside to go around the catacombs? Also, I won’t have time to fit in both these catacombs and the nearby St Agatha’s ones – if anyone has seen both, which would you recommend?
Thanks in advance for any replies.
Written February 14, 2018
You really need to allow at least 1.5 hours to do the visit justice. I have not visited the St Agatha catacombs so cannot comment on that site. I live on the Island of Gozo and if you are visiting Malta but have not previously visited Gozo I can strongly recommend a visit. Also if you are interested in Catacombs there are some Roman ones in the village of Salina, near Qawra, these are free to enter and well worth visiting. They may be small but are truly impressive. Just Google Salina Catacombs for more information. Enjoy your visit to our Islands.
Written February 15, 2018
Hello, it seems like the site is closed. Any chance i go there and get in without an appointment?
Written January 8, 2017
St Paul's Catacombs are currently open to the public daily. Further details can be found on Heritage Malta's website.
Written January 12, 2017
Did you book through a Tour or just went and did it yourselves?
Written May 8, 2016
I just took the tour myself. There area few shops outside the chapel that have some booklets and explain all the rooms, kitchen, meeting room and the use of the catacombs by the Brits in WWII. I suggest you do it yourself and explore on your own. It is not cold down there, but it is humid.
Written May 8, 2016
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