Mdina Gate, Mdina

Carved with the arms of Grand Master Vilhena and of Mdina, and a Latin date, this gate is the main way into the walled city. Stop on the bridge before you walk through, then come back after dark, when the gate is lit.

Landmark, Mdina. Meridian Dispatch.

Best time

After darkLit at night

Cost

FreeWalk in, no ticket

Effort

On footCobbles inside the walls

Season

Mid-March to JuneBefore the summer heat

Access

Walk-in gateResidents' cars only

Guide

Not neededGo on your own

Game of Thrones

Is Mdina Gate in Game of Thrones?

Yes. The gate represented one of the gates of King's Landing in the filming of the episode Lord Snow. It appears in the scene where Lady Catelyn Stark says goodbye to Ned Stark.

Driving in

Can you drive into Mdina?

No, not for visitors. Only residents and those providing services may drive in. Cars stop at parking outside the walls, by the Main Gate, by Greeks' Gate or near the Roman Domus, and the rest is on foot.

By bus

How do you get to Mdina Gate by bus?

Bus 50, 51, 52, 53 or 56 runs from Valletta Terminal to Rabat, as of November 2026. The ride takes about half an hour to an hour, and visitors report bus 202 from Sliema as another option.

Entry

Is Mdina Gate free to visit?

Yes. The walled city has no entry ticket, so crossing the bridge and passing through the arch costs nothing. Carriage rides and museum entry inside the walls are separate from the gate and have their own arrangements.

From Mellieħa

How do you get to Mdina Gate from Mellieħa?

From Mellieħa, take bus 221 or 222 to Buġibba, then change to bus 186 for Rabat. The trip needs two buses, so allow time for the change between them.

To the airport

How do you get from Mdina Gate to Malta International Airport by bus?

By Airport Direct bus TD1, which runs from Rabat, the town just outside Mdina's walls, to Malta International Airport. The Rabat stop is a short walk from the gate through Howard Gardens.

What makes it special

Also called the Main Gate or the Vilhena Gate, this Baroque entrance to Mdina was designed by the French architect Charles François de Mondion.

Begin on the bridge, where lion statues hold the arms of either Vilhena or the town of Rabat. A wooden drawbridge originally linked this bridge to the gate. Below, the moat has been turned into a public garden.

The gate itself carries the arms of Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena and those of the city of Mdina. Its Latin inscription reads MUNIMENTA PENÉ COLLAPSA RESTAURAVIT, ET AUXIT: he restored and enlarged walls that had nearly collapsed. The date follows: ANNO SAL: MDCCXXIV, or 1724.

Palazzo Vilhena, just inside, is a separate building.

Visiting

Take the bus to Rabat, the town beside Mdina, and get off at the stop there. A short walk through Howard Gardens brings you to the gate.

Cross the bridge and look at the gate from both sides for the carving. Through the arch, the National Museum of Natural History is on your right, in Palazzo Vilhena, with its own entry arrangements.

From there, narrow shaded streets lined with palaces lead on to Cathedral Square and St Paul's Cathedral.

Before you leave Mdina, stop at the Main Gate ramparts. They overlook the deep moat and look down onto neighbouring Rabat.

Tips

At night the streets inside sit under soft amber streetlights.

In summer the heat can feel intense, so avoid midday and bring a hat and water. Wear comfortable shoes for the walk in and the streets beyond.

Weekends and event days can be busy around the gate, including the Medieval Mdina event around April.

Know before you goAs of November 2026, Heritage Malta sites, the National Museum of Natural History included, close on 1 January, Good Friday and 24, 25 and 31 December.