Plizio Visual Lab

Tarxien

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

City

—°12

ℹ️

Practical info — Tarxien

▾

🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

Visit the megalithic temples early in the morning to avoid the midday heat and large tour groups.
Combine your visit with the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum in nearby Paola, but make sure to book months in advance.
Take advantage of the frequent bus connections to Valletta, with stops located right on the main road.
Explore the narrow backstreets to admire the typical colorful Maltese wooden balconies.
Look for the 'Great Mother' statue in the temple complex, a famous symbol of prehistoric fertility.

🍽 Food

🍽

Fenek (Rabbit)

Try this Maltese classic in the local eateries around the village square.

🍽

Pastizzi

Find these ricotta or pea-filled pastries in small bakeries (pastizzerijas) along the main road.

🍽

Maltese Ftira

A traditional sandwich often prepared fresh in the town's local cafes.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍

Paola Weekly Market

Just a short walk away, this market gives fresh produce and household items.

🛍

Local Grocery Stores

Purchase authentic Maltese olive oil and honey in the small shops in the town center.

🧘

Temple Grounds

Outside peak visiting hours, the archaeological site gives a sense of spiritual calm.

🧘

Annunciation Parish Church

The square in front of this imposing church is a peaceful spot to sit and relax.

Tarxien is primarily famous for housing one of Malta's most significant archaeological complexes, the Tarxien Temples. This megalithic site, a UNESCO World Heritage monument, dates back to between 3600 and 2500 BC and comprises four distinct temple structures adorned with intricate reliefs of animals and spiral motifs. The most iconic find at the site is the lower half of a colossal 'Great Mother' statue, which highlights the prehistoric importance of fertility cults. Beyond its ancient heritage, Tarxien is a traditional Maltese village that underwent substantial expansion during the 20th century, now forming a contiguous urban area with neighbouring Paola and Fgura. The village core retains its character with typical limestone dwellings and narrow alleys. The parish church, dedicated to the Annunciation, was built in the early 17th century and later enlarged in the 18th century. Despite modern urbanization, Tarxien maintains a spirited community spirit, most evident during its annual parish feast in May, characterized by elaborate street decorations and pyrotechnic displays.

Location: Malta
Top sights: Ħal Tarxien Temples · Parish Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel · Saint Julian's Chapel
Nearby: Safi (4 km)
Population: ~8.627

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is May–Jul.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	15	14	15	16	19	23	26	27	25	23	20	16
Rain mm	74	65	51	33	17	11	4	10	63	82	95	82

Geography

Population

8,627

Coordinates

35.86720, 14.51330

Facts

The Tarxien Temples were discovered in 1913 by local archaeologist Sir Themistocles Zammit.
The site consists of four temples, the oldest dating back to 3600 BC.
Evidence of animal sacrifices, including charred bones and flint knives, was found on-site.
Tarxien was established as a separate parish from Birgu as early as 1592.
The village is home to several historic niche statues dedicated to various saints.
The prehistoric site was reused as a cremation cemetery during the Bronze Age.