Some Christmas outings are really for the children while the adults politely follow along. Malta’s Magical Illuminated Trail did not feel like that. We visited as a family after dark during the 2025 edition, and the glowing figures were curious and playful enough to keep everyone looking—not only the youngest members of the group.

The route through the Verdala Palace gardens felt easy and pleasantly paced. Add a mulled wine or spiced latte to carry around, and it becomes the sort of simple Christmas evening that does not need a complicated plan.

This is an independent account. We have no personal or commercial relationship with the organisers or vendors, and no complimentary tickets, food, or drinks were involved.

The figures are the fun of it

The illuminated figures are what make the trail work. Some are festive, others are animals or characters, and part of the fun is seeing what appears around the next bend. Children can enjoy them immediately, but the scale, colour and odd little details give adults plenty to look at too.

The official Illuminated Trail website describes the 2025 event as its sixth edition, with hundreds of larger-than-life lantern sculptures, light installations and projections. It was supported by the Ministry for Tourism and Malta Tourism Authority and held in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation.

We liked that the route did not feel like one long queue for a single attraction. The walk itself was the experience, and the gardens gave the displays room to breathe.

Mulled wine or a spiced latte

For us, the right drink was part of the evening. Mulled wine brought the familiar warm spice of a Christmas market, while a spiced latte did the same job without alcohol. Neither is essential, of course, but carrying something warm made the walk feel much more Christmassy.

The food choice was broader than a traditional Maltese Christmas table. We saw stalls ranging from seasonal Christmas food to burgers and hot dogs. That variety is useful for a family group, especially when not everyone wants the same thing, but the Illuminated Trail is still a light experience with food around it rather than a food festival.

Vendors can change between editions. If you have allergies or strict dietary requirements, ask the individual stall about ingredients and cross-contact rather than relying on what was available during our visit.

An easy evening walk

The route was easy and pleasant to walk during our 2025 visit. We never had the feeling that we were marching through it or being pushed along by a large crowd.

Timed bookings helped. Arrivals were staggered, so there was no single moment when everyone seemed to descend on the entrance together. We travelled by car and found parking manageable for our session.

Those are personal observations, not promises for every night. Weather, attendance, parking arrangements and the route can change. An easy walk for our family also should not be read as a formal statement about step-free access or every visitor’s mobility needs.

A different kind of Christmas evening

The Illuminated Trail and Bethlehem f’Għajnsielem offer two very different family evenings. Għajnsielem is memorable because human actors make a living Nativity feel inhabited. Verdala is about colour, light and the pleasure of walking through the gardens after dark.

There is no need to rank them. One leans into Maltese and Gozitan Christmas tradition; the other is a playful seasonal spectacle. Both gave us an evening the adults enjoyed as much as the children.

Check the next edition

The details above come from our 2025 visit. At the time of writing, the next edition’s dates, ticket prices, sessions, route, vendors and parking arrangements had not been announced. Check the official Illuminated Trail website before planning the evening.

For Christmas food to make at home, browse our Maltese Christmas collection, including Imbuljuta, Qagħaq tal-Għasel and the Maltese Christmas log.