Malta's abandoned hotel landscape is the direct consequence of a 1980s development boom on a small Mediterranean island with insufficient airlift and tourist demand — developers built four-star resorts in extraordinary headland and ridgeline locations that couldn't sustain profitability, closed abruptly, and then got trapped in the specific Maltese planning limbo where renovation costs are prohibitive and demolition permits are contested for decades. The result is a hotel dereliction pattern unique in the Mediterranean: extraordinary locations, distinguished architectural pedigrees (Richard England designed the Festaval Hotel) and the specific tragicomedy of Gaddafi's presidential suite in a collapsed hotel by the sea. Discover the 5 best abandoned hotels in Malta, selected from our Malta Urbex Map — 60+ verified GPS locations.
Why Malta Has Europe's Most Unusual Abandoned Hotel Heritage
The Jerma Palace was the largest hotel in south Malta, built by the Libyan state, managed by Corinthia and closed in 2007 with Gaddafi's suite intact. The Festaval Hotel was designed by Malta's greatest architect and closed after 12 years. No other Mediterranean island concentrates hotel abandonment stories of this specific absurdity and architectural quality.
1. Jerma Palace Hotel – Marsaskala — Built 1982, Gaddafi Presidential Suite, Largest South Malta Hotel, Closed 2007, Sold for $21M, Never Renovated, Now Mostly Collapsed (Known Location)
Jerma Palace Hotel was opened in 1982 on the headland of il-Ħamrija in Marsaskala by the Libyan Foreign Investment Company and managed by Corinthia Hotels International. Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi had a presidential suite within the hotel. It was the largest hotel in the south of Malta, transforming the fishing village of Marsaskala. It closed in March 2007 after 25 years in operation. The next year, the hotel was sold to contractors for $21 million with plans for renovation and a grand reopening that were never made a reality. The building has since fallen into severe disrepair and has become a popular spot for graffiti artists and arsonists, with large sections literally collapsed.
🔗 Sources: Abandoned Spaces – Jerma Palace Hotel Malta | Wikipedia – Jerma Palace Hotel
2. Mistra Village – St Paul's Bay — Corinthia Group, Opened 1980s, Closed 2004, Redevelopment Contested Since 2004, Limestone Resort Ruins, Northern Malta Coastal Setting (Known Location)
Mistra Village opened in the 1980s, operated by the Corinthia Group, and was once considered one of Malta's premier hotels. After closing its doors in 2004, only ruins remain today — faint echoes of its past charm. Since closure, the site has been at the centre of ongoing redevelopment debates. Applications for high-rise projects were first submitted in 2004, with permits granted in 2008 but contested repeatedly. A 2013 permit expired due to funding issues, while in 2023 a new permit was approved, sparking renewed controversy as works began despite pending court challenges.
🔗 Also read: Top 5 Abandoned Places in Malta →
3. Festaval Hotel – Marfa Ridge, Mellieħa — Designed by Richard England 1980, Opened 1980, Closed 1992, 230ft Altitude, Disputed Demolition, Malta's Most Architecturally Significant Derelict Hotel
The Festaval Hotel in Mellieħa is a former aparthotel designed by architect Richard England, completed around 1980 on the Marfa Ridge beneath Saint Agatha's Tower at 230ft altitude. It closed around 1992 and has remained abandoned since. Demolition plans were submitted and contested by heritage advocates — the owners were fined over its abandonment. Plans to demolish and reconstruct were approved as of 2022 but the site remained in limbo through 2024. Richard England is Malta's most celebrated living architect — the Festaval Hotel is his most poignant abandoned work. All GPS in our Malta Urbex Map.
4. Ulysses Lodge – Ramla Bay, Gozo — Traditional Maltese Limestone Architecture, Opened 1980s, Closed Late 1980s/Early 1990s, Ramla Bay Red Sand Beach, Gozo's Most Famous Derelict Hotel (Hidden on Our Map)
The Ulysses Lodge is an abandoned hotel structure located in Gozo at Ramla Bay in Xagħra. It opened in the 1980s in traditional Maltese limestone architecture and closed in the late 1980s or early 1990s. It remains in private ownership and is known for its controversial development history. The combination of derelict traditional limestone hotel construction and Ramla Bay — Gozo's finest red sand beach — directly adjacent creates one of the most visually striking hotel derelictions in the Maltese archipelago. Find it on our Malta Urbex Map.
5. Pembroke Derelict Disco – Pembroke — British-Built Hall Converted to Disco 1980s, Trees Growing Through Dancefloor, Now Abandoned, Northern Malta (On Our Map Only)
A majestic British-built building in Pembroke was converted in the 1980s into a popular disco for lovers of electronic music. Entering this beautiful building leaves people aghast — not just because of too much rubbish, but because trees are literally growing inside the abandoned bars and the dance floor. The specific combination of British colonial limestone hall, 1980s disco conversion and the current state of nature reclaiming the dancefloor through the floorboards makes this one of the most atmospherically unusual derelict spaces in Malta. GPS in our Malta Urbex Map.
❓ FAQ
What is the most famous abandoned hotel in Malta?
The Jerma Palace Hotel in Marsaskala — built by the Libyan Foreign Investment Company in 1982 with Gaddafi's presidential suite, the largest hotel in south Malta, closed in 2007, sold for $21 million and never renovated. Now a collapsed graffiti landmark on a Mediterranean headland. The most documented derelict hotel in Malta.
Who designed the Festaval Hotel?
Richard England — Malta's most celebrated architect, designer of the Malta International Airport terminal and numerous cultural buildings. The Festaval Hotel on the Marfa Ridge at Mellieħa (1980) is his most poignant abandoned work: a 230ft-altitude aparthotel closed after 12 years, disputed between heritage advocates and demolition proposals for over three decades.
Can I visit the Ulysses Lodge on Gozo?
The Ulysses Lodge is on private property at Ramla Bay — approach with standard urbex caution. The Gozo ferry from Ċirkewwa takes 25 minutes; Ramla Bay is 10 minutes by car from Mġarr. Our Malta Urbex Map includes GPS and access notes for all Gozo sites.
Safety Tips
- Jerma Palace collapse: large sections have literally collapsed — never enter visibly unstable sections; the sea-facing walls are the most compromised
- Mistra Village 2023 works: contractor activity on site since 2023 — check current status before approaching; fencing and site access may have changed
- Festaval wind exposure: 230ft altitude on the Marfa Ridge — strong Majjistral wind gusts; never approach sea-facing edges in high wind conditions
- Never explore alone — always bring at least one other person and share your location
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