Filming Malta’s historic sites will elevate your production: think thousands of years of history – 5,000 to be precise with Ħaġar Qim (yes, among the earliest of the Megalithic Temples of Malta and older than the pyramids of Egypt); think the crucible of the Mediterranean – Phoenician traders, Roman settlements, Arab citadel-medinas, Normans, Angevins and Sicilians, the grandeur of Knights-era Malta and Baroque excess, French occupiers and the British colonisers… it is a veritable playground for history buffs who want to witness the mark left by men and women over centuries.
But securing access to heritage sites comes with costs that your production company should anticipate.
I am a fixer who specialises in small-scale TV and social media shoots, documentaries, historical research, and fashion photoshoots – my advice is simple: plan well ahead when it comes to budgeting for stunning locations.
Even if you are a low-impact shoot, with just one or two hand-held cameras or a tripod… not only are permits required for legal and logistical reasons, but fees can significantly affect a project’s budget – especially when the output is commercial.
Like any other European nation, Malta has a professional system of heritage and other authorities who oversee the island’s well kept historical and cultural sites.
Heritage Malta Fees
Heritage Malta, which manages the country’s principal museums and archaeological sites, typically charges a standard rate for commercial filming.
Depending on the assessment of the production, if it is social media or television for example, the rates can vary from north of €600 to well over €2,000… and this could be simply for two hours of filming.
Any discussion must take into account the commercial nature of the project – whether for television, branded content, or social media campaigns. In short: if there’s a profit motive, expect Heritage Malta to price accordingly. After all, it is the custodian of all Maltese historical sites and has its own upkeep costs.
Smaller institutions and NGOs
The same principle applies at smaller cultural venues run by NGOs, foundations, or private trusts. Access to some stately homes, chapels, or niche museums often comes at a lower but still notable fee, typically ranging from €100 to €300.
However, in the case of entirely private concerns – for example stately homes used as wedding venues or exclusive-only hire, or some hotel gardens – prices will easily start from €900 and go up to €6,000 a day.
These fees aren’t arbitrary. On one hand they reflect the value of Malta’s heritage, the logistical burden of hosting a production by having curators and other personnel accompany the crew, and, in some cases, the need to fund conservation work. For production companies, they represent a line item that can’t be ignored. Even small-scale shoots designed for online platforms are treated as commercial and priced as such.
When planning a shoot in Malta
✅ Research early: permit requirements and fees vary widely by site.
✅ Budget realistically: allocate at least a few hundred euros per location, more for flagship heritage sites.
✅ Communicate clearly: explain your project to site managers; they may be open to adjusting fees, but only within the context of commercial use.
Filming in Malta’s historic environments is also a privilege, and while costs can feel steep, they help sustain the very sites that make the islands such an attractive backdrop.
