How do you find enough to do in tiny Malta? It’s a question I am often asked by those who know that I write a guidebook to the country I’ve been visiting for years. The answer? Easily! Malta may have a population of just half a million and a main island of a mere 316 sq km (alongside much smaller neighbour Gozo), but it has a greater density of historic sights than any other country and copious coastline. Add 300 days a year of sunshine, clear blue waters, English as an official language, a burgeoning gourmet scene (including six Michelin-starred restaurants) and just a three-hour flight from the UK, and perhaps you can see why its star is on the rise. Here are some of the best places to visit in Malta.
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1. Valletta
Built by the Knights of Malta after they nearly lost the island to the Ottoman Turks in the Great Siege of 1565, Malta’s Unesco-listed citadel capital is a charmer of honeyed limestone alleys overhung by painted wooden balconies. Surrounded by sea and 16th-century fortifications, it is one of Europe’s most walkable cities. Don’t miss the panoramic view of the Grand Harbour from the bastion-top Upper Barrakka Gardens, or the dazzling baroque interior and Caravaggio paintings at St John’s Co-Cathedral.
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A five-star destination in itself, the art deco Phoenicia, favoured by royalty, is Malta’s best hotel. It has it all: historic character, perfect location, excellent food, impeccable service, professional spa, pleasant gardens and indoor and outdoor pools
This eight-day Valletta, Mdina and the Wonders of Malta tour includes a walking tour of Valletta and a visit to St John’s Co-Cathedral
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2. The Grand Harbour
There is nothing quite like approaching Malta by cruise ship. Expect azure waters, creamy limestone fortifications and an insight into Maltese history. The Knights of Malta fought off the Ottoman Turks here and the harbour was also central to Malta in the Second World War. These days cruise ships often sail here, mooring just below the bastions of Valletta. A glass lift can take you up to the Upper Barrakka Gardens and into the picturesque streets of Valletta.
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Fred Olsen offers a 19-night Mediterranean Island-hopping itinerary that starts and ends in Newcastle with the Grand Harbour and Valletta at its furthest point.
3. The sea
Malta is widely regarded as the best diving destination in Europe. Its waters are exceptionally clear and there are shore and boat dives to suit all levels of experience. Across Malta and Gozo, sunken wrecks await exploration along with stunning underwater landscapes, from cathedral-like caves to sheer drops and blue holes.
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The Kempinski San Lawrenz is a comfortable resort hotel with full facilities, close to Dwejra — site of great shore dives — and to certified dive schools at Xlendi and Marsalforn
Musement offers diving tours and courses from a few hours to a few days, suiting everyone from beginners to advanced divers
4. Mdina
High on a plateau at the centre of the island rises Malta’s first citadel capital, Mdina. Romans, Arabs and medieval Christians ruled from here before the Knights built Valletta and the “old town” was left behind in history. Its labyrinth of tiny streets hides aristocratic palazzi (some now museums), convents and churches, including Malta’s original cathedral. Stay behind when the day trippers leave for the full “silent city” experience.
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A converted Mdina palazzo, the Xara Palace hotel is packed with historic character as well as a Michelin-star restaurant and terrace with panoramic views
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A tour of Mdina is included in this Malta Highlights 2024 tour from Back-Roads Touring
5. The Temples
Malta is home to some of the oldest stone architecture in the world — thought to be older than the Greek temples, the Great Pyramids and even the standing stones at Stonehenge. Constructed during the fourth and third millennia BC of stone blocks weighing up to 20 tonnes, these Unesco world heritage-listed temples have monumental facades, massive entranceways, semi-circular rooms, windows, steps, altars and iconic statuary.
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Tucked away in an upmarket area, opposite the president’s summer palace, the Corinthia Palace Hotel is a peaceful five-star stay with an outdoor pool shaped to remind those in the know of the nearby temples
The best-preserved temples at Mnajdra and Hagar Qim are included in this eight-day Malta Discovery Tour with Explore
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• Best hotels in Malta
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6. Golden Bay
Malta has a fascinating history, but let’s not neglect the pleasures of its sun and sea. Summers are hot and dry, and the sun and sea both stay bathable well into the autumn. Malta’s best sandy beaches, such as Golden Bay, are mostly in the north — and offer everything from windsurfing to banana boats — or on Gozo. The clear waters of rocky shorelines are also popular with competent swimmers and snorkellers.
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Radisson Blu Resort and Spa sits right by the sands of Golden Bay and has plenty facilities for a family-friendly holiday
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7. Meridiana Wine Estate
Malta’s food and wine scene has had a meteoric rise over the last decade. You can still get omelette, chips and a can of beer if you insist, but the Mediterranean dishes and wines are the ones to write home about. Since 2020, six restaurants have been awarded a Michelin star, and many more offer mouth-watering meals at more affordable prices. You can try interesting Maltese wines that you won’t find anywhere else; production is too small for export. Some of the best comes from the Meridiana Wine Estate, in the middle of the island. The 47-acre estate, which uses only Malta-grown grapes, hosts tours and tastings of ten wines.
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The vines of the Meridiana winery in Ta’ Qali are visible from Rabat and Mdina. Stay in the heart of Rabat (also close to the Roman catacombs) at the good-value Heritage Boutique Accommodation
This day-long Wine Lover’s Tour of Malta including breathtaking vistas from the Dingli Cliffs and time to explore Mdina before a wine tasting at Meridiana
8. The Hypogeum
This unique triple-layered underground tomb complex was carved into the rock thousands of years ago by the Temple people. Stone Age masons without metal or writing created this impressive labyrinth of subterranean chambers, some painted with red and black ochre, others immaculately carved to mimic the architecture of the above-ground temples. Unesco limits visitors numbers for conservation reasons so viewing must be booked in advance.
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At the inland end of the Grand Harbour, the Hypogeum might once have been visible from what is today’s delightful roof terrace at Ursulino, one of Valletta’s many independent boutique hotels
A visit to the Hypogeum is included in this seven-day Brightwater tour focused on Malta’s archeological heritage
9. Gozo
Many go for a day trip; it’s worth making more of it. Just a half-hour ferry from the main island, Gozo is slow-travel Malta — smaller, gentler, greener; a laid-back little island for real R&R. There’s still plenty to do, though: visit the prehistoric temples of Ggantija, browse medieval byways in the capital Victoria, take in 360-degree views as you walk the citadel walls, hike through natural rock sculpture and, of course, go to the beach.
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Get dug in as part of the place by renting a farmhouse or villa in one of the villages. There are plenty to choose from, many with private pools, such as Farmhouse Anna
This eight-day Travel Department tour of Malta and Gozo takes in the main sights of both islands
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