MALTA.
Malta is a paradisiacal destination for a wonderful city ‘island’ break filled with sunbathing, lazy days spent on white-sand beaches, diving in the turquoise waters of the archipelago and exploring ancient ruins. It’s hard to describe the beauty of Malta with simple words, it just has to be seen. From the mesmerising limestone cliffs, through the mysterious underwater caves available to snorkelers and divers, all the way to 5000-year-old necropolis of Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, it’s a stunning place that will leave you breathless with all the wonders it has to offer. The capital city Valletta offers fascinating museums, excellent restaurants and wild clubs. All this diversity makes Malta a unique tourist destination, and while the island itself is not big at all, it tops many competitors in terms of content and amount of attractions and things to do. The wonderful Blue Lagoon is the icing on the cake, which makes Malta all the more worthy of a visit – if you’ve been looking for a place that resembles paradise, Malta is as close as they get!
Top 10 Things to See and Do in Malta
Gozo, Comino, Blue Lagoon, and Caves Tour
This tour is great for first-time visitors to Malta, as it packs a lot of sights and attractions to see in just a single day. You will be able to take a cruise to the island of Gozo, where you can traverse the sandy beaches, and afterwards, you can take a free lesson in snorkelling as you swim around in the crystal clear water.
Valletta Small-Group Walking Tour
Taking only small groups of visitors at a time, this tour allows the guide to pay a lot of attention to every single tourist. The tour of Valletta begins with a visit to the Grandmaster’s Palace, and continues on with the St John’s Co-Cathedral and Fort Saint Elmo, along with the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens.
Full-Day Quad Tour of Gozo
This tour will provide you with a comfortable method of transportation as a professional guide shows you around the island of Gozo. You can either drive or ride along on a quad bike, as the local guide provides commentary. Afterwards, you will be eligible to a free three-course dinner with dessert and drinks included.
Game of Thrones Filming Locations on Malta
Malta is well known for being one of the filming locations of the hit TV series, Game of Thrones. This tour will show you along these locations, some of which are not open to the public otherwise. A well-accustomed guide will show you on your way, providing behind-the-scenes info about the actors and the show.
Comino Blue Lagoon Full Day Cruise
Taking a whole day to show you the island of Comino with the Blue Lagoon, starting from Sliema, this tour packs a lot of attractions in a small window of time. You can enjoy snorkelling at the Blue Lagoon, and later on explore its caves and beaches on a small boat with a buffet lunch onboard.
Gozo Full-Day Jeep Tour
This tour only takes a handful of tourists at a time, providing personal experience and giving the local guide the ability to answer every question you might want to ask. You will be taken aboard a jeep, which allows you to see the sights located away from the roads, where regular vehicles would not be able to go.
Shore Excursion: City Sightseeing Hop-On-Hop-Off Tour
Not only does this tour provide you with a range of hop-on-hop-off coaches which run twenty-four hours a day, but you can also opt-in for an additional boat ride or Bellver Castle entry. The double-deckers used in the tour all have audio commentary and stop at strategic places near attractions and monuments.
Explore Malta in a Self-Drive Electric Car
Being a truly unique experience, this tour will allow you to discover the Island of Malta at your own pace, providing you with a small electric car to take you on the journey. The electric car is fitted with a GPS system which will show you the way to all of the attractions located on the island.
Popeye Village Admission Ticket with Transport
With a reduced price for the admission ticket to the theme park of Popeye Village and transport from your place of accommodation, this tour allows you to save some money while providing entertainment. Spend as much time as you want in the theme park, which is one of the country’s main tourist attractions.
Blue Grotto and Marsaxlokk Half-Day Trip from Valletta
This half-day tour will take you on a comfortable boat to the Blue Grotto, one of the natural monuments of Malta. After your stay at the Blue Grotto, you will be able to browse the stalls at the local market in Marsaxlokk, where you can find a lot of local produce and handcrafted souvenirs.
Other Things to See and Do
Valletta City Gate
While on your stay on Malta, make sure to visit its capital, Valletta. One of the attractions of the city of Valletta is its famous bastion wall, which was once the main entrance to the city, but is now preserved as a monument, and you can discover the gate and its walls in all of their glory for free.
Upper Barracca Gardens
The public gardens of Valletta city were built by the Knights of Malta and provide a gorgeous view of the city and the nearby landscape. Moreover, the gardens themselves are a sight to see, as they are packed with lush greenery and pathways, making the gardens a great place for an afternoon stroll.
The Saluting Battery
While you are walking through the Upper Barracca Gardens, make sure to come visit the old cannons, which were once used to help ships set their chronometers. If you happen to stop by just before noon, you will be able to listen to some recorded British martial music, along with a march of the military.
Valletta Fortifications
Since Valletta was mainly built by the Knights of Malta after losing to the Ottoman Turks, the city is filled with old fortifications and defensive walls. The city is built in a strategic spot among a rocky peninsula, surrounded by sea, and was intended to be an impenetrable fortress, which can now be explored.
Fortifications Interpretation Centre
To this day the layout of the fortifications of Valletta city is not sure to historians and specialists. Make sure to visit the Fortifications Interpretation Centre, which holds the information regarding the city's walls and defensive structures, along with a National War Museum located not far from it.
Church of St Paul’s Shipwreck
This church is dedicated to St Paul, who according to the bible was shipwrecked on Malta in year 60 AD. The saint is thought to be the first to convert the island to Christianity, and as such is a major figure in the religious life of Malta. This 16th-century church is a monument to him, which is free to visit any time of the year.
Vittoriosa
Often referred to by its original name of Birgu, the Vittoriosa was the first official base of the Knights of Malta. The settlement of Vittoriosa was one of the major coastal villages in 1530, as the warrior monks of the Order of St John came. Nowadays, it's a renowned tourist attraction with a lot of historic sites to visit.
Mdina
Being the first capital of Malta, Mdina was a fortress similar to Valletta. The city’s growth began during the Bronze Age and was a place of interest for Romans on Malta. The city’s importance declined after the arrival of the Knights of Malta during the 16th century, but is still a place worth visiting with a lot of museums.
Dingli Cliffs
Containing the highest peak of Malta, the Dingli Cliffs go straight down for over two hundred and fifty meters into the sea. Not only will you find gorgeous vantage points there, but there is also an attraction known as the Clapham Junction there, which is the largest collection of Malta’s ancient cart ruts.
Fortress Builders
While the fortress of Malta surrounding Valletta was reinforced during the Second World War, the fortifications have been present for centuries before. Originally built by the Knights of St John, Fortress Builders is dedicated to showcasing the military architecture of the city.
Marsaxlokk
Take a walk through the town of Marsaxlokk, known for its traditional local marketplace. The town is filled with colourful fishing boats, which are in use to this day. Make sure to visit the harbour front of the town, as it is filled with lines of small stalls and restaurants serving fresh fish caught by the locals.
Village Festa
The locals of Malta are known far and wide for their love of partying. Every parish of the island has its own festa, which is a celebration of its patron saint. During that time, the streets of the cities are decorated with colourful banners and decorative lights, as families go out to celebrate.
Dwejra Point
Located on the island of Gozo, the Dwejra Point is a great place to go if you want to see the beauty of nature in all of its glory. One of the highlights of the place is the Azure Window, which is a scenic arch formed by natural erosion, provoked by waves crashing on the rocks.
Mosta Dome
Built in 1860, the Mosta Dome is the fourth largest dome in the entire world. The dome was damaged by a bomb dropped during World War Two, but fortunately, the bomb failed to explode, saving the lives of the people who were attending mass at the time. Nowadays, a similar bomb can be seen on display there.
Xlendi Bay
Located on the island of Gozo, the Xlendi Bay is an excellent place to start your journey with snorkelling if you are a beginner. The water of the Xlendi Bay is not as deep as in other places of the island, but there is still a lot to see there, with vibrant marine life swimming around in the crystal clear water.
Mgarr Ix-Xini Cove
With a secluded location on the island of Gozo, the cove of Mgarr ix-Xini is a great place to visit if you are looking for a private, tranquil spot to relax and unwind after a long day of sightseeing. The cove features some great spots for snorkelling too, with or without a guide.
Selmun Bay
While Malta is filled with plenty of gorgeous coastline beaches, most of them are packed with crowds of both tourists and locals, especially during summer, making the experience rather unpleasant. Instead, come down to the Selmun Bay, which is a secluded location, as the way down to the beach is very steep and bumpy.
Mdina Glass Factory
Located in the Ta’ Qali Craft Village, the glass blowing industry of Malta flourishes. While the industry is still relatively new to Malta, the gorgeous glass products have quickly become a cherished commodity among the locals. While buying your own souvenirs sure costs money, you can still gaze at the beautiful glass sculptures.
Sliema’s Promenade
One of the best spots on all of Malta for a jog or an evening walk is the promenade of Sliema, a long stretch of pavement along the coastline. The promenade is a favoured spot by the locals, who often flock to the stone road, and it is filled with small-time ice cream parlors providing cheap gelato.
Fomm ir-Rih
Located on the western coast of Malta, the bay of Fomm ir-Rih translates roughly to "wind's mouth". The rock formation is a unique place to visit, filled with steep cliffs and small beaches resting next to each other, and the difficult path to reach it makes it a secluded spot often skipped by most tourists.