The Best Places to Visit in Malta
Malta is a tiny Mediterranean island nation which sits just underneath Italy. It's made up of three main islands; Malta, Gozo, and Comino. The whole country is only about 316 square kilometers, with a population of around 575,000. Because of its location, the country is now filled with history, featuring the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Knights of St John, French, and of course the British. It’s a popular destination for those craving sun when the rest of Europe gets colder after the summer months, and the stunning beaches and blue waters are perfect for that.
Capital: Valletta
Currency: Euro
Language: Maltese, English
When to visit: May to November
1) Valletta
Valletta is one of the smallest capitals in Europe, and it’s built on a peninsula between two natural harbors, so the whole city is surrounded by water on three sides. It barely even feels like a capital city, more just like a historic Mediterranean town. It was built in 1560 after the Great Siege, with the idea in mind of it being a pure fortress city, so the streets have a grid layout, and everything is made out of this golden limestone.
Things to do:
Valletta itself is pretty small, so these are the obvious sights. We start with the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the gorgeous dome shaped building in the heart of the city. It’s the most beautiful building in the city and stands out the most. We also have St John's Co-Cathedral, which is the Knight’s church. It’s not the craziest from the outside, but head inside and it’s out of this world. Everywhere is covered in gold and incredible paintings, whilst the floor is made of knights’ tombstones. Also walk over to the Upper Barrakka Gardens, which have amazing architecture plus some of the best views over the Grand Harbor. This is a must visit, and if you want you can also walk over to the Lower Barrakka Gardens which are smaller but still nice. At the tip of the peninsula is Fort St Elmo, where the Knights held out in 1565. The National War Museum next to it covers some of Malta’s history, too. If you have at least a day here, you can definitely see it all in Valletta while you wander the beautiful streets.
How to get there:
Malta International Airport (MLA) is the only airport with direct flights from different cities around Europe.
A ferry from Sicily is also an option, as is taking a bus from the other towns and cities on Malta’s main island.
2) Mdina
Mdina is this tiny walled city in the middle of Malta, which they call ‘The Silent City’ since outside cars are banned when inside the walls. It’s like a place frozen in time, literally less then 300 people are estimated to still live here, and it was Malta’s old capital after its foundation thousands of years ago. You can see it in under a day, spending as much time as you like wandering the old stone streets.
Things to do:
The main entrance goes through Mdina Gate, so step through there and you’re in Mdina. The big obvious standout building is the iconic St Paul's Cathedral, which towers above everything else in Mdina. The best view of everything is at the northern end of Mdina, named Bastion Square. It looks out over the plains of Malta. You should also spend time just wandering the city walls and streets. It’s small and won’t take up much of your time, but it’s definitely worth it.
How to get there:
Take a bus from Valletta - Bus 41 or 42 should include Mdina but always check local timetables.
3) Gozo
Gozo is the second-largest island in the Maltese archipelago, sitting just north of the main island of Malta. It’s a lot smaller with just a few main towns on the island, however it has some stunning architecture and natural beaches. It’s way less touristy than Malta island, especially after sunset as most of the day trippers head back to Valletta. It’s definitely not a place you should skip if you’re in Malta, but you may need to get a car, scooter, or bike to explore the island easier.
Things to do:
The island is small so you can see all the main spots in a couple days. The main town in the center is called Victoria, and the best thing to see there is The Citadel, which is the fortified hilltop complex with WWII Bunkers, the Old Prison, and Cathedral of the Assumption all up there. It’s in the middle of the Old Town, which is perfect and it also includes St George’s Basilica too. Slightly northeast of Victoria is Xagħra, which contains Ġgantija Archaeological Park, an old site which contains 2 preserved limestone temples which are literally older than the pyramids in Egypt, which is crazy. And then if we head up to the very north of the island, we’ll see Ramla Bay which is Gozo’s longest beach and the perfect spot to swim and relax. It’s not Gozo’s only seaside spot though, you can also go to Dwejra Bay, Xlendi Bay or Marsalforn town.
How to get there:
You need to take a ferry from Malta, specifically Cirkewwa ferry terminal which goes to Gozo.
4) Marsaxlokk
Marsaxlokk is a small fishing village on the southeast coast of Malta. It's one of the most picturesque spots on the island, mainly because of the colorful traditional fishing boats in the harbor. These boats have bright paint, eyes painted on the bow to ward off evil, and they bob around in the water like something out of a postcard. You can easily visit in a day from Valletta, and it’s a nice spot in general.
Things to do:
The main thing to do is literally just head down to Marsaxlokk Harbor, and see all the colorful pained boats I mentioned before. It’s a perfect spot for anyone wanting to take some great photos. Stroll the waterfront promenade and enjoy the vibe of a new town before you head back to Valletta, or wherever you are staying. On Sundays, there is the big Sunday fish market, where the whole waterfront turns into a market with tables of fresh fish, seafood, vegetables, and some souvenirs. Get there before afternoon while the atmosphere is still lively.
How to get there:
You can take bus 81 or 82 from Valletta, but double check local timetables to make sure.
5) Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is a small, stunning bay next to the tiny island of Comino in Malta. Technically, it sit’s between Comino and Cominotto, and it has the best clear blue waters in the entire country. While it is beautiful, it’s still one of Malta’s most popular spots in the whole country so it is going to be busy.
Things to do:
Really you can just either relax or swim here. The water is usually like 1-3 meters deep on average and there is rocks all around the area for you to chill on. You can otherwise explore it via boat tour, which is just as amazing.
How to get there:
You’ll probably just need an organized boat tour, they usually depart from Bugibba, Sliema, Valletta, and a couple more places.
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