An Insider’s Guide to Malta: 6 of the coolest local landmarks to discover

Forty-five metres beneath Valletta’s Upper Barrakka Gardens lies a warren of tunnels that once ran Malta’s war effort. From here, in July 1943, General Eisenhower helped direct the Allied invasion of Sicily. The operations rooms are still laid out as they were – maps, plotting tables and all. It’s a gripping history lesson for older kids. Best avoided if you’re not a fan of tight spaces, though.

Time Out tip: It’s closed on Sundays, but the rest of the week you can easily fit this and the Saluting Battery (right upstairs) into one history-filled afternoon.

At noon and 4 pm, six days a week, Valletta stops for a bang. Quite something in a city where the church bells already have a lot to say. The Saluting Battery dates back to 1566 and is considered the world's oldest operational saluting battery. The noon gun once told ship captains when to set their clocks (handy, before smartphones). Watch from the gardens above and it’s free, with the whole Grand Harbour as your backdrop.

Time Out tip: Ricotta or peas? Locals take their pastizzi fillings very seriously, so pick a side before you grab one nearby (it’s Malta’s favourite flaky pastry snack). Then head up to the Upper Barrakka Gardens 15 minutes early to bag a spot.

You can’t miss this one. The Knights of St John built this bright red tower on the Marfa Ridge in the 1640s, back when raiders from the sea were a very real threat. Climb the narrow stairs to the roof and Mellieħa Bay opens up below you, with Gozo on the horizon. Kids will love the turrets and cannon ports, while everyone else can soak up the view.

Time Out tip: Go late afternoon, when the red walls look their reddest. It’s a 10-minute drive from the village centre.

Here’s one for the film buffs. This ramshackle cluster of wooden houses in Anchor Bay was built as the set for Popeye (1980), starring a young Robin Williams, and it’s barely changed since. Wander the wonky buildings, say hello to the costumed characters and hop on a short boat trip around the bay. Kids go wild for it, but grown-ups get just as nostalgic.

Time Out tip: For the classic postcard shot, head to the viewpoint on the road above. It’s a short drive from the Red Tower.

Your phone camera is about to get a workout. Hidden on the Delimara Peninsula, St Peter’s Pool has smooth limestone ledges wrapped around water so blue it barely looks real. On a still morning, you can hear the sea lapping against the stone. Find yourself a spot on the rocks, sit back and take it all in.

Time Out tip: Get here early on a weekday, before the sunbathers arrive. Pack water and snacks, as facilities are limited. From Marsaxlokk, it’s around 30 minutes on foot.

Now this is a view worth travelling for. High above Ir-Ramla il-Ħamra, Mixta Cave has a natural opening in the rock that frames the red sand far below. I never tire of it. Bring someone you’d like to impress.

Time Out tip: From Nadur, follow the signs down a winding country lane to a small parking area, then it’s a short, uneven walk to the cave. 

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