The 9 best places to visit in Malta

If you only have one day in Malta, Valletta is where to spend it. Oozing with ancient history and bearing the marks of the country’s various occupations, Valletta is a rich, vibrant city that’s simply unmissable. Pick up cheap pastizzi on any corner, or indulge in Michelin meals at Under Grain and Noni. For accommodation, pick a 16th-century townhouse conversion equipped with pretty Gallarija Maltija, or recline in heart-of-the-city boutique boltholes such as the Palazzo Jean Parisot Boutique Suites. As well as hitting up the city’s best bits, make time to skirt the circumference of the bastion walls from where you’ll see old Maltese residences and dominating structures such as Fort St.Elmo.

Address: Palazzo Jean Parisot is located at 76 St Paul Street, Valletta

Price: Rooms go for about €262 per night

Sandy beaches are few and far between along Malta’s rocky coastlines. There are a handful though — the best of which is easily Ramla Bay in Gozo, a beautiful stretch of red sand, perfect for spending a day by the sea. Getting there is simple: buses run to the beach every hour from the Mgarr ferry dock in Gozo and take about 20 minutes. Hike up to Ta Mixta cave to enjoy vast views across the bay, and consider walking (or quad biking) one cove over to San Blas Beach. This tiny sand and stone cove is frequented by locals and relatively unknown to tourists. It’s a steep trek down to the sea, but you’ll be rewarded with seclusion.

Address: Triq ta Ghajn Hosna, Ix-Xagħra XRA 2490, Malta

Malta’s packed with prehistoric temples and burial sites (see the Ġgantija Megalithic Site and Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples) but the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is its most renowned. Spread across three levels, the hypogeum is a mix of chambers, passageways and halls created by an ancient civilization between 4000 and 1500 BCE. Excavation uncovered human bones, figurines, pottery and amulets in an area archaeologists estimate contained at least 6000 bodies during its time as a cemetery. The complex was one of the first UNESCO sites on Malta and is one of Europe’s only known neolithic necropolises. Due to its international fame, entry tickets are usually sold out months in advance, so book as soon as you know your travel dates.

This picturesque bay on the north west coast of Gozo is one of the islands’ most beautiful spots. Towering out of the ocean, Fungus Rock is a defining feature, while the Inland Sea (a shallow pool linked to the open ocean through a huge crevice) and the Blue Hole are some of Gozo’s most popular natural attractions. Swimming and snorkelling here is a delight, as is taking the 15-minute boat ride through the Inland Sea’s archway. Remains of a Punic Temple can be found on a half-hour hike up the southern cliff edge, while divers can explore the jumbled remains of the Azure Window sprawled on the seabed below (I like to dive with Bubbles Dive Centre, who keep groups pleasingly small).

Malta’s former capital might only be 12 kilometres from the current one, but it feels a world away. Surrounded by a dry moat (now the well-manicured Ditch Gardens) the ‘Silent City’ is one of the country’s most distinctive towns. Tales of its history can be enjoyed at The Knights of Malta and Tales of the Silent City exhibits, but simply walking the narrow, (mostly) car-less streets is the best way to soak it up. Admire perfectly preserved baroque architecture and step inside St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Carmelite Church. Splash out on a slice of strawberry meringue cake at Fontanella Tea Gardens, whose delicious sweet treats, Eden-level garden set up and incredible views take the edge off the price tag. 

The Blue Lagoon is a Maltese postcard staple, its waters impossibly blue. A calling card for the country’s solid summer holiday credentials, visitors will find it on the smaller island of Comino, a (mostly) uninhabited island between Malta and Gozo. While a morning spent lounging in the sun and dipping into the warm, Mediterranean ocean is an essential experience, the area does become quickly crowded. Our tip? Opt for an early start, with swimming and tanning in the morning, then an afternoon exploring the ruins of an old village, out-of-use hospital and watch towers scattered around the island and seen by the relatively few people who venture beyond the lagoon.

The coastal fishing village of Marsaxlokk is the place in Malta to sample its seafood. Fishermen bring in fresh hauls to sell to the trendy restaurants and bars which line the village’s vibrant dock. Eat at Roots, an unassuming restaurant in the middle of the harbour which offers tender fish dishes and great service. Boats of all shapes and sizes crowd the bay, including the country’s iconic luzzus. Wander the market, take in the hustle and get chatting to the locals, who will happily explain the meaning behind the luzzus bright colours and painted eye decorations. 

On the northernmost tip of Malta, this stunning natural phenomenon might be out of the way, but it’s well worth the journey. A vast, oval opening in the ground directly to the sea, this is pretty much a photographer’s dream. Some brave souls jump in, though if you’re so inclined, look out for divers and kayakers who may have entered the water from its archway opening to the sea. Get there via the 49 bus from Mellieħa, or, if coming from the Cirkewwa ferry terminal, consider walking along the coastline; the hour-long stroll will take you past the 17th-century White Tower, as well as some of the lesser trodden local villages which have a very different style from inland burgs and see relatively few tourists. 

Many visitors to Malta will know the Three Cities more as the view from Valletta’s towering walls than for the intriguing neighbourhoods they are. While Vittoriosa dates back to the Phoenecian times, Cospicua and Senglea were built in the 16th and 17th-centuries by the Order of St. John. Walk the streets of the Great Siege of 1565 by taking the 15-minute ferry across the Grand Harbour and spend a day touring the Inquisitor’s Palace and Fort St Angelo. The neighbourhoods’ more modern attractions such as the Esplora Interactive Science Centre and Malta Maritime Museum are also worth experiencing.