Malta usually isn’t people’s first choice when looking for their next holiday destination. This island may be as big as the palm of my hand, but it is jam packed with hidden gems and places to explore, making Malta very much worth visiting! Let me present to you the 13 best things to do in Malta and the top places you need to see during your visit there.
1. Explore the capital city of Valletta
Plan at least half a day to visit Europe’s smallest capital city – Valletta. The most important sights in the Maltese capital are St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens, the Grandmaster’s Palace, as well as the National Museum of Archaeology, The Church of our Lady of Victory. Walk around the narrow hilly streets and look for all the pretty colourful balconies. The Maltese architecture is quite different from the rest of Europe, dating back from the Baroque era in the 17th and 18th century. Make sure to check out Fort St. Elmo as well – a fortification that played an important role in past battles.
2. Walk the footsteps of Khaleesi in beautiful Mdina
One thing that shouldn’t miss on your list is the old capital Mdina. This little town is famous for the fact that many Game of Thrones scenes were shot there. Mdina is tiny, with a population of less than 300 people, but it is one of the most impressive places in Malta. Pay a visit to the famous Mdina Gate, St. Paul’s Cathedral and St. Paul’s Catacombs, Domvs Romana, the Cathedral Museum, as well as the Mdina Dungeons and The Mdina Experience.
3. Take a day cruise to Gozo
Boats are leaving very regularly from Malta to Gozo, which makes getting there quite easy. You can either get on a ferry, which would just take you from one point to the other, or you can book a day trip to Gozo and combine seeing a few places in one go with a tour guide.
Once you get to the island, make sure you visit the Ggantija temples – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is said to be older than the pyramids in Egypt. Check out the 3rd largest unsupported dome in the world at the Rotunda Church in Xewkija, take a look at the secluded little pebbly bay at Wied il-Għasri and climb up to the Citadel in Victoria (Rabat) for a beautiful view. The Azure window is also a view that shouldn’t be missed under any circumstances.
4. Have a dip in Comino’s Blue Lagoon
Combine your visit of Gozo with a trip to The Blue Lagoon – one of the highlights of every Maltese adventure. With its crystal clear water and gorgeous view from the hills, this place looks like a piece of paradise.
The beach there is pretty tiny though, and it gets extremely crowded throughout the day. If you want to sit down and chill there, you need to pay a fee. Totally not worthy in my opinion – not only will you be squished from all the people everywhere around you, but you won’t be able to enjoy it even for a second.
My suggestion would be to hike around the hills and enjoy the view from above. Once you get tired, walk down to the beach and go for a swim. No need to spend even a second on the actual beach.
5. Experience the beaches of Mellieha
Mellieha is one of the most underrated and often overlooked tourist resorts. But there are a few very good reasons why this town should be on your Malta bucket list. First and foremost, here is located the largest sandy beach of the country – Għadira Bay (or Mellieha Bay). The place offers plenty of facilities to its visitors – from sunbeds and umbrellas, to several snackbars and restaurants for you to indulge in. If you’re already in Mellieha, make sure to see the Parish church and the Red Tower, and visit one of the largest WWII underground air raid shelters in Malta.
6. Stop by Popeye’s Village
Popeye’s village is in very close proximity to Mellieha, so don’t miss it if you’re around. Even though the place was purposely built as a film set for the 1980 Musical Production “Popeye”, this doesn’t make it any less impressive. This little village is open for everyone to visit and offers a good variety of family attractions like museums, shows and rides, as well as play houses for all the children. Visitors may also get the opportunity to meet the main characters from the movie!
The entry tickets vary depending on the season and the size of your group. Kids parties, corporate events and weddings are also being held there, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for a venue for your big event.
7. Go on a romantic stroll in Sliema
This little town in the northeast coast of Malta is perfect for an evening stroll along the promenade. Sliema’s coastline is buzzing with open-air cafes and restaurants with a beautiful view of the Mediterranean sea.
Sliema is also the go-to place for shopping – not only are there plenty of shops all around, but there are also two shopping centres – The Plaza Shopping Centre and The Point complex. So put on your most comfortable shoes and explore away.
8. Have a night out at St. Julian’s
Once you get to Sliema, you can’t not go to the neighbouring St. Julian’s. The area is mainly famous for its numerous bars and nightclubs, and the streets usually get crowded in the late hours when all young people go out to party. One of the few sandy beaches there is St. George’s Bay, but aim to get there early if you want to find a spot. Check out the beautiful gothic church of “Our Lady of Mount Carmel”, as well as Richard England’s ‘LOVE’ monument.
9. Eat some fresh fish in Marsaxlokk
This little fishing village has become a tourist attraction because of its fishermen, history, and beautiful scenery. There is a market happening along the seafront every day of the weak, and Sundays are dedicated to a large fish market, where locals like to sell their fresh catch. You will have the chance to see the local typical fishing boats, called ‘luzzu’, which are a tourist attraction on their own. Enjoy a chill lunch in one of the many restaurants on the waterfront with a beautiful view of the sea. Marsaxlokk is all about its unique atmosphere, since it’s nothing like the rest of Malta. Enjoy this small village and take it in as much as you can.
10. Swim in St. Peter’s Pool
St. Peter’s Pool is one of the most stunning natural swimming pools on the island and it’s located in close proximity to Marsaxlokk. The place is not sandy, but the flat rocks serve as a good sunbathing area, while the higher rocks can create nice shelter from the sun. You can climb up for a gorgeous view of the whole pool. Make sure you’re bringing everything necessary with you as there are no shops or restaurants around.
Reaching St. Peter’s Pool can be a bit tricky, since the closest bus stops outside Marsaxklokk and you have to walk a bit over 2km to get there. If you’re driving there, parking is possible on the main road, as well as on top of the cliff half way from the main road to the bay. However, the latter is not recommended as the road leading there is very bad and too narrow, and the spots are just a few.
11. Enjoy the Golden Bay
Malta doesn’t have many sandy beaches, so if you want to enjoy an afternoon at the beach, head to the Golden Bay. The beach is located on the north-west coast of Malta and it’s very easily accessible by public transport or car. Summer evenings there are usually spent by the barbecue, enjoying the beautiful sunset. If you’d like to do the same, you can buy all the things you need at the supermarkets.
Golden Bay turns into a swimming and watersports heaven during the warmer months. It is also very family-friendly, since it’s a guarded beach with a flag system, which indicates when the waters are safe to go in.
12. Discover the San Anton Palace
Currently serving as the official president residency, San Anton Palace is home to one of the most beautiful gardens in Malta. The place is easily accessible by bus and the gardens are free to enter. You will find many friendly animals wandering around, like peacocks, swans and cats. There are plenty of benches for visitors to take a seat and catch a breath for a moment, while absorbing the beauty around. Escape the hustle and bustle for a few hours and indulge in the peaceful atmosphere of this place.
13. Visit the Maltese Carnival
February in Malta is marked by the carnival week – people wearing ridiculously colourful costumes and large brightly coloured floats passing through the streets are the main attractions of the festivities. Building carnival floats has even turned into a competition between people around the Maltese islands. There are also prizes for the best costumes, grotesque masks and interesting dances.
The carnival takes place in February or early March in various towns and villages across the whole island, but the biggest celebrations are in Valletta and Floriana.
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