Located in the middle of the Mediterranean, Malta has a lot of things to do if even if it’s an island. Rich in natural beauty, here you can explore a lot of caves, temples, and places full of medieval architecture; if you want to learn more about its history too, you can visit some of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Malta is formed properly by three islands, Malta, Gozo, and Comino, we will mention what to do in Malta but as an extra, we will do a special mention of the others islands. Every island has a lot of activities to do but Malta is the one we recommend you to go to first since there’s a lot you can do here, it’s extremely culturally diverse and full of history.
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Explore Valletta, the capital of Malta
This capital is one of the wonders of the world, being antique as well as modern nowadays. The elaborate architecture of every building, the antique sign, and the ancient statues are some of the marvellous things you can see or photograph. Every building tells the story of the complex heritage and mixed cultures that lived in Malta, and you can live it while you drink a coffee or eat in a local restaurant.
Built by the Knights of the Order of St John, this capital has impressive buildings with a mixed heritage that can be seen everywhere. Nowadays this capital is one of the biggest cultural centres in Europe, having some of the best things to do in the whole of Malta island, which means you can enjoy a lot of open-air art shows and cultural events in their many wine bars, restaurants and coffees.
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Visit Mdina
As another ancient capital, Mdina is a treasure rich in history and cultural heritage. If you reach the hill where it’s located, you can enjoy the ancient ruins in the centre of the island and a bird-eye scenic view of the surroundings. While you are here you should go to the fortifications that make this capital so incredible to watch.
If you have a lot of time on your hands, you can enjoy a nice strolling around the streets, as most of them have incredible natural scenery. You can also go to some of the museums in the city or try some of the local food in the many restaurants and eateries.
Cliff Jump at Blue Grotto
Near Qrendi, on the southern coast of Malta, you can find this group of sea caverns, ideal for having an extreme day. Full of photography worth places and astonishing nature, these underwater caves are full of flora and fauna that will impress you. If you enjoy natural places and outside activities, this is a must-go.
If you stayed in Valletta, this place is only an hour bus drive away from you. It’s best if you go early in the morning, this way you could visit almost every cave. You can have a boat ride through the caves or you can clifftop hike your way to the ones you want to see and go down by jumping from the top.
Dive to the Deep Blue
Scuba Diving is one of the best things to do in the Maltese islands, and in Malta, you can do it until you reach sunken ships. This part of the Mediterranean Sea is almost like the Caribbean, the water is crystal clear and there are a lot of marine life you can photograph and get to know
You can also obtain an internationally recognized PADI certification that guarantees you know how to dive, in case you want to make the most out of your vacations. However, if you are a seasoned diver, you can explore wrecks like the Um El Faroud, the Blenheim Bomber, or caves like the Blue Hole, the Reqqa Reef, and the Double Arch.
Make a trip to Marsaxlokk
Exploring the local life is the best thing to do during your visit, and this harbour village has some of the things that make Malta so charming. On the coast, you can watch and take pictures of the boats, all painted with bright and bold colours, this being one of the traditions on this island full of vibrant nature and places to see.
This village is very close to the airport so this could be the first place you visit or the last, but we recommend you to come here when your vacation is coming to an end. After taking pictures of the surroundings you must go to the St. Peter’s Pool, a natural pool near the beaches of Marsaxlokk.
Discover the Marsaxlokk Market
After visiting the harbour and the St. Peter’s Pool, you should go to the market next. The fish market is huge and many restaurants serve local, freshly caught fish and much more local food you must try. After eating you can go to a coffee at the largest parish square, close to the sea.
During the weekdays, the market is smaller but you will always find people selling the catch of the day or many other things. On Sundays, the market is at its biggest and will sell anything you can imagine, so make sure to have change and time for a bargain.
Photograph the Upper Barrakka Gardens
Close to Valletta, you can find these gardens and, while you visit them, catch a glance at one of the most incredible views you can have of Malta. From the viewpoints of the gardens, you can have a bird-eye view of the “Three Cities” of Malta or even reach the Grand Harbor, another place near Valletta that’s worth visiting.
Dig more into the Lascaris War Rooms
As we mentioned before, this place is full of places rich in history, and under the Barrakka Gardens, you can find the Lascaris War Rooms. These rooms are 45 meters below the gardens and are pieces of history of the island and the world, as they were used in World War Two for communications and many more things.
Go Clubbing
Malta’s nightlife is something you need to experience at least once when you go. All the bars and the clubs open early and are excellent places to eat, drink and dance all night long. St. Julian’s is a popular dining place and you can go dancing nearby in some venue, if this is not for you, you can go to Paceville and watch a movie in the largest cinema it has.
Other hot spots are in St. Pau’s Bay, even though many families stay in this area, there are tons of bars and places more chilled, where you can drink and talk. If you still want to go to nightclubs this place is packed with them too, but they close a little bit earlier.
Walk around the Megalithic Temples
Malta is almost completely a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there are many ruins and places that are protected by this organization and are open for tourists. You can book guide visits to many temples, some of the most important are the Tarxien Temples, the Hagar Qim Temples, and the Mnajdra Temples.
Get to know the Knights of Malta
Originally in Malta lived The Knights Hospitallers of St. John, the masters of the sea at that time. They built a lot of the forts and fortifications that we can see now in the Grand Harbor, even though they weren’t exactly in the capital of Malta. Many of the museums and other buildings are also consequences of their presence on the island.
Photograph a real ancient Palace
Many of the palaces built by the knights or the noble’s families on Malta are still on the island and are monuments. Many of these palaces are museums now and are maintained so everybody can visit them and get close to how the nobles lived in that period. Some are venues for events but you might be lucky and go to an event in one of those.
You can visit most of the palaces on the island; some of the most important are the Grandmaster’s Palace, Casa Rocca Piccola, Palazzo Falson, Palazzo Parisio, and Villa Bologna. The baroque architecture reflects the richness of the owners and the lavish decorations and gardens reaffirm this. In case you have a short budget, many offer refreshments, and souvenirs.
Go to Crystal Lagoon on Comino Island
This is one of our special mentions, being on Comino, another of the islands in the Maltese archipelago. Comino is Malta’s third island and is famous on its own; this is because here you can visit the Crystal Lagoon, one of the natural pools with the clearest waters in the world, where you can appreciate this and its breathtaking views if you climb the surroundings.
Even though this pool is not as famous as others, is more secluded and is a better spot for many tourists because is not that full. Here you can do snorkel or just swing around and enjoy the tranquillity of these waters. There are very few tourists in this spot, so you can enjoy it almost by yourself.
Take a cruise!
A cruise is a convenient way to visit various destinations while avoiding the anxiety of dealing with hotels, restaurants and local transportation. Plus, onboard a cruise ship, you will be pampered all the time, and a Cruise Holiday can be relaxing, revitalising or exciting. What are you waiting for to have an unforgettable cruise experience?
