Malta’s three islands offer plenty of sights despite their small size. It’s worth taking advantage of this and, besides beach relaxation, allocate time to explore the beautiful natural and architectural attractions.
One of the most exciting islands in Europe. As it lies between Sicily and Africa, it is a blend of European and Arab influences.
I spent two days in Malta, you can read a report about it here!
Table of Contents
Attractions in Malta
Valletta
The capital’s city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its location is already fantastic, bordered by city walls on the southwest and by the sea on the other sides.
The city is entered through the City Gate, comprising a larger central and two smaller side arches.
An interesting spot is the Barrakka Gardens atop the city walls, offering splendid views of the sea and the adjacent neighborhood. An elevator takes you down to the harbor.
Popular attractions include the Grandmaster’s Palace, known for the knight armors of the Order of St. John displayed in its corridors. The building hosts the Maltese Parliament and the President’s office.
The city’s largest religious building is St. John’s Co-Cathedral, home to Caravaggio’s paintings, including his famous „The Beheading of Saint John”.
At the city’s „tip” is Fort Saint Elmo, built in the 15th century. It now operates as a museum, housing many memorabilia, especially from World War II.
Argotti Botanical Gardens
Located on the way to Valletta in the small town of Floriana, these gardens feature massive oleanders, oak trees, and thousands of cacti. The garden offers beautiful views of the surroundings.
One of the villas hosts the Horticulture Museum, showcasing gardening tools, records, and documents.
Birgu
Opposite Valletta’s port side is Birgu (also known as Citta Vittoriosa), where the Inquisitor’s Palace is the main attraction. Like its Spanish counterpart, it was a site of torture for heretics – not for the faint-hearted.
In a side street, you can find the Executioner’s House, needless to say, what it displays.
But it’s also worth getting lost in the narrow, winding streets, which exude a great atmosphere.
Rinella Fort
Located northeast of Birgu, it houses the world’s largest cannon. The British built it in the late 19th century in response to an Italian naval threat. The defense was successful.
Mediterraneo Marine Park
Located between Valletta and Qawra, this marine park features dolphin shows, sea lion shows, and parrot shows. Swimming with dolphins and viewing various other animal species are also available.
Mdina
The former capital showcases Arabic architecture. The city is surrounded by stone walls, as many religious and knightly orders settled here, leaving behind many cultural relics.
Its main attraction is St. Paul’s Co-Cathedral, a counterpart to the St. John’s Cathedral in Valletta.
Bastion Square, the highest point of the city, offers excellent views of a large part of the country.
Marsaxlokk
A fishing village in the southeast known for its colorful fishing boats, luzzus. It supplies a large part of Malta’s seafood. During the week, fish are transported to Valletta, and on Sundays, they serve the local market.
Don’t miss the market and the string of restaurants around the harbor.
Popeye Village
The set of the 1980 film „Popeye” is located on the northwestern coast. Not demolished after filming, tourists can see the original 20 buildings.
The set looks beautiful from the sea, lying in a bay and surrounded by cliffs.
Qawra
This town is located in the northern part of the island, forming one of Malta’s main tourist areas together with the adjacent Buġibba. A scenic seaside promenade stretches almost throughout, making it an ideal choice for a tranquil and picturesque relaxation.
The Malta National Aquarium is also situated on the waterfront.
Golden Bay
Located near the town of Manikata, Golden Bay features a fine, light brown sandy beach with gradually deepening waters. It’s a haven for water sports enthusiasts, offering activities like surfing and water skiing.
Mellieha Beach
Located in the northwest corner of the island, this bay is considered by many to be the best and most beautiful beach in Malta.
It has fine sand and the sea deepens very slowly, making it an excellent choice for families with small children.
Splash and Fun Water Park
Directly next to the Mediterraneo Park, combining the two provides an excellent full-day program for kids.
It’s a good choice for all ages, offering not just slides but various other fun equipment. The „dark tunnel” slide, where you slide down in a large tube through a covered slide, is one of the best.
Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
This underground burial temple in Paola, dating from 3300-2500 BC, is a complex, multi-level labyrinth carved into limestone, featuring over twenty chambers. It was used to inter about 6-7000 people.
Note that photography is prohibited, children under six are not allowed, and only 10 visitors are admitted per hour!
Gozo Island
The northwesternmost island is full of attractions and great restaurants. Ferries to Gozo depart from the Cirkewwa station in the northwestern tip of the main island.
Perhaps the most famous natural sight of Gozo was the Azure Window, a rock arch, which unfortunately collapsed in early 2017 due to a storm and can now only be seen in pictures.
The island’s center is Rabat (also known as Victoria). Its main attraction is the Citadel, which houses the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, the Archaeological Museum, the Ethnography Museum, the Natural Science Museum, and an armory.
The most beautiful beach is Ramla Bay, known for its orange sand and shallow turquoise water. A notable feature on the beach is a statue of the Virgin Mary.
The Ġgantija temple ruins are very well-preserved archaeological buildings. The site also features prehistoric archaeological finds.
The Xewkija Rotunda is Gozo’s largest church, with a dome that is the third-largest in the world. Its impressive size can be seen from afar.
The Ta’ Cenc cliffs are the highest rock walls on the island. The view is fantastic, and a visit is highly recommended.
Comino
This small island lies between Malta and Gozo. Its size is evident by the fact that it only has two hotels.
The main reason tourists visit Comino by boat is the Blue Lagoon. Don’t imagine a long beach; this stunning cove has about 10 meters of shoreline, but the color of the water and the surroundings make the trip worthwhile.
Regular boats to the island depart from the Cirkewwa station. Schedule and prices can be found here!
Weather
The climate is Mediterranean, characterized by mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. Most of the year, the weather is dominated by clear skies and brilliant sunshine. The summer heat is mitigated by almost constant northwestern winds. Occasionally, hot and extremely humid air currents from the Sahara, which make cooling down difficult, interrupt this. This wind is called xlokk in Malta, but it rarely occurs in extreme degrees.
Summer usually ends in late September when air currents from the Atlantic Ocean reach the islands.
The Maltese winter is defined by alternating European cold, Saharan heat, and Atlantic cool air masses. Snow can fall during colder periods, but frost is unknown on the islands.