If you enjoy clear blue skies, sparkling turquoise water and sun-kissed beaches, you are going to love Malta!
Life in Malta seems quite laid-back and its towns are timeless. Bright pink Bougainvillea climb the beige walls, horse-drawn carriages trot along cobblestone paths, and beautiful medieval buildings line every alleyway. Malta made me feel like I had travelled back in time.
And in Malta you are really spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches. Ten of the world’s Blue Flag beaches are actually in Malta! Most of these are in the north of the island, so set aside some time to do some serious beach hopping.
The beaches are accessible by bus, or you could hire a bike or car. We chose bus and ferry as our transport which worked very well. Although pristine beaches are one of the main attractions, this beautiful island offers more to do and see.
With so much to do in Malta, I am excited to share my top 5 things to see in Malta.
1) Explore Mdina
Start with Mdina, the old medieval part of Malta, also called the Silent City due to the restrictions on cars and noise. You will be amazed by the classic, timeless vibes of this place. Surprisingly, some Maltese aristocratic families still reside in these houses, so be respectful when you are taking photos.
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- National Museum of Natural History
- Mdina Dungeons
- Fontanella Tearooms
To see the best of the Mdina, we recommend taking a guided walking tour which will show you all the must see sites!>/div>
2) Visit Valletta, a UNESCO Site
Head to Valletta, the capital city, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Allow yourself to get lost in its side streets, explore its cathedrals such as St John’s Co-Cathedral, and the famous barrack gardens.
The views from the garden are absolutely amazing. Take the lift down to the harbour/port area. From here you can catch a ferry or boat into Vittoriosa.
Some of the best things to see in Valletta include:
- Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens
- National Museum of Archeology
- Go on a guided walking tour of the city
- Visit the Game of Thrones filming locations
- Take a 2 hour habour bay cruise around Malta
3) Take In The Views At Vittoriosa
Vittoriosa (also known as Birgu) is a small village, perfect for grabbing a drink, marvelling at the harbour views, or watching the sun go down over a glass of chilled beer.
Laid back is the main vibe of this place. Not many people head this way, but I think it is a must do if you want to immerse yourself in tranquility. Plus the gondola ride is just so nice, especially around sunset!
Make sure to see the following things in Vittoriosa:
- Fort St Angelo
- Grand Harbour
- Malta Maritime Museum
- Inquisitor’s Palace
You can also book a 2 hour walking tour around Vittoriosa (Birgu) to see the best of the city!
4) Have Fun at St Julian’s and Sliema
St Julians and Sliema are both great spots to stroll around and dine in. We stayed in Sliema, at the Pebbles Luxury Apartments, which is very conveniently located and well-connected by public transport.
We saw St Julians on the way to Mdina and it certainly seemed like a very lively place.
Some of the things to see in St. Julians and Sliema are:
- Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Spinola Bay
- Torri ta’ San Ġiljan
You can also book a full day boat tour of Gozo, Malta’s sister island, with pickup from the harbor.
5) Spend The Day At One Of Malta’s Beautiful Beaches
We chose to go scuba diving at Paradise Bay, a blue flag beach, with Paradise Diving. The water was so clear that as soon as we submerged ourselves, we started to see marine life. Even in the shallow waters! It was truly incredible.
From here we headed to the famous Blue Lagoon on the island of Comino. This is definitely very touristy so be warned, but it’s also so very beautiful. The water is a lovely turquoise blue and is the clearest water I have ever seen in my life!
Some of the other best beaches in Malta include:
- Armier Bay
- Mellieha Bay
- Golden Bay
There is no shortage of beautiful beaches in Malta, so be sure to plan a day or two to relax in the sun. Be sure to read our dedicated article on the Best Beaches in Malta for more information!
Our Top Places To Stay in Malta
- Hotel Phoenicia Malta
- AX The Palace
- Cugo Gran Macina Grand Harbour
- Find the best price on hotels in Sliema, Malta
- Sign up to AirBnB with this link and receive US $35 off your first booking
Read More About Malta
We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Malta. If you have any questions please leave these in the comments below!
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We Are Travel Girls Contributor Sheena Garg
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Sol says
Loved it!! I am going next month for the first so it was very useful even tho it won’t be summer season :p
We Are Travel Girls says
Glad you liked the post Sol! Enjoy you trip to Malta!
Tosh Bene says
Love Malta so much! I went on a solo trip back in February and had a blast. I even had the opportunity to see the Azure Window before it collapsed. I wrote a handful of blog posts about Malta just because I loved it so much. Would definitely head back there again. The people, architecture and culture are all amazing! :)
We Are Travel Girls says
Thanks for reading Tosh, glad you enjoyed this post. If you have any more tips about Malta to share with our readers we would love to hear them! Thank you so much! Becky x