Where to look
History & Culture Lovers
History enthusiasts · UNESCO site visitors · Knight Hospitaller fans · Ancient civilisation lovers Malta has more concentrated history than almost any island of its size on earth. The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, carved from rock between 3600–2500 BC, is one of the world's most extraordinary prehistoric sites — an underground complex of chambers used as a sanctuary and burial site, with incredible acoustic properties. Access is strictly limited to 80 visitors per day and booking is essential months in advance. The Megalithic Temples of Malta (Ġgantija on Gozo, Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra) are older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. Valletta, the island's capital, was built in the 1560s by the Knights of St John and is arguably the most concentrated historic city in Europe — almost every building is of historical significance, packed into a tiny peninsula of 650m × 1,100m. The Grand Master's Palace, the Cathedral of St John (with Caravaggio's largest painting, 'The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist'), the fortifications, the baroque auberges — all are within a few minutes' walk of each other.
Beach & Sun Seekers
Beach lovers · Swimmers · Sun worshippers · Warm winter sun seekers Malta's finest sandy beach is Golden Bay on the northwest coast — a wide crescent of golden sand in a sheltered bay with clear, progressively deepening water and a good beach hotel directly on the sand. The bay is genuinely beautiful by Maltese standards, though it cannot compete with the finest Greek or Spanish beaches. Ghajn Tuffieha (Golden Bay's neighbour, accessed via a staircase through the clay hillside) is smaller, more secluded and has excellent water quality. For the finest swimming in the entire archipelago, Comino's Blue Lagoon is the answer — a shallow, sheltered bay between Comino and the tiny Cominotto islet with extraordinarily clear, vivid blue-green water. The problem is that it becomes severely overcrowded in summer (hundreds of day-trip boats). Visit in May, early June or September–October for a reasonable experience. St Peter's Pool, an unofficial swimming spot on the southeast coast of Malta, is a series of rock platforms above the sea — not a beach but excellent, clear swimming.
Divers & Underwater Explorers
Scuba divers · Freedivers · Snorkellers · Underwater photographers Malta is one of the top five scuba diving destinations in the Mediterranean and is exceptional for technical divers. The water clarity reaches 40 metres visibility in good conditions, and the variety of dive environments is extraordinary: wrecks from World War II, deep walls dropping off the continental shelf, underwater caves, and the famous Blue Hole on Gozo — a natural circular rock hole in the cliff face that leads through a tunnel to the open ocean, arguably the most beautiful dive entry in Europe. The Um El Faroud — a 10,000-tonne oil tanker sunk deliberately as an artificial reef off Wied iż-Żurrieq — is one of the finest wreck dives in the Mediterranean. The Tug 2 wreck is shallower and ideal for sport diving. Gozo's Inland Sea, accessible through a 90-metre tunnel in the cliff face, opens into a deep blue cave system that is outstanding for experienced divers and dramatic even for snorkellers. Malta has more dive centres per square kilometre than anywhere else in the Mediterranean.
Gozo & the Quieter Island
Nature lovers · Rural escape seekers · Authentic experience fans · Cyclists Gozo (Għawdex) is the second island of the Maltese archipelago — smaller, greener, quieter and significantly more rural than Malta. The 25-minute ferry from Ċirkewwa connects the islands year-round, but Gozo remains distinctly unhurried. Victoria (Rabat), the island's small capital, has a magnificent medieval citadel on a hilltop visible across the whole island. The Ġgantija megalithic temples are older than Stonehenge and virtually crowd-free. Gozo is famous for its farmhouses — traditional stone country houses converted to holiday accommodation, often with private pools, surrounded by fields of wheat and carob trees. Renting a farmhouse in Gozo is one of the finest rural holiday experiences in the central Mediterranean. The island has excellent cycling and walking: the Ramla Bay beach (Gozo's finest, with reddish sand), the salt pans at Xwejni, and the coastal path around the southern cliffs are all outstanding.
Families with Children
Families · Young children · Parents wanting calm water and activities Mellieħa, on the north coast, is Malta's best family destination. Mellieħa Bay has the island's calmest, shallowest water — the bay is so gradually shelving that children can wade 50 metres from shore in water that barely reaches waist height. The Splash and Fun water park is nearby, the Popeye Village film set (turned theme park) is 2km away, and the area has a very full range of family-friendly accommodation at reasonable prices by Maltese standards. St George's Bay and Spinola Bay in St Julian's are convenient for families who want to be near the main resort with all facilities — there is a good artificial sandy beach and multiple watersports available. The island's history sites — Valletta, Mdina, the Hypogeum (for older children) — are all reachable easily by day trip. The Popeye Village in Mellieħa, built in 1980 for the Robin Williams film, has become an excellent children's attraction.
Nightlife & Social Scene
Night owls · Bar hoppers · Clubbers · Social travellers St Julian's (San Ġiljan) is Malta's nightlife capital. Paceville, the entertainment district, is a compact area of bars, clubs and restaurants that fills from midnight through dawn, particularly at weekends. The area attracts a young, international and local crowd — Malta's English language proficiency makes it a uniquely accessible Mediterranean nightlife destination for British and international visitors. Valletta, despite being a small capital, has a remarkably vibrant bar and restaurant scene especially since its 2018 European Capital of Culture designation. The Republic Street and Strait Street (Valletta's former red light district, now a fashionable bar strip) are excellent for evening drinks. Sliema, adjacent to St Julian's across a small bay, has good restaurants and cocktail bars along the Strand promenade.
Budget Travellers
Backpackers · Students · Year-round budget seekers · Language course students Malta is one of the most affordable Mediterranean island destinations — accommodation, food and transport are significantly cheaper than Greek islands or the Spanish Balearics. Sliema has the widest range of mid-range and budget accommodation and excellent bus connections to the whole island. The Malta public bus network (Tallinja) is comprehensive and cheap — most of the island is reachable for under €2. English-language students are a major visitor demographic — Malta has dozens of English language schools and thousands of students studying there year-round, which creates a healthy competitive market for budget accommodation and social activities. The food culture (pastizzi — cheese or pea pastries from street kiosks, ftira — Maltese bread with tuna and olive oil) is excellent and extremely cheap. November through March is 40–50% cheaper than summer for all accommodation.
🏛️ Valletta
UNESCO World Heritage capital. Caravaggio, Grand Master's Palace, St John's Cathedral. Best for history and culture. Boutique hotels. History · Culture · Romance · Couples
🌃 St Julian's / Sliema
Main resort area. Paceville nightlife, Spinola Bay, wide range of hotels. Best transport connections. Crowded but convenient. Nightlife · Beach · All types
🏡 Mellieħa
North coast. Calmest family beach (very shallow), Popeye Village, Comino ferry access. Best family area. Families · Beach · Calm
🏖️ Golden Bay area
Northwest coast. Best sandy beach on Malta. Ghajn Tuffieha nearby. Quieter than St Julian's. Beach · Couples · Nature
🌿 Gozo Island
Second island. Rural, quiet, farmhouses, Blue Hole diving, Ggantija temples, Ramla red sand beach. Ferry from Cirkewwa. Nature · Authentic · Diving · Romance
🏰 Mdina (Silent City)
Medieval fortified hilltop city. Narrow streets, baroque palaces, cathedral. Day trip from any base — no overnight facilities in the walls. History · Culture · Day trip
🏝️ Comino Island
Tiny island between Malta and Gozo. Blue Lagoon (best swimming). No cars, no nightlife. Day trips only from Mellieħa or St Julian's. Beach · Nature · Day trip
Tips for booking
- Book the Hypogeum at least 3 months in advance. Access is strictly limited to 80 visitors per day (to protect the site's atmosphere and humidity). Tickets are released online and sell out immediately. If you fail to book ahead, check for last-minute cancellations on the Heritage Malta website.
- Blue Lagoon is best visited by early morning boat from Mellieħa. Early departures (8am) reach the lagoon before the day-trip boats from Valletta and St Julian's. By 11am in July and August the lagoon is severely overcrowded. Return before 1pm or stay until after 4pm when most boats have left.
- Book a Gozo diving day from Malta. The ferry from Ċirkewwa to Mġarr on Gozo takes 25 minutes. Most Maltese dive operators run day trips to Gozo combining the Blue Hole and Inland Sea — these are among the best diving experiences in the Mediterranean and worth the extra travel.
- Rent a Gozo farmhouse for a completely different Malta experience. Traditional stone farmhouses with private pools are available from €100/night and provide an authentic, private, rural experience that no Maltese hotel can replicate. Gozo Farmhouses (the booking platform) and VRBO both have excellent listings.
- Mellieħa Bay at low tide is perfect for toddlers. The gradual slope of the sandy bottom means the water is knee-deep 30 metres from shore — the calmest and safest family swimming on the main island. The bay faces northeast and is sheltered from the prevailing winds.
- Strait Street in Valletta is the most atmospheric bar strip in Malta. A narrow historic lane once lined with sailor bars in the Maltese capital's heyday, it has been reinvented as a creative bar and restaurant strip — intimate, Maltese and genuinely excellent. Much better than Paceville if you are over 25.
- The Tallinja public bus covers almost all of Malta for under €2 per trip. A 7-day unlimited pass costs around €21. The network is comprehensive and connects Valletta with all beaches, towns and attractions. A hire car is not necessary for most visits — just for Gozo and remote southwest beaches.
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