10 Things to Do in Malta

Malta, one of the smallest countries in the world, is an archipelago of three islands in the Mediterranean Sea located about 90 km from Sicily. Cliffs, turquoise water beaches, megalithic monuments, baroque buildings and charming fishing villages are some of the best things to see in this country. Here I will tell you which are the most interesting so you can make the most of your next visit.

Valletta or Valleta, besides being the smallest capital of Europe, has been declared a World Heritage Site, as it houses more than 300 monuments in just over half a square kilometer, mostly in baroque style.

The city also stands out for its balconies of green, red and blue colors that stand out from the buildings located in narrow streets, where you can take the best pictures of Valletta. You can also book a cruise through the ports of Malta and see the main monuments from the waters.

Some monuments you can see in this city are:

• Fort St. Telmo, built in the mid-sixteenth century by the Knights of the Order of St. John.
• Museum of the Knights Hospitallers.
• Square Palace of Valletta, built around 1565, where you can see an important collection of weapons and armor of the Baroque period.
• National Museum of Archaeology, dedicated to the archaeological finds on the island.
• Grand Harbour of Malta, about 6000 years old, which offers the best viewpoints of the city.
• Grand Master's Palace, the first residence of the founder of the city.
• St John's Co-Cathedral, from the 16th century, which also houses a museum.
• St Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral, rebuilt in 1839. It offers a nice view of the city.
• Castille Place de Valletta, built in 1574, where the knights of the order of St John stayed.
• Upper Barrakka Gardens, from the 17th century, offering a nice view of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities.

Hagar Qim is a group of megalithic temples dating back to the Ġgantija period (between 3600 and 3200 BC), constituting an amazing work of engineering. They are located in the south of the island on top of a hill. 500 meters away is Mnajdra, a set of 3 temples also megalithic that you can visit the same day.

Although they are usually called temples of Malta, the truth is that it is not known exactly for what purpose they were built or how they were made, since they had to move stones of about 20 tons and assemble them with great precision. On the other hand, if you visit these buildings during the equinoxes or solstices, you will see how the sun's rays illuminate certain monoliths.

To visit these temples, you can take a bus from La Veleta to the Hagar bus stop, in front of the complex. And if you are interested in learning more about the history and significance of these constructions, you can hire a tour of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra with an expert guide, which usually includes transportation to and from La Veleta.

Interesting facts

• Location: Triq Hagar Qim, Il-Qrendi QRD 2501, Malta.
• Opening hours: March to October, daily from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. And from November to February, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. approximately.

The Blue Grotto is a series of sea caves at the foot of cliffs on the south coast of Malta, and is one of the most beautiful postcards of this country. The turquoise seabed highlights the beauty of these rock formations covered with corals that have been the scene of the famous movie Troy.

To get to know these grottoes, you can join a boat tour in the port of Wied iz-Zurrieq, which is about 13 km from Valletta. These tours usually last about 40 minutes and allow you to admire the sea caves at their best. If you go in summer to Malta, you can also dive into the waters.

Another interesting option is to book a tour to Marsaxlokk and the Blue Grotto, which includes round trip transportation from Valletta and allows you to visit also a charming fishing village, famous for its beaches and its Sunday market.

Founded by the Phoenicians in 700 BC, Mdina is a walled city with narrow streets where you can lose yourself to discover medieval buildings, especially convents, monasteries, churches and palaces, as well as typical handicraft stores. It is also known as the city of silence, as its walls keep it soundproof, and as Melite (city of honey), because there were numerous beehives in the area.

The city, which was the ancient capital of Malta until 1520, was also the setting for the famous Game of Thrones series. It is a small city located on a hill, with high walls of cream-colored limestone that change color with the light.

Here's what you can't miss in Mdina:

• Vilhena Gate, the main access to the city. It was built in baroque style in 1724.
• Cathedral of Mdina or St. Paul, the most important of Malta. It was rebuilt in 1705 after an earthquake. It contains a museum with works of art of the hospital masters who lived in the region.
• Palazzo Falson, a reconstructed palace that houses collections of art and antiques.
• Piazza Mesquita, a beautiful square surrounded by palaces and ancient buildings.
• Convent of the Carmelites, from the 16th century.
• Palazzo Vilhena, from the 18th century, where the Museum of Natural History is located.

Rabat

Mdina is located next to Rabat, so you can take the opportunity to visit both cities on the same day. One of its main attractions is the Catacombs of St. Paul of the third century AD, where you can learn about the Christian form of burial. It was built by the Arabs in an ancient Roman villa, the remains of which can be seen in the city's Domus Romana or Museum of Roman Antiquities.

La Cottonera or The Three Cities are the names by which Vittoriosa, Senglea and Copiscua are known, three towns located in an area of coves, bays and peninsulas, and considered the jewels of Malta. In them you can follow the trajectory of the Knights of the Order of Malta, who at the end of the 16th century built them for defensive purposes.

It is usual to hire a tour of the Three Cities from La Veleta to visit them on the same day, or to contemplate them from a Maltese gondola on the Mediterranean. If you prefer to go on your own, you can take a ferry ora bus from Valletta, which will drop you off in Senglea in about half an hour.

What to see in Senglea

Also known as The Island, is a small town that has withstood the bombings of World War II. There you can explore the fort of Saint Michael, dating from the mid-sixteenth century and offering panoramic views of the city, La Veleta and Vittoriosa. You can also visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Victory and the Gardjola Gardens, which offer incredible views.

What to see in Vittoriosa

Also known as Birgu, it was the capital of Malta until 1565. It is a beautiful city to walk around, with well-preserved old buildings and flowery balconies that transport you to another era. Its most prominent buildings are St. Angelo's Fort, the Inquisitor's Palace, the Church of St. Lawrence and the Rikazoli Fort, which was also the setting for the movie Troy. You can also walk along Triq Hilda Tabone, one of the main streets, and along the promenade.

What to see in Copiscua

Copiscua is the largest of La Cottonera and the last one built by the Knights of the Order of St. John in the mid-18th century. One of its most visited points is the Church of the Immaculate Conception, which contains paintings by Polidoro da Lanciano. You can also visit the walled port and the Bir Mula Heritage Museum.

The island of Gozo is Malta's second largest island and a must-see tourist destination where you can explore ancient temples, cliffs, valleys and underwater caves. It is said that its beauty inspired Homer to describe the island paradise where Calypso held Ulysses, and its landscapes have been the setting for the famous Game of Thrones series.

There are many things you can see and do on the island of Gozo, such as the ones on this list:

• The Citadel, a walled city built in the Middle Ages that is located in Victoria, the capital of the island. There you can also see other medieval buildings such as the Cathedral of Santa Maria and the Bishop's Palace.
• Azure Window: although the natural formation collapsed in 2017, it is worth visiting for its cliffs and the surrounding sea area, ideal for diving or snorkeling.
• The temples of Ggantija, built in the Bronze Age, between 3600-2500 BC.
• Fungus Rock, a limestone islet where the wedding of Khaleesi and Khal Drogo was filmed in Game of Thrones.
• Ramla Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, with reddish sand.

You can also take the opportunity to visit Comino Island, a small uninhabited island located between Malta and Gozo Island. It is surrounded by limestone cliffs, ideal for those looking for nature destinations. There you can't miss the Blue Lagoon, a bay with crystal clear waters, as well as impressive rock formations such as the Elephant Rock and the caves of Santa Marija, only visible from the water.

Marsaxlokk is a charming little fishing village located in the southeast of the island. Something very characteristic of this place are the gondolas or luzzu of Phoenician origin, which are used for fishing and paint the shores of the Mediterranean Sea with bright colors.

Marsaxlokk is a town with history, as it was one of the first settlements on the island. It is well known for its Sunday fishermen's market, where you can experience the day to day life of its community.

You can also visit the 19th century Church of Our Lady of Pompeii and the 17th century Fort San Lucjan, as well as delight yourself with the exquisite seafood typical of this area. 3 km from the center of Marsaxlokk is St. Peter's Pool, a natural pool with turquoise waters ideal for a dip on hot summer days.

Malta's classic car museum is a must-see not only for car lovers, but for anyone curious about the vehicles that roamed the streets in decades past. It is located in the town of Qawra, in the north of the island.

If you book a ticket for the Malta Car Museum, you can discover a collection that spans some 50 years of automotive history and belongs to Carol Galea, a car enthusiast. Two of the most iconic cars that can be seen in this museum are the 1955 Jaguar Type C and a 1972 Fiat 500 F.

Part of the museum's philosophy is that each car tells a story, so you can read information and trivia about them on the walls. The museum also has a cafeteria, a cinema room dedicated to projecting materials related to motoring and a car restoration workshop.

Interesting facts

• Location: Tourist Street Saint Paul's Bay, SPB 1020, Malta.
• Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and weekends from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. approximately.
• Price: from 12 € for adults and about 5 € for children under 12 years.

If you are traveling to Malta with children, a great plan is to visit the Malta National Aquarium, where they can discover and see up close the marine life of the region. In its numerous tanks that recreate different marine ecosystems, you can explore the enormous biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea, the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, among others.

Something you can't miss when booking a ticket for the Malta Aquarium is the main tank, which is crossed by a tunnel where you can walk through to see up close the variety of marine species that inhabit it.

You can also explore an area that recreates ancient Roman times, where you can see a replica of the original anchor of the shipwreck of St. Paul. The aquarium also has an area dedicated to amphibians and fish, and one that recreates Malta's harbor area decorated with murals.

Interesting facts

• Location: Triq it-Trunciera, San Pawl il-Baħar SPB 1500, Malta
• Hours: daily from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm approx.
• Price: from 19 € for adults and about 13 € for children from 4 to 12 years old. Children under 3 years old are free.

If you are interested in history, you can't miss the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, a prehistoric subway temple with unique characteristics that can only be seen in the town of Paola, Malta. It is possible that before becoming a necropolis, it was a sanctuary and is estimated to be about 4000 years old.

The Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni was excavated in subway caves about 10 meters deep and covers about 500 square meters spread over 3 levels. The second level is the most interesting, since in it you can see ceilings painted with spirals and murals in red ochre and even a room with amplified acoustics, known as the Hall of the Oracle.

If you decide to visit the Hypogeum, it is advisable to book in advance especially in summer, since for conservation reasons only about 80 people per day can visit it. To get there, you can take a bus from La Veleta.

Interesting facts

• Location: Triq Ic Cimiterju Raħal Ġdid, PLA 1116, Malta.
• Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 17:00. Last admission at 16:00.
• Price: from 35 € for adults, about 20 € for children from 12 to 17 years old and from 15 € for children from 6 to 11 years old.