Malta
A soulful cocktail of gin-clear lagoons, vibrant villages and UNESCO World Heritage-listed icons – stirred with storied landmarks and cities frozen in time.
Contoured by turquoise bays, ancient forts and palm-fringed harbours jostling with yachts and fishing boats, Malta is a wealth of natural beauty and architectural wonder.
Anchored in the Mediterranean’s balmy waters between Sicily and North Africa’s coast, this unique archipelago offers undiscovered charm just moments from Europe’s major capitals. A splattering of islets surround three main islands; the largest, Malta, is packed with cultural sites and a majestic Grand Harbour, while laid-back Gozo and Comino offer an authentic taste of Maltese life.
With a history spanning several millennia, Malta’s heritage is imprinted with ancient empires and religious rule; their chapters written in the country’s jaw-dropping architecture. Discover the Megalithic Temples of Malta dating back to 3600BC, a 5000-year-old necropolis at Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum, or monument-rich Valetta – all boasting UNESCO World-Heritage status.
Roman Catholic culture thrives in a landscape layered with beautifully preserved churches, from the magnificent Mosta Dome to St Mary Magdelene – a quaint chapel clinging to Dingli’s dizzying cliffs. Journey behind the walls of Mdina, a 4000-year-old ancient fortress, and follow cobbled streets linking medieval townhouses and baroque palaces.
Sunworshippers and windsurfers can find their perfect patch of sand or sea in Malta. The beaches are impeccable, with many awarded the prestigious Blue Flag. Golden Bay is idyllic for beach loungers while Mellieħa Bay is a mecca for watersport enthusiasts. On Gozo, relax on Ramla l-Ħamra’s red sands or find seclusion at San Blas Bay.
Pick up the pace with action-packed activities: trace towering cliffs on a rock-climbing adventure in Mistra, ramble past isolated coves and historical sites on the Comino Loop or snorkel azure waters at the Blue Lagoon. Below the surface, a world of caves and shipwrecks awaits; take a unique plunge at Gozo’s Blue Hole – one of Europe’s top scuba diving sites.
When the sun sets, Malta’s nightlife rises; sip on cocktails in one of Valletta’s upmarket wine bars or dance the night away in St Julian’s nightclubs.
