Our guide to the most beautiful places in Malta.
This article can remind Maltese of how beautiful our country is and show tourists what makes Malta great. Let’s go!
As a tourist looking for a place to relax and see sights- you will definitely find Malta on pretty much every recommendations list.
In 2016, Malta was hailed as the top ‘secret’ destination to visit in the world (we are home to some of Europe’s best scuba)
In 2017, CNN listed Malta as one of the best Christmas vacation spots (we’re so cool we don’t even need snow to be on the top)
In 2018, lonely Planet ranked Malta as one of the top places to visit in 2018.
Even Covid-19 couldn’t stop us. The National Statistics Office says 968,136 tourists visited Malta in 2021, up 47% from 2020, when the pandemic started.
Let’s take a look at the places and activities Malta has to offer.
1.Valletta
– the tiny capital famous all over the world and one of the best places to visit in Malta
The Knights of St. John built Valletta on a peninsula that’s just 1 km square. Despite being small, this city is full of history. UNESCO describes Valletta as ‘one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world’.
Here are the best places to visit in Valletta:
From the outside, St. John’s Cathedral may seem ordinary, but wait until you see what’s inside! Stunning baroque interior, a lot of gold, Caravaggio’s masterpiece, and under the marble floor the graves of Grand Masters of the Order of Malta – impressive, isn’t it?
Valletta’s main shopping streets, Republic Street and Market Street, are lined with shops and restaurants.
The Manoel Theatre, one of the oldest in Europe.
At Fort St. Elmo, you’ll find the National War Museum.
Objects, sculptures, and paintings belonging to the Order of Malta can be found in the National Museum of Fine Arts.
Upper Barrack Garden and Lower Barrack Garden are also known as Barrack Gardens. It has a very photogenic temple in the lower garden.
2. Gozo – one of the most beautiful and calm places to visit in Malta
Gozo is full of interesting sights, from the medieval city of Victoria and the 3500 BC temples of Ggantija for history buffs to the bustling resort of Marsalforn for beach lovers.
Here are the details:
Taking the Gozo Channel Line ferry will take you there from Cirkewwa on Malta island. It takes about 20 minutes and you can board with a vehicle. Pay only when you get back.
It takes 45 minutes to get to Gozo from Valletta Grand Harbor.
These are the best places to visit in Gozo:
Gozo’s main city is Victoria, also called Rabat by the locals. It’s great for food and shopping, but the Cittadella, the fortified part, is the main attraction. It’s home to the Cathedral, the old prison, archaeological sites, and awesome views of Gozo from the ramparts.
The Djewra region is famous for the Azur Window (it collapsed in 2017), Fungus Rock, the Inland Sea, and the Deep Blue Hole
During summer, Marsalforn is a popular beach town, with its 3km-long salt pans as its main attraction.
The Ta’Pinu shrine is a dazzling church. It’s on a hill, so you can see it from a distance.
Ta’Cenc cliffs, 130m high, offer a nice view. Here’s where you can use your drone!
The Ggantija temples are among the best preserved on the island
Ramla Bay beach, the biggest sand beach in Gozo. The perfect beach for families with lots of space for kids.
3. Malta, Gozo and Comino best beaches
Beach days are definitely a must when you’re in Malta. Here are some cool spots on the islands of Malta, Gozo, and Comino:
Golden Bay: large very touristy beach with a lot of opportunities for water sports.
Mellieha Bay: great for families. It’s a wide beach with shallow water.
Pretty Bay: also good for families with kids.
Ghajn Tuffieha Bay: to get to the beach, you need to go down the stairs. You’ll see amazing rock formations along the way.
Geina Bay: a decent sized sandy beach, and it’s great for walking along the sea
San Blas Bay: a beautiful sandy cove. The only way to get there is on foot.
4. The best sports and entertainment in Malta
Quad bike tours and rentals are actually done on Gozo. The best way to explore our beautiful island in a fun way.
Segway tours are a great way to discover Malta with your family or friends. On a two-wheeler, you can avoid traffic, save on car rentals, and get places a car or bicycle can’t. Gozo has the best segway tours
Horse riding is quite popular among both tourists and locals. Horse racing is one of the spectator sports on the north side.
Climbing: over 300 spots spread across 12 stunning locations on the island of Gozo.
Hiking.
And, of course, scuba diving.
5. Scuba diving in Malta
With crystal clear warm Mediterranean waters, underwater caves, and shipwrecks, diving in Malta and Gozo is a blast. The diving in Malta is some of the best in the world. Malta was ranked in Scuba Travel’s Top 100 Sites twice, placed second in the International Diving Awards, and won Best Dive Center award.
Malta has the most sunny days in Europe, so the water is always warm. There are many beautiful places to see, and the prices are quite affordable. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, there are options for you.
Malta’s best diving sites:
• Blue Grotto
• Cirkewwa
• The wreck of the Um El Faroud oil tanker
• The Blue Hole and Coral Gardens
• Santa Maria Caves Of Comino
