Malta

Small islands, unusually deep history.

Use ferries and carefully grouped days to combine Valletta, harbour views, old cities and swimming without spending the holiday in transit.

HistoryValletta, Mdina and the Three Cities
Seaside baseSliema or St Julian’s
Quieter optionMellieħa or Gozo

Choose your base

  • Valletta: atmosphere, history and ferry connections.
  • Sliema: practical waterfront base with frequent transport.
  • St Julian’s: restaurants and nightlife; check noise carefully.
  • Mellieħa: better for a beach-led stay but farther from Valletta.

Getting around

Buses are the main island-wide public transport. Ferries can make harbour journeys both useful and scenic. Allow extra time in busy periods and check the official operator for current routes.

Eat

Try pastizzi, ftira, rabbit dishes and seasonal seafood. Choose restaurants by recent menus and reviews rather than relying on a fixed list.

A four-day plan

Day 1 · Valletta

Historic streets, harbour viewpoints and one major museum or church.

Day 2 · Three Cities

Cross the harbour, explore slowly and return around sunset.

Day 3 · Mdina and Rabat

Spend a quieter day in and around the old walled city.

Day 4 · Sea day

Choose a beach, Gozo or a licensed boat trip based on weather and sea conditions.

Planning basis: Visit Malta, the official tourism site.

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