Welcome to Malta!
In this article, you will find what I consider to be the 10 most beautiful places in Malta, that you must definitely see. You’ll also get a few extra tips about some of the sights.
Introduction
Before I get started on showing you how beautiful Malta is, a few words from me.
Almost all of my clients did extensive research on the island and possible activities before moving to Malta. After all, Malta should be a future place of residence, where both men and women feel at home.
You will certainly also find a lot of information from bloggers who have visited Malta on a short trip. Nevertheless, I wanted to take the time to also show you, here on my blog, what I believe are the most beautiful places and the best activities in Malta.
Due to covid, it was not possible for me and my family (or you, I am sure) to travel extensively. Therefore, we used the past year to get to know the island even better.
Please don’t get me wrong; we do a lot in Malta as a family, but usually not to the same extent as we did last year.
This much in advance: even now, after living in Malta for more than 10 years, there are still beautiful places to discover. Especially in winter, we used the time to go hiking along the coast in the “cooler” temperatures.
Even though Malta is tiny, the small Mediterranean island has a lot to offer. Therefore I would like to show you the most beautiful sides of Malta. From breathtaking coastlines, nature, and historical sights, to fascinating architecture, culinary delights and delightful attractions and activities, it’s all here.
Whether you are a tourist or a resident of Malta, the following sights and places in Malta are must-sees for every visitor and resident of the island.
So let’s get right into it. Have fun!
Valletta
Valletta is not only the capital of Malta, but also a wonderful sight in its own right. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980, the city offers many great sights that are worth seeing.
As the capital city of he island state, Valletta couldn’t represent Malta better: a beautiful, old city with typical Maltese architecture, many cafes, restaurants and small local boutiques and also its fair share of international brands and stores.
When you see pictures of Malta, you usually see the Valletta skyline with the dome of the Carmelite Church and the tower of St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral. The Carmelite Church is one of the largest churches in the Maltese capital. Its imposing dome towers impressively over the Marsamxett Harbour and it is a landmark of the city.
Since there is a lot to see in Valletta, I will present the three most important sights and highlights:
St. John’s Co-Cathedral
St. Johns Co-Cathedral is an imposing church that was built between 1573 and 1578. Although relatively inconspicuous from the outside, inside you will find a truly imposing place of worship. The ceilings are decorated with huge paintings. On the floor you will find more than 400 tombstones, each decorated differently, which are supposed to commemorate the knights of the Order of St. John. What wasn’t painted was finished with gold leaf. The lavish interior is hardly surprising, because it took almost 100 years to complete.
The cathedral can be visited from Monday to Friday, from 09.30 to 17.30, for an entrance fee of EUR 10. On Saturdays, it closes at 12:00.
Upper Barrakka Gardens
The Upper Barrakka Gardens is also one of the top sights in Valletta.
Created in the 17th Century, the park was originally a private garden of the Knights of St. John until 1824, when it was opened to the public.
Besides the plants and trees, there are also busts and statues of personalities who shaped the history of Malta.
When you visit Barrakka Gardens, we recommend you take a little break at the kiosk and enjoy the breathtaking view over a cup of coffee.
The stylishly designed park is less famous for the actual park, and more for its view. Because it is the best viewpoint in the whole of Malta. From the Upper Barrakka Gardens, you can look across Grand Harbour (the bay) to the three towns of Malta (Vittorosia, Senglea and Cospicua) and to the Great Shipyard and the Valetta Waterfront (the harbour).
Below the park, on Saluting Battery, you will see an entire battery of canons, from where one canon is fired twice a day (12 noon and 4 pm).
At the Upper Barrakka Gardens, you will also find a panoramic elevator that takes you to the Valletta Waterfront, where the big cruise ships dock.
The elevator ride down is free, but to go up, you pay a small surcharge.
Tip: Down at the Waterfront, boat tickets to the three cities are sold for EUR 2.8 per person.
By the way, Valletta also has the Lower Barrakka Gardens, which are not so well known, but also worth seeing. Here, concerts and events are held occasionally.
The city wall of Valletta
In order to better protect Valletta after a successfully defended attack by the Turks in the 16th Century, an imposing city wall and a city gate were built around Valletta. They have changed somewhat over the years. By the way, thanks to this city wall, Valetta is one of the best secured cities in the world.
Tip: Take one of the sets of stairs down to the sea, and take a walk on the seaside path. The entire path leads all the way around Valletta and also offers a great view.
Other places of interest in Valetta:
- Grand Master’s Palace, Valletta
- The Triton Fountain, which can be found directly at the bus station
- Republic Street shopping mile and Merchant Street
- The Manoel Theatre: one of the oldest theatres in Europe.
- Fort Saint Elmo, which also houses the National War Museum
- National Museum of Fine Arts
Malta – more than just a holiday destination?
Three Cities
The Three Cities, the counterpart to Valletta – also called “little Valletta” – are located opposite Valletta, and they consist of Cospicua (Bormla), Vittoriosa (Birgu) and Senglea (L’Isla).
The big advantage of the Three Cities is that they are not quite as well known as Valletta, so there are fewer tourists in the high season.
You can visit the cities on foot, or you can be a bit more upbeat, and take a Rolling Geeks electric car (http://www.rolling-geeks.com/). Alternatively, you can use the hop-on/hop-off bus. The advantage of the small electric cars is that you get to see more, as you can cover more distance. Every now and then, you can get out and stroll through small, winding alleys on foot. The Three Cities are still very original and well preserved. They offer you an insight into the life of the Maltese. You can also trace the history of the great siege and visit fortifications and forts. Last but not least, is the gorgeous view of Valletta – it’s worth a visit for that alone.
Here are the highlights of the respective cities for you:
- Cospicua (Maltese: Bormla)
- In this city you have the opportunity to experience the original Malta.
- Vittoriosa (Maltese: Birgu)
- Vittoriosa offers the most sightseeing opportunities: besides churches, you can also visit the great Fort St. Angelo, the Inquisitor’s Palace and the Malta Maritime Museum.
- Senglea (Maltese: L’Isla)
- The Safe Haven Garden on the outskirts of the city has one of the best views over Valletta.
Mdina
Mdina is the former capital of Malta. It served as a filming location for the famous series, Game of Thrones.
Mdina, the four-thousand-year-old former capital of Malta (until the 16th Century), translates as “walled city”. It is located inland. Mdina, is considered one of the most beautiful places in Malta, and it is also known as the “Silent City”, because it is almost exclusively frequented by day tourists, and there are (almost) no cars in the city. By the way, the old city served as a Game of Thrones movie set during the filming of the first season. It is also interesting to know that Mdina’s streets were laid out like a labyrinth. At the time, this served the purpose of confusing enemy attackers.
Highlights of Mdina
- Mdina Gate: the imposing city gate is one of the most photographed motifs in Malta. It appeared in Game of Thrones,as the city gate of Kingslanding.
- At Bastion Square, you have a fantastic view of Malta: from the northern wall you can look over the whole northern part of the island. A few metres away, you will find the Fontanella Tea Garden, where you can get excellent coffee and cake and enjoy the view.
- Paul’s Cathedral and Cathedral Museum: in the museum, you will find works of art by Dürer and Rembrandt, and a coin collection spanning 2,000 years, as well as several tombs and various liturgical objects.
- Palazzo Falson: the old city palace, with its paintings, furniture, jewelery, carpets and armour, is now a museum
- Mdina Dungeons Museum: take a guided tour through the dungeons under Vilhena Palace. You will get to see hidden passages, chambers and dungeons.
- The Mdina Experience: take an unforgettable 30-minute journey back in time and immerse yourself in the history of Malta : relive Mdina’s 7,000 years of triumph and tribulation.
- Carmelite Monastery, “The Carmelite Priory”: the only monastery in Malta
Marsaxlokk
Marsaxlokk is the most famous and beautiful fishing village in Malta.
Marsaxlokk is undoubtedly worth a visit. In the picturesque fishing village, you can expect to see many brightly painted fishing boats (called luzzu) of all sizes. The fishing port is not only a real Eldorado for photographers! Here, absolutely everyone gets his money’s worth.
Along the harbour promenade, there are many restaurants, whose specialty is fresh, delicious fish!
Every Sunday, a traditional fish market is held here. In addition to fresh, delicious fish, there are now also many stalls offering souvenirs galore.
Malta – more than just a holiday destination?
St. Peter's Pool
Near the most beautiful harbor town in Malta, you will find another highlight that you absolutely must see. St. Peter’s Pool.
St. Peter’s Pool
St. Peter’s Pool is a natural swimming pool with turquoise water, which was formed by erosion. This attraction draws young people particularly, who jump from a cliff into the water. But snorkeling enthusiasts also get their money’s worth: you will find schools of colourful fish in the bay, which are easily visible through the clear, turquoise water.
If you want to visit this place as a family with small children or a dog, we recommend you come early, and bring an umbrella, because unfortunately there are hardly any shady places here.
Il-Kalanka Bay
Insider tip: in summer, the popular bay may be crowded. So if you want to be a little more private, continue a little way down the road to Il-Kalanka Bay. The bay is in no way inferior to the St. Perer’s Pool bay: gorgeous water and places from whoch you can jump into the water.
Dingli Cliffs Hike
As already described in the introduction, there are countless hiking routes along the coastline of Malta. I particularly recommend these hikes in winter and spring. The temperatures are optimal and everything is green. The most beautiful walks in Malta are, in my opinion, from the Dingli Cliffs to the Blue Grotto.
The Dingli Cliffs are just north of the blue grotto. The cliffs are 250 meters above sea level, and they are the highest point in Malta.
If you like hiking, we recommend the whole route from Dingli Cliffs to Blue Grotto. The Dingli Cliffs area is one of the most famous and beautiful hiking routes.
Sometimes the hiking routes are not easy to find, so we recommend a guided hike for beginners. Facebook groups like @MaltaHiddenWalks or @WalksAroundMaltaGozo offer regular walking routes with experienced walkers, that you can join. Alternatively, you can, of course, also buy appropriate travel guides or get inspiration from hiking recommendations on YouTube.
By the way: the sunsets at Dingli Cliffs are especially beautiful!
Gozo and Comino
Gozo and Comino are islands close to Malta, which you can easily visit by ferry or boat.
While Gozo has its own town with its own charm, Comino is a destination for day tourists who want to swim in the turquoise waters of the Blue Lagoon, which is the most beautiful beach in Malta.
Comino
Comino is a tiny island located between Malta and Gozo. Comino is famous for its Blue Lagoon, with its stunning turquoise waters. Comino is one of the most popular attractions in Malta, so several boats dock there every day.
The boat trip to Comino is a highlight in itself – from the water, you will see impressive bays and caves, and you can marvel at the shimmering turquoise water.
Highlights on Gozo
Victoria: A medieval hill town
Victoria (Maltese Ir-Rabat Għawdex) is the capital of Gozo. In Victoria you will find many shopping opportunities and charming restaurants. Situated on a rock in the city, is the Citadella, an ancient citadel dating back to the Middle Ages, which rises impressively over the entire city, and which, for centuries, served as a refuge for the inhabitants of Gozo. Located on a hill, it houses a cathedral, an old prison and various archaeological sites, and it offers a fantastic view over Gozo.
Azure Window
One of the most beautiful geological formations was the Azure Window near Dwejra Bay on Gozo. Unfortunately, it collapsed in 2017.
There is a similar formation on the cliffs of the Wied il Mielaħ. By the way, this is also an insider tip for climbing enthusiasts.
The Deep Blue Hole
Right where the Azure Window once stood, the next highlight awaits you: the Blue Hole is 15 metres deep and 10 metres wide, and it is connected to the open sea by a hole at a depth of 7 metres. Every visitor to Malta absolutely must see the great play of colours, with the different shades of blue!
Fungus Rock (the mushroom rock)
Near where the Azure Window was located, in the open sea, you will find the 65-metre-high Fungus Rock. The rock became famous because the medicinal plant, the Maltese sponge, was discovered on it, and the rock is the only place in the whole of Malta where the plant occurs.
The area around this huge rock is worth seeing: you will find a great variety of fish around the rock – it is considered one of the most beautiful diving areas in the Mediterranean.
Inland Sea
The Inland Sea is a small inland lake created by a 30-meter-deep depression and a hundred-metre-long tunnel. For divers, it’s a real highlight. If you are not a diving fan, you can also take a boat through the tunnel to the open sea.
Ghasri Valley
Ghasri Valley is a thin sea gorge 250 meters long, somewhat hidden on the outskirts of Ghasri in Gozo. There is a tiny stone/sand beach at the end of the tongue of sea. By the way, you can only get to the sea gorge on foot, so you can combine it perfectly with a short hike. In spring, the valley is particularly impressive, as everything is green and in bloom.
Ggantija Temples
The pre-Stonehenge (3,200 BC) temples are among the most important archaeological sites in Gozo.
Ramla Bay Beach (Ir-Ramla il-Hamra)
Ramla Bay beach is one of the few sandy beaches on Gozo, and it is the largest of them. The beach is in a sheltered bay, surrounded by cliffs. The water here is very calm and ideal for swimming. You will also find public pools, showers and changing rooms, and there are umbrella and deck chair rentals, snack kiosks and ice cream parlours too.
Ta’Cenc cliffs
The Ta’Cenc cliffs are 130 metres high, making them the highest cliffs on Gozo. From the top of the cliffs, there is a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea and the green valleys of Gozo.
Salt Pans
The numerous salt pans located on the north coast of Gozo are another must see on the island of Gozo. Some salt pans are still in operation, and you can see how salt is extracted from the sea.
Other places of interest:
- the fortification Qolla l-Bajda Battery
- the Baroque Church of St. George Basilica
- the seaside resort of Marsalforn
- the coastal village of Xlendi
- the Tal-Massar winery
- the Basilica of Our Lady of Ta’Pinu
- Gozo’s largest church, Xewkija Rotunda
- the small beach, Mgarrix-Xini
- Calypso Cave, named after the poem Odysseus
- the Dwejra Tower
- the private farm complex, Ta’mena Estate
Did you know? Many local Maltese have a second home on Gozo and spend their vacations and holidays there.
Blue Grotto
The Blue Grotto consists of a series of sea caves on the southeast coast of Malta.
Another highlight on the island is definitely the more than 50 meters high natural rock arch in the south of Malta, called Blue Grotto, or Blue Grotto. From the top you have a beautiful view of the cliffs and the imposing and natural rock gate.
Tip: Even more impressive is a trip by boat to the Blue Grotto. Boats depart from the port of Qrendi about every 15 minutes. During the 20-minute drive, you will see the blue grotto as well as many additional small caves that are also part of the blue grotto.
Tip for the adrenaline junkies: If you like the thrill, you can even abseil into a boat from a height of 60 meters.
Malta – more than just a holiday destination?
Popeye Village
Popeye Village was built in 1980 as a backdrop for the movie “Popeye”. It is located in the northwestern part of Malta, near Mellieha.
Poppey Village was built in 1980, as a backdrop for the movie “Popeye”. It is located in the northwestern part of Malta, near Mellieha.
If you have children a visit to the colourful village is a must: children can discover characters from the film and even play the role of Popeye in a film specially made for them. You will also find stores, trampolines and restaurants in the village. An absolute paradise for families.
Tip: I recommend a hike along the cliffs of Popeye Village – there you can enjoy an unforgettably beautiful sunset and the most stunning view of Popeye Village!
Boat or kayak tour
Last but not least, I can only recommend that you take a boat or kayak tour.
Anyone who has taken a boat tour in Malta says the same thing: Malta looks very different from the water, compared to viewing it from terra firma.
Therefore our tip: rent a boat or a kayak and sail or paddle along Malta’s coastline. You will find many beaches that are inaccessible from the mainland, and which are surrounded by cliffs. This makes for a wonderfully relaxed time. Also ideal for divers.
Of course, there are many more attractions in Malta that are worth seeing. With this small overview, we just wanted to give you a little insight into the diversity of Malta. We hope you enjoyed the overview, and that you can’t wait to discover the beauty and diversity of Malta for yourself.
