Hello there! If you are going to visit Malta or wondering why you should visit Malta, you have come to just the right place! As one of the smallest countries in Europe, Malta isn’t on everyone’s radar, but I want to show you why it should be on yours! The picturesque island greeted me with so much friendliness, relaxing charm, culinary highlights, and breathtaking views, leaving me speechless. From its stunning cities to mesmerizing ocean views, Malta has many highlights you shouldn’t miss. The beauty of Malta even made its way into television, and there, you can find shooting locations of famous shows like Game of Thrones. Divided into five islands, Malta, Gozo, Comino and the two uninhabited Comminotto and Filial, traveling Malta will never leave you bored for sure! So here’s to the best places in Malta!
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FAQ about traveling to Malta & the Best Places in Malta
How to Get to Malta?
I guess the most common way to get to Malta is by taking the airplane to its local airport (MLA).
Where to Stay in Malta?
There are many great places throughout the islands of Malta and Gozo. A great area to stay in is in or close to the main city, Valetta, where you are close to the bus stations and some of the best places in Malta (as of this list). I stayed in a town called St. Paul’s Bay in the Mayflower Hotel, where I could enjoy the lovely pool with ocean views.
When to Visit Malta?
As with most summer destinations in Europe, I recommend going there in April – Mai or September – October. During these shoulder seasons, you are very likely to get great warm weather while still enjoying mostly empty restaurants and less-frequented beaches.
How to Get Around in Malta?
Although Malta has a great bus system that gets you around easily, I mostly opted for Uber to call me a cab. It was simply faster and more convenient for me. But depending on where you stay in Malta, the bus will be a great alternative to expensive Ubers.
Valletta
Let’s start this list with one of the most magnificent cities I can imagine! Entering the city, you are greeted by the impressive city gate and Triton fountain. Valletta, the capital of Malta, is such a romantic and beautiful place. In its narrow streets lined with gorgeous art you will find unique shops where you can buy souvenirs like locally-roasted coffee and Maltese jewelry.
As for sights, my highlight was visiting the Casa Rocca Piccola, the home of a long-standing aristocratic Maltese family, who opened their home for visitors. In their courtyard, you can chat with their parrot and admire the art the family has assembled over time. Then, you can stroll to the beautiful Lower Barrakka garden before having a coffee and pastry on Sunday in Scotland.
Later, you can explore the Grandmaster Palace Courtyard and walk down to St. Paul’s Cathedral all the way to the ocean promenade, where you can have your lunch directly at the water. Afterward, you might be up to some shopping down the merchant street until it is time for apéro at San Giovanni Valletta. What a beautiful day in Valletta!
To learn more about Valletta, book a guided tour!
Mdina
Mdina is a place unlike any other I have visited so far. You enter it through the Mdina Gate, the very same gate that was used as the city gate Ned Stark enters King’s Landing through.
The city is very old, and its streets are wide enough for horse carriages to enter but not for cars. So it was never opened to car traffic, making it very pleasant to walk through and explore it! All you have to do is get lost in the small alleys, enjoy the views from the city walls of the island, and soak in all the beauty of Mdina. Also, make sure to stop and see if some of the courtyards you come across have some treasures in store for you. We stumbled upon the café in the Palazzo Bifora Boutique Hotel and were mesmerized by its cute interior, good coffee, and delicious cake!
Marsaxlokk
The next place on this list of the best places in Malta is the beautiful, quaint fishing village of Marsaxlokk. This colorful place is ideal for a stroll along the promenade and your lunch! On its most prominent square, you will find the restaurant Ta’ Victor. There you can get a multiple-course lunch menu that will guide you through many Maltese delicacies. After that you will be full and unable to choose which was the best because they all were incredibly amazing!
Blue Grotto place
One thing I love about visiting all the best places in Malta is that the ocean there just seems to be bluer than in other places. It seems almost sapphire, and I can’t remember where I have seen an ocean more beautiful than there. One of the most amazing places to see and observe the waves creating nets of foam on its surface is close to the Blue Grotto and called „The Blue Grotto Place. “ Here, you will find a breathtaking viewpoint, which is exceptionally wonderful during the golden hour of the day. We stayed here in the sun, looking at the ocean while yapping for a little wonderful eternity.
Gozo
When traveling to Malta, one of the things you simply have to do is go on a boat ride to Gozo! The second-largest island is located North of the main island and is an absolute gem to visit! Much quieter and less crowded, while visiting, you will be able to enjoy a slower pace and take in incredible natural and architectural wonders. From magnificent ocean viewpoints to medieval city centers with lovely handicrafts on display, you will have so much here to marvel at!
Blue Lagoon
One place in Malta is simply legendary. This place is the Blue Lagoon, one of the best places in Malta, which is located between Malta and Gozo, and right here in this Lagoon, you can find crystal clear water, which is incredibly inviting to go for a plunge in. With the boat trip we took from Malta to Gozo, we had a stop there and chilled in the sun while sipping on a mocktail in a pineapple. This pineapple was also refillable, which made it easy to have more than one mocktail! Visiting the Blue Lagoon on a sunny day will for sure give you the ultimate summer vacation feeling, which will last well beyond your trip.
Popeye Village
The next highlight of this list is a place that will transform you literally into another world – right into the world of Popeye! In Malta, you can visit the Popeye village, which was built to serve as the backdrop to the 1980’ released movie with Robin Williams. To be quite honest, I didn’t visit it, but we drove by it on our boat tour so we could take pictures I think on a list of the best places in Malta, this massive attraction shouldn’t not be mentioned!
Café del Mar
After all this sightseeing, I also want to include one final place: the café del Mar in St. Paul’s Bay. This great Restaurant/Café/Bar is the ideal place for some much-needed relaxation after all the sightseeing. We stayed there for some lunch, coffee, and amazing cocktails with the best weather imaginable, and going there will be, for sure, the best start/end point of your trip!
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