Ten amazing things to see in Malta

Malta is a Southern European island country. It is located in the Mediterranean Sea between Sicily and North Africa. Interesting fact is that Malta was considered the island of North Africa for centuries. Malta has amazing and interesting history but this post is about ten amazing things to see in Malta. I’m hoping to write another blog post about Malta where I could tell you more about its history.

In the meantime, if you’re planning a trip to Malta you should know what are the best areas to stay in Malta. You can read my blog post about Where to stay in Malta if you click HERE!

The official language is Maltese, while English is the second official language. Malta is one of most densely populated countries in Europe as well as one of the smallest countries.

The climate is Mediterranean which means you can expect hot summers and mild winters. It’s perfect for exploring all year round. Rain mainly occurs in autumn and winter. Snow in Malta is very rare. One thing you need to be aware of is very high humidity especially during summer months.

Another interesting fact is that traffic in Malta drives on the left side. This was especially interesting for my husband and I (and many of our friends), but we got used to it pretty easily.

Malta uses Euro as a currency since 2008. Before that the currency used was Maltese lira.

Malta is one of the most interesting places I’ve ever visited and I hope this post inspires you to visit it too! It’s time to start with ten amazing things you need to see in Malta!

 

     1. Valletta

The first of ten amazing things you need to see in Malta is of course Valletta.

Valletta is the capital of Malta. It was founded in 1565 by the Order of St John as a refuge for soldiers returning from the Crusades. It’s one of Europe’s smallest capitals. Valletta is a city full of history, beautiful architecture and art. It’s honestly a city with a soul. Even though it’s a small city, Valletta is like an open-air museum.

The locals call it Il-Belt. Valletta got its name by Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Vallette who founded the city. Valletta was European capital of culture in 2018. The whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1980.

The capital of Malta deserves its own blog post which I will write soon, but for now I’m going to tell you what you can’t miss while in Valletta.

 

 

The Upper Barrakka gardens are a great place to enjoy the views of Valletta and The Three Cities and simply relax with a cup of coffee in one hand and an ice cold drink in the other. These gardens were created in 1661 and opened to the public in 1824. Below the main terrace of the gardens is the Saluting Battery. Every day, at noon and 4pm, the cannons are fired. The entrance to Upper Barrakka Gardens is free and they’re open from 7am until 10pm.

Saint John’s Co-Cathedral is one of the most important landmarks in Valletta. They call it a gem of baroque art and they have every reason for it. Apart from its rich Baroque art and relics, the Co Cathedral also holds impressive Baroque frescos.

You can admire the marble floors and carved stone walls as well as breathtaking vaulted ceilings decorated by the famous Italian Baroque artist, Mattia Preti. The Co-Cathedral is also home to one of the most amazing works by Caravaggio, ‘The Beheading of St John the Baptist’. The painting is located within the Oratory. It is the largest work of art by Caravaggio and the only one to bear his signature. Seeing this painting is something you need to do while in Valletta.

Tickets for the Cathedral are 10 euro for adults (children under the age of 12 have free admission) and you can visit it from 9:30am to 4:30pm on working days. Opening times on Saturdays are from 9:30am to 12:30pm.

The Grandmaster’s Palace first hosted the Knights, then it served as the Governor’s Palace under the British. Today it houses the office of the President of Malta. An interesting thing to see here is the Palace Armoury. The Grandmaster’s Palace is located in the Republic street.

Republic street in Valletta is the first street you’ll see when you enter the main gate of Valletta. It’s the widest and busiest street in the city.

It stretches from Valletta main gate to Fort St Elmo where it reaches the sea and it’s about 1 kilometer long.

Here you’ll find all kinds of shops, coffee shops and restaurants, but also gorgeous buildings such as Palazzo Ferreira, The national Archeological museum, The Court of Justice building, the National library of Malta and Casa Rocca Piccola.

Merchant’s street in Valletta is parallel to Republic street. It can get very busy but it’s a bit quieter than the Republic street. Here you’ll also find many shops, cute little restaurants and coffee shops. There used to be a big market in Merchant’s street – hence its name. I recommend taking a stroll down the Merchant’s street and have a break in one of the coffee shops.

Manoel Theatre is one of the oldest theatres in Europe, built in 1731. The interior of Manoel Theatre is simply stunning! Regular performances of music and theatre plays take place throughout the year until this very day.

 

 

        2. Mdina

Mdina is a former capital of Malta and one of the those ten amazing things to see in Malta. It’s an old walled city that’s definitely worth a visit. Mdina is also called The Silent City and if you come to here you’ll see why. Even with lots of tourists the streets of Mdina somehow manage to stay quiet.

Mdina is not a big city, but it’s perfect for a stroll with your camera in hand. It has narrow streets and beautiful beige stone houses. 

If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones you’ll recognize the gate of Mdina as a gate into King’s Landing.

One thing that you can’t miss while in Mdina is a beautiful St Paul’s Cathedral. While you’re strolling the streets of Mdina you’ll see gorgeous houses and even more beautiful doors. These are the perfect photo spots. Since Mdina is located on the hill, you can see some pretty nice views from here. The best place for that is Fontanella Tea Garden, a restaurant where you can take a break and have a piece of their famous carrot cake. If you’re not tired and don’t need a break, you can simply pass Fontanella and enjoy the view next to it from city walls. Here you’ll find one of the most beautiful houses in Mdina. 

 

 

Shortly after you enter the gate of Mdina you’ll see a shop with a sigh Mdina glass. They have the most beautiful products handmade out of glass. The colours are amazing and you can find everything from lamps, vases, key chains, earrings and even Christmas tree ornaments. You can also watch a film to see how everything’s made here.

If you’re coming to Mdina by car, you’ll have to park outside the gates since no cars (except residents’ cars) are allowed inside the walls of the city. It’s hard to imagine that people actually live here, but when you see those gorgeous houses and feel the atmosphere of Mdina, it really makes sense. 

 

 

If you still have time after visiting Mdina check out the small, quiet town of Rabat, right next to Mdina. Also, close to Mdina and Rabat you’ll find Dingli cliffs, a place worth a stop simply for the stunning views!

(Now this may count as more than ten amazing things to see in Malta, but I know you’ll love it!)

 

     3. The Three cities

The Three Cities of Malta are Birgu (Vittoriosa), Cospicua (Bormla)  and Senglea (L’Isla). Don’t let double names confuse you. If it’s hard for you to pronounce these names it’s only important to remember the name The Three Cities. 

This is one of the oldest parts of Malta. Take the time to stroll the tiny streets and to enjoy the quiet atmosphere. Stop by for lunch or coffee and chat with the locals. The best place to enjoy the views of Valletta is Senglea. 

You can get to The Three Cities by bus or by car, but a more pleasant route is by boat taxi from Valletta. This is always my choice. 

 

     4. Blue grotto

Blue Grotto is a complex of seven caves along the southern coast of Malta. The massive main arch is about 30 meters high. The water is amazingly clear and when the days are sunny (which is most of the year in Malta) you can see the most beautiful azure and cobalt blue colours. The best way to experience this area is by boat. Boat trips last about 20-30 minutes and are available daily. 

When you get to Blue grotto take some time to appreciate the views from the coast, which are also amazing. I don’t even have to mention that Blue grotto is a great spot for photos. You can get to Blue grotto by car or by buses that go from Valletta, Sliema, St Julian’s, Gzira, Bugibba. The bus stop that you need to get off is called Panorama (pretty convenient name don’t you think?).

 

     5. Ghajn Tuffieha

Ghajn Tuffieha is my favourite beach in Malta. I remember the first time I saw it from above. Yes, there are some stairs you’ll use to go down but that’s not a problem. The problem may be using those same stairs to go back up after a long day in the sun. There is over a 100 steps but believe me, it’s worth it!

Ghajn Tuffieha means Apple’s Eye in Maltese. It’s also known by the name Riviera. This beach is located in the northwest part of Malta. Here you can see some of the most beautiful sunsets in Malta.

You can hire sunbeds and umbrellas and there is a lovely snack bar at the beach. Since it’s the only bar on the beach it can be hard to find a table sometimes. Ghajn Tuffieha is a sandy beach with clear waters surrounded by rocks from both sides. If you love hiking go on top of those rocks and you’ll see two other beautiful beaches from up there.

 

 

The first one is Golden Bay and the second one is Gnejna. Both of them are beautiful and I recommend visiting them too, but Ghajn Tuffieha is definitely my favourite. 

It can be difficult to find parking especially in summer months, but you can also use public transport to get to Ghajn Tuffieha. The bus stop is called Riviera.

I hope I convinced you that Ghajn Tuffieha is one of the ten amazing things you need to see while in Malta.

 

     6. Marsaxlokk

Marsaxlokk is a small fishermen’s village in the southeast part of Malta. It’s famous for great seafood restaurants, its colourful boats and fish markets. Marsaxlokk is such a picturesque little village.

Marsaxlokk is not a place that attracts only tourists. In fact, locals love coming here on Sunday for lunch. Marsaxlokk is the perfect place to enjoy some peaceful moments in Malta. When in Marsaxlokk you’ll see a beautiful church in the main square.

 

 

Just strolling through the village, photographing colourful boats and old buildings will make your day. Maltese people are very friendly so don’t hesitate to talk to the locals. As I already said, locals love coming to Marsaxlokk on Sundays for lunch, but also to buy fresh fish from the market. So, if you plan on spending your Sunday in Marsaxlokk be sure to book your table in one of the restaurants. Some of the restaurants I recommend are Ir-Rizzu, La Reggia and Ta’ Victor.

Also, you need to have patience if coming in summer, cos they can be very busy and the service can be a little slower, but they are worth it.

 

     7. Gozo

Malta is an archipelago which consists of five islands. Three of them are inhabited. Gozo is the second largest island in Maltese archipelago and it’s worth a day trip. Gozo was famous by its Azure window, which unfortunately collapsed into the sea in 2017.

If you watched Game of Thrones you must remember this place. It is where the wedding of Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo took place. Even though the Azure Window is no longer there, this spot is very much worth a visit cos of its amazingly clear blue waters. It’s the perfect spot to go in the water and refresh yourself. There’s no actual beach here, only the rocks so keep that in mind when coming to the Azure Window. Locals from the island of Malta often come to Gozo for a weekend break. If they don’t own a house there they rent one and enjoy their time with the family.

If you have extra time in Malta renting a farmhouse with the swimming pool in Gozo is one of the things I recommend doing.

I hope Gozo will make it to your list of ten amazing things to see in Malta!

 

     8. Comino

Another beautiful and smaller island of Malta is Comino. Its population is 4 (the last time I checked)! Yes, there is one family living on this small island but there are a lot of tourists coming by boats. The waters of Blue lagoon in Comino are unbelievably blue! You have to see it for yourself. I recommend coming early in the morning to avoid crowds and heat. Since this is a very small island, the space with chairs and umbrellas is very limited, which is another good reason why you should visit Comino early in the morning.

 

     9. St Peter’s Pool

St Peter’s Pool is a natural swimming pool in Malta and it’s located close to Marsaxlokk village. You can visit both St Peter’s pool and Marsaxlokk village in one day. St Peter’s pool is popular with locals but also with tourists. The waters are perfectly clear and if you’re here and not afraid of heights – dive! It’s an amazing feeling, believe me!

There are no facilities whatsoever here so bring water and some snacks with you.

Parking is available on the cliff above St Peter’s pool, but you can also park near the main road. You’ll need to walk down to St Peter’s pool.

 

     10. St Julian’s and Sliema

Saint Julian’s and Sliema are two cities in the north part of the island. They are actually connected to each other and you can simply walk from one to another. They represent the hub of Malta’s nightlife and shopping scene.

Some of the best restaurants and bars are located in this area.

Sliema is a great place for shopping with its Tigne Point shopping mall. Some of the best hotels are located in these two cities. I’m sure you’ll enjoy strolling by the sea and taking a break from walking and heat in some of the great restaurants St Julians and Sliema can offer.

 

 

I really hope you enjoyed my selection of ten amazing things to see in Malta. As I said many times before in my Instagram captions, Malta is definitely a country you should visit if you get a chance. 

If you’re wondering where you should stay in Malta I suggest reading this blog post!

If you have any questions feel free to send me a message here or on Instagram.