10 Things to do Malta

Walking on beaches, visiting islands, water sports, scuba diving, diving, sailing, fishing, nightlife, delicious food, forts, churches... There is a lot to do in Malta. You can relax in Malta the way you want... spend a relaxing vacation doing nothing, or active recreation, food, drinks, parties and sightseeing.

In Malta, everyone will find something for themselves. Nature lovers will love its beaches, rivers and islands. Culture lovers will love Malta's numerous churches and fortresses. If you are a gourmet, you will like seafood and cuisine. There is snorkeling, diving, paragliding and go-karting for those looking for adventure. Children will be delighted with water parks. You can also go on a sea or river cruise to see dolphins and birds. Malta also has many beautiful markets where you will find some exotic items and souvenirs to take home.

Malta is a small island. But there are so many things here that it is impossible to see and do everything in one visit. That's why so many people keep coming back to Malta.

This guide will help you decide what to see and do in Malta.

Find out about all the best entertainment in Malta.

#1 - Go to the beach

The Maltese beaches are beautiful. In addition, travelers can admire the shades of multicolored sand (white, pink or red) Maltese beaches are among the best in the entire European Union, and some of them are even marked with a Blue flag, which means cleanliness and a high level of safety at recreation areas.

The best beaches in Cyprus are Blue Lagoon Beach, Golden Bay, Peter's Pool Beach, Mellieha Bay and Għar Lapsi.

You should visit Armier Beach, a favorite spot for divers. Enjoy burgers at Bugibba Perched Beach. Many beaches have promenades, bars, cafes, restaurants and shops. Stop by Dahlet Qorrot to admire the stunning views.

#2 – Visit historical sites

Malta is an island state where stunning nature is adjacent to cozy old towns and picturesque bays are in harmony with medieval monuments. And this is not surprising: an island with a centuries-old maritime history, located at the intersection of the most important maritime trade routes, simply could not help but acquire a solid baggage of historical buildings from different eras.

The most visited sights of Malta are located in Valletta, the capital of the island state. These are forts, majestic cathedrals, large cultural venues — museums and theaters.

Mdina is the ancient capital of the island, its approximate age is 4000 years. At various times, the city was owned by the Phoenicians, Romans, knights, and almost always Mdina remained the "City of the nobility". The main and Greek gates, medieval palaces, the Cathedral of St. Paul, as well as the dungeon museum, where interesting excursions are held, have been preserved in the city.

#3 – Religious sites

The megalithic temples of Malta are of the greatest historical value. The UNESCO World Heritage List includes six well-preserved temples in the country, although many more ruins of ancient buildings have been found. First of all, it is worth visiting the Jgantia temple complex on the island of Gozo, which includes the oldest free-standing stone buildings on Earth. You can get to the island by ferry.

Be sure to visit the three main churches of the capital — the Cathedral of St. John in the Romanesque-Gothic style with Baroque elements, the Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul, the Roman Catholic Church of the Shipwreck of St. Paul, where valuable shrines are kept.

#4 – Hiking in Malta

Hiking is a rapidly gaining popularity type of active tourism, which attracts more and more Maltese and tourists from different countries. If ten years ago its staunch adherents were mainly those whose parents managed to captivate from childhood with one-day trips to nature, now it seems that it is even fashionable to be an eco-tourist.

It is very easy to do hiking in Malta, because:

• the island itself is small, so there is a great opportunity, if not to study it thoroughly, then at least to get acquainted with most of its natural corners;
• many famous natural attractions (Blue Grotto, Dingley Cliffs, Buskett, etc.) are accessible by public transport. And if you have a car at your disposal, you have a chance to see less "untwisted", but no less picturesque corners of the archipelago (especially when moving around Gozo);
• the climate allows you to go for a walk or hike on the islands with a minimum number of necessary things;
• one day is enough to thoroughly study any interesting natural monument and its surroundings;
• Despite its tiny size, Malta boasts many interesting geological formations (faults, grottos, caves, etc.), as well as an impressive list of endemics. And historical, archaeological or religious monuments and buildings are found here not only in large cities, but also literally "in the open field";
• Eco-guides, brochures and route descriptions in English are at the service of hiking tourists (the best ones are issued by the organizations Nature Trust and Din l-Art Helwa). There are also several NGOs on the island that organize group walks for their members (and those who have joined them).

#5 – Natural attractions

Among the most visited nature reserves, it is worth noting the Blue Grotto, Calypso Cave and Mushroom Mountain. Each of them has its own unique origin and is shrouded in legends.

• Blue Grotto got its name due to the bright blue color of the water washing the rocky shores from all sides. Externally, the grotto resembles sea caves, the depth of which reaches 45 kilometers, created in natural conditions for several millennia. Every year tourists flock to this place to see the amazing play of sunlight on the sea surface and the bizarre stone shapes.
• Calypso Cave — According to an ancient legend, an ancient Greek nymph named Calypso held her beloved Odysseus by force in a cave. His seclusion lasted seven years, after which he ran away from Calypso to his wife Penelope. Inside the cave, archaeologists have discovered a maze consisting of stone walls. Some entrances were blocked by large boulders and are inaccessible for viewing today. Tourists, as a rule, come to the cave in order to admire the gorgeous views from the observation deck. In addition, around the cave you can observe the remains of towers built during the reign of the Maltese Order.
• Mushroom Mountain — This place has been known since the Middle Ages, when a local general found truffles on the surface of the mountain. After a long study of this type of mushroom, the general came to the conclusion that they have amazing healing properties and are able to cure and prevent various diseases. Since then, the mountain has been called "mushroom" or Il-Gebla Tal-General, which means "General's Rock" in Maltese. The height of the mountain is about 60 meters, which allowed the rock to turn into a famous attraction among those who prefer diving.

#6 – Adventure sports in Malta

The Maltese Islands, with their mild climate, have a large number of facilities for land and water sports. Malta's largest sports center (Marsa Sports Club) It is located four kilometers south of Valletta and accommodates a large number of sports facilities, including an 18-hole golf course, a mini golf course, 18 tennis courts, 5 squash courts, cricket grounds and a swimming pool. Tourists during their holidays in Malta can purchase a weekly subscription to visit the club. Everyone is invited to play golf, not only club members, and the equipment necessary for the game can be rented at the club.

Most hotels have their own tennis courts, squash courts, gyms and saunas. Most hotels also offer everything you need for water sports, including scuba diving, water skiing, windsurfing and sailing.

Bowling on the grass and in specially equipped halls is also very popular among local residents. You can play traditional Maltese bowling on the grass in most villages on the islands. Skeet and target shooting is also popular, every Sunday morning you can watch either shooting competitions or practice shooting.

An important place in the sports life of the islands is occupied by water sports. The necessary equipment for water sports can be rented on most large sandy beaches or in beach clubs.

Both locals and tourists enjoy scuba diving, paragliding, wakeboarding, windsurfing and water skiing. Regular sailing regattas are held from April to November, including the Camino Regatta in June, the Malta— Syracuse keel race in July, and the Rimini — Malta — Rimini sailing yacht race in August. On all islands there is an opportunity to rent a ship or charter a yacht.

With the support of national associations, Malta annually hosts competitions in various sports, such as judo, basketball, cycling, table tennis, hockey, water polo, wrestling, fencing and many others.

#7 – Horse riding

Equestrian sports are very popular among Maltese, and horse racing is one of the most popular sports spectacles. Horse races are held every Sunday from October to May.

#8 – Maltese Marathon

In mid-February, the Maltese Marathon is held, which attracts long-distance runners from all over the world. The Maltese Association of Amateur Athletes annually holds a large number of sports competitions, in particular highway races, cross-country races, running and athletics competitions.

#9 – Shopping in Malta

Malta is not the most popular shopping destination in Europe. Shopping here is a pleasant addition to beach and sightseeing holidays. The most interesting thing here is the products from local craftsmen, Malta is a country of artisans, and in bazaars and shops you can buy a variety of locally produced goods — from bags and shoes to artful jewelry. Maltese glass, textiles and wicker products are especially appreciated.

Shopping malls in Malta:

• Bay street complex
• The Plaza Shopping Centre
• Arkadia Shopping Mall
• The Point

#10 – Parties on the island

Nightlife in Malta is always very active, winter and summer. Most bars and clubs are located in Paceville St. Julian's and in Bugibba.

Among the most interesting music festivals in Malta are the Valletta Baroque Festival, and the Choral Festival, but especially MTV Island, one of the biggest free concerts in Europe, which takes place in the summer.