Malta travel guide : explore Valletta, Gozo and Mediterranean beaches

What you need to know before visiting Malta

• Official name: Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta)
• Capital: Valletta
• Population: About 516,000 people
• Official languages: Maltese and English
• Currency: Euro (€)
• Area: 316 square kilometres (main islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino)

How Malta's history shaped its unique heritage

Malta's strategic location has made it a coveted crossroads for Mediterranean powers throughout history:

Prehistoric sites: megalithic temples and ancient structures

Malta's extraordinary prehistory begins with settlers who arrived around 5900 BCE and developed one of the world's oldest civilizations. These early inhabitants built the Ġgantija, Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra, and Tarxien temple complexes between 3600 and 2500 BCE—megalithic structures that predate both Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. The mysterious "Sleeping Lady" figurine and the subterranean Hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni, a 5,000-year-old underground necropolis hand-carved to a depth of 11 metres, stand as enigmatic testaments to this sophisticated Neolithic culture.

Classical Malta: Phoenicians, Romans and early Christianity

Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and Byzantines successively controlled Malta, leaving their cultural imprints. The archipelago gained biblical significance when St. Paul was shipwrecked on its shores around 60 CE, bringing Christianity to the islands. During the Arab period (870-1091 CE), the Maltese language emerged as a unique Semitic tongue written in the Latin alphabet, reflecting the cultural fusion that would become Malta's hallmark.

The knights of Malta: medieval history and fortifications

Malta's most defining historical chapter began in 1530 when Emperor Charles V granted the islands to the Knights of St. John, a military religious order. Their heroic defense during the Great Siege of 1565, when 700 knights and 8,000 soldiers withstood Ottoman forces four times their number, became legendary. The Knights then built Valletta, a fortified city of 0.8 square kilometres designed on a grid pattern with imposing bastions up to 47 metres high, magnificent palaces, and ornate churches.

Modern Malta: from British colony to European nation

After brief French occupation, Malta became a British colony in 1814, serving as a vital naval base. During World War II, the islands endured more bombing per square kilometre than any other territory—154 days and nights of continuous bombardment—earning the collective George Cross for their extraordinary bravery. Malta gained independence in 1964 and became a republic in 1974. Since joining the European Union in 2004, this small nation has developed a thriving economy based on tourism, financial services, and technology while preserving its unique heritage.

Maltese culture: language, traditions and cuisine

Maltese language: what makes it unique in Europe

Maltese is the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet and the EU's only Semitic official language. This linguistic treasure evolved from medieval Siculo-Arabic with significant Italian and English influences, creating a fascinating linguistic hybrid. Despite the islands' tiny size, local dialects vary between communities just kilometres apart. While English serves as the second official language, many Maltese also speak Italian, reflecting the proximity to Sicily just 93 kilometres away.

Religious traditions: churches, celebrations and local festas

With over 365 churches—nearly one for each square kilometre—Malta's religious heritage infuses daily life. The magnificent St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta houses Caravaggio's largest painting, "The Beheading of St. John," while the Mosta Dome features one of Europe's largest unsupported domes at 37.2 metres in diameter. Throughout summer, every town celebrates its patron saint with elaborate festas featuring processions, fireworks, and brass bands. These festas transform streets with 12-metre decorations and culminate in carrying multi-ton statues through narrow streets—a testament to communal devotion and friendly inter-village rivalry.

Maltese cuisine: what to eat and drink during your visit

Malta's cuisine reflects its position at the crossroads of Mediterranean cultures:

• Pastizzi (flaky pastries filled with ricotta or mushy peas, often weighing 80-100 grams each)
• Fenkata (rabbit stew, the national dish, traditionally slow-cooked for over 3 hours)
• Lampuki (dorado fish, caught during its annual 6-week migration around the islands)
• Ftira (ring-shaped bread typically 30 centimetres in diameter, topped with tomatoes, tuna, and capers)
• Ħobż biż-żejt (traditional bread rubbed with ripe tomatoes and soaked in olive oil)

Maltese wine production dates back 2,000 years, with indigenous grape varieties Girgentina and Ġellewża growing on terraced fields covering approximately 683 hectares. Meanwhile, the traditional Ċisk lager, brewed since 1929, remains the island's favorite beverage with annual production exceeding 50 million litres.

Traditional crafts: filigree, lace and colorful fishing boats

Traditional Maltese crafts reflect the islands' resourcefulness and artistic spirit. Filigree silverwork uses fine silver threads to create intricate jewelry, often incorporating the eight-pointed Maltese cross. Lace-making techniques introduced by the Knights continue in Gozo, where delicate creations can take hundreds of hours to complete, with some pieces spanning 2 metres in width. The colorful luzzu fishing boats, typically 5-7 metres long, feature distinctive painted "Eyes of Osiris" for protection at sea—a tradition dating back to Phoenician times that symbolizes Malta's enduring connection to ancient Mediterranean cultures.

Where to go in Malta: top cities and attractions

Valletta: exploring Malta's historic capital city

The EU's smallest capital (0.8 square kilometres) packs extraordinary cultural density:

• Grand Harbour: One of the Mediterranean's largest natural harbors, with 15-metre-high fortifications providing dramatic views.
• Upper Barrakka Gardens: Offering panoramic views from 65 metres above sea level across the Three Cities and harbor.
• St. John's Co-Cathedral: A baroque masterpiece with an interior covered in 375 square metres of gold leaf.
• Grandmaster's Palace: The former residence of the Knights, housing exceptional tapestries and armor.
• The Sacra Infermeria: A 16th-century hospital with a 155-metre-long ward that was Europe's longest room at the time.

Mdina: discovering the silent medieval city

Malta's former capital sits atop a plateau at 190 metres above sea level. This 4,000-year-old silent city, surrounded by 9-metre walls, limits vehicles within its 0.9 square kilometre area, creating an atmospheric journey through perfectly preserved medieval and baroque architecture, where just 300 residents inhabit elegant palazzos.

Gozo: day trips to Malta's sister island

Malta's sister island, covering 67 square kilometres, maintains a more rural character. The Ġgantija Temples, more than 5,500 years old, feature megalithic blocks weighing up to 50 tonnes. The picturesque Dwejra Bay once housed the Azure Window, a 28-metre-high natural limestone arch that collapsed in 2017 but remains a popular diving site.

The three cities: authentic Malta beyond Valletta

Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua—collectively known as the Three Cities—occupy peninsulas extending into Grand Harbour, enclosed by the 8-kilometre Cottonera Lines fortifications. Their atmospheric streets predate Valletta and offer authentic glimpses of traditional Maltese life.

Blue lagoon: swimming in Malta's most beautiful waters

Between Malta and Gozo lies Comino, an almost uninhabited 3.5-square-kilometre island featuring the famous Blue Lagoon, where crystal-clear turquoise waters over white sand create a postcard-perfect swimming spot with visibility exceeding 30 metres on calm days.

Best natural destinations in Malta: beaches to blue grottos

• Blue Grotto: A series of seven sea caverns where water reflects stunning blue colors from 30 metres below the surface.
• Dingli Cliffs: Malta's highest point at 253 metres above sea level, offering dramatic views across the Mediterranean and tiny Filfla islet.
• Inland Sea: A secluded lagoon connected to the open sea through a 100-metre natural tunnel in Gozo's dramatic cliffs.
• Għar Dalam: A 145-metre-long prehistoric cave containing fossils of dwarf elephants, hippos, and other extinct species.
• Ramla Bay: Gozo's largest sandy beach, spanning 500 metres with distinctive orange-red sand and Roman ruins beneath the dunes.

Interesting facts about Malta you might not know

Malta has no rivers, forests, or mountains, yet manages to support one of the Mediterranean's highest population densities at 1,633 people per square kilometre.

The Maltese islands receive approximately 3,000 hours of sunshine annually—among the highest in Europe.

Malta's Hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni is the world's only prehistoric underground temple, with exceptional acoustics where sounds at certain frequencies resonate throughout the 500-square-metre complex.

Over 300 international films and TV shows have been filmed in Malta, including "Game of Thrones," "Gladiator," and "Troy," utilizing the islands' 12,000 square metres of water tanks for marine scenes.

Despite being just 27 kilometres long and 14.5 kilometres wide at its maximum points, Malta has 359 churches—more than one for every square kilometre.

Maltese contributions to global culture and history

• The Maltese Cross symbol, now recognized globally in medical and humanitarian contexts
• The Maltese Falcon (falconry birds were a prized tribute paid to European monarchs)
• Early advancements in medicine through the Knights Hospitallers' pioneering healthcare
• The Maltese Dog breed, which has been a companion to nobility for over 2,800 years
• Strategic influence in Mediterranean naval history through its crucial harbors and position