Malta may be tiny, but it packs a big punch!
BEAUTIFUL, history-stuffed towns, mouthwatering gastronomy and more than 300 days of sunshine a year – Malta really punches above its weight when it comes to holiday virtues.
Just a three-hour flight from airports around the UK, this stunning archipelago in the heart of the Med is an ideal destination for sun-starved visitors in search of winter warmth and loads to explore outdoors.
The tiny capital Valletta, a Unesco-stamped World Heritage site, is a stunning city, where the sparkly cobalt blue of the Mediterranean complements the creamy butterscotch of its palaces and fortifications.
Perched high on a peninsula, it gives thrilling views over the sea on three sides and is stuffed to the gills with more than 320 impressive monuments, from forts to baroque churches and a jawdropping cathedral.
And beyond the winding city streets, Malta is a paradise for walkers, laced with well-marked trails for every level of ability.
From the Watch Towers Walk, uncovering wartime defences and forts of the Knights of St John, to a heritage trail leading to Gozo’s megalithic temples of Ggantija, these routes provide a wonderful way to explore in the balmy autumn and winter sunshine.
What’s more, you can relax in the knowledge that Malta is the most Covid-vaccinated country in the EU. The only requirement for British visitors is proof that they are fully vaccinated (plus two weeks) – simply use the vaccine certificate on the NHS app or the printed certificate.
SPECTACULAR DINING
THE Maltese people are warm and friendly hosts, and there are great places to stay to suit all budgets and preferences, from farmhouses to glamorous converted palazzos with ornate facades.
Favourites in Valletta include the Art Deco Phoenicia, beloved of British royalty and recently spruced up with a spa and outdoor dining. And there’s swanky boutique accommodation, too, such as AX The Saint John, in a former merchant’s house with a gastropub next door.
Malta is now a genuinely gastronomic destination, with five Michelin-starred restaurants.
These include the supercool Noni offering modern Mediterranean and classic French cuisine, and chic bistro Bahia, featuring tasting menus which interpret the island’s past and future. And there are many other restaurants where you can eat well for a fraction of what you might pay in Britain, with super-fresh seafood a speciality. Choose from settings beside the rippling waves in the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, to tables where you can watch the sunset over the towering cliffs of Gozo.
Or dine by the bastion walls of former medieval capital,
Mdina, where a moonlit, afterdinner ramble provides one of the island’s most atmospheric experiences.
GET EXPLORING
English is the second language (after Maltese) and they drive on the left. And given that the main island of Malta is a fun-sized 16.8 miles long by nine miles wide, it’s easy to explore by car or bus.
It is easy to dart across to sister islands by ferry, to discover the famous Blue Lagoon on little Comino, or the citadels, rock formations and beautiful beaches of laidback Gozo.
And further idyllic hours can be spent horse-riding, kayaking, sailing, swimming or snorkelling.
With so many sights and experiences to offer, there’s more to explore than you might think in this beautiful, welcoming archipelago.
Come and immerse yourself in the amazing heritage, culture and great gastronomic scene – while living like a local in Malta’s glorious winter sunshine.