Is Malta Worth Visiting?

You’re planning for your next vacation, and Malta is one of the countries on your mind. Of course, you’ve heard that the country is a beautiful place with scenic beaches and wonderful weather.
But are there enough sights in the country to give you an unforgettable experience?
The short answer is yes. Malta has a lot of unique sites that make it a worthwhile place to visit. There are also a million things to do there, so you’ll never get bored.
In this article, we’ll explore the best reasons why you should take a trip to Malta. You’ll also learn about all the exciting places and the activities you can enjoy while on your trip.
Can’t wait? Then, let’s dive in.
 
7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Malta
   
​1.   Valetta
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Valetta is the best place to explore Maltese culture. The city boasts traditional buildings, ranging from theatres to archaeological museums. These structures are designed in classical styles, true to the ancient Maltese heritage.
You can watch a performance in one of the city’s famous theatres or learn about museum artifacts. When you get hungry, you should visit Caffe Cordina — the oldest restaurant in Valetta — and try their world-famous Pastizzi.

Although Valetta may look like a medieval city, it’s just as busy as any metropolis. In fact, it has the largest population in Malta. 
So, make sure to start out early when you want to explore the city. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in traffic for several hours.
 
Best Locations in Valetta for Tourists. Don’t leave Valetta without visiting the following places:
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St John’s Co-Cathedral
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The St John’s Co-Cathedral showcases beautiful architecture and famous artworks hung on gold-plated walls. The most notable piece in the church is the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, created by the renowned Italian painter Caravaggio.

​Grand Master’s Palace

The Grand Master’s Palace is the official seat of the President of Malta. 
All the corridors of this palace are lined with staterooms, where parliamentary members used to hold their sessions until 2015. Near these staterooms is a Knights’ armory that houses a collection of medieval weapons dating back to the 16th century.

Fort St. Elmo

Fort St. Elmo is a pentagon-shaped fortress built to defend the country against sea attacks during the Great Siege. This fort displays artifacts that help you understand the evolution of the Maltese.

National War MuseumThe National War Museum is a military-themed museum located inside Fort St. Elmo. This museum contains war relics like the Gloster Gladiator, Franklin Roosevelt’s Husky Jeep, and the armor of the Ottoman Turks.
 
Upper Barraka Gardens

Take an afternoon stroll through the Upper Barrakka Gardens to enjoy a view of saluting battery cannons. In these gardens, you’ll also find monuments of prominent men in history, such as Winston Churchill and Sir Thomas Waitland.
 
The National Museum of Archaeology

The National Museum of Archaeology showcases the tools used by the earliest Maltese citizens to perform their daily activities. 
There are also several statues and artworks that demonstrate the artistic skills of those people. The most famous element in the museum is the Venus of Malta, a headless female statue that depicts the fertility goddess.
 
 The Three Cities

The Three Cities are a group of fortified cities near Valetta, namely Cospicua, Senglea, and Vittoriosa. You can take a ferry from Valetta to the area and admire the hundreds of boats docked by the harbor.
​2.       Gozo

Gozo is the center of history in Malta. Most of the structures in this city were constructed several centuries ago by the earliest dwellers in Malta. 
Unlike Valetta, Gozo has a peaceful environment. Expect scenic beaches, idyllic landscapes, and a relaxed atmosphere.
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Best Locations in Gozo to Visit
Citadel

The Basilica of Ta’PinuThe Citadel is a large fort built by the Knights of St John to defend Malta against land attacks. 
The alleys in this site contain three museums that house exhibitions that improve your understanding of Malta’s history. Although entrance to the Citadel is free, you’ll have to buy a ticket to visit the museums.
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The Basilica of Ta’Pinu

The Basilica of Ta’Pinu is a pilgrimage site that attracts Christians worldwide. 
This chapel was built by the Holy Church after Karmela Grima, a Catholic, heard someone calling her in the area. Today, believers visit the church to pray for the intercession of the Lady of Ta’Pinu in their life problems.
 And when their problems are solved, they display the site with tokens to show their appreciation. The site also contains several mosaic artworks depicting the life of Christ.
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Marsalforn Bay

Marsalforn Bay is a small seaside village with a large promenade. You can take a midday stroll on the path and explore restaurants that serve local seafood delicacies. 
When you get to the front of the promenade, you’ll find a sandy beach with rocky shoreline. This beach is great for sunbathing and snorkeling.
 If you take a short walk from the beach, you’ll discover the Schweini saltpans, where Maltese residents harvest and process salt.

Dwejra Inland Sea

The Dwejra Inland Sea was naturally formed when two limestone caves collapsed millions of years ago. That collapse led to the development of unique rock formations in crocodile shapes. 
You can ride through the sea and view the rock formations in the ocean.
 
Azure Window

Azure Window used to be an arch above the sea until it collapsed in 2017. Yet, the Azure Window still draws divers to the site. In fact, it has been named one of the top destinations for divers worldwide. 
If you are an amateur diver, you can take a shallow swim in the sea to watch the tropical fish. Advanced divers often scuba dive into the ocean to explore the remains of the azure window and view old shipwrecks.
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3.       Malta’s Temples

Malta has some of the oldest temples in human history. A lot of these religious sites were built between 3,000 – 4,000 BC. They also have highly sophisticated designs and have even been named World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
If you are fascinated by religion, you might want to visit Malta to see the temples. To help you, we’ve made a list of the best temples in Malta and why they might interest you.
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Best Malta Temples to Visit
Ggantija Temples

It is generally believed that giants built the Ggantija temples. That must be why they were given the name Ggantija, which means ‘Giant’ in the Maltese language. True to their legend, the limestone blocks used in building the temples are over 5 meters long and fifty tons in size.
In front of each Ggantija temple is a large terrace that holds animal remains and stone hearths. These items suggest that the terrace may have been used to conduct animal sacrifices many years ago. When you visit the temples, you might also see some statues on display.
The Ggantija temples are located in Gozo.
Hagar Qim

Hagar Qim is another notable Maltese temple built from limestone. This temple stands on a hilltop and is located only 2km away from the Qrendi village in Malta.
Like the Ggantija temples, Hagar Qim contains animal remains, carvings, and statues. But the most fascinating object in the temple is a statue named the Fat Lady of Malta. 
This statue provides a reminder of the old Maltese culture of worshipping fat women. In the past, these women were believed to symbolize agricultural and reproductive fertility.

​Mnajdra Temple

The Mnajdra temple is situated at the bottom of the hill that houses the Hagar Qim temples. This temple is grouped into three sanctuaries, each of which comprises several buildings with unique shapes. 
If you study the walls of these sanctuaries, you’ll find carvings that helped the Maltese track the passage of time.

Hal Saflieni Hypogeum

Although Hal Saflieni Hypogeum is classified as a temple, it was primarily used as a funeral hall and cemetery in the last 1000 years. 
According to archaeologists, approximately 6,000 people have been buried in the building. Most rooms that house these bodies are also shaped like mass graves and burial chambers.

4.       Malta’s Caves

Malta has several caves which boast unique shades of blue and contain the remains of rare animal species. It’s no surprise that they’ve graced the scenes of many Hollywood movies.
We’ll only cover the best caves in the article:

Best Malta Caves to Visit
Blue Grotto

The Blue Grotto is a group of sea caverns located on the borders of the Qrendi village in Malta. Inside this cave, you’ll find exotic sea animals and plants whose bright colors enhance the beauty of the area.

Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is an aquamarine beach on Comino Island lined by jagged cliffs and unique rock formations. Thanks to its distinct hue, this cave is a popular spot for hikers and divers alike. If the beach gets too busy for you, you can take a short walk to the nearby coasts for some time alone.

Crystal Lagoon

 If you prefer a quiet cave that’s just as beautiful as the famous ones, Crystal Lagoon is the place to be. Like Blue Lagoon, this cave contains crystal clear waters separated into different sections by jagged cliffs. 
Whether you are swimming on the beach or watching it from the shore, the Crystal Lagoon offers a breathtaking view.


5.       Mdina

Mdina is a fortified settlement that has the smallest population in Malta. Known as the silent city, this town only allows tourists to visit the area on foot. You’ll consider this long walk worthwhile when you see the baroque buildings surrounding the city. 
Before you leave Mdina, make sure to check out the St. Paul’s Cathedral and Museum and the French Baroque Palazzo Vilhena.
 
6.       The WeatherIf you are tired of the cold weather in your country, you should consider visiting Malta.


7.       The FoodMalta offers many tasty local delicacies, but three dishes top the list. These meals are:
 Pastizzi
Malta is famous for having warm weather all year round. The summers in the city are sunny, and the winters are warm but windy. When the weather gets too hot for you, you can swim in any of the country’s famous beaches.

Pastizzi is the most famous snack in Malta. The original Pastizzi is a diamond-shaped pastry made with ricotta or mashed peas. But today, the snack exists in many shapes and flavors. You can find Pastizzi in most cafes and restaurants in Malta.

Aljotta

Aljotta is a Maltese fish shop that enjoys mass acceptance during the Lent period. Since Lent doesn’t permit meat, most Christians opt for the full-bodies fishes in Aljotta. 
Aljotta is made by cooking fish in a mixture of tomatoes, garlic, mint, onions, and rice.

Bigilla

Bigilla is a spicy bean dish that combines mashed beans with red pepper, salt, and olive oil. This meal is best enjoyed with Galletti, the local Maltese crackers.
                       
What You Should Know Before Visiting MaltaHow Many Days Should You Spend In Malta?If you only want to visit the famous sights in Malta and enjoy all the special Maltese delicacies, you’ll need to spend at least four days there. But if you want to experience all the areas in Malta, you may have to spend over a week there.
So, you need to spend between 4-7 days to enjoy your Malta tour to the fullest.
 
Best Time to Visit MaltaThe best time to visit Malta is from the beginning of June to the end of October. The prominent temperature during this period is pleasant sunny weather, enough for you to lounge in the sun without getting sunburned.
 
Transportation is StressfulThe best way to get around Malta is to rent a car. That said, renting a car in the country can easily drain your wallet.
If you are traveling on a budget, you’ll have to use the bus. But because Malta is densely populated, the buses are often insufficient for the number of waiting passengers. You’ll have to battle through long queues to reach your destination.
Besides, traffic is regular and unpredictable in Malta—rush hour times change based on the day of the week. If you don’t understand the prevalent lifestyle of the Maltese, you may end up wasting several hours on the road.
 
Book a Smooth Malta Tour with Absolutely Amazing TravelDue to the transportation issues and constant traffic jams in Malta, touring the country can be a hassle. That’s why you need an experienced travel agency to organize and manage your trips.
We’ll set your arrival and departure times during the off-peak hours in Malta so you can focus on enjoying your vacation.

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