Malta hotels

There is such a wide variety of hotels in Malta that it’s hard to know where to start. Whether you’re longing for luxury in 5-star hotels, craving comfort in 4-star hotels, or banking on a bargain in boutique hotels, you won’t be disappointed. Malta hotels are ready to welcome you with open arms! Located at the crossroads of Europe and Africa, Malta has a long history of changing rule, from the Greeks and Romans through to the French and British. The British influence is still strong and English is one of the two official languages. But one of the most fascinating periods in its history came during the Middle Ages with the Knights of St John, Christian crusaders who had fled from the Holy Land. The story of their courageous defeat of Ottoman invaders at the Great Siege of Malta is told in frescoes in the Grand Master’s Palace in the capital Valletta, while reenactments of military drills still take place in Fort St Elmo.

One of the newest attractions on this ancient island is Bay Street, a huge shopping and entertainment complex opened in 2000 and strikingly designed by the British firm behind London’s Millennium Dome. Located in the heart of one of the island’s most popular tourist destinations, St George’s Bay, the centre is open seven days a week and has a rolling programme of special events for all the family. Shopaholics beware – all the major brands are here! After a full day of retail therapy you’ll be glad to kick off your shoes in one of the nearby luxury hotels and give your plastic a well-earned rest.

Malta is also a great destination for cultural breaks. The lavishly decorated rococo Manoel Theatre is home to the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, which regularly performs with world-famous soloists such as Joseph Calleja, Andrea Bocelli and José Carreras. It also offers a full programme of opera and theatrical productions, some performed in English, as well as an annual Christmas pantomime. Book into one of Valletta’s romantic hotels to enjoy a concert or play in the third-oldest working theatre in Europe, view masterpieces by the celebrated Calabrese artist Mattia Preti in the National Museum of Fine Arts, and admire famous paintings by Caravaggio in the oratory of St John’s Co-Cathedral, before heading into town for a hearty dish of tender stewed rabbit, Malta’s national dish or fish landed fresh from the harbour.