The first stop for most tourists in the capital city, Valletta, and it’s not just an access point to other destinations. Valletta is steeped in history; after the Knights of St John were forced to leave Jerusalem they eventually settled in Malta. As a result the city has no end of stunning architecture; in fact, it is often said that Valletta is one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.

Sliema and St Julian’s are often the next stop for tourists. Both of these coastal towns have plenty of nightlife and restaurants, however the previously quiet fishing village of St Julian’s is considered more scenic. It’s also right next door to Paceville, a town renowned for it numerous night clubs, bars and restaurants.

Valletta hasn’t always been the capital of Malta; Mdina once claimed the title. A very small, scenic city it is rumoured to have been built nearly four thousand years ago. Many of the buildings were ruined in a devastating earthquake in the 17th century; however, the walls to the city and a number of historic buildings still stand. Mdina is extremely peaceful, helped in a big way by the fact that vehicles are prohibited here. Thanks to this it has earned the nickname ’the quiet city’. Not very inventive, but accurate none the less. 

Rabat, not far from Mdina is a small town with plenty of charm. Here visitors can see the Cathedral of St. Paul, highlighting the Maltese devotion to the saints. There are many churches and cathedrals across the main island, especially in Valletta and Victoria.

Malta really is bursting with historic artefacts and ruins. The Hagar Qim Temple is over four thousand years old and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. All of the artefacts originally found here are now on display in the National Museum of Archeology in Valletta, a stunning building with many other displays and exhibitions and definitely worth a peek.

Also not far from here is the Hal Saflieni Hypogeum, yet another World Heritage site. This underground structure, sometimes referred to as The Labyrinth, is believed to date back to 2500BC, making it one of the oldest structures in the world. Tours are available around both sites although it is not recommended to take children under the age of six.

For those history boffins, the Lascaris War Rooms in Valletta are a little harder to find, but are a great place to visit. Carved out of solid rock, these caves used to house the Allied Air and Naval Force headquarters during WWII. Inside, visitors can take an audio, self-guided tour through all the different operations rooms.

Just between Lija and Attard is the San Anton Palace. Built as a country retreat for Grand Master Antoine de Paule in the 17th century, it has changed hands a number of times but is now the official residence of the Maltese president. What really sells the palace as an attraction though is the walled gardens surrounding it. Visitors can stroll through citrus and avocado groves, through the bird aviary and past a number of fountains right up to the front of the palace.

Another great place to visit is the Blue Grotto. These seven caves in the south of the island are the perfect backdrop to the famous clear blue waters. It is reasonably easy to access the cave system by renting small boats found in the small pier on the main land.

Malta is a very relaxed, quiet place, so finding nightlife can be difficult. The undisputed number one for bars and clubs is Paceville, a town right next door to St Julian’s. This is where the young Maltese residents come to unwind and let their hair down, particularly at the weekend. The bars and clubs all boast free entry and play primarily Western music, so party goers can move from club to club until they find the best place to dance the night away. There’s a bustling atmosphere in Paceville every night of the week, the drinks are cheap and the nightlife goes on right through till the morning.

For those visitors who want to get serious about their clubbing experience there is Gianpula. Often compared to Ibiza, it is a massive open-air club that plays host to all the big names in the DJ world every summer. There are music festivals and one off events, but Gianpula is also open every Friday and Saturday night. With a swimming pool and seven bars, it is quite the experience.

For those tourists seeking a more traditional musical experience, many bars in the less touristy towns have impromptu live music. Traditional Maltese music tends to be folk guitar based, while a group of men essentially try to argue a point in a singsong voice over the top of it. It sounds odd, but the improvised lyrics and upbeat music aim to create a friendly atmosphere. Seeing a musical debate might sound like an odd way to spend an evening, but it’s a great way to really experience the traditional Maltese nightlife. 

For those tourists wanting to take the risk and try to make their million, the Dragonara Casino in St Julian’s is one of the most renowned on the island. As well as trying their hand at gambling, visitors can enjoy the performances and shows that are held regularly.

Maltese cuisine is big on one thing, rabbit, and a very traditional meal on the island is rekaata. Mostly eaten as a celebration, it consists of a first course of spaghetti in rabbit sauce; this is followed up by fried rabbit meat, usually with gravy. There are restaurants across the island that specialise in this dish, so it’s not hard to find for those tourists wanting a real taste of Malta. The traditional pastizzi, a small savoury pastry parcel, can also be found in this style of restaurant.

On the whole Maltese cuisine is heavily influenced by Italy. Although there are restaurants in the more touristy areas that offer traditional British food for visitors (think sausage and mash or meat and two veg) there are also many places offering Italian food such as pizza and pasta.

Obviously since Malta is an island, the fish here is amazing and there is no end of tasty fish restaurants on the island. Lampuki fish, sometimes called dolphin fish, is a specialty, and is often fried and served in a spicy tomato based sauce.

Maltese sausage is served in a variety of ways; the salted pork can be eaten raw or can be roasted. It can often be found on the Maltese platters that are becoming popular with tourists; visitors can try Maltese sausage alongside sun-dried tomato crackers, olives, spiced minced pork or gbejniet, a form of tart made from goats’ milk.

Kinnie, a Maltese soft drink, is available at all restaurants. A fizzy, non-alcoholic drink that tastes a little like a martini, it is made from very bitter oranges.