Malta is particularly close to our hearts: after all, not only were we married here, but Sophie is half-Maltese, and we’ve made this beautiful country our home over the past five years. That’s why we’re passionate about sharing the best of the island, especially if it’s your first time visiting Malta. We’re often asked how many days you need to explore the island, and for us, an ideal itinerary would be a week in Malta. We recommend not only the capital Valletta but also ancient Mdina and the beautiful island of Gozo, with time spent on the beach and in the water. Here are some of our favourite things to do in Malta and how you can happily spend a week on the island.
What to do in Valletta
In Valletta, start the day with the best coffee on the island at Lot 61, before wandering down to St Lucia Street to peruse Malta’s famous gold shops – our favourite is Frank Zampa, family-owned for six generations and a local legend. While you’re in the neighbourhood, don’t forget to stop by St John’s Cathedral to see the famous Caravaggio.
What is there to see in Malta?
Outside of Valletta, you can take many day trips to see all that Malta has to offer. It’s worth visiting the so-called “Three Villages”, Attard, Balzan and Lija, where the aristocracy used to have their country residences. Start the day at the beautiful San Anton Gardens, a botanical garden with fountains, ponds and a mature tree. At the top of the entrance, you will find the Villa Bologna Restaurant and our pottery store – the oldest one in Malta in fact – which has a beautiful collection of hand-painted tableware, decorative pieces and lamps, all hand-made by local artists in the gardens of Villa Bologna. Pop in to see the artists at work, before taking home a piece for your collection. Stay on for a cocktail at the Restaurant after shopping – we have 2-for-1 cocktails on Fridays and Saturdays from 6pm.
No trip to Malta is complete without visiting the ancient walled capital Mdina, which you can easily do in half a day. Take your time walking around the cobbled streets or take a traditional horse and carriage (karozzin), before admiring the impressive 360 views across the entire island from the ramparts. Fontanella Tea Garden does the best chocolate cake in town, while Crystal Palace is a hole-in-the-wall pastizzerija that sells moreish pastry parcels until the early hours of the morning. Mdina is known for its hand-blown glass – you can buy some of your own and see how it’s made at the factory, which is a 10-minute drive away.
The best beaches in Malta
For sunseekers, there are plenty of beautiful beaches to visit in Malta to soak up some rays, with lots of opportunities to swim off the rocks along the coast too. One of the most spectacular beaches is Għajn Tuffieħa, accessible via a long staircase, with beautiful coastal walks and a fantastic restaurant – put your name on the waiting list when you arrive, and get there early to ensure a sunbed. The neighbouring Ġnejna Bay is also a favourite of ours, as is Tigne Beach in Sliema, where locals swim off the rocks.
Visit the Islands of Malta
Malta is actually made up of three islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino. You can visit Gozo via the fast ferry from Valletta, or if you’ve got a car, you can get on the car ferry at Cirkewwa. In the morning, you can buy traditional lace and other local crafts from the ‘It-Tokk’ open-air market at Victoria, before walking around the ancient hilltop fort. Il Kantra Lido is a laid-back beach club on the rocks which is great for lunch and a swim. Before you catch the ferry back, make sure to go to Gleneagles, an old fisherman’s bar, which is a local legend. If you want to see the turquoise waters at the Blue Lagoon in Comino too, then you can hire a boat and a skipper on Gozo or Malta to take you there.
