Must see places in Malta

The best sites in Malta

There are many sites and places that I had never even heard of before coming to Malta, but there are so many that people must explore during their time in Malta.

Even if you do not get around to doing them all, that just gives you another reason to come back to Malta and explore some more!

1. Valletta – Undoubtedly, the country’s capital city is a place that visitors have to go to. 2018 in particular, has been of the best years to visit Valletta, as it was awarded the European Capital of Culture award – and has had many events and activities taking place during the award’s time span in Malta. There have been festivals, art exhibitions, parades, food and drink events – you name it, Malta had it on offer. St John’s Co-Cathedral is one of the most beautifully made pieces of architecture that I have seen in a long time and its elegance is one that everyone must see. Located in the centre of the square, the cathedral will not be missed, and it has some of the most delicate stone work. The Triton Fountain located at the city gate is also another great monument that needs to be witnessed. I have talked about the Triton Fountain previously, so I won’t go into too much detail, but this more modern piece of Maltese history is beautiful to look at, especially at night when the fountain is underlit. Fort St Elmo is another great place in Valletta to visit. This fort spans a large area of the city and it is great to do a walk around some parts of the fort, as you get some great ocean views along with it. Next, the Grand Master’s Palace is another spectacular building that one must visit whilst in Malta. Located near to St John’s Co-Cathedral, the palace is was once the residence of the Grand Masters of the Knights of St John. Since Malta's independence until 2015 the building was also the seat of Malta's parliament and houses some incredible interior and weaponry. The Upper Barrakka gardens in Valletta are also a must see for its visitors. These gardens have been the site of some Valletta 2018 festivals and exhibitions, and I can see why it has been a popular place for such events. It has recently hosted the art exhibitionBAĦĦ BLU / BLUE VOID, a multi-disciplinary Valletta 2018 project, composed of two parts; a marine installation –Book In The Sea and a land installation –Effett T’effett - which is in partnership with non-governmental organisation (NGO) – ACT. Their most recent venture -Kawża Effett - saw a major cleanup of Maltese coastline and hinterland held on the June 23, followed by an open debate – ‘Think Tank’ - on June 24, which sought to derive a suitable methodology on practical management for waste disposal across Malta. The materials from such clean-up will be featured in art project –Effett T’effet, a follow-up project fromKawża Effett, to create a land installation in the Grand Harbour at the Lower Barrakka Gardens to raise awareness of the world’s ever-increasing consumerism, over-consumption and waste. I would recommend for everyone to visit this truly unique installation, that is available for viewing until the 15th of August.

2. Comino and the Blue Lagoon – These beautiful blue waters really do exist and can be found in Malta’s own – Blue Lagoon. With white sands and white rocks, the scenery of this place is one to be admired and revelled in. Its crystalline waters are some of the best waters to swim in, and houses some of the best snorkelling opportunities, as wildlife is rife in the Blue Lagoon. I took a boat tour which costed twenty euros, that provided a 7-hour round trip of the Blue Lagoon, which I would recommend as a serious must for those visiting Malta and wanting to see all areas of Comino. The boat took us into some beautiful caves which we could view the wildlife from with the glass-bottomed flooring, which was beautiful in itself. Comino is a wonderful place to have a leisurely stroll around, meaning that if you have children or those who cannot walk very far, then Comino is a great place to visit as it is very tightly knit.

3. St Julian’s – This city housed some of the best football watching I have witnessed, during this year’s World Cup. The atmosphere at water front was incredibly and made for some great nights. However, St Julian’s also provides a sort of elegance, as it houses some beautiful restaurants that overlook the harbour. At night, these look even more extravagant due to the fair lights that overhang from their balconies. If one takes a short walk up past the restaurants, you end up near Paceville, which is great for the younger tourists looking for the clubs and bars to hit up. This area of Malta is incredibly popular, so expect long bar waits and busting clubs, but it makes for a great atmosphere. One of my favourite bays is just a short walk from Paceville. St George’s Bay in St Julian’s is a must-see for any visitor. It has beautiful cool waters and there are a lot of amenities close by, making it great for families.

4. Mellieha – Mellieha has one of the longest and busiest beaches in Malta, but its waters are simply incredible. From the winding hilly streets of the village, containing some of the cutest markets, the beach of Mellieha is one that will give you everything. Sun, sea, sand and shops. This beach really has it all. If you are travelling by car or bus you can also travel to the Red Tower located further past the beach itself. This 17th Century fortress is steeped in history and it will not disappoint visitors. You get an amazing view of the surrounding villages and city of Mellieha, along with beautiful views of the waters below. If you come back on yourself, you will also stumble upon one of my favourite bays – Paradise Bay. I did an entire piece on Paradise Bay so if you want to know more, check out my post.

5. Marsaxlokk – This market and fishing town has a lot more on offer than what meets the eye. Marsaxlokk is home to the amazing St Peter’s Pool, which houses the best cliff jumping points in Malta – as well as some of the bluest waters I have ever witnessed. Tucked away, this little gem really must be seen by those visiting Malta, however, it is a bit of a pain to get to. Marsaxlokk Bay is a harbour that spans a massive area, which gives its visitors some great water-side-walks. If you can make it, there is also a fantastic market that runs every Sunday – and is one of the most bustling and liveliest markets I have ever been to. Again, I made a post all about the market there and it really is one to visit. Just outside of the city centre are the Għar Dalam caves, which is a prehistoric cul-de-sac, that contains the fossilised remains of animals that were stranded there, and of whom subsequently became extinct in Malta. These caves are definitely a must see for Marsaxlokk visitors, as they are steeped in history and are also great for children to nurture their explorative minds.

6. Rabat and Mdina – Great stonework went into erecting the walls and buildings that are housed in Rabat and Mdina, and although not some of the busiest cities, the house some amazing architecture. Known as the ‘silent city’ this place is great for those wanting to immerse themselves into history and their own thought. There are many buildings and sites for one to see in Mdina, and it was also the site of some of the Games of Thrones shoots. The baroque styled St Paul’s Cathedral is a magnificent building that I would recommend for those looking for a great place to get an Instagram worthy shot. The narrow and old streets of Mdina also house some great walks and photo opportunities.

7. Golden Bay – This beautiful beach has some incredible waters that I think everyone needs to experience whilst in Malta. This Bay is one of the larger bays in size, meaning that you are not cramming to find a spot, unlike some of the other smaller ones dotted across the island. Golden Bay has a few amenities nearby, meaning if you are a family, then there is a lot on offer during your time there. In addition, there is an easy bus route to get to Golden Bay, which means its accessibility is pretty simple and straight forward.

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