Malta is a fabulous, sunny island, rich in history, boasting lively towns, great nightlife, and a busy calendar of cultural events. For such a small country, it packs a lot in, with beaches, harbour towns and stunning sights to keep you happy. There’s year-round sunshine, most of the friendly locals speak English, the food is very tasty, and you can fly from Dublin.
Malta is an archipelago in the Mediterranean in South Europe, and only the three largest islands, Malta, Gozo and Comino are inhabited. The official language is Maltese, with English the second official language. The islands have been invaded by the Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Spanish, French and British, giving them a wealth of culture and awesome architecture.
VALLETTA
The capital city of Malta is an architectural gem, small, easy to get around, with delightful cafes and restaurants, perfect for sitting outside and people- watching or admiring its beautiful buildings.
The city is Baroque in character, and is noted for its fortifications, palaces, gardens and churches. Make sure you visit St John’s Co-Cathedral with a stunning signed work by Caravaggio depicting the beheading of St John the Baptist. There’s a fascinating film about Caravaggio’s scandalous life and amazing work down in the crypt.
The National Museum of Fine Arts is a Rococo palace dating back to the late 1570s, and the delightful Manoel Theatre, built in 1731, and which reminded me of Belfast’s Grand Opera House, is one of the oldest working theatres in Europe.
MDINA:
is a medieval fortified city in the northern region of Malta, and it’s well worth a visit. The city is still confined within its walls, and has a population of just under 300. It’s one of the main tourist attractions in Malta.
GOZO
It’s easy to take a ferry to the neighbouring island of Gozo. It is rich in historic locations, such as the Ġgantija temples, which, along with the other Megalithic Temples of Malta, are among the world's oldest free-standing structures. You can catch a hop-on, hop-off tourist bus and get around in a day. Gozo is considered one of the top diving destinations in the Mediterranean and a centre for water sports.
FESTIVALS:
Valletta is the scene of the Maltese Carnival, held in February leading up to Lent. The Valletta International Baroque Festival is held every January.
The predominant religion in Malta is Catholicism. There are more than 360 churches in Malta, Gozo, and Comino, or one church for every 1,000 residents. The parish church is the architectural and geographic focal point of every Maltese town and village, and its main source of civic pride. This civic pride manifests itself in spectacular fashion during the local village festas, which mark the day of the patron saint of each parish with marching bands, religious processions, special Masses, fireworks and other festivities.
BEACHES
Another big draw is Malta’s coastline. It’s quite rugged, with rocky coves and a few sandy spots. The biggest beach is at Mellieha Bay, while resorts like Qawra and Bugibba have flat rocks and platforms where you can stretch out in the sun and soak up those rays. Qawra (pronounced aura) is a charming, purpose-built resort in north-east Malta. Set around scenic St Paul’s Bay, with luxury hotels along the seafront, it works as a vibrant summer destination, and is also a stress-free place to enjoy a winter break. It blends seamlessly into Buggiba, its bolder, brasher neighbour, which has a pretty harbour and a waterpark along its modern promenade. Holidays to Paradise Bay focus on relaxation, and there’s a Blue Flag beach surrounded by miles of sweeping countryside.
WEATHER
Malta has mild, warm winters (16 celsius during the day) and hot summers, hotter in the inland areas. Rain falls mainly in autumn and winter, with summer being generally dry. The average yearly temperature is around
23 °C (73 °F) during the day and 15.5 °C (59.9 °F) at night.
DAY CRUISE
Get away from the main island of Malta in search of sea and sunshine on a boat tour from Bugibba. Visit the Crystal Lagoon, followed by the Blue Lagoon on Comino for swimming and snorkeling. From here, continue to Gozo Island, where you have the choice of enjoying free time at your leisure or taking a tour of the island's historic sites before cruising back to Bugibba via the Santa Maria pirate caves.
NEON NIGHTLIFE.
Sliema on the east coast used to be a fishing village and is now best-known for its wine bars and fancy restaurants. If you wander along the promenade, you’ll come to St Julian’s, an upmarket town, with a generous variety of bars and clubs, including a thriving gay scene. The music keeps going until the early hours, and the cafes are perfect for breakfast the morning after.
FOOD
Maltese cuisine shows strong Sicilian and Italian influences as well as English, Spanish and French flavours. A number of grapes are endemic to Malta. There is a strong wine industry, with significant production of wines using native grapes.
FLIGHTS
Ryanair fly to and from Malta from Dublin three times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, all year round) and the flight is just under four hours.
ACCOMMODATION
You can book package tours to Malta, or book flights and accommodation, which is what I did. I searched booking.com and found lots of reasonably priced hotels of a high standard. I chose the Intercontinental Hotel in St Julian’s, which cost £85 a night per person sharing a double or twin room, plus breakfast which was excellent. My friend and I also ate dinner in the hotel twice and the food was very good.
COVID VACCINATIONS:
At the time of writing in January 2022, you need to show a vaccination certificate, and complete a Public Health Travel Declaration Form and the online Passenger Locator Form. You must show both forms to airline officials on departure and health officials stationed at the Terminal Temperature Screening Points when you arrive in Malta. The forms should be completed before departure. For further information about entry requirements visit the Maltese Government website at www.health.government.mt as well as the www.nidirect.com site
So if this all sounds appealing, pack your suntan lotion, swimming gear, and perhaps an underwater camera to capture the mesmerising Maltese sea life.
