Why island hopping is the best way to explore Malta’s highlights
Sasha WoodThere’s nothing like an island getaway to recharge the batteries, and the Maltese Islands offer the cultural buzz, natural beauty and sun-splashed beaches to tick all the boxes, just a three-hour flight away from the UK
Made up of main island Malta, as well as sister islands Gozo and Comino, island-hopping is the best way to take in the archipelago’s mesmerising mix of man-made marvels and stunning scenery set off by blue skies and sparkling sunshine.
Castles and crusades
Layered with history and packed with preserved monuments, Malta’s cities are living museums offering visitors a trip back in time to an era of crusading knights and fortresses. Island capital Valletta was chosen as a headquarters for the Knights of St John in the 16th century, looking out across the Med on a headland flanked by two natural harbours.
Crowned by the fortress of St Elmo, its soaring sandstone walls and baroque architecture look little changed from the water, where tourists can board local dgħajsa boats across the Grand Harbour to explore the historic Three Cities of Malta – Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua. Inside the urban lanes of the Unesco-listed Valletta, modern shops hide behind historic facades and cafes spill into sunny plazas.
The waterfront becomes a backdrop for music festivals in the summer, including the annual Isle of Jazz Festival running this year from 11-16 July. In fact, the tiniest capital in Europe punches well above its weight in terms of entertainment and culture, with EuroPride set to bring extra vibrancy to the city in 2023.
Foodies will appreciate the high-end restaurants in Valletta, including five with Michelin stars serving fresh local produce on stylish harbour-side terraces. Equally, heading inland for a vineyard tour and sipping wine made from Maltese grapes is a great way to get an authentic taste of the island.
Beyond Valletta and The Three Cities, the island’s former medieval capital Mdina is a walled warren of narrow passages well worth exploring on foot. To journey even further into the past, visitors can head underground to the prehistoric rock-cut Hypogeum sanctuary or peruse the ruins of ancient temple Ħaġar Qim.
Hidden treasure
But it’s Malta’s laid-back little sister isle Gozo that boasts the most ancient of Malta’s mysterious monuments. Also credited to the Unesco World Heritage List, Ġgantija Temples are thought to be the oldest freestanding structures in the world, dating back more than 6,000 years to a time before the Pyramids and Stone Henge. The National Museum of Archaeology in the quaint island capital Victoria sheds light on the remains of a long-lost civilisation.
Underwater adventurers will find sunken treasure in Gozo too, considered by famed ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau to be the best diving spot in the Mediterranean. Its handful of excellent dive centres can take divers to reefs and caverns submerged in the unspoilt island’s crystalline waters.
Lagoon life
Indented with sparkling grottoes and hidden coves, Malta’s shoreline makes a striking setting for a coastal break. Famous locally for its calm shallow azure waters, the Blue Lagoon on the pocket-sized isle of Comino makes a perfect day trip for travellers who enjoy swimming and lulling in idyllic coves, while the nearby lesser-known Crystal Lagoon is ideal for floating around little caves and exploring by kayak.
Organised boat trips and ferries leave regularly for Comino from neighbouring Gozo and Malta, and the island’s small size means it can be easily navigated on a day’s hike along sun-baked tracks.
Though the islands combined cover a smaller area than Greater London, there’s always more to explore in Malta, and hopping on a boat gives visitors the greatest scope.
Learn more about Malta at malta-training.com and on TTG’s dedicated destination hub.
Sasha Wood
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