Malta contains multitudes. Although small, Malta has been at the heart of Mediterranean history and culture for centuries.

The tiny archipelago below Sicily bears traces of the numerous peoples and conquerors who inhabited its shores: Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Spanish, French and, most notably, the European crusader knights known as the Order of Malta. Preachers (St. Paul), painters (Caravaggio), and politicians (Napoleon) have washed up on the rocky sun-roasted shores and left their marks too.

Maltese culture is influenced by a unique amalgamation of cultures brought to the island through the ages. The Maltese language is close to Arabic, while the architecture ranges from mysterious ancient temples to masterful Baroque-era cathedrals to new postmodern experiments. If the country's rich history doesn't whet your appetite, the food certainly will, with some of the best flavours in the Mediterranean. The cuisine is fused with Italian flavours and ingredients and full of Mediterranean flair; Maltese food is one of Europe's hidden culinary gems.

With so much packed into one small country, it's little wonder that Malta is one of Europe's hottest holiday destinations. So, whether you’re after a foodie weekend enjoying culinary delights, exploring ancient ruins, carousing with locals, or relaxing by secluded coves and sun-kissed shores, Malta has a little bit of something for everyone.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO

explore ancient cities and temples

Steeped in history and blessed with a unique mix of Mediterranean and Arabic culture, Malta is home to three sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These are the City of Valletta, the Megalithic Temples and the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum.

Malta's charming capital city, Valletta, is both a 16th-century citadel and a vibrant 21st-century town. Built by the Knights of St John in 1565, after nearly losing Malta to the Ottoman Turks in 1565, this network of glowing stone alleys is less than one square kilometre, making it the perfect size to wander. We suggest you start at the Upper Barrakka Gardens, where you will be rewarded with panoramic views of the Grand Harbour. Within the walls of Valletta, you will find the world-famous St. John's Co-Cathedral. While the outside of St John's may appear dour in its military-style plainness, inside is one of Europe's most dazzling displays of baroque excess — a symphony of gold, paint and coloured marble. This is the church of the Knights of St John; the Order's Grand Masters are buried in its crypt, and the oratory is home to two spectacular paintings by Caravaggio. Valletta has much to explore: marvel at the Grandmaster Palace, the fountain-cooled central square, Knights auberges, striking modern parliament, and much more. If you wish to learn more about the city's history as you explore, there are plenty of guided tours.

Outside of Valletta, Malta is home to several Neolithic Temples — all Unesco world heritage sites — the oldest stone architecture in the world. Predating even Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids, these temples are structural buildings with monumental doorways, curved rooms (once decorated with plaster and ochre paint), stone furniture and statues. The temples are unique architectural masterpieces, given the limited resources available to their builders, and the best preserved are Mnajdra and Hagar Qim. There's more to marvel at underground at the unique Hal Saflieni Hypogeum — a triple-layered tomb complex of rock-cut chambers, some immaculately carved to look like the temples above.

Malta's architecture will take you on a journey through the island's thrilling past – from its prehistoric temples, ancient ramparts and grand Baroque churches - the buildings and statues are "witnesses in stone" to the country's rich history. Exploring Malta will make you feel as though you have been transported back in time.

experience the amazing sea life

Away from Malta's ancient cities and prehistoric ruins is a vibrant and colourful paradise, deep under the Mediterranean waters. Boasting exceptionally clear water, Malta is often named Europe's top diving destination. Spectacular underwater landscapes — from cathedral caves to deep holes and drop-offs — and a range of scuttled wrecks provide plenty of excitement for even the most experienced sub-aqua explorer, while beginners are also well served with over 50 licensed dive schools across Malta and Gozo. Many diving sites are reachable from the shore, and taster sessions are offered for enthusiasts as young as eight.

If you want to explore the ocean depths, we suggest partnering with Maltaqua. Maltaqua has been one of Europe's leading dive bases, having serviced tens of thousands of clients and trained thousands of divers and hundreds of highly skilled instructors. With over four decades of experience as a dive centre, the diving team at Maltaqua can guarantee a diving experience like no other. 

If you want to experience Maltese sealife but don't want to dive to the ocean depths to see it, there are plenty of other options. From the marine life of Malta's Mediterranean coastline to tropical exotics, an imagined Roman shipwreck to amphibians and reptiles, the Malta National Aquarium has it all. While everyone can enjoy the aquarium, it is the perfect family-friendly attraction. Grim-faced groupers, newly hatched sharks, piranhas, and tiny tree frogs, will keep the kids amused and amazed for hours. Set on a blue flag coastline in the tourist area of Bugibba, it's easily combined with a real sea swim, but you can also dive deep into the sea without even getting your feet wet.

sail on malta’s beautiful waters

Malta's majestic Grand Harbour is without question one of the most spectacular ports in the world. With sparkling blue waters flanked by honey-cream limestone, the expansive Grand Harbour separates the capital city of Valletta from the historic towns of Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua. The harbour has been central to some of the most significant moments in Malta's history. Site of the Great Siege of 1565 and the Second World War encirclement of 1942, the harbour has been a hive of activity for over two thousand years. With iconic castles on both sides of the water, cruising along these protected waters provides a different perspective from land-based exploration, taking you in and out of hidden creeks and watery corners. Simply hop into a tiny striped dghajsa (traditional water taxi) at Custom House, beneath Valletta's Upper Barrakka Gardens and relax as you sail through history.

If you want to leave the bustling city behind and explore something a little more remote, then the Blue Lagoon is the place to go. A protected stretch of luminous blue water flanked by caves on the tiny island of Comino, this is one of Malta's most popular tourist destinations and one of the nation's best spots to swim and snorkel on a hot summer's day. While it can get crowded, the beautiful, refreshing, azure-coloured water makes it well worth the visit. There is little shade on land, so a boat that stays with you all day, offering a deck to laze on and liquid refreshment, is a sensible idea.

The Maltese Islands offer an amazing Mediterranean sailing experience. Whether you choose a day boat trip or an evening Grand Harbour Cruise, Malta will more than live up to your dreams.

Enjoy Malta's Wine

As one of the smallest-wine producing countries in the world, with 800 hectares of vineyards and wines rarely exported outside the archipelago, Malta's wine production is a source of intrigue. Yet, Malta's association with wine goes back thousands of years to the time of the Phoenicians, who are thought to have been the first to plant vines in Malta. Later, the Greeks and the Romans took care to perpetuate this typically Mediterranean crop. The Middle Ages were a difficult time for local wine during Arab rule. It was not until the arrival of the Knights of Malta that viticulture became ingrained in the Maltese culture. The British period, on the other hand, proved to be catastrophic, with the colonisers uprooting hundreds of hectares to grow cotton. During the late 19th century, however, a few vines were replanted, and today, it is home to a thriving viticulture industry and produces some of the finest wine in the world.

While you can enjoy a glass in the many fine wine bars of Valletta, it is fun to see the production up close and personal. Meridiana makes some of the best wines in Malta, producing 140,000 bottles of premium wine each year. Meridiana are very selective in their clientele, exporting to select niche markets such as Japan, France, Switzerland, Denmark and Belgium, and to private clients in Russia, Germany, Austria, Singapore, Hong Kong, Latvia, and the United Kingdom, Sweden and the United States. Fortunately for you, they also offer tours of its vineyard near Mdina, followed by a tasting with cheeses and cold meats. We also suggest you pay a visit to Tal-Massar, a small artisan winery in the town of Gharb — visit the vines before an alfresco tasting of four wines and a platter of Gozitan produce.

A trip to these islands is a fantastic opportunity to get a glimpse into the island's dynamic wine industry and taste some of the finest wines to ever be produced.

Kick back at the beach

While sightseeing and exploring are great fun, especially when visiting somewhere as rich in history and culture as Malta. Yet, when glittering azure waters surround you and the sun shines 300 days of the year, it is hard to resist just taking off your sandals and spending the day lounging at the beach. 

From the broad yellow sands of Golden Bay to the rocky shoreline of Sliema, Malta’s longest sandy beach at Mellieha, to hidden coves like Peter’s Bay — not to mention the splendid beaches of Gozo — there’s no shortage of choice.

If you prefer something a little more off the beaten track, we suggest you visit Imġiebaħ Bay in the North of Malta, just beyond Selmun Palace. While not easy to reach, you will find it is well worth the trouble getting there. A small sandy beach surrounded by the rocky shore, Imġiebaħ Bay is a little gem undisturbed by man. The minute you reach Selmun Palace, there is a long winding road to the left. Unless you’re a highly skilled and confident driver (especially in reverse), we recommend you park up near Selmun Palace and make your way to the beach on foot. 

WHAT TO EAT

The culinary scene in Malta seems to be going from strength to strength with a delectable spread of delicious array of food and many excellent restaurants in which to savour it.

Salty-fresh seafood, ripe and juicy produce, and some breathtaking fusions all feature in this tiny Mediterranean island's delicious cuisine.

Maltese cuisine has been heavily influenced by Italy, particularly Sicily, but also has a dash of Arab and African flavour mixed with a hefty pinch of Malta's own.

Here is a selection of the best foods to eat in Malta.

Stuffat tal-fenek

Kicking off the list is Malta's national dish: Traditional Maltese rabbit stew, known to locals as Stuffat tal-Fenek. This lovingly prepared dish is slow cooked to ensure the meat falls off the bone and blends with a rich tomato, red wine and garlic sauce.

Being the country's national dish, most Maltese restaurants serve rabbit. One of the best is Rubino, in an old Valletta sweet shop. While Rubino's Maltese and Italian menu changes daily, rabbit is almost always on the menu.

Ftira

Ftira, Maltese bread, is another staple of Maltese cuisine. This disc-shaped leavened bread is everywhere, from snack bars to sit-down restaurants. It is traditionally served with strong-flavoured fillings such as tuna, onion, pickled capers, olives, and peppered cheeselets, although it can be paired with anything. 

Gozitan ftira, a regional variation on Gozo, is served more like a pizza than a sandwich. It's often topped with potato, anchovies, capers, tomatoes, and cheese.

Pastizzi

Malta's most famous street food is a pastizz, a hand-held crispy pastry made of a light and flaky Greek phyllo dough. Usually diamond-shaped, shops called pastizzeria exist for the sole purpose of making these enjoyable treats, but you can also find them in bars and cafes across the country.

These savoury treats are usually filled with mashed peas or ricotta. Other flavours of pastizzi exist, including apple, anchovy, spinach, corned beef, and many more. 

Lampuki

As an island, fish has always been an essential part of the Maltese diet. One of the most popular is lampuki, a meaty white fish also known as dorado, dolphinfish, or mahi mahi in other parts of the world.

Lampuki season begins in August and lasts until December. During that time, you will most commonly find it on menus of the fishing village of Marsaxlokk.

Lampuki is popularly grilled in a thick garlic-infused sauce and in a pie. 

Imqaret

Why not try Imqaret, a pastry with a date filling for dessert. Deep fried and typically infused with aniseed liqueur and citrus notes, Imqaret are popular treats across Malta.

Imqaret is of Arabic origin, with variants in several North African countries, and was first introduced to Malta sometime between the 9th and 11th centuries.

Ġbejna

Cheese has long been an important part of Mediterranean cuisines, and Malta is no exception. 

One of the most common cheeses in Malta is ġbejna, which translates to "cheeselet." These tasty cheeses can be found on ftira sandwiches, on appetizer platters, and anywhere else you may possibly want.

The traditional form of ġbejna is made from local sheep's milk mixed with salt, and rennet. They commonly take three forms: fresh (friski), sundried (moxxi), or peppered (tal-bżar).

WHERE TO STAY

THE PHOENICIA HOTEL

The oldest luxury hotel in Malta, the Phoenicia, located at the City Gates of Valletta, is perfectly placed for exploring the historic walled city, feasting on Caravaggio's paintings and circumnavigating the magnificent harbour.

A favourite among honeymooners thanks to its sumptuous interiors, stunning views, and beautifully manicured gardens. The hotel has recently been restored with modern touches that complement the elegance and nostalgia of this local landmark.

During the day, relax at the Bastion Pool deck and bask in the breathtaking views of the harbour from your sun lounger or swim beside a massive bastion in the infinity pool; while in the evenings, enjoy a leisurely stroll through the seven and a half acres of luscious gardens.

You will experience the best of Maltese hospitality at The Phoenicia's incredible restaurant and bar spaces. At the world-famous Phoenix Restaurant, feast on the elegant and chic décor while enjoying succulent dishes from its award-winning chefs. The Palm Court Lounge is an excellent spot for a morning coffee, traditional afternoon tea or an early evening cocktail. Head to the Club Bar, the hotel's watering hole, where you'll find colonial décor reminiscent of Malta's past and an outdoor terrace offering spectacular panoramic views overlooking landscaped gardens, historic bastions, and the Marsamxett Harbour.

CUGO GRAN MACINA GRAND HARBOUR HOTEL

Built into fortifications dating from when the Knights still ruled Malta, the Cugó Gran Macina Grand Harbour is truly a hotel like no other. The historical fortress walls contrast with modern interior design and bespoke luxury fittings; the Cugo Gran Macina merges clean-cut modern with historical features, providing guests with a unique and splendid stay.

The hotel's 21 suites range from 40 square metres to an impressive 130 square metres, with most rooms having high vaulted ceilings, ample natural light and panoramic views of the Grand Harbour and the surrounding marina. Discreetly tucked on the rooftop of the annexe building, you will find a luxurious swimming pool and a terrace looking across the water to Vittoriosa and Cospicua.

Just a few minutes' walk from Birgu and the Vittoriosa Marina, Cugó Gran Macina Grand Harbour is ideal for yachties and boat enthusiasts, while the magnificent city of Valletta is just across the harbour.

THE XARA PALACE RELAIS & CHATEAUX

The Xara Palace is certainly a hotel that invites superlatives. The Xara Palace is a luxurious boutique hotel housed in a gorgeous palazzo dating from the 17th century. It is also one of the few hotels with the privilege of being located within the medieval walls of the Silent City of Mdina.

Carved from sandstone, its elegant facade overlooks a charming, shaded square complete with alfresco terraces and balustrade balconies built on top of the centuries-old bastions, providing stunning views over the surrounding countryside. Inside you will find an unexpectedly bright and high-ceilinged hallway lined with traditional patterned rugs, frilly marble-topped tables, and antique furnishings.

Service is highly personalised, with professional staff greeting guests by name and going to great lengths to deliver an outstanding service. A stay at The Xara Palace will leave you feeling like Mediterranean royalty.

BEST BARS & RESTAURANTS

Malta has a burgeoning culinary scene, with Valletta at the heart of its growing gastronomy culture.

From wineries to waterfront fine dining, Maltese food is second to none, and the island boasts a selection of excellent bars and restaurants. Here are some of the best.

BEST BEACHES

Malta is a paradise for sun-worshipping beach lovers. Blessed with a balmy Mediterranean climate, the Maltese islands boast more than 300 days of sunshine a year and some of the cleanest bathing waters in the European Union.

From soft stretches of sand for sunbathing to rocky inlets primed for snorkelling and coasteering, here are some of the best beaches in Malta.

  • Blue Lagoon

  • Golden Bay

  • Xlendi Beach

  • Ramla Bay

  • Ghajn Tuffieha

  • San Blas

  • St Peter’s Pool

  • Mellieha Beach

  • Gnejna Bay

  • Imġiebaħ Bay

REACH MALTA BY PRIVATE JET FLIGHTS

At Astute Aviation, we pride ourselves on providing our customers access to an extensive range of aircrafts available for charter and highly low jet charter prices. 

Our fleet provides a variety of amenities, technology, and passenger seating choices. Whether your group is big or small, we can assist you in making the appropriate selection at competitive prices with no hidden fees.

AIRPORTS IN MALTA FOR PRIVATE CHARTER FLIGHTS

Malta International Airport, 5 miles southwest of the nation's capital of Valetta, is the only airport serving the islands of Malta. There is, however, a heliport in Xewija on Gozo Island, which is North of the main island and offers a helicopter transfer to and from the main airport.

GET A QUICK MALTA AIR CHARTER QUOTE

Astute Aviation is committed to providing you with the most luxurious air charter experience possible. Get a quick quote from Astute Aviation to charter a private jet to Malta and experience it yourself.

Contact us today for more information on our jet charter flights from Manchester or Liverpool to Malta.

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