Have you ever walked around the streets of Malta as if you were a tourist ? How much do you know about your country or even the village/town/city you live in ? You’d be surprised how much there is to see and how little you probably know. So for this summer I invite you to let yourself wander around this little island. Who knows, you may be delighted with the wonders you will find !!
As we have heard endlessly & tirelessly, this pandemic has brought a large toll on our economy. Many businesses have suffered and are still suffering. Many jobs have been lost. So what can we do to help boost our local businesses & keep them afloat ? If you are like me and for the time being have cancelled any travelling plans, I suggest you take your planned holiday to your own back yard and be a tourist in your own country. Just because you can’t go far it doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time and enjoy your summer. Our life is so hectic that sometimes beautiful things are just in front of us and day after day we don’t even pay attention to the minimal & simplest of things.
So what makes Malta so unique ? What are the best places to visit in Malta ? Here are my top 10 Maltese delights
1. History & Heritage 
The timeline of the Maltese islands is quite a long & compelling one, dating back to over 8000 years ago, back to the Neolithic times. Our history defines who we are. Our country has survived many wars, dominated by numerous foreign rulers until we got our freedom & independence. All these periods have left an imprint on our culture, language, values & to some extent have given our population characteristic traits which we now stand by & define us. Precious remains have been left as a memory to commemorate our history , from magnificent megalithic temples, rich artistic churches, great fortresses with beautiful harbours until the smallest piece of artefact which all make up our heritage. It is good that from time to time we revisit these historic sites & go back to our roots, reliving the beautiful story of Malta & remembering from where we started.
2. Valletta 
Malta's capital city since 1571 & the smallest capital city in EU. Despite its small size it consists of over 25 churches & one can find many baroque buildings. Built on a peninusla, flanked by two natural harbours : Grand Harbour & Marsamxett Harbour. As you roam around the wide & shady streets of Valletta one can notice how the streets are perfectly aligned in a grid-like layout. This design was said to be chosen to allow sea breeze, providing some relief from Malta's hot summer temperature.
Besides being a city flourishing with history & heritage every corner you turn, it is also a commercial center & work place for many. It is an ideal place for shopping, coffee breaks & the perfect spot for an afternoon brunch or lunch. One can find many restaurants & bars serving exquisite dishes & refreshing drinks. Recently the city has been given life & in the evening it has become a hub where people can meet in a relaxed atmosphere for a glass of wine over a delicious platter.
3. Mdina 
Known as ‘The Silent City’ and Malta’s first capital city until the Knights of Malta arrived. It is located in Rabat, sitting on top of a hill , surrounded by fortified bastions & over-looking large parts of Malta. Although it is a small town, it is rich in history consisting of many great medieval buildings worth visiting. In fact, it is recognised internationally as an important UNESCO world heritage site.
As you roam around the narrow streets of Mdina despite the great motion of activity created by the number of tourists that visit this city, peaceful silence still reigns and one can feel the serenity in the atmosphere. You can almost start picturing the Knights with their noble clothing & swords passing through the streets of Mdina. I suggest you finish your sight seeing by visiting the famous Fontanella for a piece of delicious cake while enjoying the beautiful panoramic view of most of Malta. Mdina is well known for its fancy restaurants & antique wine bars. And we cannot forget the well known Is-Serkin serving homemade traditional cheesecakes together with a warm glass of tea.
4. Birgu (Vittoriosa) 
Birgu is part of an area in Malta referred to as the 3 cities (Senglea & Cospicua). The Maltese also called them Cottonera, a collective name for the 3 fortified medieval cities, overlooking the Grand Harbour. They are special & unique in their own different ways yet brought tightly together by their rich historical background.
Out of the three, Birgu is the most popular & also the one attracting the most tourists due to its interesting attractions such as the Maritime museum, magnificent fortresses & especially now with the recent renovation of the Birgu waterfront. This new project was a huge help to boost the activity in this area. Birgu is gradually evolving into a high profile historical showcase of Maltese tradition, carrying with it archaic nostalgia across its narrow winding streets, alleyways & renovated townhouses. You can find wine bars, elegant restaurants with a spectacular view of the yacht marina.
5. Marsaxlokk 
As you may well know, this is Malta’s largest fishing village and has been so since the relic times. There were a number of British military outposts to protect the harbour in WWII which still stand today. Marsaxlokk is a quiet village which has not yet been overcome by urbanization & robbed from its traditional characteristic features. As you hear the church bells chiming & get closer to the square, you reach the more active part of the village.
As a tourist destination, Marsaxlokk is popular for its daily open-air market selling fresh local produce, offering a selection of the finest fish restaurants on the island, for the peaceful evening walks along the promenade where one can see traditional luzzus & large fishing vessels anchored in the sheltered harbour creating a colourful display.
One cannot forget to mention the most stunning natural swimming pools in Malta- St.Peter’s pool. This beautiful gem is located close to Marsaxlokk at the tip of Delimara point. You can catch a boat from Marsaxlokk to get there. The sea is crystal clear accompanied by stunning azure & greenish colours. It is an excellent location for sunbathing, snorkelling & diving.
6. Vitamin sea & beautiful beaches 
From rocky shores to golden sandy beaches, the Maltese islands have got them all !! The main coastal resorts & larger sandy beaches are in the northern parts of Malta, the most popular ones being Ghajn Tuffieha, Golden bay among others. While in the Southern part of Malta one can find a greater number of rocky shores such as Wied iz-Zurrieq, St.Thomas bay, Ghar Lapsi among others.
Then if you are like me, who loves an adventure, go off road, dig deep into your map & visit those secret beautiful spots which although difficult to find , are a pity no to see. But I will leave that for my next article, to reveal my discoveries !!
7. Gozo 
Malta’s sister island, set apart by kilometres of deep blue Mediterranean sea. As one boards the ferry and watches the Cirkewwa habour moving away, getting distant & distant, a strange comforting feeling is felt. One can notice a large apparent difference from Malta, much quieter, cleaner, greener, not yet robbed from its countryside, more organised providing one that perfect peaceful getaway.
Although it is a small island, there are many things to do, from stunning beaches, delicious restaurants to amazing views . It also has a fair bit of historic background to narrate, having played its part in many historic events. Proof of this are beautiful historic buildings such as Ggantija temples, Ta’Pinu Basilica, Citadella among many more. All in all, this little island has many things to offer for each kind of tourist.
8. Comino & Blue Lagoon 
Comino is a small island situated between Malta & Gozo, a haven for snorkelers, scuba diving & divers. It has one resort hotel, ideal for those looking for a tranquil getaway. Its main tourist attraction is a sheltered inlet of shallow, shimmering crystal clear aquamarine water known as Blue Lagoon. It is a slice of paradise in Malta, providing one of the most spectacular sights of the Maltese archipelago.
9. Stunning coastline & spectacular sunset views
Malta is the largest island in an archipelago in the central Mediterranean. Numerous bays along the indented coastline of the islands provide good harbours. Our defined coastline, deep blue sea & strong bright sun rays are the perfect combination to create the most beautiful sunset views. Maybe you have already realized from the photos I post. I am a sucker for a beautiful sunset view. I find this daily natural phenomenon simply mesmerizing. For me sunsets show the beauty of nature and yes the greatness of God which sometimes or almost most of the times we take for granted. Yet we should be grateful to be able to witness such a magnificent scene.
The photos below are taken from different places and at different times during different seasons, capturing the sun going down in different stages. For me, the perfect outing would be, an evening picnic on the beach, some good food, good wine & good company watching the sun going down. In Malta we are lucky to witness such clear spectacular views of the sun. In a blink of a second the view is gone, the sun rays disappear letting the dark night sky take over. I suggest that next time you see the sun going down, stop for a few seconds to take a quick glance at this beautiful phenomenon and appreciate the moment
10. Divine cuisine 
We Maltese are known for our great appetite. An who can blame us ? Our Mediterranean diet invites to a flavourful journey of delicious food. In the last few years, chiefs have become professionals & the tastes they create are divine. Many restaurants have upped their game, increasing their ranking nationally , designing the most elegant places with great precision , serving food cooked to perfection.
So that’s all for today. I hope you liked this short guide. With this article I wish to spread a light of positivity in the mist of all this. Give some courage to our local businesses. I also aim to manifest our island and all the delights it has to offer. Although I love to travel and explore new horizons, recently I have grown to appreciate my country more. Although we are a small island & despite the continuous problems being faced, we have a lot of potential. Yet everyone needs to lend a hand & make an effort in safeguarding what we have in order not to further loose what we once had.
This may have been a simple article yet it is just a teaser of what I have coming up next. For the next couple of months, during the hot sunny days yet to come follow me. I will be going around the streets of Malta & Gozo, experiencing the full island life. Stay tuned for my next article where I will share with you some hidden gems we have in this small island of ours !!
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