Malta 365: Why Malta is a year-round holiday destination

How to get there?

Let's start with some introductory information that will be useful to you outside of the season in which you decide to come to Malta. The beach season in Malta runs from May to October, with the highest water temperatures (up to +30°C) in July and August. However, don't limit yourself to the high season - there is plenty to do in Malta at any time of the year.

The only international airport is located 5 kilometers from the capital city of Valletta. Round-trip tickets with departure from Kiev will cost you from 150 EUR. The most convenient option is to fly with Air Malta. Since June 19, 2018, the airline resumed regular direct flights from Kiev to Valletta. Flights are operated on Fridays, and during the summer period - on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Transportation in Malta

The main transportation is buses. They are comfortable, air-conditioned, affordable, but there is one disadvantage - they do not always adhere to the schedule. From mid-June to mid-October a single ticket costs 2 EUR, the rest of the time - 1.5 EUR. At night one trip will cost 3 EUR. The price of an unlimited weekly pass (Tallinja card) for an adult is 21 EUR, for a child - 15 EUR.

Lifehack: in Malta you can change to another bus for free during two hours in one direction.

If you plan not only to sunbathe and swim, but also to sightsee, it makes sense to rent a car (note that the country has left-hand traffic!). You can do it both through local and international car rentals. The latter have initially higher prices, but they already include insurance in case of theft and accidents. Carefully read the contract before signing it - there are cases when local companies with all fees included turned out to be more expensive than agencies with a name. Toyota Aygo or analog will cost you about 70 EUR, Chevrolet Aveo - 100 EUR per day.

You can book a hotel in Malta with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

Maltese cuisine

The traditional cuisine of Malta is a mixture of European and Arabic traditions, thickly mixed with local color. Much attention is paid to fish and seafood, vegetables and spices. In general, Malta's dishes resemble the cuisine of nearby Italy, but there is something oriental, special, southern.

Among traditional dishes you should try stuffed eggplants (brungiel mimli), roast meat with potatoes (pal fil-Forn), bread appetizer with tomatoes (hobz biz-zejt), beef rolls (bragioli), goat cheese (gbejniet), traditional dessert imqaret. Fish and seafood dishes are also on the menu, but, contrary to the expectations of tourists, are quite expensive.

What to do in Malta during the high season?(May - October)

Beach vacations

Beach vacations are the reason why thousands of tourists come to Malta every year with the onset of the summer season. Malta has an abundance of beaches: sandy (with white, red or pink sand), pebble, rocky, "wild" and equipped ... Which one to choose is up to you, we just share a selection of the most popular.

Sliema and St. Julians resort area

The resort area of Sliema and St. Julian's has everything that even the most demanding visitor might need: hotels, restaurants, stores and, of course, numerous beaches. The best of them are Qui-Si-Sana, Ghar id-Dud, Fond Ghadir, The Exiles in Sliema and St. George's Bay in St. Julians. The latter, by the way, can be called the center of nightlife - after sunset noisy discos and bars open their doors. From Valletta there are buses number 12 and 13.

The resort area of the towns of Bugibba and Aura

This area is dominated by rocky areas, which can be accessed from the seafront. The most popular beach is the sandy Perched Beach, located near the central square of Aura and the Dolmen Hotel. Against the background of others it stands out for its developed infrastructure.

From Valletta there are buses number 12, 31 and 45.

Mellieħa

It is located away from the main resorts, but in the vicinity there are a lot of beaches for every taste. Most of them are sandy, which makes it the best place in Malta for families.

Popular destinations include Mellieha Bay, the largest sandy beach on the island, the rocky Mgiebah, the pebbly Mistra Bay and Paradise Bay near Chirkeva.

There are buses #41, 42, 49, 250 from Valletta and X1 from the airport.

Marsascala

One of the favorite holiday destinations of the Maltese. You can sunbathe and admire the views at Marsaskala Bay, but swimming is recommended at St. Thomas Bay. Thomas Bay.

There are buses 91, 92, 93 from Valletta and 119 from the airport.

You can book a hotel in Marsaskala with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

Birżebbuġa

Popular mainly with Maltese. There is a large sandy beach called Pretty Bay, and the secluded rocky Peter's Pool and Delimara Bay are also nearby.

There is an 82 bus service from Valletta.

Malta's West Coast

Away from the main resorts, there are three popular beaches. Golden Bay is Malta' s most famous sandy beach with excellent infrastructure and water sports facilities; Ghajn Tuffieha Bay is one of the most picturesque beaches on the island. Gnejna Bay is a wild beach that can be reached by car or come on foot from Mjarrah.

Gozo Island

Gozo has a lot of beaches, but transportation is rare, so it is more convenient to rent a car. There are only two resorts on the island: Marsalforn (the most popular beaches are sandy Marsalforn bay and stony Qbajjar bay) and Schlendi, which has both a sandy beach and concrete slabs. Also popular are Dahlet Qorrot near Nadur, Dwejra near San Laurents, Hondoq ir-Rummien near Ala, Mgarr ix-Xini near Shevkia.

One of the most beautiful beaches in Gozo is the secluded red sand San Blas, which is quite difficult to access even for those who have rented a car. Gozo is reached by ferry from the pier of Cirkewa.

What to do in Malta in low season? (November to April).

Malta is not just a beach vacation destination. The island is such a mix of eras and cultures that there is something for everyone, from history buffs to rampant partygoers.

Fall is good for sightseeing, diving and swimming, especially in the first half of the year. Malta's weather in the fall allows you to have a great time without fear of overheating or hypothermia. The bathing season ends only by November, at which time the rains become more frequent.

Winter in Malta, in contrast to Kiev, is mild and humid (average temperature is +15ºС). Therefore, if in the middle of winter you have an irresistible desire to warm up without leaving Europe, Malta is the best option. Even at this time, the weather is clear and sunny. Another argument - the cheapest air tickets to Malta can be purchased in November and March, and hotel prices in this period are significantly lower than in summer.

Swimming and sunbathing at this time is not recommended, you will get cold, but for diving in a suit the weather is quite acceptable. In winter you can visit any sightseeing cities of the country, starting from Valletta and Mdina, and ending with the vastness of Gozo island. Christmas is celebrated here as well as other religious holidays.

Valletta

The capital of Malta, a fortress city founded by the Knights of St. John in the XVI century. By the way, this is the first city in Europe, the construction of which was carried out according to pre-planned drawings. This was done for a reason - thanks to the elaborate construction of the sea breeze penetrated into all the streets of the city and created an air-conditioning effect.

You can book a hotel in Valletta with a discount of up to -65% on the website.

Main attractions:

• The Military Museum at Fort St. Elmo, which hosts monthly reenactments of legendary battles.
• St. John's Cathedral.
• St. Paul's Shipwreck Cathedral.
• Palace of the Grand Master, which now houses the Office of the President.
• The Auberge de Castille building, where the Cabinet of Ministers is based.
• Liberty Square, where the Ferreria Palace and the Royal Opera House are located.
• The National Museum of Fine Arts, which houses the painting "The Beheading of John the Baptist" by Michelangelo Mershi da Caravaggio.
• The "Malta 5D" show, which tells visitors about the country's history in 45 minutes.

There are X1, X2, X3 and X4 buses from Malta International Airport, or you can take a cab or walk here.

Mdina

If you ignore the parked cars, it's easy to imagine you're in the Middle Ages. In Malta's ancient capital, time seems to have stopped. At the moment, only about 300 people live there, which is why Mdina is known as the Silent City.

However, over the past few years, Mdina has been receiving a flood of tourists. The reason for this is the popular TV series "Game of Thrones" - several of its episodes were filmed here.

Main sights:

• St. Paul's Cathedral - the most important church in the country.
• The Cathedral Museum, which houses engravings by Dürer, a collection of religious objects and the archive of the Maltese Inquisition.
• Catacombs - a cemetery complex where ancient burials are preserved.
• Carmelite Church.
• Museum of Torture.

Walking along the streets of Mdina, pay attention to the door handles. Inquisitive tourists say that such a variety of them is a great rarity.

From Valletta there are buses № 51, 52 and 53, from Sliema and St. Julians - № 202 and 203.

The islands of Gozo and Comino

A full-day cruise that includes both islands costs about 50 EUR with meals. You can also take a ferry from Cirkeva.

Gozo is the second largest island in the archipelago. Main attractions:

• The Blue Window rock arch.
• Citadel, on the territory of which there is an archaeological museum.
• The megalithic temple of Ggantija, one of the oldest structures in the world.
• The Wied il-Għasri Valley, which is famous for its beautiful views.

Water sports enthusiasts can go diving at Xlendi Beach or in the Inland Sea.

On the island of Comino is St. Mary's Tower, which overlooks the island of Gozo and the lagoon. On days when the flag flies over it, the site is open to visitors.

Dingli Cliffs

One of the most picturesque spots in Malta. The cliffs are up to 253 meters high and overlook orange and olive groves.

There is a 202 bus service from Sliema and Rabat. If you are vacationing in other resort towns, you should first arrive in Rabat.

Popeya Village

This village was built in Anchor Bay as a set for the filming of the musical about the sailor Popeya. It is now an amusement park with a movie theater, souvenir shops, playgrounds and costume shows. If the weather permits, every 20 minutes another batch of lucky visitors embarks on a sea cruise.

There is a 222 bus from Sliema and a 41 bus from Valletta.

Marsashlokk Fishing Village

One of Malta's oldest ports, providing restaurants with fresh seafood and fish (there's a fish market on Sundays). Today's fishermen, like generations before them, take to the sea in brightly colored luzzu boats decorated with painted eyes to keep the boat and its crew safe from danger.

Buses 81 and 85 run from Valletta.

Ta' Qali Crafts Village

A complex of workshops and souvenir shops located in the hangars of an old airfield, near Mdina and Rabat. You can watch masterpieces made from Maltese glass, silver, clay, ceramics and other materials being created.

The buses #106, 107, 51, 52, 53, 202, 109 and X3 go here.

Interesting events in Malta

• Changing of the guard. If you are in Malta at the end of the month, don't miss the traditional and impressive sight of the Changing of the Guard. It can be witnessed every last Friday of the month at 10.30am at St. George's Square in Valletta. The Malta Armed Forces Band marches down Republik Street and heralds the change of the Main Guard at the Palace of Valletta.
• March 1-5, 2019. The annual Carnival in Malta this year will take place in early March. The center of events will traditionally be Valletta, but festivities will also take place in other cities.
• Every year in April, Malta hosts the International Fireworks Festival.
• OnMay 2-5 Malta will host the opening of the party season - one of the largest European electronic music festivals Lost & Found.
• In May Malta will host the international Mersedes-Benz Fashion Week, the dates of the event are being finalized.
• June 30-06 - Earth Garden alternative music festival.
• June 14-16 - 5th Malta Film Festival
• At the end of June and beginning of July the island hosts the Isle of MTV concert, and in September Malta International Airport hosts the Malta Airshow.
• September 21 is Malta's Independence Day.
• October 16-26 is the 50th anniversary of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, which has been held in Malta since 1968.

If you want to get to know the island in more detail, we recommend to go on a tour "Welcome to Malta!", where you will learn interesting facts about the life of the locals.