🌞 Malta is the largest island of the Maltese Islands archipelago (The Maltese Islands) located south of Sicily. Located in the Mediterranean Sea, Malta entices tourists with its sunshine, sandy beaches, interesting history and culture. The archipelago hides a wealth of secrets and attractions waiting to be discovered.

On the one hand is Malta a wonderful island full of historical monuments and interesting stories, beaches, and on the other are the smaller Maltese islands, which will be an excellent addition to your stay. Whether you are planning a few days or a week in Malta (or maybe longer!), you will probably find so many interesting places here that you will not be bored, and your trip in search of sunshine will be successful.

Malta worth knowing: or basic information

Malta worth knowing: or basic information

The archipelago of the Maltese Islands includes Malta, Gozo, Comino and several smaller islets. The Maltese islands lie close to each other, with the island of Malta being some 5 kilometers in a straight line from the island of Gozo (ferries cover this distance in about 30 minutes).

The island of Malta is the largest island of the Maltese archipelago. It is worth remembering this, because a trip to Malta can be enriched with a cruise to any of the above-mentioned islands. For example, you can sail for a day to the Maltese island of Gozo, which was famous for Malta’s now-defunct symbol: the Azure Window, a rock bridge on the coast of Gozo Island that collapsed in 2017. Nevertheless, Gozo still has a lot to offer, especially the beaches, much less crowded than in Malta.

Malta has an area of 316 square kilometers and a population of more than 519,000 people (in comparison, Warsaw has about 530 square kilometers and a population of more than 1.7 million). Of course, the vast majority of Malta’s population lives on the largest island. Despite being a small country it is an extremely popular tourist destination. In addition to the beaches, Valletta the current capital and Mdina the former capital of Malta are very popular.

Official language: Maltese and English.

Currency: EUR.

Capital: Valletta (and as for the islands: capital of Malta Valetta , capital of Gozo: Rabat).

Dominant religion: Catholicism

State structure: parliamentary republic.

How to get to Malta?

How to fly to Malta?

It’s no wonder that Malta is becoming a popular destination for Poles during the vacations, as you can fly directly (without connecting flights) to the main island of Malta from many airports. Malta Airport occupies a large part of the island and is located about 8 kilometers from the historic part of Valletta.

Currently, direct flights are offered from the following airports:

  • Katowice,
  • Poznan,
  • Warsaw Chopin,
  • Cracow,
  • Gdansk,
  • Wroclaw,

How long does it take to fly to Malta? Direct flights take about 3 hours. Prices start as low as 100 zlotys in the low season; of course, during the holiday season tickets are more expensive, with prices then starting at 500 zlotys.

Of course, you can also choose a trip with a travel agency, where flights, transfers and accommodation are provided by the travel agency.

How to get around on the spot?

When you have purchased private tours or tours with a travel agency then you don’t have to worry about transportation on site, because transfers are provided. However, if you want to explore Malta’s interesting sites on your own then you need to consider how you want to get there.

The easiest way to travel in Malta is by public transport – it is so well developed that you can get to all places by bus. You’ll have more independence when exploring Malta by renting a car, and while this can be a very good idea in the off-season, you’ll hit some pretty heavy traffic jams during the holiday months.

Malta weather, when is the best time to go?

Malta’s climate is Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The Maltese islands tempt especially during the vacations with guaranteed weather, but is it worth going just then?

Our trip to Malta took place in August, which may not exactly be the best idea. High prices, many tourists, traffic jams on the routes, crowded beaches, high temperatures (too high). If you have the opportunity it is better to come here before or after the high season. So when is the best time to fly to Malta? Here are the pros and cons of visiting Malta at different times of the year:

  • Summer (June-August): this is when most tourists come to Malta. The weather then is sunny and warm, with temperatures reaching 30°C. This is the perfect time for beachcombing, swimming and sightseeing. However, keep in mind that there are also the most tourists during this time, hotels are more besieged and prices may be higher.
  • Spring (April-May) and Autumn (September-October): Temperatures are milder then, and crowds are smaller. This is a good time for sightseeing and walking, as well as swimming in the sea, which is still warm.
  • Winter (November-March): This is admittedly not the best time for beachcombing, but you can then explore Malta in peace and quiet. This is the best time to go if you do not plan to swim in the sea.

Malta attractions

Although Malta may seem like a relatively small island, there are many historical sites and beautiful beaches. For example, in Valletta alone, there are as many as 320 monuments! It is the capital of Malta that is one of the most visited places in the archipelago, mainly due to the high concentration of Malta’s tourist attractions. It’s fair to say that Malta’s biggest attractions are located on the main island, but you shouldn’t limit yourself to it alone.

And while many people choose to go to Malta to relax on the beach, we encourage you to at least take a day or two off by car or public transport bus to see the aforementioned capital or the so-called Silent City, or Mdina

Malta’s greatest sights are in Valletta, which is rich in monuments as well as places where you can learn about the islands’ history and which are worth visiting. The National Archaeological Museum, Elmo Fort, Barrakka Upper and Lower Gardens, St. John the Baptist Cathedral or the Malta Experience are just a few of the places the capital city of Valletta has to offer. The area where these monuments are located is not much, it is worth just going for a walk, walking along the narrow streets to admire the capital of Malta.

Next to Valletta are the more entertaining Sliema, Gżira and the most partying St Julian. For that, peace and quiet, and literally, offers Mdina the former capital of Malta.

Malta’s well-known attractions are popular: the fishing village Marsaxlokk on Malta’s southeast coast, the Blue Grotto reached by boat or the fairy-tale attraction Popeye Village (Popeye Village).

When visiting Malta, it is worth visiting these places, especially since the distances between the cities are not large, they are well connected, only in high season the roads can be crowded.

A good idea is to move around by city buses, which run all over the island – we recommend buying a weekly ticket and unlimited discovery of interesting corners of the island using public transport.

Malta attractions

We also recommend taking a cruise to Gozo and Comino You can see both islands in one trip, or you can spread them out over two days. Ferries run on a fairly regular basis, so it’s possible to sail towards Gozo in the morning and then plan to return to the main island of Malta in the evening.

We also encourage you to learn more about Malta’s history, as its strategic location in the Mediterranean Sea made many nations want to seize the islands for themselves. The influence of many cultures has shaped Malta’s unique character, and many monuments can still be seen today. The island is very diverse and both lovers of sightseeing, parties as well as families with children and those who appreciate an exclusive holiday will find something for themselves here.

The most interesting attractions of Malta that we managed to see are described in individual posts, which are linked at the bottom of this page.

Malta and Gozo – how to plan a vacation?

So now that we know what the main attractions are, where the island of Malta is located and where Gozo is, the question is how best to plan a trip?

Below you will find a sample itinerary and places to see in Malta.

Tour day Location
Day 1 Popey’s village
Day 2 Marsaxlokk
Day 3 Pretty Bay
Day 4 Gozo
Day 5 Valletta
Day 6 Mdina
Day 7 Golden Bay
Day 8 Ghajn Tuffieha Bay

Of course, this is just one of many suggestions for those planning to spend a week in Malta. Many more tips can be found in our posts available below.

Is it worth taking a trip to Malta?

🌞 The Maltese Islands lie in the Mediterranean Sea and at first glance seem like a great destination for a vacation. Is that the case? Read all of our posts about Malta below to find out if it’s worth going to Malta. In them you will find descriptions of the places and tourist attractions we visited in Malta, along with practical information.

We recommend you especially our entry Malta – practical advice, where you will also find answers to frequently asked questions and our video presenting some interesting places and what to do in Malta:

All our posts about Malta:

Malta – Pretty Bay, is it really that beautiful?

Pretty Bay or Pretty Bay is located in the southeastern part of Malta. Considered one of the nicest beaches in Malta, we were tempted to visit and combined beachcombing with a visit to nearby Marsaxlokk. Does the beach actually deserve…

Malta – Marsaxlokk, a fishing village with colorful boats

Where to see the luzzu, or Malta’s famous multicolored boats that peacefully bob on the water? Just in the fishing town of Marsaxlokk. Tourists come here in crowds especially on Sundays, when the (not only) fish market is held here.…

Malta – Gozo and (memory after) Azure Window

Gozo is a small island of 67 square kilometers, part of the Maltese Islands archipelago. More unspoiled than the main island, Malta, with beautiful views, an interesting coastline and the postcard-perfect Azure Window, which unfortunately can only be admired in…

Malta – Mdina (Silent City) and Rabat

Located in the central part of the island, Mdina was formerly the capital of Malta. It is now known as “Silent City,” or the City of Silence, and perhaps even more famous as the filming location for scenes for “Game…

Valletta – attractions, what to see in the capital of Malta?

Valletta is a city that beats other capitals in the number of monuments per square meter! In the less than one square kilometer that Malta’s capital occupies, there are as many as 300 monuments, which is the most common information…

Malta – some useful practical information

We have gathered for you a handful of practical tips and advice from our trip to Malta. Here they are. We will summarize everything in this post. Here you will find both answers to your questions and some practical tips…

Malta – Beaches in Malta and Popeya Village

Malta is now a popular vacation destination with guaranteed weather. So we stop writing about Sightseeing :) How about some rest and relaxation on the beach? Everyone gets their due! There are several reasons for flying to Malta: some treat…