City
Valletta
Malta
The tiny fortified capital, built by the Knights of St John, with baroque churches and harbour views.
Southern Europe
Malta
A tiny island nation of honey-coloured limestone, knights' fortresses, prehistoric temples older than the pyramids and clear blue sea.
For storytellers
Why Malta matters
Malta is small but packed. The capital, Valletta, was built by the Knights of St John and still feels like a fortress city, with a golden cathedral hidden inside a plain exterior. Elsewhere you find the silent city of Mdina, harbour villages full of painted boats and temples that are thousands of years older than the pyramids. Add Gozo, a quieter sister island, and Comino with its blue lagoon. Everything is close, English is widely spoken, and the sea is warm into the autumn. It is easy to cover a lot in a week.
Talking points
- Valletta was built by the Knights of St John and is a UNESCO World Heritage city.
- Prehistoric temples such as Ggantija and Hagar Qim are among the oldest free-standing monuments in the world.
- Mdina, the old capital, is nicknamed the Silent City.
- Gozo and Comino are a short ferry ride away and feel far calmer.
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- Capital
- Valletta
- Languages
- Maltese, English
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Best time to go
- April to June and September to October for warm days and calmer crowds; July and August are hot, and winter is mild but breezy and wetter.
Where to base yourself
Cities and towns in Malta
Village
Marsaxlokk
Malta
A traditional fishing village famed for its colourful luzzu boats and Sunday fish market.
Top places
What to see in Malta
- Top places
- Historic site 5
- Church, mosque or temple 4
- Castle 2
- Garden 1
- Palace 1
- Neighbourhood 1
- Cave 1
- Market 1
- Beach 1
- Viewpoint 1
- Theme park 1
Church, mosque or temple · UNESCO
St John's Co-Cathedral
Valletta, Malta
A plain stone exterior hides one of the most lavish baroque interiors in Europe.
Historic site · UNESCO
Hagar Qim Temples
Marsaxlokk, Malta
A prehistoric temple on a cliff top, built thousands of years before the pyramids.
Historic site · UNESCO
Hypogeum of Hal Saflieni
Valletta, Malta
An underground prehistoric temple carved into the rock, with chambers over several levels.
Historic site
Mdina Old City
Mdina, Malta
A walled hilltop city of silent lanes, palaces and bastion views.
Garden
Upper Barrakka Gardens
Valletta, Malta
A terraced garden with a view across the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities.
Beach
Blue Lagoon, Comino
Victoria, Malta
A turquoise lagoon of shallow water on the tiny island of Comino, between Malta and Gozo.
Castle
Citadel of Victoria
Victoria, Malta
A fortified hilltop citadel above Victoria with a cathedral and wide views.
Historic site · UNESCO
Ggantija Temples
Victoria, Malta
Giant prehistoric temples on Gozo, older than Stonehenge and the pyramids.
Palace
Grandmaster's Palace
Valletta, Malta
The knights' former palace, now holding state rooms and an armoury.
Market
Marsaxlokk Harbour and Sunday Market
Marsaxlokk, Malta
Painted luzzu fishing boats and a large waterfront market, with seafood restaurants.
Historic site · UNESCO
Mnajdra Temples
Marsaxlokk, Malta
Three prehistoric temples on a slope by the sea, aligned with the sun.
Cave
Blue Grotto
Marsaxlokk, Malta
Sea caves on the south coast that glow deep blue when the sun is right.
Castle
Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum
Valletta, Malta
A star-shaped fort at the tip of Valletta, key to the Great Siege and later wars.
Church, mosque or temple
Mosta Rotunda
Mdina, Malta
A huge domed church that is one of the largest unsupported domes in Europe.
Church, mosque or temple
St Paul's Cathedral, Mdina
Mdina, Malta
A baroque cathedral on a small square in the heart of Mdina.
Neighbourhood
Three Cities (Birgu)
Valletta, Malta
The old fortified towns across the harbour from Valletta, with quiet lanes and a marina.
Church, mosque or temple
Ta' Pinu Basilica
Victoria, Malta
A pilgrimage church standing in open countryside on Gozo.
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