The Maltese cross. Maltese terriers. Maltesers? All I knew about Malta before heading there was that I didn’t know much at all! But a promise of a new horizon, on an island in the middle of the Meditteranean, and a 15 pound flight from London caught my attention. I soon discovered this hidden secret is a gem of the Mediterranean, offering respite and an intriguing look into how time can stand still.
Transport to Malta
Malta is its own archipelago situated 93km south of Sicily. Cheap flights depart from mainland Europe, with Easy Jet providing budget prices for a direct flight from London.
The best way to see Malta is to jump in a car and drive your way around the 2 islands that make up the most part of this country. Car hire is available from the Airport and Valetta, but beware if you don’t drive a manual. Automatic cars are a rare find in Malta so you might want to phone ahead and book one.
On the roads of Malta you’ll find yourself competing with the local farmer exercising his horse by leashing it to his car, motorbikes with side cars, and the occasional horse and carriage. ‘Highway’ is a liberal term here meaning dirt road, frequently only the width of one car. And when you get to the cities prepare to breathe in. The streets are some of the narrowest you’ll find anywhere, but due to the steep coast line, these narrow hilly roads mostly all have beautiful views of the sea beyond.
Cities of Malta
The cities of Malta are densely populated and have amazing sandstone coloured architecture. The Capital Valetta is a World Heritage Site and deservedly so.The city is littered with museums, theatres, palaces and forts. Climbing over Fort St Angelo will provide spectacular views back to the Grand Harbour, and across the road you can wander through the gardens which are dominated by a large outdoor Roman gazebo.
Each village/town in Malta is dominated by the local Catholic Church, resulting in 360 Churches spread across the islands. You are welcome to walk into any of these if appropriately dressed, but if you’re only going to head into one Church, make it Valetta’s St. John’s Cathedral. You can take an audio tour through this baroque style Church, which is famed for its interior decoration. Make sure you look up to see Renaissance artist Carvaggio’s depiction of the beheading of John the Baptist.
The countryside is littered with farms and rocky Roman ruins. The landscape is harsh yet beautiful with rocky outcrops, rolling green hills, sandy beaches and at times steep sea side cliffs.
For natural wonders, a must see is the Blue Grotto – a bridge like archway of rock, protruding into the ocean. Tours run here multiple times a day from all over Malta, and if the seas are calm it’s possible to take a boat trip through the arch.
Bed and Breakfasts are common along the shorelines around Valetta and nearby towns, and more expensive style hotels are also available. There aren’t really any hostels but with hotel prices as cheap as 15 Euro a night, why not splurge and have a room to yourself for a few nights? Crossing the island of Malta takes only about 25 minutes, so it doesn’t really matter where you stay, but generally the closer to Valetta, the better, simply so you can explore by foot.
Malta provides a haven of history, culture and sunshine in the middle of the Mediterranean. Its unique architecture and landscape make it a fascinating place to visit, which thankfully is not yet on the main tourist route.
Clare Gavin - Hi, I'm a radio journalist, but thought every so often I'd use the opportunity to do some writing with more expanded styles, and on a ...
Join the Conversation