Malta is a country located in the Mediterranean Sea where the tourist options are innumerable. Since there are many things to see when it comes to sightseeing, especially if you are traveling with children, our advice to make the most of everything it offers is to extend your stay for at least 7 days. Here is a tourist guide in Spanish with all the essentials.

Below you have an index with all the points that we are going to deal with in this article.

General Information

La Republic of Malta It is an island country located in Europe, specifically located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, in southern Italy. Is a Member State of the European Union (EU) since 2004.



The island is made up of a archipelago formed by the islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino. The capital is Valletta o Valetta (in Maltese and English), which is located in the eastern part of the country.

Malta is one of the most touristy European countries, given the charm of both its beaches and its urban landscapes. In addition, it has three places that have been declared Heritage by Unesco:

  • Hal Saflieni Hypogeum (the only underground temple of prehistoric origin)
  • City of Valletta
  • Malta's megalithic temples

Today, the options and possibilities for sightseeing in Malta are endless, thanks to the large number of Turistic guides and resources in various formats to discover the country. We invite you to continue reading to discover the most important.

As if that were not enough, in forums, pages and even groups created on social networks, the Reviews of tourists are clear: Malta is a country worth visiting, not only for its cultural and historical attractions, but also for its natural landscapes, good weather and unsurpassed nightlife.

It should be noted that it is a country cheap compared to other European destinations with similar characteristics. To give you an idea, the average price of a pint of beer is € 2, while a loaf of bread costs around € 0,70. In addition, in some squares there is free WiFi access.

On the Paseo de la Castellana de Madrid you can go to the Maltese embassy, where they will be able to offer you all the information you need as a tourist office, both in terms of documentation and necessary requirements, as well as more general practical data. In Barcelona You can also find the Consul of the Republic of Malta in the street of Tuset.

According to statistics published by Eurostat for the years 2014 and 2015, the main destinations chosen by tourists from Spain and others EU Member States They were other European countries, especially Malta, Cyprus and Croatia. Thus, it is estimated that in 2014, the highest coefficient between tourism receipts and GDP corresponded to these three countries.

Things to see and do

Valletta, frequently written Valetta Due to its name in English and Maltese, it is the capital of Malta, located in the central-eastern part of the island. It is a city full of history, mainly for its buildings, built during the era of the Knights Hospitallers during the XNUMXth century approximately.

The city, declared in its entirety a World Heritage Site, has two integrated natural harbors: Marsamxett and Grand Harbor. These, in turn, make up the most important port, where the main international cruise terminal is located.

Malta is also a perfect destination to spend holidays with children. In this country there is room for family tourism, with attractions like the Playmobil Fun Park, located in Hal Far. It is a small museum set up within the same factory where these popular toy characters are made. Mediterranean Marine Park o Popeye Village Fun Park are other options.

There are many tourists who travel in cruise through the Mediterranean and make a stopover on the island. One of the most popular is the hornblower, which stops at Blue Bay (Comino), among others. It is an area where you can perform various activities: from jumping from the boat into the sea or snorkeling, to using their free sun loungers.

The 10 most visited tourist places are:

St. John's Co-Cathedral

Formerly called Church of the Knights, is a fortification built by knights to protect the city from Ottoman attacks.

Fort of San Telmo

This fortification dominates the entrance to the main ports of the country. In it you can find the Malta Police Academy. Also, it was used as a Turkish jail in the movie The midnight express.

Palace of the Grand Master

Seat of the Parliament of Malta and the National Museum of Fine Arts. Its main characteristic is that it was one of the first buildings erected in the city, back in the year 1571. Historically, it was the house of Eustaquio del Monte, nephew of Jean de la Vallette, founder of the city (hence its name).

Royal opera

It was first a theater-opera, although it was destroyed after various aerial bombardments during the Second World War. Since its reconstruction as an open-air theater in 2013, it has been known as Pjazza Teatru Rjal.

Casa Rocca Piccola

It is a XNUMXth century palace, home to the Piro family at that time. To this day, it includes the famous restaurant The Giara. You can see the furniture, paintings and other objects with which the Piro lived.

Church of San Agustín

It is one of the churches that were erected during the reconstruction of the city after the Second World War. However, several artifacts and objects from the first building are still preserved, including the famous painting of San Nicolás de Tolentino, the work of Mattia Preti.

National Archaeological Museum

Inaugurated in 1959, it is located in the old hostel of the Order of San Juan, one of the most important buildings in the capital. In it you can find one of the most important collections of objects of prehistoric origin in the world.

Manoel Theater

Built in 1731, it is the third oldest theater in Europe and the Commonwealth of Nations that is still in operation. It is at the same time the National Theater and the headquarters of the Philharmonic Orchestra. Its name is due to António Manoel de Vilhena, who was in charge of the construction and was its founder.

It is located on Calle Vieja del Teatro (Old Theater Street), in Maltese called Triq it-Teatru l-Antik. It is one of the most striking points of the capital of Malta, so it deserves a mandatory visit.

Beaches

The beaches of the entire archipelago are rocky and one of their main attractions is that they combine the turquoise blue of their waters with the golden sand and rocks, which makes them very striking.

If you travel in summer, your travel plan cannot miss a tour of the main ones, which are: Golden Bay, Ghajn Tuffieha Bay, Ghadira Bay, Paradise Bay and, of course, the Blue Lake from the island of Comino.

Marsaxlokk

We advise you to walk around the port area of ​​Marsaxlokk, especially if your trip takes place in summer. There are numerous terraces where you can taste the best fish on the island, especially the «lampuki», which is nothing more than swordfish. In addition, you will see the colorful fishing boats typical of there, known as «luzzi».

If you are passionate about seafood and you do not know what to do on a Sunday in Malta, our advice is that you do not miss the Marsaxlokk fish market, town located to the southeast. It is assembled every Sunday morning and is a point of great interest for tourists, since the value for money of the products is unbeatable.

When to go

Since it is a Mediterranean region, you can travel to Malta at any time of the year and enjoy a very pleasant temperate climate. In any case, doing it at one time or another of the year will depend on what you want to see and do.

Maltese winters are generally short, with temperatures not too low, although from October, during Christmas and until more or less January-February, it will be convenient to bundle up a bit, since the humidity and the intense wind increase the sensation of cold.

Instead, the time in summer It is usually characterized by its high temperatures, which can even reach 40 ° C. It also stands out for its humidity, which makes it a not recommended destination for people very susceptible to these climatic conditions. The hottest months are July and August.



Many travelers advise traveling to Malta in the months of March, April and May, as these are the times when the climate offers the best temperatures, with highs of 18 ° C and lows of 11 ° C.

Travel in eastern It has the advantage that the weather is already quite hot by then and, in addition, you can enjoy the main celebrations and processions on the island. It is worth mentioning that Maltese Easter is lived with great intensity, since it is a country with deeply rooted religious beliefs.

It is rare for it to rain on the island. The period where there is least probability is the one from May to August approximately, while October and January would be the rainiest months. If during your stay you find yourself on such a day, you can take the opportunity to visit its main museums, cathedrals and palaces.

7 day tour

The number of tourist sites to see in Malta depends on how many days your stay will last. An ideal trip to the island is one that lasts between 7 and 8 days, as it is the minimum to give you time to visit not only Valletta and its surroundings, but other islands and surrounding areas.

A whole week gives to see practically all of Malta and also Gozo. First of all, we recommend booking a flight + hotel offer and even renting a car to get around the island. On day 1, the most advisable thing is to take a tour of the temples and prehistoric sites of Valletta.

On the second day, you can take the opportunity to taste the cuisine of the island. In the historic center you can find numerous cafes and bars perfect to make a stop, rest and try something typical appetizer Maltese like the pastizzi or gbejniet.

Once we have enjoyed the corners and places of the capital, on day 3 we can take the opportunity to take a ferry to Gozo. There, an essential stop is the Ggantija Temples, a great work of prehistoric engineering where you can take impressive photos. The Azure Window It is another of the star landscapes of the island.

This natural place located just 12 km from the port of Gozo is perfect for fans of diving and scuba diving. In addition, the views it offers of the Mediterranean are really impressive, as we can see in the photo below. The bay is surrounded by cliffs and slopes, the result of the constant erosion of the sea.

If you have time left, after visiting Gozo you can leave for another island of great tourist interest: Comino. It is an ideal place to relax and enjoy sun and beach tourism, especially if you bathe in the crystal clear waters of its Blue Lake or Blue Lagoon.

On day 4, we can return to the island of Malta and make a stop at the Cliffs of Dingli, on the west coast. Afterwards, the city of Rabat can be a good option, since there are essential places such as the Catacombs of San Pablo or the Cathedral of San Pablo.

You also can visit Mosta and Mdina, two other cities of great importance. Mosta, located in the heart of the island, has a XNUMXth century Parish Church, considered the quintessential symbol of the city for being inspired by the Pantheon of Roma. In Mdina, it is advisable to visit its cathedral and numerous palaces.

The city of Vittoriosa is also worth a day if you want to learn more about Maltese history. Visiting the Angleterre Hostel allows you to discover some of the best kept secrets about the knights of the Order of Saint John. If you are traveling with children, this would be the best time to visit the Playmobil Fun Park.

Those traveling in the summer can spend their last two days of travel relaxing on Malta's many beaches. Ghadira beach is the largest in the country and is located next to the town of Mellieha, where you can also find a small corner of the coast much less crowded.

An 8-day trip would allow traveling to the cities of Silema and St. Julians also, connected to each other by a long promenade with access to the sea for those who wish to take a dip. There are also numerous shops, cafes and restaurants where you can sit down for a drink and enjoy the views.

How to get

As we have commented previously, Malta is in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. This excludes the possibility of arriving by car, since it is an archipelago made up of three islands (Gozo, Malta and Comino).

The fastest and cheapest way to get there is air, especially in recent decades thanks to the rise of low cost airlines. From Spain, there are 3 airlines that offer direct flights: Vueling Airlines, Ryanair e Iberia.

Other airlines, although with a stopover, are: Air France, Sundial, Lufthansa, KLM, Turkish Airlines y Brussels Airlines, Among others.

The flight to Malta Luqa Airport (IATA code: MLA) has a duration of approximately 2 30 hours and minutes with airlines that depart from Spain or other European countries such as France, Greece, Ireland, Italy or the United Kingdom.

In addition, there are numerous buses that connect the airport with Valletta, with a frequency of between 15 minutes and 1 hour. The journey time to the island's capital is a few minutes, since it is only 6 km away. It will be even shorter if we head towards Marsaxlokk, Birzebbuga, Mdina or Rabat.

On the other hand, it can be reached by sea, either in cruise ship or ferry. The latter can be taken from southern Italy, Sicily, Genoa or Marseille, although connections vary depending on the season you travel. In addition, more and more Mediterranean cruises are calling at the port of La Valletta.

Virtu Ferries o Grimaldi Lines are examples of ferries that arrive to the island, with daily departures from different European ports, including Barcelona. There are routes that combine Sicily, Salermo or Naples with Malta for prices ranging from € 60 to € 150 approximately.

Nightlife

Just as during the day we can enjoy the cultural and urban tourism offered by the picturesque streets of Valletta, when night falls it is possible to enjoy its playful atmosphere. In fact, it is one of the favorite destinations for young people for the quality of its nightlife.

The most popular area to go out is paceville, which can be reached by ferry, through Sliema and St. Julian's. Paceville is famous because the stores stay open there until after 2:00 in the morning.

Summer is the ideal time to enjoy the Maltese night in this neighborhood, since you will also find the streets crowded with people drinking and dancing.

In Paceville, the nightlife runs between four main streets: Wilga Street, St. Georges Road, Dragonara Road, and St. Rita Steps. Here, in addition, the best nightclubs on the island are located, among them:

  • BJ'S Live Music Club- Located on Ball Street, you'll find a different musical style here each week, as well as live performances by local bands.
  • Havana: is the current fashion club. It is the tourist's paradise, especially the Spanish. The music that sounds the most is usually R&B, hip-hip and soul style.
  • Muddy Waters: if you like Rock 'n' Roll, this is your place. However, this style is combined some nights with others, such as R&B and blues, among others.
  • Coconut Grove: it is a place where more commercial music is played. It has a swimming pool on the upper floor, ideal for cooling off in the summer.

An advantage of going out in Malta is its affordable prices for a drink. The price of a shot ranges between 1,5 and 2 euros, while a pint of beer can cost from 3 to 6 € at night, always depending on the place.

You can also go out partying in what is known as «cruise-disco«, That is to say, a boat where parties are organized at night. It is an alternative for true party lovers in which you can combine the party with the sea in equal parts. The main companies are: Captain Morgan Cruises, Lazy Pirate Boat Party Malta y Hera Cruises.

In addition, there are so-called Click, which are premises similar to the known after-hours. Those who dare to continue partying in one of these clubs usually do so at around 4:00, the time when most establishments close in the city center.

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