6 Reasons You Should Visit Malta Immediately

If you are wondering “Is Malta worth visiting?“, then the short answer is absolutely YES.

When planning my trip to Malta, I completely underestimated it and how much Malta has to offer.

So if you are still unsure if Malta is worth it, let me change your mind.

Here are 6 reasons why you should visit Malta immediately.

I first decided to visit Malta because I wanted to lie on a warm beach and unwind, plus the flights were cheap. But, wow, did I underestimate the little archipelago that lies in the Mediterranean Sea between Italy and Tunisia.

In the UK, Malta is stereotyped as a package holiday resort destination, something that I avoid at all cost. But don’t let that fool you, it is so much more than bars, hotel complexes and organised coach tours (although it has all that as well).

So in an attempt to dispel the stereotypes and myths, here are six reasons why Malta is a top destination for your next adventure.

1. There Is More Than One Island of Malta

The country of Malta is actually made up of 3 Islands. Malta is the main island, plus there are two smaller islands, Gozo and Comino. Each has unique characteristics and all are worth a visit. The islands are well connected by frequent ferries as well as many companies offering organised tours that depart from your hotel.

For the best way to see Malta and avoid lengthy airport transfers, I would recommend sleeping on the main island and taking day trips over to the Island of Gozo and Island of Comino. Comino Island is tiny, but home to the stunning white sands and crystal waters of the blue lagoon, while Gozo Island has a more laid back and residential vibe in comparison to bustling Malta.

(Read about How To Visit Malta’s Blue Lagoon: Comino Island here)

2. The Malta Food Scene Is Way Better Than I Expected

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my expectations of Malta food had been set far too low. Malta is known for its potatoes and flavoursome tomatoes which feature heavily on most local menus. The food in Malta is good quality, well priced and portion sizes are large.

There is a strong Italian influence meaning good pizza and pasta is always available. In addition to the local Mediterranean and Italian menus, you can find a number of Turkish and Indian eateries. And of course, being an island, there is always fresh fish, but as a vegetarian so I can’t give you my word on how it tasted!

3. It’s is a cultural melting pot.

Malta’s history is long and fascinating and over time it has been ruled by a number of different countries. This, along with its geographical location, means the tiny island reflects a multitude of cultural influences. The language spoken in Malta is Maltese, and it sounds similar to those of the Middle East, but the rule by the British Empire means English is also widely and well spoken.

The sand stone architecture has an Arabic feel, but the grand buildings themselves are mostly churches reflective of religions in the nearby European countries. The British influence is further seen in the red phone booths scattered through the towns as well as in the electric outlets and driving on the left. But unlike Britain, the curremcy used in Malta is the Euro!

All of this, plus Malta’s own rich heritage means visiting Malta is a unique experience like nowhere else in the world.

4. You can see it in a day, but you shouldn’t.

I explored the islands by public transport, because the roads are a too hectic to drive a rental car. The buses are easy to navigate, but it takes some time to travel between locations.

Check out the Malta Public Transport journey planner to help you explore even easier.

There was so much more to see than I expected and I didn’t fit it all in. In addition to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, there are endless beaches with unique traits making each worth visiting, caves & grottos, gardens, a silent walled city, hiking trails and temples. To get the best chance of seeing as much as you can, plan out where you’d like to see before you go, and aim to tick off 2 sites close to each other per day. The hop on/ hop off tour buses are a great way to see a highlights reel in a day if you’re on a tight schedule, (I used one on my day trip to Gozo and you can catch it right from the ferry port).

5. Malta Has History

I’ve mentioned it already, but Malta has a spectacular history and it dates back farther than I can wrap my mind around. Some historians place inhabitants on Malta as early as 7400BC! And this is evident in the temples, ruins and buildings all over the island. At one point I felt like I was on the set of the Flintstones! The power of wandering around in the footprints of thousands of years of history is truly mesmerising and further proof that Malta is so much more than hotel resorts and tour groups.

6. It’s cheap to get there.

Despite being a 3.5 to 4 hour flight and having almost year round sunshine, flights to Malta are surprisingly affordable from the UK. At the time of writing (Feb ’18), I did a quick search and found round trips from both London and Edinburgh in April for around £40-70. And if you’re travelling the rest of Europe its even more accessible, with flights cheap flights from Barcelona (£30), Rome (£30), Stockholm (£35) and Berlin (£39).

(I always use Skyscanner’s Go Everywhere search to figure out the best time and route to travel.)