Your Guide To Visiting The Highly Underrated Island Nation of Malta

While planning the perfect European getaway destination, the majority of travelers will gravitate towards the most popular countries like Italy, France, England, or Spain. While these are all marvelous choices have their classic charm that promise a wonderful trip, perhaps it’s time to look beyond the most well known places in favor of more overlooked ones that may not be some of the most well-trodden paths. Malta is a tiny island nation that’s right in between Sicily and North Africa, and it is unlike any country you’ve been to before. Malta boasts mesmerizing vistas, a richly varied cuisine that’s a tapestry of the many nations that ruled over the area, and charming locals that will help you feel welcomed into this underrated island nation that’s waiting to be discovered.

The Culture

Malta has a rich history that was dramatically shaped by the many rulers that have presided over the island throughout the centuries. These include the Romans, the Moors, the Knights of Saint John, the French, and the British. Due to this hugely varied mixture of cultures that has permeated into the fabric of Malta’s history, its current culture is vastly influenced by each of these eras. This is why you’ll find both classically European and also Moorish architecture but also the iconic red British telephone booths all over the country.

The Sights

Due to the many years of different succession of rulers, Malta features a wide variety of sights with a kaleidoscope of cultural influences. Some of the most popular attractions in Malta include St. John’s Cathedral in Valletta, the country’s modern capital. Also in Valletta, you’ll find Upper Barrakka Gardens, which offer lush green vegetation alongside impressive architecture all overlooking the dazzlingly blue Mediterranean sea. Another can’t miss is visiting the fortified city of Mdina, which has been called “the silent city” since no cars are allowed inside. Take a stroll through the city that’s surrounded by stone walls and feel like you’ve been transported back in time. In the first season of Game of Thrones, Mdina was used as a filming location for King’s Landing, and several other locations were also featured in the show, so if you’re a fan, you definitely won’t want to miss out.

For history buffs, a great spot to visit is Fort St. Elmo, which dates back to the days of the Knights of St. John, who were a military group dating back to the days of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. For those who prefer nature sightseeing, popular destinations to visit include the sunning Blue Lagoon, the Azure Window lagoon area (which was also featured in Game of Thrones), and Comino, an islet and lagoon with stunning views. Comino is well known for its breathtaking scuba diving, but make sure to book it in advance as you have to take a boat to reach the area.

The Food

What do you get when you fuse together Italian, British, Spanish, French-Provencal, and Maghrebin food? The rich and complex cuisine of Malta! Maltese food is known for being rich in flavor and quite hearty. Some must-try dishes include Ftira Ghawdxija, or Gozitan Pizza that is topped with potatoes, Gbejniet, or cheese dumplings, and Stuffat Tal-Fenek, which is a rich slow-cooked rabbit stew and is considered to be a national dish. If you find that Maltese cuisine is a bit too rich for you, don’t fret. Since it is so closely located to Italy, there are endless Italian restaurants found all throughout Malta, and especially in Valletta. For fans of fine dining, there are a surprising amount of Michelin star restaurants found here, including Briju, Noni, The Medina, and Legligin, just to name a few.

Know Before You Go

Maltese people are quite linguistically-inclined, as nearly everyone you’ll encounter will be able to speak in English. The national language is Maltese, but about half of the population of Malta can also speak Italian. Did you know that Maltese is the only European semitic language? If you’re familiar with Hebrew or Arabic, you might catch some words here and there that you’ll recognize. Maltese is derived from Sicilian Arabic and is a cross between Arabic, Italian, and Sicilian.

Since Malta is so small, you’ll only need a few days to see all of the major sites. If you spend a week here, you’ll truly be able to hit all of the popular attractions and also find some hidden gems along the way. One of the best ways to get around here if you don’t want to rent a car is by taxi. There are multiple ride-share apps like Uber and Bolt that are extremely readily available and also very inexpensive, which makes it so easy to get around without having to worry about parking.

The climate of Malta is typical of any Mediterranean country, so expect mild weather throughout most of the year and hot summers that you should spend beachside!