Travel Guides: All Countries / Europe / Malta
 |  | Travel Reviews : Malta |
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| | | | Waking up the island's ghosts
From the Daily Mail
There we were, dining quietly on the roof terrace of our hotel - the elegant 17th-century Xara Palace built into the medieval bastions of Mdina, the walled city which once dominated Malta. Far below, lights twinkled in villages scattered across the plain running down to the sea. You could almost hear the silence.
Suddenly all hell broke loose. There were almighty explosions and bursts of smoke. Rockets zoomed into the sky and burst into flowers of colour and light. Was this another invasion to parallel the attack of 1429 by 18,000 Saracens who landed unexpectedly, besieged Mdina and were turned back only after St Paul appeared on the city walls riding a white horse to rally the Norman forces?
Not so, said my hosts Joe and Susan Zammit Tabona. 'It is just another fishing village festival celebrating the name day of its local saint with fireworks and a procession. Bit noisy, but charming from here, don't you think?'
Welcome to the hotel Xara Palace, recently restored with great sensitivity to provide 17 luxury suites, many with open-air whirlpool baths on their terraces. For generations the palazzo had belonged to Susan's family. Then it was sold and eventually became semi-derelict.
She persuaded her husband, an accountant by trade, to buy it back and turn it into one of those fashionable retreats for honeymooners and holidaymakers who want to separate themselves a little from the hurly-burly of Valetta, one of the world's most spectacular ports.
Travel Guide: Malta
The Malta teaser
Malta's capital is not the obvious choice for a weekend break. We lump it in with the rest of the island as a 'package tour hotspot'.
But when I first saw Valletta three years ago, with its massive walls and bastions rising high above the harbour, the illuminated dome of the Carmelite church peering out at night like a great white moon, I was entranced.
I'd agree with Disraeli who said: 'It equals in its noble architecture, if it does not excel, any capital in Europe.'
It took only 2½ hours to get there. At the bus stop outside the airport, a conductor helped direct tourists.
He took my 10 lira note and went off to get change for the 15 cent fare - a far cry from the surly drivers in London.
A few minutes later, an old British Leyland bus, painted bright yellow, rolled up.
Now I knew I was back in the Med. A pop song blared from the radio. The young driver with gelled hair smoked and chatted with his mates as he steered the bus through narrow streets.
I bounced along on the vinyl seat, contemplating the cultural mix that is Malta.
The sun-bleached limestone facades had the look of North Africa, with their wooden shutters and narrow overhanging balconies.
Dominating the skyline were the gleaming silver domes and bell towers of the Christian churches.
The Maltese are European in style, laid-back in temperament, and thanks to 165 years as a British colony, speak English.
Travel Guide: Malta
So good I keep going back
My wife and I have been going to Malta now for about 14 years, sometimes twice a year. We have stayed in a number of hotels which were ok but the last three times we have stayed at the santana hotel in Qawra. It's the best one of all.
It's in a good position ,and there's plenty of room for parking as there's a big free car park right outside the hotel.
We have always found the people very polite and freindly and will go out of their way to help you in any way they can.
We have a lot of Maltese friends over there now and we always meet in the little pub which is beside the hotel. It's family-run and it's a good night of fun with singing every night.
Our daughter has been to Malta four times and is going back again in August. I would recommend Malta to anyone.
It has something for everyone and we are planning to move there for good in the not to distant future.
Travel Guide: Malta
Stay longer on welcoming isle
Malta is a cost-effective alternative to living in the UK. There are reasonable accommodation costs and quality facilities without the 'prima donna about nothing' attitude from hotel staff you experience in the UK.
The naturally welcoming Maltese make the journey worthwhile. However, as in the UK, if female, be on the lookout for the over-friendly accommodation-offering individual whose sole intent is to snatch one of those uncalled for waist embraces.
Pick your accommodation carefully, there are a number of quality lets to be had. Selected historical and contemporary architecture is proof that the much-skilled craftspersons have ensured Maltese design, building skills and traditions have made the transition to 21st-century social conditions, with minimal loss of aesthetics.
Beaches are of a reasonable standard and many watersports are on offer. A close, attractive and warm alternative for short or medium to long-term stays, with excellent frequent flight rates.
Travel Guide: Malta
Fantastic culture and diving
I've been to Malta several times. No other country delights me as much as Malta. The people live simple lives yet are over flowing in kindness.
It's not a lush or pretty country but is dry and arid, yet the magic of Malta is unmistakable.
Don't go to Malta if you are looking for a wild holiday, but if you want a cultured holiday then Malta is the place for you.
Its beaches are mainly rocky, fantastic for diving; however there are some sandy beaches with crystal clear blue seas.
The shops are incredible, full of local art and crafts.
Tomorrow I fly again for my sixth visit and I just can't wait.
Travel Guide: Malta
My island in the sun
Malta is my island in the sun. Why? Because the people are great, kind and very sociable and there is lots to see on the island.
My tip if you can drive, is to hire a car from SwanSea Car Hire, he is very cheap and just tell him Bob from England sent you and you'll get a great deal.
We always stay in Salina Bay, they are first class hotels, the staff are brilliant, the food is first class and entertainment is one on its own.
I can't be that wrong because we have been to Malta 25 times in 10 years. You either like Malta or you don't there's no in between.
Travel Guide: Malta
Beautiful country
Last September I visited Malta with my partner. It was a present from my parents for my 21st birthday.
The holiday was fantastic! Malta is a very beautiful country and the people are very friendly, I couldn't find anything wrong with the holiday.
We visited Gozo and Comino but stayed on the main island. During the holiday we did a lot of sightseeing, tours, shopping, sunbathing, scuba diving and of course eating that marvellous food!
The highlight of the holiday was fullfilling my life's ambition to swim with dolphins, the only place in Europe you can do this is in Malta.
It was amazing! It was the best time of my life.
Travel Guide: Malta
A honeymoon destination
We went to the Fortina Spa Resort at the end of April 2006 for our honeymoon. We stayed in the five start section in one of the Theraputic Spa Bedrooms. It was absolutely amazing.
We booked direct with them and once we'd mentioned our honeymoon and how we wanted a qoute to upgrade to business class on the flight out, we were given a free upgrade. A fantastic start to our holiday.
We had a very warm welcome when we arrived and were taken to our room. It was very clean and looked lovely. Within half an hour of being there, we had someone come and show us how to use all the gadgets in our room, so we were able to chill out straight away.
On our first night, we treated ourselves to room service, which came beautifully presented within half an hour.
We had our breakfasts at La Vallette, which was a self-service, buffet style restaurant. There was always plenty of choice from cold meats to cereals and fruit.
For our evening meals we tried all the restaurants. Sa Ra Ge Ma, the Indian was fantastic. Can Thai, Chinese and Thai was delicious and well presented. Qui-Si-Sana served healthy cuisine and was again delicious and extremely well presented. The Giardino Pizzeria was a bit disappointing. There wasn't a choice of pasta dishes, but the pizzas were huge and freshly prepared. Taste, offering Vietnamese/S.East Asian food, was well laid out. We didn't get to try the Japanese or Tigne Brasserie. You have to book for the restaurants every day.
The only thing that annoyed us was the pressure to book tickets for the free boat tours. Every morning when we went to breakfast, there was a table set up to catch people and they'd literally go on and on. We just said we weren't interested in taking them and eventually they stopped bothering us.
While we were there, the new five star reception area opened and it's absolutely stunning.There's also a new bar which is very swish too.
I can't recommend the Fortina highly enough. I hope that one day we will return.
Malta was fabulous too. There was lots to see and do. We would highly recommend a trip to Mdina and to Gozo.
Travel Guide: Malta
Malta's big screen impressions
If I possessed a sword or sabre, I would happily swashbuckle my way through the streets of Mdina, a small medieval town in Malta, rescuing damsels and thwarting foes.
Skirmishes with moustache-twirling villains bearing arms would not look out of place as this village has been used for numerous historical movies. The 2002 version of The Count Of Monte Cristo starring Guy Pearce and Jim Caviezel was shot here.
It's easy to see why movie companies love this location - they don't have to do anything. There's no need for production design or set dressing.
Mdina is also known as the Silent City. It doesn't have any stores or shops - the inhabitants travel to the neighbouring village of Rabat for all their sundries - and overhead cables were removed to accommodate the film-makers. The town is beautifully well kept and you really do feel as if you've been time warped back to an age of chivalry and splendour.
Malta has long been a popular destination for film companies - Troy, Gladiator and Midnight Express were all filmed here - as it has charmingly resisted modernisation.
The country's capital, Valletta, is also unspoilt. During the day, the city's packed with shoppers. It's built along a grid system with many Baroque buildings, retaining its historical, old world splendour.
The most significant building is St John's Cathedral, which was built in 1753-1755 and has 400 knights buried in it. The ceiling boasts a splendid tapestry depicting the life of John the Baptist and there are individual chapels dedicated to different countries including Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
The Cathedral is used for all church services - except weddings. This is because the floor is marble, and high heels are banned to prevent scuff marks.
At night, Valletta becomes virtually deserted when the shops shut as the nightlife takes place in nearby St Julian's where visitors are spoilt for choice for clubs and entertainment.
Try the '80s Euro-chic glamour of Twenty-Two, a bar on the top floor of a high-rise office block. Floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides offer marvellous views of the harbour. Pot-bellied men smoking cigars chat up blonde slinky 20-something girls, bored-looking couples drink their cocktails surveying the surroundings, Michael Jackson's Beat It plays as a few people make token efforts to dance.
It's the kind of place footballers' WAGs would love - a poser's paradise. When the Mafia-looking types arrive, though, it's probably best to move on.
Alternatively, you could visit Fuego, a very busy and lively salsa bar, though over-crowded at the weekends, or Axis, a nightclub for teenagers and a younger crowd. A packed dancefloor plays house, everyone energetically pumped up to the trance-like music.
For a more mellow and chilled atmosphere, visit BJ's, the oldest jazz and blues bar in Malta. The age range is vast, attractive students sharing tables with Europeans of a certain age, all enjoying the sweaty 40-something band giving their all. They do a storming rendition of Hotel California too.
St Julian's nightlife is certainly buzzing, and girls might (or might not) be pleased to know that the men here don't appear to be as predatory as in other Mediterranean countries.
If you're looking for countryside and greener pastures, then catch the 20 minute ferry to Gozo. This tiny island has a population of 28,000, with 9,000 living in the capital Victoria (called Rabat by its residents) and only 450 in its smallest village, Ghasri.
Gozo is more rustic than Malta. Tourists can hire farmhouses with their own pools and gardens. Some can accommodate up to 16 people, and offer BBQs and outdoor pursuits such as horse riding and clay pigeon shooting.
Keep an eye out for the churches as Catholicism is very important to the islanders and many churches display mementoes, messages and prayers by the locals.
The two top hotels on the island are the Kempinski surrounded by fields with organic vegetables and The Ta Cenc comprised of small bungalows, which looks rather run-down. Various dignitaries such as Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair have stayed here, as well as the England football team.
The food in Malta is splendid, particularly if you're a carnivore, and some dishes have a slightly Arabic influence.
Bobbyland is a family run eaterie up on a hill by the sea at Dingli. It specialises in rabbit, and very tasty it is too. The horsemeat isn't bad either.
Spezzo is a restaurant that takes you back to traditional times, with rustic wooden tables and the waitresses all dressed as medieval peasants. Its enthusiastic owner will give you a talk on the history of Malta and there's an impressive and well-equipped wine cellar. The duck's leg confit was simply delicious.
For a complete contrast, check out Two Twenty-two, a small, funky restaurant that appears to be Valletta's only concession to modernism. It's stylish and minimalist, with an upstairs bar leading to a small balcony. The prime fillet of beef, wrapped in bacon with a yummy mushroom sauce was spectacular.
Fish lovers should head to Marsaxlokk on the south coast where the market stalls display fish that's just being pulled out of the harbour. Ta Peppi is a typical seafood place offering a vast array of dishes. They'll gladly offer you the fish boned or unboned, and the octopus tastes fab.
Each year, Malta hosts 90 festivals which pay tribute to the various Saint's days and all the townspeople of respective villages congregate for a late-night firework display.
After the fireworks you might like to head to some luxury accommodation.
The new Meridien St Julian's in Balluta Bay is a five-star international and only opened its doors in March last year. It's very spacious. A giant flat screen plasma TV displays a welcoming message when entering your room. It boasts three different restaurants, spa facilities and a swimming pool.
The staff are very friendly and the hotel is beautifully designed and unpretentious.
The Corinthia Marina is another choice hotel in St Julians, offering lovely waterfront views while you eat breakfast in the restaurant.
All in all, Malta is magnificent, with loads to offer the casual traveller and sophisticated connoisseur - it's got great food, an entertaining history and culture, versatile nightlife and swanky places to stay in.
It's well worth it - and you could even end up rubbing shoulders with the likes of Brad Pitt and Russell Crowe.
Air Malta flies from London Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester, Nottingham East Midlands and prices start from £50 one-way including taxes.
Rates at the Meridien St Julian's are Lm75 per person per night for a Superior Inland room and Lm85 per person per night for a Deluxe Seaview room.
*If you liked the sound of this destination, you might enjoy: Corfu, Cyprus and Crete.
Travel Guide: Malta
So near, so spa
Perhaps it was the champagne, vodka and wine I'd downed en route from the UK to my Maltese hotel room but I was having trouble operating my private Jacuzzi.
The water was bubbling like a witches cauldron - and was scorching hot. Proof of that was my right foot, now glowing a fiery red.
This wasn't the most relaxed start to my swanky stay in Sliema's Fortina Spa Resort. My all-inclusive, spa therapeutic bedroom – the world's first - was equipped with £40,000 worth of deluxe pampering gadgets. My woozy brain, however, couldn't even get to grips with the basics.
Thankfully an idiot-proof instructor's manual was at hand. Minutes later, I'd refilled the tub at a less body-blistering temperature and was bobbing in my seat, chortling merrily. This was the life.
Under my starlit-effect ceiling, I surveyed my room. The tiered steps from the Jacuzzi led down to a double bed. A bottle of bubbly chilled in one corner, next to a private balcony and alongside the sofa lay a bizarre-looking Stress Buster massage machine.
But it was the giant bathroom, gleaming like a temple, that made me wide-eyed with excitement. Determined to steam and scrub my body to goddess-like perfection, I decided to inspect which toy to use next.
In one corner sat an over-sized hammam (steam) shower. In another, lay a therapeutic bath offering seven different jet programmes and a choice of algo, mud, seaweed and aromatherapy potions.
Taking centre stage however was a white, futuristic-looking pod called the Dermalife machine, which my manual claimed used steam, vibration and infrared technology to rid the body of toxins. A guest told me she'd lost 1lb within 30 mins.
Inspired, I squirted on some metabolism-enhancing seaweed serum, drizzled out some relaxing oils, crawled into the pod, cranked up the heat - and waited for the pounds to fall off.
Half an hour later, I was perspiring like a scandal-ridden Kate Moss reading the latest tabloid headlines.
Unsure I'd lost weight, I leapt into the shower for what I hoped would be a fat-busting, water massage. I ended up doing some crazy, booty-shaking shimmy in front of the eight vertical jets to maximise the benefits but more water seemed to end up on the bathroom floor rather than on my body.
However, hunger pangs set in. At least, the seaweed serum seemed to have worked. So I dressed and headed down to the Sa Re Ga Ma Indian restaurant where my bid for a super-svelte figure evaporated as soon as I smelt the entrees.
Two hours later, I practically rolled out of my seat after feasting on arguably some of the best cooked food on the island.
And here's the rub - the cuisine at the Fortina is irresistible. While the superb Qui-Si-Sana health restaurant offers gloriously guilt-free low-cal food it would be a a sin if you didn't loosen your belt for the other options - Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Italian and Continental.
An additional new eaterie fronted by Tom Kime, Jamie Olliver's former boss, is also planned.
Foodies can at least console themselves by spending extra time in the hotel's spa. It offers the traditional sauna, steam room, and whirlpool plus an ice grotto, chill-out Aqua Meditation zone and reflexology basins. Watch out for the post-2pm watershed when guests are allowed to ditch their swimsuits altogether.
If you really want to indulge, opt for some beauty treatments too. I thought my Chinese full body massage (£50) and aromatique facial (£36) were sensational until I experienced the Belle Epoque (£56).
Wrapped in mud and pummelled by powerful water jets, I lay on my back in a hollow shell as occasional wafts of lavender tickled my nostrils and lights danced above my eyes. Within minutes, I had fallen asleep. By the time the rain massage shower started half an hour later, I felt like a million dollars.
Super-buffed and shiny, I decided to venture beyond the hotel's pampered walls.
The Fortina overlooks a harbour where boats frequently cross to Malta's capital Valetta. Dominated by the giant dome of St Johns Co-Cathedral, the fortified city is easy to explore thanks to its grid-like streets.
I spent a couple of hours wandering around its peaceful squares, steep crumbling stairways and elegant, balconied buildings. The Grand Harbour views from the Upper Barrakka Gardens were excellent.
A former British colony, Malta has a distinctly homely feel from its red telephone and letterboxes to shops like Accessorize and M&S. In contrast, other spots like St Julien's have a lively, Italian vibe.
Malta's underwater treasures are also worth dipping into. I dived off the south coast at Wied iz Zurrieq, where I enjoyed the thrill of touching a small octopus and close-up views of fireworms and small reef fish. The water is a moderate 24C in October but diving is possible all year around with plenty of wrecks and caverns to discover.
Back at my hotel room, I jumped into the deluxe bath and ended my stay as I'd begun - by ignoring the gadget guide and pressing all the dials in my tub in over-enthusiastic zeal.
The result: Relaxing? No. Heavenly? Absolutely.
- Prices for a one week, all-inclusive stay in a therapeutic spa bedroom at the Fortina Spa Hotel start from £999. This includes return flights from Gatwick, transfers, meals, daily spa access and a harbour cruise. Book on 0800 917 3001. Web: www.fortinaspa.com
- Oxygene Dive Centre. Prices for a five day, PADI Open Water course start from £210. Two dives cost £39. Tel: 00 356 2134 5986.
Travel Guide: Malta
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| | | | Dining in Mdina
Mdina is a tiny, relaxing place of palaces and baroque churches, of monasteries, religious libraries and museums, most of which are open to the public. This uniquely well-preserved enclave was where the elite of Malta lived in a maze of grand houses and narrow alleys, around unexpectedly formal squares which have not changed in 300 years. Today fewer than 400 souls live in Mdina and it is often almost deserted. No wonder it is known locally as 'the silent city'.
We spent an idyllic day drifting round Mdina and then dined at Bachus, the only serious restaurant in town. It is set in two, double-vaulted gunpowder magazines - great arched warehouses - which were built by Grand Master Fra Martino de Redin in 1657. They are set between first century Roman and Arab walls built nine centuries later.
We started our meal with awrata - a local fresh water fish big enough for two. It came whole - steamed and doused in olive oil and fresh herbs and accompanied by a side dish of langoustine. We moved on to a traditional but now controversial peasant delicacy - great chunks of rabbit stewed in a rich beer sauce. Rita, our waitress, told us that, like many young Maltese, she would not eat the dish because these days the rabbits are tame, cuddly bunnies bred for the pot. Many younger Maltese agree with her. But it was a mouthwatering dish.
Then we were served with another, less contentious local speciality: sticky little cakes containing fresh ricotta cheese and almonds. After a stiff coffee, we strolled home to the Xara Palace in the jet blackness, through narrow and mysterious lanes between looming baroque buildings, much as the medieval monks, nobles and the Knights of St John must have done.
Baroque painting and sculpture
The bus dropped me by the Triton fountain, just outside the city gate and 100 yards from my hotel.
I'd chosen the Phoenicia for its location as much as comfort - and for its fabulous pool, set beneath one of the bastions overlooking the harbour.
Valletta was built by the Knights of St John, a military order founded during the Crusades to build hospitals for wounded soldiers.
Amazingly, it took them just five years to construct their fortified capital after the Great Siege of 1565. Sir Walter Scott described Valletta as 'a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen'.
In battle they were anything but - loading cannons with the decapitated heads of prisoners and firing them back at enemy lines is hardly gentlemanly, is it?
Drawn from aristocratic families in several countries, the Knights were an early European Union of sorts. And they were rich.
They endowed their city with handsome auberges (inns), a stately palace for the Grand Masters, and a glorious cathedral, every inch covered in baroque painting and sculpture.
Fort St Elmo commands the tip of the peninsula on which Valletta stands. From here I surveyed the harbours to either side.
I watched a re-enactment - with cannons and muskets - of the French invasion in 1798. The Maltese, tired of the Knights' arrogant rule, put up little resistance.
The Knights left Malta bankrupt, as gentlemen often do. Napoleon plundered what was left of the Church silver. Two years later, the British liberated the island, and moved in.
Today Valletta has Austin Minis on the streets, and red phone boxes in the squares. But the Knights' presence remains.
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| | | | Creeping through the catacombs of Rabat
Next morning we ventured forth through the medieval gate and across the dry moat into Rabat, a vibrant and bustling town, which begins immediately outside Mdina's walls. Although full of history, it has none of Mdina's tasteful planning restrictions. Here drivers hoot and swear and dogs bark. The streets are full of hustlers offering you nuts and assorted titbits from ancient push carts, or trying to persuade you to take a horse and buggy ride round town.
We walked to the grotto where St Paul is believed to have hidden after his shipwreck on the island in 60AD and ultimately baptised the Roman Governor. It is to be found down a steep and narrow flight of stairs beneath the parish church of St Paul and it contains a white marble statue of the saint with left hand outstretched.
There are simple offerings flowers in jam jars and candles on saucers, made by pious local people. The Pope evidently believed that this site is genuine for he prostrated himself here in 1990. I touched the statue's hand for luck as thousands had done before me.
Across the street is a more modern hideaway. Beneath the pleasingly amateur church museum, housed in a baroque palace, lie modern catacombs. Four great tunnels and 50 rooms were excavated by townspeople using only hand tools and candlelight, during World War II. These minimal rooms provided shelter during the Nazi siege and blitz, which earned the island the George Cross.
Retired schoolmaster Charles Aquilina, 58, who spent much of his youth down there, has appointed himself keeper. 'I was very young when we hid here,' he told us. 'We were always hungry and very afraid in case bombs blocked the entrance'. He refused to take payment for guiding us: 'You saved us during the war,' he said.
Then we moved on to real catacombs nearby. Dedicated to Saint Agnes, these artificial caves were dug to act as burial chambers. Today as you creep along low and dusty passages, you come across coffin-shaped ledges in the walls. Here skeletons lie. Although the atmosphere is sombre, it is not shocking.
Instead of a siesta, we levered ourselves into a local bus. The delightful thing about Malta is that it is so small. Within half an hour we were doing the tourist bit in Valetta. Like so many Brits down the generations, we stood amazed at the view of the Grand Harbour from the delightful Upper Barrakka Gardens. Beauty indeed.
Silver surgical instruments
At Casa Rocca Piccola I met the amiable 9th Marquis de Piro, a modern Knight (the order still exists, based in Rome).
The 16th-century mansion of his ancestors is still his home, but he has opened several rooms to the public.
Family treasures include a set of silver surgical instruments used by the Knights.
Beneath the house an enormous well served as a bomb shelter during World War II.
'About 120 people could fit inside,' his son Clem told me. 'All the houses in Valletta were built from stone quarries underneath them, and each had a well to collect rainwater.'
I spent my final afternoon in Valletta wandering through the atmospheric side-streets which slope steeply down to the harbour. In the Upper Barracca Gardens, I gazed out across the beautiful Grand Harbour.
Boats plied the water, a young couple sat on the massive walls snogging in the sunshine. All was peaceful and bliss in the city of the Knights.
TRAVEL DETAILS:
Tour operator: Malta Direct Travel has packages at the five-star Le Meridien Phoenicia Hotel in Valletta with flights from Gatwick with Air Malta. http://www.maltadirect.com tel 020 8561 9079.
When to go: All year round.
Must-See: The Grand Harbour boat cruise (from Sliema) around Valletta's walls.
Avoid: The jam-packed Sunday market.
Restaurant: Malata, Palace Square on Republic Street. Great atmosphere.
Bar: The Phoenicia for style, The Labyrinth, 44 Strait Street, for laidback atmosphere.
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| | Destination Guide : Malta |
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| | | Mediterranean tranquility |  | Why go on holiday to Malta?
Malta, Gozo and Comino are small islands but have long been considered important by more ambitious nations. Their strategic position has tempted Spaniards, French, Italians, Arabs and Britons to occupy them. All have left their cultural mark.
Malta remains a cheerful, relaxed and economical destination. The capital, Valletta, is a superb 16th-century fortified city with a magnificent harbour and a colourful nightlife.
Mdina is a beautiful medieval fortress town and the smaller islands offer tranquility.
How much does it cost?
As a rough guide, flight-only deals from London start at just under the £100 mark. A one-week package with flights and hotel costs from £300.
When should I go?
If you go between February and June you will miss the rainy season and the hot, hot summer when temperatures climb to 30C (86F). Prices can drop by as much as 40% during this period.
September and October are good times to visit, for similar reasons. There's still plenty of sun in winter when temperatures average around 14C (57F).
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| | | A noble city |  | What should I do when I'm there?
Valletta, founded in 1565, is a marvellously preserved walled city. It's small enough to cover in a couple of hours without working up too much of a sweat. Start at the city gate and work your way to the centre of town.
You'll pass through a series of squares surrounded by palaces and cathedrals. There are lovely gardens here, prime amongst them being the Upper Barrakka Gardens, with a terrific view of the Grand Harbour and Cottonera.
The Palace of the Grand Masters has many fine works of art depicting the great siege and Fort St Elmo offers re-enactments of historic battles.
What's at Mdina?
About 15km west of Valletta is the 3,000-year-old city of Mdina. Full of thin, cobbled streets and Norman/baroque buildings, it is known as the Noble City.
The best example of medieval architecture is the Norman Palazzo Falzon. In the beautiful central piazza you'll find the 11th-century Sicula-Norman Cathedral and museum. Make a detour to the suburb of Rabat and visit the Museum of Roman antiquities.
Where else can I go?
If you want to avoid other tourists but still enjoy medieval architecture and prehistoric temples, Gozo is for you. The pace on Malta's second island ranges from slow to slower and the countryside is regarded as the prettiest in the islands.
The main town is sleepy Victoria with its Citadel and folk museum. Fans of caves and potholes will enjoy Calypso's Cave and Alabaster Caves. Near Xaghra is the Ggantija - Malta's most spectacular temple complex.
The Inland Sea, stretching along Gozo's western coast, has one of the Mediterranean's most beautiful beaches.
Where can I really switch off?
The smallest and sleepiest of the Maltese islands, Comino has no cars and only one hotel. A handful of farmers lives on the island but that's about it. Explore the rocky shoreline or swim in one of the sheltered bays.
If you're after nightlife, forget it. In fact, if you're after any kind of life, forget it. The peace, however, is wonderful.
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| | | Home cooking with Italian flair | | Where's good for nightlife?
Paceville is the hub of Malta's nightlife, with bars, discos and clubs, and really comes to life at the weekend. The area of Bugibba/Qawra also has discos and karaoke aplenty.
Various festivals liven up nightlife - including the annual jazz fest in July. Visit the Dragonara casino if you fancy a flutter.
What's the food like?
Since the Brits were the last to conquer, then leave, Malta, dishes like grilled chops, bangers and mash, and roasts remain popular.
Local specialities show a Sicilian influence in pastizzi (savoury cheese pastries), timpana (macaroni, cheese and egg pie) and fenech (rabbit fried or baked in a casserole or pie). Local beers are good.
What should I buy?
Traditional handicrafts include lace, silver filigree, glass and pottery. Hand-knitted clothing is made in the villages and can be a good buy - but shop around.
Gozo has some good bargains. There are regular open-air markets, the biggest being in Valletta on Sunday mornings.
What is there for children to do?
Malta is known for its crystal-clear water so beach life is good for kids, with a range of water sports. Best beaches include Gnejna Bay, Golden Bay on Malta and Ramla Bay on Gozo. You can hire snorkels and fins.
Malta has a couple of theme parks - Popeye Village, built for the 1980 film, at Anchor Bay; and Dinosaur Park at Ta'Qali.
Harbour cruises from Sliema feature glass-bottomed observation keels.
Take the kids into the medieval dungeons at Mdina, with tableaux depicting various victims (and possibly threaten to leave them there if they're misbehaving...).
Tourist office
Malta Tourism Authority, Unit C, Park House, 14 Northfields, London SW18 1DD. Tel. 020 8877 6990.
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| | Fact File : Malta |
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| | | Malta | | Did you know?
The Maltese language is Semitic in origin and believed to be based on Phoenician (Phoenicians colonised Malta from around 800 to 218 BC).
Language
Maltese and English
Visas
None required.
Getting there
There are regular scheduled flights from Heathrow and Gatwick and charter flights from England and Scotland offer outstanding value.
Flying time from London
Three hours.
Getting around
Bus services are cheap and extensive. What the 1950s buses lack in comfort they make up for in beauty. Taxis are expensive. Bicycles are handy as distances are so short, but it can be hot and hilly. Travel between Malta, Gozo and Comino is by ferry with bus connections. If you're flush you can take a helicopter to Gozo.
Currency
Maltese Lira (Lm).
Costs
As a rough guide: A pint of beer £1.50, moderate restaurant meal £6, litre of petrol 60p, roll of film £5, short taxi ride £4.50.
Weather
If you go between February and June you will miss the rainy season and the hot summer when temperatures climb to 30C (86F). September and October are good times to visit, for similiar reasons. There's still plenty of sun in winter when temperatures average around 14C (57F).
Time difference
1 hour ahead of GMT.
International dialling code from the UK
00 356
Voltage
240 volts, 50Hz, 13 amp three pin rectangular plugs like the UK.
Opening hours
Shops open 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 7pm or up to 10pm in tourist areas and are not open Sundays. Banks open 8.30am to 2pm Mon-Thurs and Sat and until 3.30pm on Fris. Valletta's main post office is open from 8am to 6pm.
Health - Before you go
No jabs required. The UK has a reciprocal health agreement with Malta so medical treatment is provided in an emergency but prescribed medicines are not. Take an EHIC form with you (from post offices).
Health - When you are there
Tap water is safe to drink but heavily chlorinated so better to drink bottled. Otherwise you should encounter no health problems.
Warnings
If you are driving, beware the potholes and lack of roundabouts. Right of way at junctions is on a first come, first served basis. Hitch-hiking is frowned upon.
Emergency
Medical dial 196. British Embassy - 7 St Anne Street, Floriana; Tel 23 31 34/37.
Customs
Duty will be charged on any gifts brought in for local residents so beware if you're visiting ex-pats.
Pets
Malta is part of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), which allows cats and dogs to travel freely between the UK and Malta. It takes several months to set up the relevant documentation. See your vet for details and be aware that Malta has different requirements to other European PETS destinations.
Tipping
Taxis and restaurants will expect a 10% tip.
Tourist office
Malta Tourism Authority, Unit C, Park House, 14 Northfields, London SW18 1DD. Tel. 020 8877 6990.
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| | Available rental properties in Malta |
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| |  | | Ta' Zaren Farmhouse
A luxury farmhouse converted into a vacation home. Four double bedrooms, all with bathrooms en-suite and a swimming pool.
|  | | Casa Rustika House of Character
A typical 4 bedroom Malta house of character located on the edge of Zejtun village in the south of Malta. 10 minutes walk to town centre and 5 minutes
|  | | Veduta Tal Knisja Farmhouse
Beautifully converted farmhouse of character with roof terrace, balcony and yard. Ideally situated in a quiet alley in picturesque Qala, Gozo.
|  | | The Arches Townhouse
This quaint property is situated in a quite alley in the heart of the old village of Xewkija. Prices are including return AIRPORT TRANSFERS and STANDARD CAR HIRE.
|  | | Razzett tan-Nannu Farmhouse
This newly converted farmhouse with 5 bedrooms is situated in the village of Xaghra. Prices are including return AIRPORT TRANSFERS and STANDARD CAR HIRE.
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Holiday Rentals in Malta |
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