3 Best Places to Visit in Malta

Come to see the red-gold beaches, limestone cliffs, sheltered bays, and every imaginable sailing vessel

This small archipelago has so much variety you won’t believe how they manage to squeeze it all in. So many cultures have been mixing and influencing each other for generations that you’ll be hard pressed to pigeon-hole anything here. For example, Maltese food is a combination of Middle Eastern and Sicilian. Another thing that mixes well here is modern life with the prehistoric. Come to see the red-gold beaches, limestone cliffs, sheltered bays, and every imaginable sailing vessel.

Valletta is the capital of Malta, with a population around 6000. The entire town is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It sits on top of Mount Sceberras and has wonderful examples of baroque architecture dating from the 16th century. The stand out of these is St. John’s Cathedral and other auberges’ and bastions all built by the Knights of St. John. Valletta is the largest harbour town in Malta and from The Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens you’ll get incredible views of the Grand Harbour.

Just 5k from Valletta, Sliema is the Maltese hub for delicious food and fantastic shopping. It’s the main resort destination now, though it was once the playground of the country’s aristocracy. You’ll find a lot of expats here, as well as a large number of Maltese. There are a lot of options for boat trips around the Grand Harbour and Sliema serves as the starting point for hop on/off sightseeing buses that cover the entire island. In town, be sure to check out the Independence Garden and the De Redin tower. As you might expect from a resort town, the nightlife has a lot of energy and you’ll likely find yourself with too much that you want to do.

For those that want a little punch in the nightlife scene, St. Julians is the place. Known for its ability to entertain, this resort town is thriving with late night fun. St. Julians includes Portomaso, Spinola Bay, St. George’s Bay, and Paceville – which is where most of the action is. For beach bums, the large flat rocks that line the coast make a perfect sunbathing bed and the seafront promenade offers a great place for a long walk.  Malta’s tallest building, Portomaso Tower, is here, as is the Love Monument and Spinola Palace. Come in August for the traditional summer festa, or come any time for unbelievable dancing, dining, and fine wine.

Source: The crazy tourist