Capital: Valletta ♦ Population: 480,000 ♦ Currency: Euro (€) ♦ Language: Maltese, English

A little slice of paradise but rather quite accessible just down at the bottom of Europe. With beautiful weather all year round, of course it makes for a great holiday destination! I had a great time in Malta, although I have to admit I was a tad surprised by the sheer numbers of a) sky rises; b) half completed buildings; and c) absolutely abandoned buildings. Weird! Check out my blog post here followed by my Recollection Diaries post here.

Highlights

Valletta: a fascinating capital city with medieval buildings and rich history

Gozo island: beautiful beaches, especially if you can beach hop away from the tourists. Makes for some great hikes.

Comino: crystal clear waters, be sure to check out the Blue Lagoon

Beaches! Must sees include Mellieha Bay, Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha

Mdina: fortified city, the Mdina was once the capital

Did you know?

• Malta is the world’s tenth smallest and fifth most densely populated country
• The Maltese drive on the left hand side of the road (yay for those from New Zealand!)
• The Brits ruled Malta until 1964, when it then became independent

Useful tips

• Malta gets over 3000 hours of sunshine each year so don’t forget to slip, slop, slap and wrap.
• Hiring a car is definitely the most convenient means of transport in Malta. Public transport options are reliable, comfortable and reasonably priced… they are just less frequent and take considerably longer.
• Take a free walking tour to get your bearings.