Things to do in Malta

Walk through a UNESCO World Heritage underground temple complex carved out of limestone around 4000 BC, with painted chambers and burial halls.

Stroll through Malta's fortified capital, a UNESCO World Heritage city of honey-coloured limestone baroque buildings, ornate balconies, and dramatic Grand Harbour views from the Upper Barrakka Gardens.

Descend through a natural limestone arch into the open sea near Dwejra, encountering dramatic drop-offs, caves, and the famous Azure Window wreckage on the seabed.

Take a small fishing boat into a network of sea caverns on Malta's south coast where sunlight refracts through the water, illuminating the cave walls in brilliant shades of blue and phosphorescent orange.

Try ftira, a traditional Maltese ring-shaped sourdough bread topped with tomatoes, olives, capers, and ġbejna cheese at one of the artisan bakeries in villages like Żebbuġ or Qormi.

Step through the dramatic main gate into Malta's ancient Silent City, a walled medieval town of narrow limestone alleys, noble palazzos, and sweeping views from the bastions across the island.

Jump off flat limestone rocks into the crystal-clear turquoise inlet on the Delimara peninsula, a natural swimming pool popular with locals and perfect for cliff diving.

Stand at the highest point in Malta, where sheer 250-metre limestone cliffs plunge into the Mediterranean, offering uninterrupted sunset views over the open sea and the tiny island of Filfla.

Marvel at one of the oldest free-standing structures on Earth, dating to around 3600 BC, with massive megalithic doorways and a visitor centre explaining these UNESCO-listed temples.

Hit the densest concentration of bars, clubs, and rooftop venues in Malta on the streets of Paceville, where open-air terraces and DJ sets spill out onto the pavements until dawn.

Swim or take a small boat through a narrow tunnel in the cliffs to reach the open sea, where dramatic underwater walls and visibility up to 30 metres make this a premier snorkelling spot.

Step inside one of the finest examples of high baroque architecture in Europe, built by the Knights of St John in 1578, featuring Caravaggio's masterpiece 'The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist'.

Sit at a waterfront table in Malta's colourful traditional fishing village, eating freshly grilled lampuki or octopus while looking out at hundreds of brightly painted luzzu boats with their Eye of Osiris.

Paddle a sea kayak from the Blue Lagoon around Comino's rugged coastline, exploring sea caves, hidden beaches, and the Santa Marija Caves teeming with marine life.

Visit the world's oldest freestanding megalithic temples, predating the Egyptian pyramids by a millennium, set on a hillside with a modern interpretive centre explaining their construction.

Sink your toes into the striking reddish-gold sand of Gozo's best beach, framed by terraced hills and overlooked by the cave where, according to legend, the nymph Calypsea once lived.

Walk through the ornate state rooms and armoury of the Knights of St John's seat of power, now the office of Malta's president, decorated with frescoed ceilings and a vast collection of medieval weapons.

Wander among four interconnected megalithic temple structures decorated with intricate spiral carvings and relief sculptures of animals, dating to around 3100 BC in a residential neighbourhood.

Cross the Grand Harbour between Valletta and the Three Cities after dark when the city walls glow golden, Fort St Angelo is floodlit, and the harbour reflections create a cinematic panorama.

Bite into a flaky, golden pastry filled with ricotta cheese or mushy peas from one of the traditional pastizzi shops in Rabat or Msida — a beloved Maltese snack costing under one euro.

Hike along a 12-kilometre British colonial defensive wall running coast to coast across Malta, passing through farmland, garrigue scrub, and fortified batteries with panoramic island views.

Ride a traditional Maltese water taxi across the Grand Harbour to Birgu, Senglea, and Cospicua, then explore the narrow streets, the Inquisitor's Palace, and the Malta Maritime Museum.

Explore a 115-metre Libyan oil tanker scuttled as an artificial reef off the southwest coast, now encrusted with marine life and accessible to advanced divers at 36 metres depth.

Attend a concert or opera in one of Europe's oldest working theatres, built in 1731 by the Knights of St John, with an intimate horseshoe auditorium of gilded boxes and tromp-l'oeil ceiling.

Climb to the fortified hilltop citadel in Gozo's capital, home to a cathedral with a remarkable painted illusionist dome, old prisons, and sweeping 360-degree views over the island.