Mandyy88, CC BY-SA 4.0
Malta
Malta is an island country in the central Mediterranean, with the capital Valletta, the resort areas of Sliema and St Julian's, and the islands of Gozo and Comino.
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Where to stay, by what matters to you
- Places to stay within 10 minutes' walk of the beach in Malta
- Places to stay with a level walk to the beach in Malta
- Places to stay in Malta that work without a car
- Quiet places to stay in Malta: few bars nearby
- Lively places to stay in Malta: bars and clubs close by
- Within 30 minutes by car of Mosta Rotunda
- Within 30 minutes by car of Malta International Airport
- Within 30 minutes by car of Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
- Within 30 minutes by car of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra temples
- Within 30 minutes by car of Marsaxlokk
- Within 30 minutes by car of Popeye Village
- Within 30 minutes by car of Comino and the Blue Lagoon
- Within 20 minutes of Sliema
Best things to do in Malta
The one thing not to miss
Start with Valletta, Malta's walled Baroque capital and a UNESCO site since 1980. St John's Co-Cathedral, the Upper Barrakka Gardens and Fort Saint Elmo are all within its small centre.
Valletta1. Valletta
Malta's capital, founded in 1566 and listed by UNESCO in 1980. It is the EU's smallest capital by area, with some 320 monuments packed into about 0.55 square km. Highlights include St John's Co-Cathedral, built 1573 to 1578, the Upper Barrakka Gardens' panoramic views over the Grand Harbour, and Fort Saint Elmo, known for the Great Siege of 1565.
The sources do not cover tickets or hours for the co-cathedral or the fort; check before you go.
31,259 readers a month
2. Gozo
The second-largest island of the Maltese archipelago. The Cittadella in Victoria has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, and the Ġgantija temples are more than 5,500 years old and part of the UNESCO-listed Megalithic Temples of Malta.
The sources do not cover the ferry or site tickets; check the ferry operator and Heritage Malta before you plan the day.
22,558 readers a month
3. Mdina
A fortified city in the west of Malta that was the island's capital from antiquity to the medieval period. It has never spread beyond its ancient walls and had a population of 242 in July 2024.
10,285 readers a month
Sources
Richard Ellis, Public domain 4. Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
A Neolithic underground structure in Paola, thought to have been a sanctuary and burial site, with the remains of more than 7,000 people recorded. It has three levels and was listed by UNESCO in 1980. Entry is limited to 80 people a day.
Entry is capped at 80 people a day by Heritage Malta. Wikipedia says booking online months ahead is highly recommended, and a few last-minute tickets are sold the day before.
6,766 readers a month
5. Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra temples
Two megalithic temple complexes on Malta's south coast, about 497 m apart. UNESCO recognised them with three other Maltese structures in 1992. Ħaġar Qim dates from 3600 to 3200 BC.
The sources do not cover tickets or hours; check Heritage Malta before you go.
4,500 readers a month
6. Sliema
A town on Malta's north-east coast and the island's most densely populated. It is a major residential and commercial area and a centre for shopping, bars, dining and cafes.
3,822 readers a month
Sources
7. Marsaxlokk
A small traditional fishing village in the south of Malta with a harbour and views. Its seafront Sunday market is mainly a large fish market, and a tourist market runs on the other days. The harbour was used by Phoenicians and Carthaginians, and there are remains of a Roman-era harbour.
3,728 readers a month
Sources
8. Popeye Village
A purpose-built film-set village at Anchor Bay, 3 km from Mellieħa, now run as a small attraction park of rustic wooden buildings.
The sources do not give opening hours or prices; check the official site.
3,594 readers a month
Sources
9. Comino and the Blue Lagoon
A small island between Malta and Gozo, home to a bird sanctuary and nature reserve with just two permanent residents. The Blue Lagoon, between Comino and the islet of Cominotto, has clear cyan water and a white sandy base. Ferries run from Ċirkewwa on Malta or Mġarr on Gozo, with seasonal schedules.
Wikipedia reports large numbers of visitors and tour boats daily; go early. Ferry schedules vary by season, so check with the operator.
3,144 readers a month
Sources
10. Mosta Rotunda
A Roman Catholic basilica, also called the Mosta Dome, built from 1833 to the 1860s to a neoclassical design by Giorgio Grognet de Vassé.
The source does not cover opening hours; it is a working church, so check before you go.
2,254 readers a month
Sources
Just missed the list: The Three Cities (11th by readers; Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua); St Paul's Catacombs (12th by readers)
How we ranked these
By how many people read about each place on English Wikipedia in a typical month, measured October 2026. It is a popularity measure, not our opinion. Valletta leads with about 31,259 readers a month. Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences; the author and licence are on each photo.
Research required. Area notes for this destination are not written yet. The top 10 above is sourced; the rest of this page is an outline.
Affiliate disclosure: Booking links on this site are partner links. Once our partnership is active we earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we recommend. How this works.