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Friday Feature: Malta

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Malta

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Malta is a picturesque Mediterranean island located south of Italy between Sicily and the North African coast. This island nation is composed of three islands – Malta (the main island), Gozo and Comino! Despite being a relatively small island, there is PLENTY to explore across the country. Flying to Malta is easy. How do you get to this adorable little island? Luckily, flights into Malta take under three hours from a wide range of UK airports. All arrive at Malta’s one international airport, which is no more than 45 minutes by car or taxi from anywhere on the main island! You could also take a quick ferry ride from Sicily, making it an easy stop before/after if you would like to extend your trip.

Best Times to Visit: Malta’s shoulder season lasts from September to November, making early fall the best time to visit for a relaxing holiday. Tourist crowds are gone and the weather is still very nice!

Things to do:

Explore Valletta. The country’s capital city is a great spot to explore and teeming with interesting history of the country. Malta is a mixed bag of various cultures – British, French, Romans, and more – and this eclectic mix of cultures is evident all through this city! Getting lost strolling these narrow, colorful streets is easy in such a beautiful location.

Take a ferry to Gozo for the day. Gozo is the second largest island that makes up the archipelago of Malta. It was once the home of the Azure Window, which unfortunately fell down in 2017 after some stormy weather. However, there is still so much beauty along the island coast. Spend a full day exploring the coast, visiting the Ta’Pinu Church, and marvel at the Cittadella.

Visit the island of Comino. This incredible island is home to the picturesque Blue Lagoon. Take a cheap ferry in the morning from Sliema or Bugibba and spend a good part of the day enjoying the crystal clear water around the Blue Lagoon – one of Malta’s most photographed landscapes.

Spend a day at the beach in Mellieha Bay or Golden Bay. No trip to Malta is complete without some time in the sunshine! Mellieha Bay or Golden Bay are great spots to waste a time working on your sun tan, taking a ride on a jet ski, or experiencing the beautiful coast while parasailing.

Sample some delicious Maltese wine. Take a tour through one of Marsovin’s (one of the major producers of Maltese wine) wine cellars. Located on the main island of Malta, this is a great pit stop for any wine lovers wanting to sample the local fare.

Feature Hotel: InterContinental Malta, The Westin Dragonara Resort Malta, The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux

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Things to know before you go…

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  • This is a safe island nation. The Maltenese are a very friendly, helpful crowd and the whole island is relatively safe!

  • Don’t be afraid to haggle. If you decide to take a taxi, always agree upon a fare beforehand and don’t be afraid to shop around at taxi stands.

  • Check the flags at the beach. If you want to go swimming at a nearby beach outside of the high season (July-September), always be informed of the safety systems in place at the beaches. If there’s no flag to indicate that the water is safe for swimming, always check with the locals!

  • Arrange for a transfer vs. driving. Malta is one of the countries that drive on the left hand side of the road. Drivers tend to be temperamental and not particularly interested in abiding by the law of the road – so be warned it is best to hire a driver.

    For more information, click HERE.

Follow the adventure!

@explorateurtravel