The island of Malta sits at the strategically important narrowing of the Mediterranean between Sicily and Tunisia, with the consequence that for millennia the island has been coveted, colonised, invaded and defended by everyone from bronze age tribes and Phoenicians to the Romans, the Moors, Crusader knightly orders, the French and eventually the British. The result? An island with virtually unparalleled history and an extraordinarily rich cultural blend (the Maltese language, for example, is part Arabic, part medieval Sicilian Italian and part English) which is especially prominent in the capital city Valletta, a World Heritage site described by UNESCO as 'one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.'

Malta holiday ideas

A few suggestions to get the holiday planning process started

Why visit Malta with Original Travel ?

From its thriving food scene to its abundant historical sites, we’ll help you discover the best of Malta on your holiday. Nestled in between Sicily and Tunisia, the island boasts an intriguing mix of cultures, evident in its architecture, cuisine and language. So, whether you’re after a quick city break or a diving adventure, we design every trip with your interests in mind. Be it sea kayaking, abseiling, archaeological tours or a private visit to Casa Piccola – we work with excellent local guides who enrich each experience. Our vetted properties tick all the boxes, too, ranging from boutique hotels to family-friendly resorts.

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A few of the benefits of travelling with us to Malta

  • Our local Concierges
  • The Original Travel app
  • Airport lounge access
  • Destination Dossier
  • 24-hour helpline
  • Expert guides
  • 100% carbon absorption

Travel to Malta by Region

Gozo

Tranquil, rural Gozo is the island where, according to legend, Odysseus fell under the seven-year spell of the sea-nymph Calypso. These days, Gozo basks in relative anonymity as the smaller sister island of Malta, and diving and spas have replaced sea-nymphs as the main lures for travellers. Comprising just 25 square miles, Gozo at first seems a staunchly traditional island, steeped in religious and clan ties, but there is more to the island than nostalgia. Gozo holidays offers some of the finest snorkelling and diving opportunities in the Mediterranean. Aside from the superb snorkelling and diving, Gozo has a surprisingly vibrant nightlife with several lively bars and a couple of fun nightclubs as well. Time your visit and you can also enjoy all the fun of the fair at one of the many village festivals to celebrate their patron saints. Add to all this a superb summer climate and some excellent restaurants serving delicious fresh seafood, and you have an extremely alluring and good value luxury holiday option. There are a handful of decent hotels, but alternatively we have a selection of beautiful farmhouse-villas with pools to rent in one of the quiet little villages that dot the interior.

Valletta

Malta's tiny capital city may be little, but it packs quite the cultural punch. First, the history. Valletta's perfect harbour has played host to sea-faring civilisations from the Phoenicians onwards, with each in turn leaving behind a coating of culture, cuisine and construction work. This has lead UNESCO, not an organisation prone to overstatement, to describe the city as 'one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world'. Above all, Valletta's main cultural association is with the Order of St John of Jerusalem - better known as the Knights of Malta - who, over the course of the 16th and 17th centuries, created the walls and the grid-based city within, almost all of which exists today. You don't have to be a history buff to marvel at the extraordinarily well preserved monuments - 320 in total - that make the city a near perfect example of late Renaissance city planning. The highlights include the Co-Cathedral of St John (complete with Caravaggio's largest painting) and the Palace of the Grand Master, as well as later 18th century additions such as lovely Library. That so much of the original city survives is all the more remarkable given the monumental pounding Malta received at the hands of German and Italian bombers during WWII. Away from the cultural immersion, the city has also developed a very decent nightlife of late, centred around the St Julian area outside the city walls, and a clutch of cracking new restaurants and bars within the walls themselves. Best of all, Malta's diminutive size means that the entire island is within easy striking distance of the city, including day trips to Mdina or neighbouring Gozo and Comino; renting a brightly coloured luzzu fishing boat for the day or taking the new ferry from Valetta across to the Three Cities of charming and traditional Birgu, Cospicua and Senglea.

Our Malta holiday collections

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Malta Guide

Practical advice and inspiration to help you prepare for your holiday

Malta Testimonials

2 reviews
4.8 / 5
"The usual amazing experience we have come to expect from Original Travel! Our guides throughout the trip were absolutely excellent and such nice people. Also, your meet and greet representative at Gatwick gave us absolutely outstanding service. There were so many highlights, but our private tour of the Casa Roca Piccola in Valletta was definitely at the top."
Jamie - Oxford
Published on 18th April 2024
"Seriously you guys are super organised and you really 'get' it. The beaches and reefs were superb, we rented a property for the six of us, which came with its team of cooks all very reasonably priced! The fishermen would come in the morning, and we'd pick the seafood we wanted, then the cooks would cook up a storm in the evening "
Dinehs - Leicester
Published on 8th August 2019

Our Malta
specialists

Our passionate consultants have spent ample time living, working and visiting Malta, so they are experts in everything from the best diving spots around the neighbouring island of Gozo to locals’ favourite haunts in Valletta. We’ll go the extra mile to make your holiday dreams a reality, from organising a private dinner in a spectacular location to a specialist art history tour of the capital. Whether you’re exploring the rugged delights of Gozo or embarking on a prehistoric temple tour, we have a team of wonderful in-country Concierges who’ll be on hand to make sure everything runs smoothly.

What you can find in Malta that you won't find anywhere else?

Away from the baroque time capsule capital Valletta, the other key attractions in Malta are fossil-filled cliffs, some of the world's oldest temples (dating as far back as 3600 BC), stunning churches and fantastic diving off Malta's small sister island of Gozo. Across these two islands (and small but perfectly formed Comino island between the two) life moves at a leisurely pace where the friendly locals inhabit pavement cafes and family-run restaurants, and this is somewhere to enjoy the delicious, fresh flavours of the Mediterranean, with Malta's cuisine - much like the language - influenced by neighbouring Sicily and Middle Eastern flavours.


What is there to do in Malta?

More active pursuits while on a luxury holiday to Malta include chartering a boat to explore the many peaceful coves hidden around the islands that cannot be reached on foot, and diving in some of the best visibility in the Mediterranean. We believe that Gozo is the best dive destination near to the UK, and we work with the best dive outfit in the islands.


Special Things to Do in Malta

Visit in summer and you are all but guaranteed to coincide with one of the many patron saints festivals that see the local towns transformed into party towns complete with medieval pageantry and enormous fireworks displays. We can tell you whether one of these fiestas is on when you are there.

Best places to go in Malta



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