The historic Silent City and Malta’s old capital of Mdina is made for exploring on foot (literally, it’s only accessible to a very limited number of cars), and Villegaignon Street, cutting right across the fortified city leading on to St Paul’s Square and Cathedral, is among the most majestic. Lined with stately homes belonging to the island’s aristocratic families, it’s a joy to traverse. Still, while you’re there, it would be a shame not to wander down some of the smaller, less frequented streets and alleyways.

Another of Malta’s great architectural gems, Birgu (also known as Vittoriosa), is arguably the best preserved of the Three Cities, and its streets are an absolute joy to explore. Built by the Knights of St John, the city served as their base before they took up residence in the newly built Valletta, and evidence of their presence remains everywhere you look. The cobbled Hilda Tabone Street, leading off the main square, houses the Auberges of Provence, Auvergne, France and Aragon, and is as charming as it is steeped in history.

When it comes to the capital – I simply can’t choose between my two favourites. A UNESCO World Heritage Site with more places of interest than you can shake a stick at, Valletta is also this year’s European Capital of Culture, and boasts a wealth of handsome architecture. I’ll never get tired of the view of St Paul's Pro-Cathedral dome from Old Mint Street, and looking down at the sea or up at the city from St Ursula’s steps, depending on which way you’re going.

Once the suburb of the historic Mdina, Rabat is another fantastic spot of historical and cultural importance on the islands, and the streetscapes certainly reflect that. Apart from its must-visit places of interest like the famous Catacombs of St Paul and St Agatha, there’s something to be said about exploring this place on foot, discovering new buildings and curiosities as you go. One of my favourite streets here is the residential Triq Santu Wistin, which is flanked by some of Malta’s oldest properties.

The central town of Attard is among the island’s most sought after places to live, and with streets lined with attractive houses, it’s not difficult to see why. Still, there’s one street that I never tire of strolling down, and that is St Anthony Street. On one side, the walls of the Baroque Villa Bologna offer a tiny glimpse into the opulent stately home that lies beyond, and on the other, Villa Roseville, one of the few Art Nouveau buildings on the island and now a nursing home for the elderly, leads on to a row of grand homes.

Attard forms part of an area of Malta known as the Three Villages, along with the neighbouring Lija and Balzan. The largely residential villages are well known for their houses of character, often boasting picture-perfect facades and gardens. And while they’re not known for any particular attractions, apart from the wedding-cake-like Belvedere Tower and Villa Francia, Lija and Balzan are a delight to stroll around, with winding streets that snake between the historic properties.

The largest town in Malta is sometimes not considered to be quite as pretty as some of the smaller, more charming towns and villages on the island. But, if you head to the old centre, close to where the Birkirkara police station is, you’ll be rewarded with Triq il-Kbira – a cobbled street that will make you stop and reassess. Look out for the traditional balconies, saintly niches and ancient facades for a taste of what Birkirkara was like before it grew to the town we know (and still love) today.

On the south of the island, the picturesque fishing village of Marsaxlokk has got its own character and heaps of charm. From the spacious square surrounding the main church to the humble homes that line its streets, the place has got an undeniable appeal, but the piece de resistance has got to be the promenade. While not quite a street, the walkway extending the length of the shore front is fantastic for a stroll as you take in the colourful luzzu boats, bustling market and quirky buildings that line it.

All the way over to the other side of the island (ok, so it’s not that far), the northern town of Mellieħa is its own kind of picturesque, and the best vantage point from which to take in the rolling valleys that flank the centre is the walkways overlooking and surrounding the Mellieħa Sanctuary, leading on to the delightful square. Lined with cafés, dinky little shops and some fine eateries, it’s a treasure to investigate on foot and will certainly make you bring your camera out.

And finally, on to the sister isle. While there are admittedly many delightful towns and villages boasting charming streets and walkways to discover in Gozo, it would be impossible to narrow them down, so for the purposes of this list, I’m going for a treasured spot in the capital Among the main attractions here are the ancient Citadel, as well as the market square known among locals as it-Tokk. If you delve a little deeper and head down into the narrow streets behind the market in the direction of St George's Basilica however, you’ll come face-to-face with the essence of village life, which is where you’ll find the charming Charity Street.