Who needs theme parks when you're surrounded by so much thrilling history? It’s not always easy to sell the idea of an ancient fort or prehistoric temple to children who may be more enticed by neon-light attractions, but Malta has a way of working its charm on visitors of all ages.

My Swiss-born children, Ben and Eloise, have been getting to grips with their Maltese heritage for years, and they’ve become mini-experts on which sights are the most entertaining for children. This month they go back in time to delve into Malta’s oldest pre-historic site.

Ghar Dalam

Literally meaning the cave of darkness, Ghar Dalam on the outskirts of Birzebbuga offers a geographical snapshot of the history of the Maltese Islands, revealing the remains of the first human settlers in Malta some 7,400 years ago. 

The lowermost layers of the cave’s strata are more than 500,000 years old, and contained the fossil bones of dwarf elephants, hippopotami and other Ice Age animals. On top of that is the 'deer' layer, dating back 18,000 years. The top layer, also known as the 'cultural' layer, dates back less than 10,000 years and features evidence of the first settlers on Malta.

Before exploring the cave, take some time to look around the small, quirky museum featuring a Victorian style display of bones which were found on site. The cave is accessed via a small botanic garden planted with indigenous plants and trees. 

The cave is 144m deep but only the first 50m are accessible to the public. It has numerous geological features including stalactites and stalagmites. Palaeolithic cave art depicting human hands and several animal images had been discovered underneath the stalagmitic formations but have, sadly, been long lost. Incredibly enough, this prehistoric cave was used as an air raid shelter during World War II. 

Ben says: I loved this. I remember it so clearly. The best bit was learning about how in the Ice Age, Malta was one with Europe and North Africa, and when the ice melted, some animals remained stranded on Malta and they became smaller and smaller over the centuries. This is one of my favourite places. 10/10

Eloise says: You can see the skeletons of the animals from many years ago and get a lot of information about them. My favourite bit was walking through the cave. 10/10

Mum: The cave and museum are small enough to keep young children hooked without tiring them out. The didactic display gives a good, straightforward explanation of local prehistory. 

Ghar Dalam is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Tickets: adults €5; children (6 - 11 years) €2.50; Youths (12 - 17 years) & senior citizens €3.50; children 5 years and under free.