Malta was ranked first for its outdoor festivals from a long list of European countries and beyond.

In a study titled 'Europe’s top alternative living spots' by Cotswold Outdoor, a British sport apparel company, Malta secured its seat at the top for outdoor festivals.

The study takes into account the countries with the most hiking trails per square kilometres, vegan and vegetarian restaurants, UNESCO protected sites and the percentage of forested coverage per square kilometres, among others.

Throughout the years the islands produce multiple festivals that bring them to life and manage to attract lots of tourist for their vibrance and overall good fun.

This includes the Nuit Blanche, Carnival, Malta Jazz Festival, Earth Garden, Isle of MTV, the Farsons Beer Festival and – the most recent – the Malta International Fireworks Festival, among many others.

Generally, out of the seven categories that determine whether a country is an ideal location, Malta performed well. Overall, it ranked second, just one spot below Slovenia.

Additionally, the study ranks Malta as the third country best for hiking as it stated to have 19,315 hiking trails.

“The island nation uses its space efficiently to provide hikers with a range of routes that span its historical sites, coastal paths and countryside,” the study details.

In addition, it notes Malta’s “rich culture” and “stunning natural beauty” as a favoured destination to those who love to explore by foot.

Malta also ranked second in protected sites, fourth for vegetarian restaurants and fifth for vegan restaurants.

Contrasting these impressive rankings, Malta was ranked 43nd for forested coverage and 40th for countryside population.