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The Malta bucket list: 10 things you MUST do on the Maltese Islands
If you're in Malta at any given time of year, there are a few things that you just can't miss out on. Here's our top ten.

Melanie Drury

The Maltese Islands have such a surprising number of attractions within a concentrated area that you'd be forgiven for not knowing which way to turn when you get here! Here are a few suggestions of what should be on your Malta bucket list.

1. Visit the oldest free-standing man-made structure in the world

That would be Ggantija Temples in Gozo, or witness, in awe, any of the scattering of megalithic temples in Malta. Many of the standing stone complexes around Malta and Gozo are more than 5,500 years old, which makes them older than Stonehenge in England and the Pyramids of Egypt. 

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2. Dive into the famous Blue Hole

Diving is big in Malta thanks to its clear, warm waters with high visibility and the variety of wrecks and underwater caves beneath the waves. The Blue Hole is a unique natural cave located in Dwejra, Gozo, at the site where the famed Azure Window once stood. The Santa Marija Caves in Comino are also worth a visit. If you don't dive yet, have a try-dive.

3. Kick back and unwind in a wine bar

Experience Malta's wine culture. You can find several characteristic wine bars around Malta and Gozo - try Valletta or Birgu. You can try a large variety of local and foreign wines and a cheese platter in a candle-lit atmosphere, and if you've got a bit more than a passing interest in wine, you can also visit a number of local vineyards. And make it a point to wine and dine al fresco at least once if you're visiting in summer.

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4. See the third largest dome in the world 

See the magnificent Mosta Rotunda and admire its wonderful dome. It is the third largest unsupported dome in the world, and the interior is decorated with a mesmerising sunflower motif. It was built in the mid-1800s and even survived a World War II bomb which tore through the roof but did not explode, sparing the congregation at mass at the time. 

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5. Visit the Hypogeum - a unique archaeological site 

Described by UNESCO as “a site that bears a unique testimony to a cultural tradition which has disappeared”, there is no other place in the world like the Hypogeum. The underground complex of tombs was hand-carved to resemble the temples above ground, and contained several human bones, pottery and paintings. 

6. Try some watersports

Your choice is ample here. Try kayaking, jet-skiing, wind-surfing, fly-boarding, deep-sea fishing or charter a yacht with one of several local companies like Nautica, which offer day, weekend or full week charters on which you can sail around the islands and beyond! If you're not so adventurous, swimming and snorkelling in Malta is also a delight. Whatever you do, enjoy the luxury of the extraordinary beautiful sea that surrounds the Maltese Islands.

7. Experience the grandeur of the Grand Harbour

Take a boat across the Grand Harbour or admire it from the Upper Barrakka gardens in Valletta. The Grand Harbour is a large natural port that has been a crucial part of Malta's history. It has no less than three forts guarding it, and the Three Cities and Valletta are fortified with bastions, making for a truly majestic sight.

8. Eat pastizzi and have a Kinnie

A visit to Malta is not complete without savouring these Maltese favourites. Wherever you are, you can find a pastizzi shop and a cold, refreshing Kinnie. Malta's street food consists of flaky pastry stuffed with ricotta or mushy peas, while Kinnie is a local drink made with bitter oranges and spices.

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9. Explore Valletta

Called by UNESCO an “open air museum”, Valletta is Malta's capital, and this year, European Capital of Culture 2018. Indeed, history and culture are evident at every step along its grid-like streets and shallow, sloping steps leading to the sea around the peninsula on which it is located. Beautiful in itself, with lots to visit and plenty of opportunities for shopping, Valletta is an absolute must.

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10. Watch sunrise and sunset over the horizon in one day

The advantage of such a tiny island with so many attractions is that you can see a lot in a short time. Sunrise and sunset over the horizon are a natural gift to the islands, and anyone who is willing to make the effort to take a moment to watch them will be rewarded with a spectacle. At just 14.5 km wide from east to west, in Malta you can see both sunrise and sunset in a single day.

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Which other things do you feel should be on this bucket list? Leave us a comment.

29th August 2020


Melanie Drury
Written by
Melanie Drury
Melanie was born and raised in Malta and has spent a large chunk of her life travelling solo around the world. Back on the island with a new outlook, she realised just how much wealth her little island home possesses.

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