
Whenever I travel abroad, especially in America and Asia, I am usually asked where I am from and I say Malta. Here is when I am usually met with a frown and a subsequent question. Exactly, where is Malta? To be honest I am never surprised by this question. We, Maltese, make a lot of fun about the size of the Island in the Mediterranean which we fondly call “The Rock”.
So Where is Malta Exactly? And other Trivia
- Malta is a little island which looks like a rock south of Sicily (93km) and is bang in the middle of the Meditteranean.
- It is close to the North African shore (160km) and sports a cultural mix that is amazing.
- Malta is an independent country that is now part of the European Union, uses Euro for currency and was previously under British rule for more than 150 years – hence the reason why all Maltese speak English.
- The native language is Maltese which sounds like Arabic but is written in Roman letters.
- It is staunchly catholic and sports 365 churches (one for every day of the year) but is tolerant of all religions. The Maltese name for God is Alla! You get the culture mix!
- The Maltese Islands are three. Malta – the largest Island – Gozo sister Island – and Comino the little Island in between. Together they have a surface of some 300 square kilometres with a population or about 500,000.
- The number of tourists who visited Malta in 2019 was over 2 million.

The Blue Grotto Malta – coral sea bed and spectacular rock formation
How to Get to Malta
Since Malta is an Island the only way to get to Malta is by ship or flying in.
It is fairly normal for travellers to combine a trip to Malta from Sicily – which is only a 90-minute ferry ride via Catamaran.
However, Malta has an International Airport and daily flights from all European destinations as well as the Middle East. Emirates flies in daily from Dubai as does Turkish Airlines from Istanbul. If you are flying from the US it will usually necessitate two flights to get to Malta. Air Malta is the national airline and flies all over Europe. But in addition, Ryan Air and other budget airlines fly in from a huge number of destinations all over Europe.
What To Do In Malta
Now that we got the question of “Where is Malta” out of the way, we need to delve right into the fun part of your trip. So, if you are a female flying solo and you are wondering whether it is safe to travel to Malta – then the answer is an absolute yes. Malta is very tourist-friendly, and the people are warm and welcoming. Street crime is a very rare occurrence and it always makes the headlines and leaves everyone in shock!
Is Malta boring? That is again a standard question I get because of the sheer size of the Island. My definite answer is – a categoric NO! Malta is hugely interesting and if you stay for a week you are probably begging for more. So let us dive straight in and get some detail!

Popeye Village – home to the “Popeye – The Sailor Man” filmed in 1980’s
Here are some highlights on what to look out for in Malta
- Culture and Architecture – I promise you to be blown away with the beautiful architecture of Malta. Malta was home to the Knights of Jerusalem – or the Knights of St. John as they were also known. The Knights were the second-born son of the most important families in Europe. In order not to split inheritances, the second son was usually asked to join the ranks of the Knights and vow chastity. Being affluent it meant that they built amazing palaces around Malta which they ruled for 250 years before the French and then the Brits. Their vows did not stop them from being promiscuous. The Capital Valletta is teaming with Palaces which the Knights used as Auberges (or headquarters) each denoting the country where they came from.
- An incredible day worth spending your hours on – will be Mdina – The Original Capital of Malta. The City dates back to some 60 BC and it is known as The Silent City or even Citta Nobile (the Noble City) – If you are curious to know more about it you should take a look at my post written during Covid-19 – The Silent City has Never Been This Silent – it will transport you in time.!

Auberge de Castille – Valletta – The Prime Minister’s Seat. Image courtesy of Gino Galea
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Megalithic Temples in Malta
History and Tradition – Malta has a history that dates back to pre-historic times. The famous Megalithic Temples that are found in Hagar Qim, Mnajdra and Tarxien Temples are evidence of the long history of the Island. The temples are the oldest in Europe dating back some 3500 years BC and are older than the Stonehenge Temples in the UK. It is highly recommended that you pre-book a visit to these temples as they have a quota on daily visitors.
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Village Feast Malta daytime and nighttime – Sliema – Balluta Church
If you wish to see Malta at the height of tradition than a summer visit would be best. Let us say that we Maltese are super exuberant and that we love to party. The Village Festas in Malta are totally insane with a colourful display of fireworks every single night.
The Fiesta is traditionally commemorating the patron saint of the Village. It is a great excuse for a street party with stalls of food and traditional Nougat stands which we call “Qubbajt” For these traditional feasts, the churches are lit up, and the streets are adorned with curtains or Pavaljuni. Brass bands play in the streets, and people – well they just party!
The Insane Churches of Malta – Now you Ask – Where is Malta?
Malta has insanely beautiful churches. I told you earlier that there are 365 churches on the Rock. Which means the devout can pick a different church every day of the year. Some churches are totally opulent and are covered in art, silver and gold. Others especially the smaller chapels are more austere.
These are the must-see Churches of Malta:
St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta – an opulent display of art including several Caravaggio’s.
The Rotunda Church of Mosta – which boasts one of the largest Domes in Europe.
The Ta’ Pinu Church in Gozo – This Holy Shrine is not just beautiful to see architecturally – it is meant to be one of the holiest spots on the Island

St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta Malta
Swimming and Diving in Malta
Now let us get down to the fun business! For those who love tepid, crystal clear waters in summer – Malta

Golden sands Malta
is a lovely place to go and worship the sun and be sunkissed. The sea surrounding the island is nothing short of spectacular. Crystal clear pools of water in either rocky or sandy beaches. The middle Island of Comino boasts the famous Blue Lagoon where the Count of Monte Cristo was filmed some years ago. It has sparkling white sand and is best visited on a large boat as there is not much shelter.
Golden Bay, Riviera Martinique and Red Bay (in Gozo) are sandy beaches with red sand which make them look like green sea rather than blue.
Mellieha Bay is the largest beach on the north of the Island with yellow sand.

Sailing in Malta – with my friend Ula
If you are passionate about diving, then Malta is the right place for you to be. Even if you are a beginner there are several Padi courses which will quickly give you certification. There are shipwrecks to visit and beautiful caves. Even if you were asking where is Malta, a diver would know the destination and mark it as one of the top ten places in the world for diving.
Sailing in Malta is a dream. The mostly calm seas pick at breeze in the afternoons, making keen sailing a sheer joy not to mention the spectacular views you get of the coast.
Now That You Know Where is Malta – How About the Food?
Although Malta has had many influences in this food from many cultures and rulers – it is predominantly the

Marsaxlokk Street Market on Sunday morning
Italians who have most influenced the food in Malta. If you are a fish eater then you have just landed in paradise. The fish and seafood in Malta is fresh and caught daily and prepared to sumptuous heights!
You may want to visit the Fish Market in the Marsaxlokk Fishing Village on a Sunday morning to see the display of fish caught during the previous night and the locals haggling over the prices.
If you are looking for local food – you cannot be faint-hearted.

Hobz biz-zejt – Local bread with tomatoes olive oil and many bonus ingredients
Our specialities included bebbux or escargots in sauce or aioli and fried rabbit in garlic. But fear not! There are plenty of restaurants and food types to suit everyone in Malta. And now you can get great food not just in the tourist hubs but in every village too.
Once in Malta, you MUST TRY our sourdough bread. It is crispy from the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Traditionally it is served with olive oil and tomatoes with some local CISK BEER. It is truly to die for. Once you try the Maltese Hobz-biz-Zejt which means bread and oil – you will never ask “Where is Malta?” again!
Other delicious snacks are the local PASTIZZI – a crispy dough snack filled with cheese or peas
as well as KANNOLI which you may better know as Cannoli – which are deep-fried pastry shells stuffed with sweet cheese! Absolutely yummy.
As I said previously there is so much variety in Malta, that you surely cannot go hungry. And if you are feeling ambitious enough – you could also try DINNER IN THE SKY – as I did. It is a platform restaurant suspended in the sky over the Grand Harbour from a crane. Meet Chef Marvin Gauci who makes this experience truly incredible.

Dinner in the Sky Malta – watching the opening of the Rolex Middle Sea Race on the Grand Harbour
Partying in Malta – Night-Life
Partying in Malta is a Mecca for music-lovers. Paceville, although in my humble opinion is rather sleazy, does offer a number of nightclubs, pubs, and eateries. If you are into the boom-boom factor then it could be fun. There are plenty of Casinos too if you are that way inclined. Some of the best hotels including The Hilton and The Intercontintal can be found in Paceville. The St. Julians area generally speaking is the area for tourism and nightlife.
Every year Malta hosts one of the largest MTV shows. This is called the Isle of MTV and usually collects thousands of music fans to Malta to see the hottest chart breaking singers in the world perform LIVE FOR FREE. This is hosted on the Granaries in Floriana.
Other notable parties are LOST AND FOUND Malta.
Word of safety. If you are a female flying solo – this is the only area where I would warn you to pay some attention to. It is not dangerous, but booze and partying could relax your attention. If you would like some safety tips and common sense read my post on SAFETY TIPS FOR FEMALES FLYING SOLO.
Value for Money Malta
If you were asking where is Malta, then you would not know the cost of living in Malta. Whereas Malta, is still relatively cheap compared to other cities in Europe, such as Rome, London and Paris – it is not cheap.
If you compare Malta to Asia, or even to Eastern Europe it is relatively higher so plan your budgeting well before you come to Malta. I would recommend that you either go to an Airbnb Apartment
or you may wish to check out my little Boutique Hotel Casa Birmula for a very special stay.
But in terms of destination point Malta, you will find it hard to come by a place which will offer so much diversity for the same price.
What to avoid in Malta
Avoid rush hours if you have rented a car because the driving is quite challenging not to say downright crazy. It still is far more civil than it is in Asia – but it is pretty bad.
I would avoid downtown Bugibba – which is the cheap tourist trap scenario which every country has. It is still beachfront and it is probably cheaper than other areas – but only go there if you want to be in the mass tourist cheap holiday mainstream.
Malta is Not Perfect – But it is Special
If you started off reading this post and asking “Where is Malta” or where on Earth is Malta, well now you know a little bit more. If you were thinking “is it worth going to Malta” – I believe that the diversity merits your time. If you are planning to travel in the future look at May, June, July. Then again in October and November for optimum weather. August is too busy and too hot.
If you are not European and reading this post, I truly believe that Malta deserves a lot more attention because it is truly quite magical. And yes, perhaps I am biased because I am Maltese, however, I have travelled and lived abroad long enough to know it merits its title of “The Jewel of the Meditteranean”

Traditional Fishing Boats of Malta – still found in all fishing villages
Oh, I love your site. I am a single woman and often wonder where I should go. So, I’m so glad there is a site for women flying solo. I am turning 50 this year and want to go somewhere. Would Malta be a good place for someone my age. If not, where would you suggest? I don’t want to be doing everything alone. Love to dance and cultural things too. Any advice would be appreciated. I’m going to bookmark your page.
Martine, Malta would love you! Today being fifty is the new forties and therefore you will have plenty of fun roaming around Malta. It is safe and you will find that it is very easy to communicate. Please do not hesitate to email me on mariella@femaleflyingsolo.com if you need any further help with planning your holiday
What a great post about Malta.
I am blown away by the architecture of this place and I am so happy to see Temples.
I hope I can go there in the future. It is one of the most places I want to visit
Yes the temples are amazing especially the Solstice Temples – Malta has an incredible heritage which is sadly understated. But trust me there is plenty to see
Thanks for this beautiful post. I have been to Malta for my Honeymoon, and i really loved it. Good people good food and amazing places. The one that I loved in a particular way was the little island of Comino, the sea amazing. I haven’t tried all the things you mention on the article and you are making me want to experience the island again. I also remember the traffic as you say, but since I’m Italian, I was used to crazy driving ;).
I wish you the best
Andy
Hi Andrea – that is so sweet of you… I understand a thing or two about driving in Italy – especially in the town centres! It would be lovely to see the Island again and I assure you that you will experience many changes – except the driving !
Thanks for your post! It seems like Malta would be an excellent place to visit. I know you mostly addressed it to women travelling alone, but I thoroughly enjoyed your descriptions of Malta. Thanks again!
Thank you Bobby – as I explained Malta is relatively very safe and other than the usually crowded areas around bars and nightlife – which necessitates some caution – you should really not worry about travelling alone.
Mariella, this is such a beautiful site. I must admit that I did not know exactly where Malta was either. I can’t believe it, because I am a huge fan of The Count at Monte Cristo. This looks like a wonderful paradise. I would love to visit someday and I’m a big foodie, I must try the Maltese Hobz-biz-Zejt! Thank you so much for sharing.
Hey Tracey it is so great to know that you are now a little bit surer where to locate the Rock. As for the Maltese Hobz-biz-zejt I can assure you that it is delicious and worth making a trip for! Thank you for your lovely comments.
Hey,
A friend of mine who I used to work with is going travelling this year, and I think Malta is on her list of places to visit. She would benefit a lot from this post. It is an excellent, informative article that gives the reader all the information they need to have a nice time in Malta.
I love your whole site too. I have forwarded this post onto my friend and I have encouraged her to get in touch with you if she has any questions.
Thanks for sharing.
All the best,
Tom
Hey Tom that is great. Please let you friend know that if she needs any help she can always contact us via email too and we will give her a personalised experience
This is one of the nicest post I have ever read, we loved it. We are planning on sailing around the world which we have just added Malta to our list. I am a diver myself which will be something I will be doing there for sure. Life is so wonderful, more need to get out and see it. Thank you for this beautiful post and all the hints you have shared with us today.
It is so good to know that these impressions have left something remarkable on you – I wish you all the best and certainly approve of your choice for sailing.
Well done on a great post. I’m actually looking into vising Malta, so I’ll be taking note of some of your suggestions. Thinking of maybe doing a day trip to the north and then another day trip to the south. If you’ve any thoughts on this, let me know.
Sharon
Hi Sharon – that is definitely a great plan. Although the Island of Malta is small – the north and south are completely distinct from each other. The southern area is more of a fishing villages (Marsaxlokk) or the fantastic three cities -which are all walled cities (like Valletta) and have a long history to them. The northern part of the island is for adventure seakers. Beautiful sparkling seas and ideal for swimming and diving and long nature walks.
Hi! I love your article! Love to see those beautiful pictures. It is full of information about Malta. At least now I know there is such a beautiful island there. Dinner in the Sky look like a great experience! I would love to have dinner there too if I’m there..;-)
I can assure you that Dinner in the sky is a very unique experience
This sounds like a beautiful place to visit. It is funny I found this article, because one of my screen savers has this island on it and I was wondering where Maltese was. I would love to visit Maltese in the future. Thanks for addressing women going solo. This is now on my list of places to visit.
Great to add another destination to our bucket lists. As always be sure that you will be well informed about any place you plan to visit
What a lovely post, Mariella. Malta is one of the holiday destinations I’ve not tried yet-I hear many great things about it. Your post has certainly confirmed that. Thank you, Tim
There is a Maltese saying that goes “the strongest perfume is in the smallest of bottles” -you will not be disappointed
There is so much to learn about all the travel destinations in the world, and this one is one of them.
Malta is surely an amazing place from what you say. A great holiday place. Maybe one day my wife and I will visit it.
Content is great and well structured, except you could use a space between end of a paragraph and beginning of a new title, it will be much more reader-friendly in my opinion.
Best of luck!
Azimi.
Thank Sulaiman and even more thank you for your space point! I appreciate your feedback
I have always wanted to go to Malta and I think you have just convinced me I had no idea there was so much to do there.
When is the best time to go there.
Hi Simon – it depends on what you prefer really. Summer (July – September) is a lot of fun – but the weather could get really hot – and if you don’t like that than the milder months of April, May, June, October and November are sublime.