What have Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel all got in common? Now, the obvious answer is that they have all won the Formula 1 World Championship. The less obvious but equally correct answer is that they all started their competitive driving careers in go-karts.   There’s something extremely exhilarating about thrashing a kart around a twisty track, feeling the thing drift around the corners with your backside just a few...

At certain times, Malta is a windsurfer's dream. The compact size of the island means that when you can't find ideal winds at one place, you can hop back in the car and be on the other side of the island where conditions might be more favourable in a matter of minutes.   It’s also ideal for learners for a couple of very simple reasons. Firstly, the weather - because you will fall off frequently while you are trying to discover your sea legs and that’s...

Everything about this attraction screams at you that it shouldn’t work! It’s essentially the leftovers of the set from a not particularly good or successful Disney film that was made more than 30 years ago. Even the website with tedious introduction and looped sea shanty gets right up your nose! And yet it provides a terrific and fun day out, especially for young families!   The fantastical Sweet Haven Village, to give it its proper name, occupies the shores...

If you read through the many wonderful descriptions of the things to do on this site you’ll notice that on more than one occasion we tell you to get in a boat. This is not because we have shares in them, well not all of them anyway, but more to do with the fact that it would be a crying shame not to experience the Maltese islands from the sea.   So here’s another attempt to get you on-board, this time on a pleasure cruise to see the sights from atop the...

In most countries, setting off fireworks is restricted to just one or two dates on the calendar, Chinese New Year, the 4 th of July for the Americans and Guy Fawkes’ Night for the British. The Maltese, however, are not nearly so discerning when it comes to lighting up the night sky. They'll take absolutely any excuse to set off some eardrum bursting explosions!   Every village has a festa during the summer and every festa is accompanied by loads of fireworks,...

Time travel, as we are all too well aware, remains the stuff of science fiction. One day maybe but not for now. Sadly that means we will never be able to flick a switch and appear in the middle of a medieval joust armed with a six-pack and a video camera.   However, in Malta we do have one of the closest things you will ever find to time travel – all you need to do is hop on a bus bound for the ancient city of Mdina.   From the second you step...

If you navigate yourself to the website of the Malta Experience, to try and work out what this mysteriously titled thing is, then the first line of text you see is: “Your ideal first stop on the island!” And, d’you know what? They’re probably right!   This audio-visual presentation also claims to take you ‘on a journey through time’ - well it doesn’t obviously because time travel isn’t possible (unless you have a DeLorean...

If you want a guaranteed winning formula for creating one of the most richly and lavishly decorated cathedrals you’ll ever see, take a tip from St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta . The interiors in this 16th century place of worship are utterly magnificent and how they became this way was by employing a very cunning plan!   Essentially, you take a group of devoutly religious chaps, the Knights of Malta , who run the country and are known for their vast...

For those of you who love a day by the sea but are not overly enthused by the idea of extracting sand from every bodily crevice afterwards, Malta is definitely the place to be. That’s because this wonderful island resort has an abundant supply of beaches of the sand-free, rocky variety.   These abrasion-less places, which are genrously scattered around the island, are ideal locations for taking your daily dip, toweling off and relaxing without the worry of sand...

Places on Malta have a specific purpose in life. Valletta and Mdina are where you go for history, Gozo is where you go for peace and quiet, Paceville is where you go for a rowdy clubbing night out. So where do you hang out if you want to see and be seen by the in-crowd? Easy … Sliema.   This may be an old colonial town on the edge of the sea across from the Maltese capital city of Valletta but since the end of the Second World War it has undergone a...

There are times when one bar just won’t do, and that’s when a good old-fashioned pub-crawl is in order. You may be pleased to know that Malta is jam-packed with a wide variety of different pubs and bars that will suit all tastes – whether you wish to be surrounded by a hearty, rough and ready atmosphere, or somewhere hip, cool and sophisticated with sleek and stylish décor.   One of the best places to start a pub-crawl is in the capital city...

On the rough rocky surface of things, a tourist attraction dedicated to limestone hardly seems like one that’s going to set the world alight. But this stuff has played a massive part in Malta’s heritage and this visitor centre is aware that it needs to offer some fun activities to make rock … well, rock! It is aware and the attraction works. It’s won awards too!   Limestone is, in fact, one of Malta’s greatest natural resources. It is the...

On a small island where a blindfolded staggering drunk would inevitably fall into the sea given a few hours, provided he didn’t pass out first, you’d be right to assume watersports are major part of everyday life. And the fairly niche activity of water polo is one of those practised regularly here and with serious and genuine passion.   For those who have never seen water polo it’s much like normal polo … only there are no horses … or...

In this world you often find places that claim to have 'a something’ for every day of the year. So, you have York in England with 365 pubs and the Caribbean with its reputed 365 beaches. In Malta it’s churches. There are, so they say, 365 of them … though ‘they’ don’t ever seem to have counted them … and ‘they’ don’t appear particularly keen to do so!   Exact numbers aside, we reckon it’s very fair to...

Who was it that came up with the idea of ‘putting your shirt on a horse’? Have they not seen the size of those things? You’d have to be enormous if your shirt was to fit on one of them! And why would you want to? They’re covered in fur, they’d never get their hoofs down the sleeves and even if they did, they'd look ridiculous!   Joking aside, Malta does has a fine horse tradition. And there is somewhere on Malta that you can head for if...

If you visit Malta’s sister island of Gozo , you’ll notice that the pace of life seems much more relaxed than in Malta. It’s peaceful, more tranquil, generally more laidback and so it’s the perfect setting for the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary in Gharb.   The origins of the Ta’ Pinu are unclear and steeped in folklore. What is known is that initially, the property was owned by the noble family of ‘the Gentile’. In 1575, Monsignor...

For art lovers on Malta the first three weeks of July is the period that is eagerly awaited each year. That’s when the Malta Arts Festival comes to the island – a mixture of theatre, dance, music and art.   Festival events are mainly centred on the capital city of Valletta , although performances also take place in other places such as Mdina and Birgu (also known as Vittoriosa, one of the Three Cities ). During this three week period, these localities are...

There’s something magical about candles! Switch off the lights in your lounge and light a few candles and the atmosphere suddenly changes. Instant romance! Do the same in a quaint little harbour town like Birgu, throw in some historic re-enactments, music, food and other attractions and you’ve got yourself a truly wonderful night out!   It’s called Birgufest and lasts for three days each October in – no surprises – Birgu, but you might also...

When I was a teenager there was a young chap who drank in the same local bar as me who had a tattoo of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle on his upper arm. Donatello, I think it was! It was cool for a minute and vaguely amusing for a week or two but then you got thinking how he’d feel about it when he turned 70?   In that particular case, the tattooed party was far from the sharpest knife in the box and he was happy with his lot! But the point here is that his turtle...

The church, and particularly the Catholic Church, plays a major role in Maltese life. Latest statistics suggest that as many as 98 per cent of the island’s population are Catholic and that explains why there are so many churches here. In fact, there’s a saying on Malta that says you’ll find a church for every day of the year.   No-one seems to have taken the time to count them and whether the total reaches 365 is up for debate, but what is certain is...

Think Malta and you almost immediately and inevitably think sea! Think sea and you think fun! And there’s not much more fun to be had on the sea than by lashing a pair of planks to your feet and being dragged along the surface of the water behind a speedboat - or by water skiing, as I believe it’s more popularly known.   Waterskiing is often close to, if not on top of most people's ‘wannado’ list. And since the waters around the Maltese islands...

If you’re off a certain age then you may experience an annoying side effect when visiting the magnificent Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta . And the problem has nothing to do with the building, its interior or its contents – all of which by the way are absolutely stunning!   No, the problem comes with the word Grandmaster, because for some of us that means only one thing – the legendary pioneer of hip-hop, Grandmaster Flash. He had two humungous...

If you like speed, thrills and excitement and feel the need to infuse your holidays with a healthy adrenaline rush, then you’ll get a strong dose of all of the above if you check out a powerboat race in Malta.   The pristine and calm seas that surround the island make an ideal racetrack for these high-powered turbo-charged machines to plough around.  For this reason, the Maltese Grand Prix of the Sea has become a popular feature of the Powerboat P1...

Thanks to Steven Spielberg, most people think ‘archaeologist’ and see a well-chiselled man with designer stubble, a cool hat, pistol and a whip who faces snakes, spiders, rats and Nazis in his quest for priceless artefacts. And should Mr Jones have been active on Malta then the skip loads of finds he would undoubtedly have unearthed would have ended up here – in the National Archaeological Musuem.   Let’s face it with so much history, ancient...

If you are visiting Malta then we’ll take it as read that you’ll be off to spend some time in Mdina , the old capital city … because you’d be a fool not to! And while you’re there, what better way of cruising around the ancient fortress than on the island’s only sightseeing train.   This unique tour runs through the areas of Rabat, Mtarfa and the outskirts of historic Mdina, Malta’s ‘Silent City’. Here you’ll...

If you’re high flying businessman speeding along life’s fast lane, accelerating your career prospects, and making the big bucks, every now and again you’ll need to kick back, take your mind off things and relax a little. Alternatively, you might just feel the need to stare at some attractive young ladies in their bra and knickers!   The Gentlemen’s Club is a fairly recent addition to the long list of attractions available for visitors to...

If there was ever going to be the right time, place and activity taking place for notorious carouser and hell-raising actor Oliver Reed’s life to come to an end then it would be at the end of a serious drinking session in a pub on a bar stool.   The boozer in question, called simply The Pub, in Valletta, has become a fitting shrine to the great man, unlike some of the other memorials dedicated to writers, film stars, actors, heroes and eccentrics all over the world,...

Strange as it seems, the primary reason that Malta has been so popular with invading nations and civilisations has nothing to do with its fine food, plentiful fish, scenic views, exciting night life or stunning weather. Nope, historically it’s always been more to do with geography than hotels!   More specifically, it’s to do with the fact that Malta is conveniently situated in the middle of the Mediterranean - a handy stopover on the way from Europe to Africa....

There is a school of thought followed by some people, myself included, that you have to be vaguely masochistic (or mad) if you are willing to entertain the thought of going to a sandy beach for fun! For we all know that no matter how hard you wash and scrub, those abrasive, grating grains of hell will be coming out of every part of your body for days afterwards!   It’s a bit like saying that taking a sheet of sandpaper to your bum crack is fun, or rubbing a rasp...

For those of you who are self-confessed and incurable ‘foodies’ you’ll be only too aware that secret of great cooking is not a complicated one. As a famous chef once said: “It’s merely the application of heat to fantastic ingredients.” Put another way, it’s about using the best and freshest produce available. And that’s why, for foodies, the Marsaxlokk Fish Market is really going to tickle your turbots.    Marsaxlokk is...

In these days, when internal combustion engine is king, the only people who tend to get an opportunity to ride in a horse-drawn carriage are brides and royalty … or royal brides! Not in Malta! Anyone can have a dash at travelling in the most serene form possible and practice dishing out some regal waves to the passing pedestrians.   This is possible thanks to the widespread use, for tourists, of the traditional Maltese horsedrawn carriage – the karozzin. This...

The battles in the skies above Britain and Malta are among the most historic and lauded episodes in the history of the Second World War. They represent a time when small groups of brave young men fought against all the odds - and won!   Those were days when skill still held the upper hand over technology and a visit to the museums commemorating the two battles is both an emotional experience and starts your mind racing. Wouldn’t it be great to fly?  ...

Malta has an embarrassment of riches for historians and archaeologists. The Hagar Qim and Mnajdra temples in Malta are enough to make most of them feel weak at the knees. But even the standing of those two fine examples pales at the side of the most historic offering over the sea in Gozo . They are the Ggantija temples – the oldest standing structures in the world!   When faced with this site you are bound to wonder how busy and enterprising these Neolithics...

Across Europe in some famous and, let’s face it, some other less famous and downright bizarre venues, you’ll find tourist attractions called ‘dungeons’. There are fake ones in London, Amsterdam even Blackpool, for example, that aim to scare you witless with their spooky tales. They have their place I suppose, but Malta has the real thing! A genuinely scary place -  the St Paul’s Catacombs in Rabat!   So, if you want to spend a couple of...

Malta is extremely well connected to Europe and North Africa. All flights arrive at and depart from Malta International Airport. This is the only airport that serves the Maltese Islands, and you'll find it in the south east of the island in Luqa.   Most large European airlines fly to and from Malta. Malta also possesses its own national carrier, Air Malta, which operates regular connections to many European, North African and Middle Eastern centres. It operates...

If you are beguiled by the mystery of ancient civilisations and the mystique of their arts and crafts, then the Neolithic temples of Malta and Gozo will be right up your sabre tooth tiger track. The pre-historic remains on the Maltese Archipelago are plentiful, and trying to get your head around the sites on your ancient ‘magical mystery tour’ will fascinate you!   The remains also enticed a certain Eric Von Danekan into their fascinating web of intrigue...

“See Naples and die!” is how the famous saying goes. Bit extreme that isn’t it? And Naples aint so special, really, if we’re honest. I mean it’s OK! It has a nice bay and a castle but it’s certainly no Florence, or Rome, or Venice – and they’re all in the same country! So, if you did shuffle off this mortal coil after Naples you should be gutted because you’d miss so many other wonderful places.   Like Malta’s...

The Eurovision Song Contest – now there’s a funny old thing! In some countries it is treated as little more than a joke. The UK, for example, enjoys a good laugh at the bizarre strains of Euro-pop dished up almost as much as the hugely predictable political voting tactics from the Baltic States. But for many Maltese people, Eurovision is a really big deal!   The annual competition, held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union, is...

Historically, Malta attracted the prevailing super-powers of every empire and nation to exploit the island’s position of strategic importance. Today it acts like a giant magnet, attracting leading musicians of all types. From rock groups, jazz legends, chart-topping singers and trendy DJs to operatic singers, orchestras and choirs from the four corners of the world … they’re all drawn here.   What used to be a central military stronghold is today a...

Historians on Malta tend to get blinkered when looking at the island’s past. They can possibly be forgiven because of the many different phases this island has experienced but even so, their focus falls on two things – it’s either pre-historic remains and temples or the Great Siege era when the Knights of St John ruled the roost.   And that’s absolutely fine because both represented incredibly significant periods for the Maltese but it also...

So you’ve just tied the knot with the love of your life and blown the deposit for a decent-sized property on the wedding, rather than on a decent-sized property. Now it’s time for the honeymoon!   So get out your chequebook and your checklist: sun, sea, beaches, good food, lively nightlife, plenty of sights and somewhere great to stay. Now where might you find all that I wonder?   Hello! Why Malta, of course! With its top class hotels and...

The great French author Voltaire once said: “Nothing is more well-known than the Siege of Malta.” Admittedly, he said it a long time ago before Elvis, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Madonna and Lady Gaga came along but it still goes to show what a significant event this once was.   The siege, or Great Siege of Malta, took place in 1565 when the Muslim Ottoman Empire invaded the island and tried to take it from the legendary and devoutly Christian Knights...

From prehistoric times, the Mediterranean was a major source of arts and crafts that would go on to flourish across the whole continent and beyond. Unfortunately, when package travel became readily available to the Med’, tourists insisted on ignoring the fine arts and crafts and took home unbelievable tat for souvenirs. Malta’s Craft Village is on a mission to end this tawdry tradition!   So if, in the past, you let the hot weather addle your brain enough to...

To many generally sane people, the thought of running around the streets for a distance exceeding 26 miles is as preposterous as, well … being asked to run around the streets for 25 miles. The question is: “Why would I want to do that when there are modern inventions like cars, taxis, buses … even the humble bicycle?”   Well, the answer is that some less sane people actually enjoy running a set course over very large pre-determined distances, or...

When faced with things of extreme beauty, you seek consolation by imagining they surely must come with some flaws. It’s a bit like thinking Brad Pitt must have smelly feet, or that Scarlett Johansson farts in bed. By the same token, other islands must look at Malta's coast and say: “OK, on the surface you’ve got it going on but what’s hidden beneath those crystal clear azure waters?”   Bad news other islands! Lift up Malta’s outer...

Maltese people have been described as some of the most friendly, warm and generous people in the world. And without wishing to big them up too much, that’s a pretty fair assessment!   However, their fiery Mediterranean temperament is also evident beneath that sociable exterior – with lots of raised voices and arm-waving - especially when they are driving or having a discussion with family members/friends/neighbours/anyone who is around that does not subscribe...

If you’re off on a holiday to Malta then it’s almost inevitable that you’ll end up taking a day-trip to see the magnificent hilltop city of Mdina . And while you’re there, if you have even the slightest interest in history, geology or science, then you should certainly head for the National Museum of Natural History.   To start with, there aren’t that many museums housed in an 18th century palace, so some might argue it’s worth the...

Buses Getting to the many different attractions and sights on Malta, and Gozo too, is extremely easy thanks largely to very efficient and extremely cheap public bus service. Since 2011, the antique buses for which the island was famous (many of which dated back to the Second World War and were a genuine quirky tourist feature) have been replaced by modern buses operated by German transport giant Arriva. The main bus terminus remains in Malta’s capital city of ...

Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean Sea around 93km south of Sicily, 288km east of Tunisia, with the Strait of Gibraltar 1,826km to the west and Alexandria 1,510km to the east.   Only the three largest islands – Malta, Gozo , and Comino are inhabited. The other islands are called Filfla, Cominotto, St.Paul's and Fungus Rock.   Malta is the largest island but only 27km long at its fullest extent from the northwest to southeast,...

Although at times (especially in busy car parks and traffic jams) all evidence seems to suggest otherwise, people, generally speaking, are not stupid. So if you were a prehistoric person with rudimentary clothing and housing then you’d probably prefer to live somewhere nice. Somewhere hot, where it doesn’t rain much! Somewhere like Mnajdra on Malta!   Many people did live in this area more than 5,000 years ago, enough of them in fcat to build the mighty...

Art galleries across Europe have a fine tradition of occupying some stunning buildings. So much so, that a lot of them would be worth going to just to see inside. There’s the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Prado in Madrid, Florence’s Uffizi and London’s National Gallery. This Maltese one is housed in a Rococo palace built by one of the legendary Kinghts of Malta. It's the National Museum of Fine Arts.   It’s located at the lower end...

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Malta is classified as an advanced economy. Prior to 1800, the majority of Maltese people were engaged in agriculture or fishing, in fact, up till then, Malta had very few industries except cotton, tobacco and the dockyards industry.   During the Napoleonic Wars (1800–1815), Malta's economy prospered however.  In 1869, the opening of the Suez Canal benefited Malta's economy immensely as there...

You may already have done your homework and looked at a map, so you'll know that Malta is a small, hilly island slanting southeast to northwest. And thank goodness for that slant because it means most of the western coast has high cliffs and some beautiful panoramic views that go with them.   Dingli Cliffs, the sheerest and undoubtedly the most popular and dramatic, are a must for people who love walking, jogging and abseiling. They offer other opportunities, like the...

A short break on this compact but very bijou isle will be enough to convince you that it’s a great place to be. It doesn’t take a genius to work that one out! People have been attracted to these sun-drenched shores for thousands of years and undeniable proof of that comes in the shape of the many pre-historic temple sites to be found on the Maltese Islands.   Each of these sites is special in their own way but some would argue the most special of all is the...

Although it sounds to the non-Maltese ear like something you should be ordering pilau rice and a naan bread with, this is, in fact, a cave! Actually, it’s much more than a cave; it’s a very important cave. It’s the cave where the earliest evidence of human settlement on Malta was discovered … from around 7,400 years ago!   The Ice Age had a great impact on Malta; the climate then was milder and much wetter, almost tropical and the enormous amounts...

Witnessing highly-skilled crafts people often makes you wonder about the learning process involved to arrive at the level of competence on display. How many bent pieces of metal are thrown away before a blacksmith makes a perfect horseshoe? How many lumps of clay fly off the wheel on the way to creating a fine china vase? And how many globs of glass are removed from the end of a pipe before a glass blower creates something worthy of selling in a shop?   The art of glass...

You don't have to be a hopeless romantic to envision a lovely wedding in the beauty and serenity of a Mediterranean setting. But it sure helps!   If you’re not a hopeless romantic and need some convincing about why you might want to get spliced in Malta then here’s a few simple facts that could help.   It will be hot! It will be sunny! You’re on an island that specialises in the hospitality business. There’s great food on hand...

Most Maltese people start swimming at a very early age, often being the unsuspecting victims of a proud father's sudden impulse to push them into the water and then jovially expect them to float.   If they don't, he is always there to jump in and show them the technique he learned, very much in the same way, from his own father. Things, however, have changed considerably over the years.   Tradition has more or less given way to organised swimming...

Eyebrows were raised, and the more sceptical among us quaked with dread, when it was announced that a row of deeply historic warehouses on Valletta harbourside was to be redeveloped. "This could be disastrous," we collectively thought. Well, we couldn’t have been more wrong! So credit where credit is due … this new development in the capital is fantastic!   When the completed project was unveiled, our flabbers where collectively gasted!...

The Mediterranean is a major blessing for Malta as it provides a monster-sized leisure and activity centre right on everyone’s doorstep. There are countless activities to be done on top of the water but in this case we’re concentrating on what’s lurks below the surface. Specifically – fish!   This area is home to thousands of exciting species of fishy friends – big and small. As with all anglers, it’s the big ones we’re interested...

If you go to Malta, you’d be a fool not to visit Valletta . And if you go to Valletta, you’d be a fool not to go and see the Grand Harbour. And if you go to the Grand Harbour, you’d be a fool not to see it from the water. So don’t be a fool and get yourself on the water a Maltese water taxi – ride a dghajsa!   There’s no doubt that, in the absence of your own helicopter, a boat is the form of transport that provides the best possible...

Through the summer months Malta’s climate makes for a landscape that’s dryer than a desert camel’s toenail during an extended drought. As a consequence of this desiccated terrain, it’s a country not exactly famed for providing areas of rolling greenery or spectacular flowerbeds. However, that doesn’t mean the above do not exist for you to enjoy. Enter San Anton Gardens!   This oasis on the otherwise largely barren backdrop can be found...

To males of a certain age, the mere utterance of the phrase ‘Blue Lagoon’ means only one thing. A dodgy ‘rites of passage’ film from the 1980s famed for Brooke Shields swimming topless but with not much else to recommend it. However, there’s also a Blue Lagoon on Malta, and thankfully you don’t have to fast forward through an hour and a half of cinematic piffle to enjoy this one’s highlights!   Malta’s lagoon is rare,...

Malta has had a long and chequered history and has often been described as one big open-air museum. It is, in fact, so vast and complex that you could write several large volumes on it and still not scratch the surface. So this is a very brief whistle-stop tour through the main points – nothing more!   It’s so difficult to describe its history because this little island has been inhabited and/or conquered by practically every European force out there over the...

The Maltese people are renowned for many fine qualities. They are passionate, friendly, helpful, sociable and unfalteringly loyal. But if you upset them ... then they are an immensely stubborn and fearsome bunch. The National War Museum is testament to just how unyielding and resourceful this little island can become in times of adversity and conflict.   Take the all-conquering Ottoman Empire, who upset the Maltese by attempting to invade them in the 16th century. After...

Anyone taking a trip to Malta will find there’s more than enough to amuse them on the main island for much longer than the week or even the fortnight of their planned visit. But even so, we’d still strongly advise everyone who comes here to get on a ferry and go to Gozo , and specifically, go to the Citadel.   Of all the places to visit in the Maltese Islands, the Citadel, including the Santa Maria Cathedral that sits within its fortressed walls, has to be...

There are, in life, certain hobbies and activities with an ability to take over your life to the point of fanatical obsession. Golf can grab you so you practice your swing every time you nip to the loo at work. Climbing can become a genuine passion for those who like hugging rocks, while cycling can seduce you into its inescapable grasp. But up there with the most addictive hobbies of all is sailing!   While to some, sailing is an all-consuming and great hobby, others see...

So … jazz? Which side are you on? Because there’s no middle ground with jazz. You don’t ‘kind of like it’ and it’s not something you can ‘take or leave’ – you either love it, or loathe it! And, as you might guess, the Malta Jazz Festival is to be avoided like the plague for those in the latter category - like me!   Yes, I am of the opinion that jazz sounds like – as some wise person once said –“Lots...

Fort Rinella was built by the British in Victorian times to help protect the Grand Harbour of Valletta. Sitting like a tired dinosaur on top of the fort is a 100-ton Armstrong gun – also built by the British to protect naval shipping in the area from the newest generation of Italian battleships.   Luckily, the monster gun was never fired in anger, but an amusing tale about its first test still does the rounds much to the embarrassment of military experts and the...

Before the infamous Knights of Malta turned up on these shores, defeated the invading Ottoman armada at the Great Siege and built Valletta , the capital city on this island was Mdina . So, clearly this is a place with a long and interesting history; one you can find out all about at the Mdina Experience.   Today, Mdina is known as the ‘Silent City’, mainly because no cars, excluding those of the residents, are allowed to pass through the gates. However,...

It was Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, who described a horse as ‘dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle’. But for those of you who do not subscribe to the author's point of view and love nothing more than a little equine exercise, then there are ample opportunities to leap astride a trusty steed in Malta.   The island has a huge heritage of all things horsey and you don’t have to look any further than the tales of the Knights...

If you’ve been researching Malta for anything more than about 15 seconds, you’ll know the island is steeped in history. From pre-historic temples, through the Knights of St John to wartime alliances with the British and subsequent independence, its past is extremely colourful. So, it stands to reason that the story of Malta’s national theatre was never going to be dull!   Damn right! The Manoel Theatre, as it is properly known, is reputed to be the...

It’s quite difficult to get people to try rugby. Once they’ve seen a few crunching tackles not to mention how the scrum is put together, that’s normally enough to put anyone off. It’s largely to do with the excrutiating pain and where the second row forwards put their hands to bind on to the props, that’s more than enough to make your eyes water! (It’s between their legs and hanging on to the front of their shorts!)   With that being...

People often want to do different things when they are away on holiday. Things they would not normally do in the humdrum of everyday life back home. Things like parachuting and bungee-jumping! But what if you’re afraid of heights? Well, there are always the safer options of water-skiing and coastal diving. But what if you’re afraid of depths too?   If you’re not keen on heights or depths but are OK with widths then you could do much worse than rent...

Any parent who has children of a certain age will be all too familiar with the magical world of Playmobil toys. I say magical from experience because we own several of these high quality sets with their miniscule pieces into our house and over the months, many parts of them have 'magically' disappeared! What most parents across the world don’t realise though is that magic might well have been created here in Malta!   Our Playmobil castle carry case set, for...

Take a short moment to watch someone, anyone, other than an Olympic standard swimmer, sploshing and splashing their way through the water and it soon becomes abundantly clear that we are a species designed primarily for land use. And yet, in spite of being a mammal with an innate inability to cope in water – when compared to a dolphin, for example - there’s something about the sea that entices us and draws us to it.   I like nothing more than watching waves...

It's a given that everyone should, and most people do, visit Mdina by day because it is a magical, beautiful place! But we have gone into that in more detail elsewhere. What we are looking at here is how the ‘Silent City’ changes and becomes a different but equally attractive proposition for the tourist once the curtain of night has descended.   Clearly, all the museums and attractions will be closed after the sun has set and disappeared below the...

If you’re getting overwhelmed by all the historical sites you’re visiting during the day and by the heat of the beach, not to mention the lively adventures into the Maltese nightlife, then it could be time for some peace and relaxation. So, reserve some quiet time for yourself and massage your soul by visiting the Chinese Garden of Serenity in Santa Luċija.   Grab the opportunity to soak up some tranquillity by spending a quiet afternoon in the soothing...

As a very young child living in the UK, almost every weekend, it seemed, there would a documentary programme about diving. They would feature a legendary sub-aqua explorer with an impossibly thick French accent. His name was Jacques Cousteau. You may have heard of him? Jacques dived all over the world in every prestigious underwater site that has ever been discovered – hell, he discovered some of them himself!   So why are we blethering on about a Frenchman in a...

Banging tunes, thousands of people throwing shapes and internationally known acts from the music world are the order of the day when sunny Malta becomes the Isle of MTV. Once a year, in late June, this tiny island is transformed into a hot-bed of talent when the  largest free open air concert in Europe - takes place on the Granaries in Floriana.   Not surprisingly, what with it being free and all, it goes down a storm with crowds of around 50,000 people rocking up to...

This one always causes a few raised eyebrows and smirks among the locals on Malta! Does the island need a museum housing a Classic Car Collection, they ask, when so many of the cars buzzing around on the roads could easily be classed as ‘classic’ or ‘vintage’ anyway? We admit, it’s a strange choice for an attraction on an island where many still believe ‘a car is for life’!   Some of the cars and trucks (but sadly no longer the...

 22 – the average annual temperature in °C   3,000 – hours of sunshine in Malta per year   578 – average annual rainfall in mm   3 – large natural harbours of Malta – including Valletta and Marsamxett   365 - churches and chapels in Malta, Gozo , and Comino, one church for approximately every 1,000 residents and one for every day of the year   453,000 - population...

Having a history as long and chequered as Malta’s you’d expect something a bit special from its capital city, wouldn’t you? Well, you won’t be disappointed! Proud Valletta is as impressive as any country’s premier city should be but it has the added advantage of being incredibly compact too!   When you walk into this city expect an explosion of activity, colour, noise and confusion. Valletta is the commercial and political centre and is...

How to describe a festa? Fiesta, carnival, festival? Well, they’re all of these and none of these, because festas are uniquely Maltese and so they will be unlike anything you’ve ever experienced in other countries.   When you attend a Maltese village festa as a visitor, and you are welcome to do so, you will instantly become an interested, intrigued and possibly baffled observer. We strongly advise you try and get along to one because it is the kind of...

Planes! Especially World War II planes, have a strange effect on some people … specifically, men - of a certain age! I spent much of my childhood with various bits of Spitfires and Lancaster bombers stuck to my hands as I attempted to build models, while males of my father’s generation go all dewy eyed at the sound of a Rolls Royce Merlin engine (this is available as audio porn for older men on the museum website!).   Yes, some of us chaps, and chapesses for...

When travelling abroad, some people like to do all their research beforehand - read travel books, scour the internet – read things like this! But if you know someone who doesn’t, or you have one of those people as a partner or family member then this is the attraction for them! The history of Valletta told in the form of a 35-minute docudrama … or put another way, tourist information conveyed to you on-screen!   Actually, it’s a film, shown in a...

Like every human being, Queen Victoria had her good moods and her bad ones. The monarch famed for her stiff upper lip, who was frequently and famously ‘not amused’, was not an easy one to please. However, if you did want to get her grinning like Angelina Jolie’s spray tan man then you had only to present her with some fine Maltese lace!   The story goes that she once received an example of the intricate piece of handcrafted fabric as a gift. It was among...

We’ve all seen James Bond in Casino Royale, haven’t we? Well, forget that, because there’s a fair chance that if you ever go to a casino then you won’t be in a designer tuxedo, placing million pound bets while drinking Martinis – shaken not stirred – and you almost certainly won't have the delectable Eva Green on your arm.   Then again, you’ll probably have much more fun than Mr Bond, who got drugged by some evil super-villain...

Have you ever wondered why people frown when you laugh? There are hundreds of potential reasons why this could happen of course, but one of the most common ones is bad teeth!   They may be yellow from too many cigarettes or dulled by too much coffee, or they may be more twisted than a World Cup venue selection panel. But fear not, for help is at hand on this sunny isle called Malta!   If you are blessed with a set of pearly whites that look like a row of...

If throwing some sick shapes to a pumping onslaught of banging tunes is your kind of thing, then you’ll be in your element in Malta. Boasting an outstanding club culture, Malta possesses an impressive array of top-rated clubs as well as an ever-growing list of noteworthy DJs and music producers.   Additionally, some of the world’s finest DJs like David Guetta, Paul Oakenfold, Carl Cox, and Tiësto have more recently started to host regular large-scale...

If you’ve not been initiated to the mystical ways of golf then take this as a serious warning. Before you consider a trip to the course you should know that it is the most addictive and infuriating activity in the world.   OK, so there’s taking drugs like heroin and cocaine but with a spot of cold turkey and immense determination you can kick those habits. Once golf has you in its grasp though, it has you for life!   Hopelessly addicted...

Show me someone who says they don’t want to be filthy rich and live in a lavish palace and I’ll show you someone who needs their bumps felt. All but the slightly deranged, or deeply religious aspire to owning the trappings of great wealth but let’s face it, for the vast majority of us, it’s a dream that’s never going to happen. Ah well, at least we can pretend by visiting places like Palazzo Parisio.   The impressive property, situated in the...

Sometimes when you go on a holiday to a differenty country you have a to adopt an entirely new mind-set. So while for some the prospect of chartering a boat for a day out might strike you as being as alien as reserving a helicopter to fly you home after a night out in a bar, in Malta it’s a very accessible and realistic option.   One of the best ways of making the most of Malta’s pristine sea is to spend the entire day lazing about on a boat and going exactly...

Malta’s rich history is awash with knights! Whether it’s the Knights of Malta, or the Knights Hospitallers, the Maltese Knights or the Knights of the Order of St John? Well, frankly it doesn’t matter because they’re all different names for the same bunch of chaps. And whatever name you use, one thing is beyond doubt – those Knights played a massive part in shaping the country you see today.   Being knights, they often got into scuffles and so...

Tour any country around the Mediterranean and the chances are you'll eventually come across a road sign directing you to the ‘Blue Grotto’. You may even be tempted to think that once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all? Not really!   Malta’s Blue Grotto is up there with the best of them, if not the best. It’s a unique natural work of art, a masterpiece of geology. It’s stunning and that’s why it attracts so many...

On landing in Malta you would be forgiven if you thought English was the official language on the Island. All the signs and directions are in English, ask the airport staff a question and they’ll answer you in English and the customs people will check your passport and talk to you in English.   Then, walk a few minutes away from the ‘Nothing to declare’ sign, you start hearing the locals talking in ‘foreign’. “Hang on a minute,”...

If an informed Maltese art lover were given the choice of one night to spend in Valletta then their choice would be as easy as selecting a fillet steak from a tray of burgers. They would instantly opt for Notte Bianca - an annual night-long spectacle of culture and the arts held in the capital’s main streets and its many cultural and tourist venues.   The event is not a long-standing affair but since 2007 it has been held in September or October establishing a...

A top tip to learn very early that holds for any travelling adventures is to watch the locals! See where they eat, drink, go for a day out etc. Just think about it for a minute. Who knows where you live better than you? Do you visit the worst bars and restaurants in your town? Well, do you?   Exactly the same thing applies in Malta. So, when you’re on your trip you should ask yourself the following question: “Where do the locals go if they want a day out, want...

Name the quietest place on Malta? You’d think it might be difficult to come up with a definitive answer to this question but my money would be on the Carmelite Priory. Why? Well, you’d think that a working monastery in Mdina - a place known as ‘the Silent City’ - must be in with a decent shout of claiming that title!   Calm, quiet and tranquillity are definitely the order of the day at this working monastery and the only one in Malta that has...

Winter or summer, rain or shine, (and let’s face it it’s going to be shine for the most part) the best way of seeing Malta is without the hassle of parking and traffic jams. This is easily achieved if you opt for two wheels instead of four to make your way around the islands.   A hired motor bike can get you anywhere within a period of no more than thirty minutes - the beach, the countryside, the popular bays, the hotels and restaurants, the capital city of...

When I first arrived in Malta, some … ooh 20 years ago now, one of the locals told me the answer given to those tourists who, when picking up hire cars, asked if they should drive on the left or right hand side of the road was: “Neither. We drive in the shade!”   It’s a quaint little anecdote that may make you smile and did me too until I spent some time on the roads and realised that there was actually quite a bit of truth in it – though...

For many people, an ideal holiday simply consists of of fun, sun and sea. If those three things float your boat then Malta is definitely for you … and once you discover some of the excellent beach clubs on the island you might very well explode with joy.   The most boring job on Malta has to be a weather forecaster. The job description has two main key skills listed on it: Ability to look good and say “It’s going to be hot and sunny …...

A stoic island stronghold of Roman Catholicism might not seem like an ideal candidate for gay tourism. So you may be surprised to learn that if you are gay, then you can still have the time of your life here in Malta.   Just because it’s frowned upon by the church, doesn’t mean it isn’t tolerated. The Maltese are a fairly accepting and pragmatic bunch and the local gay culture has been steadily on the rise. As a result, homosexuality is no longer the...

Once upon a time the beseiged Catholic Church became increasingly concerned about the upsurge in the Protestant faith in Europe. They established the Roman Inquisition to ensure people kept the faith, and in 1574 dispatched an Inquisitor to Malta to take care of business on the island. He needed a base … and this magnificent palace was it!   The Inquisitor’s Palace, located in Birgu (also known as Vittoriosa and one of the Three Cities ) was actually built...

Being asked to describe souvenir shopping in Malta is a bit like being asked to paint a naked Jessica Alba with melted chocolate. You know you need to get on and do it but you’re just not sure where would be the best place to start! Souvenir shops are to Malta what fast food joints are to America. There are tons of them and they are, quite literally, all over the place!   The main thing to keep in mind when carrying out both of the above activities is not to rush...

Almost every developed Christian nation has a go at staging a carnival in some guise or other to mark the start of Lent - and Nadur, on Gozo , is certainly not one to be left out on that score! What’s great about this carnival, however, are the strange characteristics and peculiarities that make it utterly memorable and entirely unique.   At most carnivals, you can happily find yourself a new persona, and for a few days let yourself change into someone you’ve...

Stately homes throughout the world follow the same tried and tested formula - display the property and it’s interior to the public in its best possible light. Nothing wrong with that ... is there?   Well, yes! Attractive though this can be, it relies on the best guess of a curator – how someone who can’t possibly really know, thinks it should be. But that’s not how it works at Casa Rocca Piccola and it’s all the better for it!  ...

There’s something magnetic about a TV screen. Wander into a bar or any room that has a TV on and you’ll find yourself unable to take you’re your eyes off it. There could be any old rubbish on there but you still watch. The only thing that comes close to having the draw of a TV is a fish tank … because there’s something fascinating about fish!   We defy anyone to wander past a fish tank without having to have a peek inside and see...

Every year, around half a million people have the enviable privilege of arriving at Malta's historic capital city of Valletta by boat, or on one of those enormous cruise ships to be precise. Travelling to the city by boat is surely the best, most romantic, historic and picturesque way of winding up in this wonderful city -  and thanks to the Sliema Ferry, it’s attainable for everyone, even mere mortals like me.   The route runs from Sliema Strand, the...

It is no great secret that the world’s oldest football league is in the UK, as is the world’s oldest football league club, Notts County. What most people don’t know is that, due largely to its strong British links; Maltese football was not so far behind.   Though there is no clear record, it is widely accepted the game was introduced by the thousands of British sailors and soldiers, who were stationed on the island during the late 19th and early 20th...

In 1903, the Wright brothers climbed aboard a dubious looking creation made of wood and canvas, called Flyer, and managed 120ft of powered flight that lasted 12 seconds. The tragic thing is that even after more than a century of development and evolution those two Americans still had more legroom then you’ll have flying over to Malta with Ryanair and they didn’t have to pay extra to take their bag!   Ever since that historic moment in aviation history took...

The Knights of Malta are possibly the island’s most famous inhabitants. Steeped in tradition and history, their rule over the country was as eventful as it was dramatic. The story is recounted in many associated attractions on the island – including St John’s Co-Cathedral , the Palace Armoury and the Great Siege Experience . But nowhere is told so engagingly as at the Malta Knights Extravaganza.   To give you a brief history lesson, the Knights...

Heavenly voices are guaranteed every two years in Malta when choirs from around the world descend on the island to take part in The Malta International Choir Competition Festival of Sacred and Secular Music. Forget the long mouthful of a title; this is a chance to hear some of the sweetest singing around.   The festival has been held at the beginning of November during odd numbered years for more than two decades. It is open to various categories of choirs, which turn up...

Younger travellers, more concerned with image than substance, are often guilty of believing open-top buses are ‘naff’ and ‘for tourists’. However, as they grow older, and wise enough to realise that they actually are tourists, they might justifiably think these tours should be one of the first things they look for on arriving in a new destination – and here's why you too should think seriously hopping on one in Malta.   Firstly, when you...