Malta island: the ultimate short break holiday destination

Malta has been a popular holiday destination for many years thanks to its Mediterranean climate, wealth of history and culture, and the warm welcome. Many people visit for a week or more, but Malta is also an ideal destination for a short break.

Mild winters mean it Malta is popular all year round, with hours of sunshine averaging 5-6 even through the winter months. During July and August, you can expect around 12 hours of sunshine per day. Average temperatures peak around 27°C in the height of summer, and in the winter daytime temperatures average a mild 13°C.

Local time is just one hour ahead of GMT, and the flight time from the UK is around 3.5 hours, so Malta is in easy reach for a long weekend or short break. Flights to Malta are available through several operators, with departures from London Gatwick as well as from many regional airports in the UK. There is a regular shuttle service between the airport in Luqa and hotels in Malta, or you can take a taxi or bus.

Malta tourism is very important to the region and the Malta Tourism Authority is committed to promoting sustainable tourism and providing a quality service to its visitors. In 2017 over 1.7 million people chose Malta as their holiday destination. More holidaymakers travel to Malta from the UK than from any other country. English is widely spoken, with both English and Maltese being official languages on the islands.

Malta Island is by far the largest of the 21 islands which make up the Maltese Archipelago. Just two of the other islands are inhabited, namely Gozo and Comino. There are three UNESCO world heritage sites on the Maltese islands: the historic city of Valletta, the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, and the Megalithic Temples. There are seven Megalithic Temples in total. Seven are on Malta Island, and two can be found on the island of Goo.

With its relaxed, friendly atmosphere and plenty for people of all ages to see and do, Malta is loved by families and couples alike. A Malta honeymoon is hard to beat. Sandy beaches, turquoise blue sea and the picture-perfect architecture typical of the Mediterranean make the perfect honeymoon setting. Holidaymakers looking for an active break can enjoy scuba diving off the island’s coast, or other water sports such as windsurfing and water skiing. On dry land horse riding is popular. Malta’s coastline boasts many beautiful beaches, 12 of which have been awarded Blue Flag status, including Fond Ghadir Bay, Bugibba Perched Beach in St Paul’s Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha Bay.

If you want to explore beyond the place where you are staying on the island, there are plenty of Malta tours to choose from or you can set your own itinerary and head off to all the places you’d love to visit.

Valletta

The capital city, Valletta has always been busy by day but used to have the reputation of being a sleepy town by night with little to attract tourists to visit in the evening. This has all changed now, and whilst the atmosphere is more relaxed by night, there is plenty to do with a wide choice of bars and restaurants as well as nightclubs.

Having been the main administrative town of Malta for centuries, Valletta is home to many historical places of interest. The striking new Parliament House was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, and was built using limestone from Gozo. Construction was completed in 2015. Piano was also responsible for the most recent City Gate – the fifth to have stood at the entrance to the city, with the first having been built in 1569. Valletta’s newest gallery and museum is the Muża, which was developed as part of Valletta being selected as European City of Culture 2018 (jointly with Leeuwarden in the Netherlands). The museum sits within the historic building of the Auberge d’Italie, a historic building which was once home to the Knights of the Order of St John.

The Is-Suq tal-Belt covered market is an essential item on your agenda if you are a foodie. Dating back several centuries, the market building stood derelict for years. Now the newly restored market houses food stalls and outlets serving a vast range of cuisine from all around the world in elegant surroundings.

The Pageant of the Seas is an event which was first held in 2016 at the Grand Harbour. Now held annually, the pageant included carnival floats on boats, boat races, a swimming race and more.

Paceville

Popular with younger people thanks to its vibrant nightlife, Paceville is the ideal place if you are looking for plenty of entertainment. In addition to its bars and clubs, Paceville also has the island’s biggest cinema complex, a bowling alley and a large shopping centre. The nearest beach, St George’s Bay, is a manmade beach.

Mdina Old City

The fortified city of Mdina is steeped in history and was Malta’s capital city until medieval times. Legend has it that St Paul lived here for some time in a grotto just beyond the city walls. In Mdina, you can see some remarkable examples of baroque and medieval architecture. The city is home to Malta’s oldest church, St Paul’s Cathedral and San Anton Palace, where the President of Malta lives.

A visit to Mdina Glass makes a fascinating trip. You can see the glassblowers at work, crafting a wide range of glassware from traditional vases to contemporary lampshades.

Ta’Qali

Malta’s national park, Ta’Qali has been created on the site of an old RAF airfield. The Ta’Qali Crafts village is the perfect place to pick up a souvenir. Choose from finely crafted pieces of gold filigree from local goldsmiths, sculptures, lace and Mdina glass.

Marsaxlokk

Marsaxlokk is a traditional fishing village with a pretty harbour filled with brightly coloured fishing boats. Dine at one of the many harbourside restaurants, which prepare and serve fish fresh from the latest catch.

Wherever you travel to on the islands you can expect a warm welcome. With plenty of flights from the UK, a sunny climate, quality accommodation and plenty to do whatever your interests, Malta truly has something to tempt everyone.

While you take care of booking your Malta holiday, let us take care of the insurance for you. At Fish Insurance we offer travel insurance to cover a wide range of different needs, from those over 50, to those with medical conditions and disabilities. You can find out more by visiting our Travel Insurance page.