Top Things to do
The following is a list of recommended things to do while in Malta.
| 1 | Attend an opera, drama, music and ballet performance between October and May at Valletta's Manoel Theatre, the second-oldest theatre in Europe or at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. |
| 2 | Go to the beach. The popular beaches are largely concentrated in the northwest of Malta. Among the most popular are Paradise Bay, Golden Bay, Ghadira Bay, Armier Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha Bay whilst in the south the popular beach is Pretty Bay. In Gozo, you can enjoy an unspoilt sandy beach at Ramla il-Hamra. Almost in all beaches one can hire deckchairs, beach umbrellas and water sports equipment. |
| 3 | Chill out on the barely inhabited island of Comino. A few small bays, such as Blue Lagoon, are the main attractions. |
| 4 | Visit typical Maltese fishing communities such as Marsaxlokk and eat fresh fish at the family-run tavernas while enjoying the sight of nets and colourfully painted boats crowding the waterfronts. |
| 5 | Hire a car. The island is small, its network of roads is gradually improving and though the driving may sometimes leave you breathless, it is as safe as anywhere else. |
| 6 | Visit a village feast. The Maltese festa is one week of non-stop celebrations marked by the most beautiful fire-works when it is dark. The band music, the street decorations and the different colours and traditions distinguish one village festa from another. |
| 7 | Cruise island by boat. Round-Malta and Round-Gozo cruises give you the opportunity to experience some of the Mediterranean's most stunning sights as you sail past the imposing bastions of Valletta and Grand Harbour, the history-laden Three Cities, and the chic, commercial centres of Sliema and St Julian's. |
| 8 | Go shopping. In Malta there are no major malls. In contrast, the narrow streets of Valletta, Sliema, Mdina/Rabat and Victoria have a wealth of smaller shops hidden away around every corner. Markets are also very popular and the chief markets in Valletta are the open market on Merchant Street and the huge Sunday market at St. James Ditch. Most markets sell everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to collectibles, and form clothes to live animals. Markets take place in the mornings and the stallholders will have packed away by noon. |
| 9 | Enjoy the local night life by visiting the unlimited number of bars, clubs and discotheques as well as casinos around the Islands especially in the Paceville, St.Julians, Sliema area and Bugibba. |
| 10 | Play golf. Malta has only one golf course (18 hole), at the Royal Malta Golf Club, found in the centre of the island, in an oasis of green, at Marsa. It is a very pleasant course and the Clubhouse combines British charm with the blessings of Maltese sunshine. Visitors can join on a daily or weekly basis, and lessons are available from the resident professional. Reservations are recommended as this is currently the only golf course on Malta. |
| 11 | Play tennis and squash. Tennis is very popular in Malta and apart from Marsa Sports Club and the Malta Tennis Federation in Sliema, most four and five star hotels have their own courts, with excellent facilities for tennis and squash players. |
| 12 | Attend a traditional Maltese bocci game. This is very popular at village level with an organised league and competitions played between the months of April and October. |
| 13 | Climbing. For a thrilling experience, try climbing the cliffs at Dingli, accompanied by an experienced guide. The experience is breathtaking, the view spectacular. |
| 14 | Horse riding is an offer at various locations on Malta. You can ride for one or two hours, following trails along the costal paths overlooking the beaches, or along the island’s least-spoiled countryside. The helpful, sociable guides at such riding centres, offer assistance to both experienced riders and complete novices. Given that no experience is necessary children are also welcome. |
| 15 | Attend a horse racing. Jockeys do not ride the horses but are pulled along behind on a trap. The track is at Marsa and meetings in winter (from October to May) are held on Sunday afternoon whilst in summer they are held in the evening during the week. Programmes normally consist of seven trotting races and one flat race. |
| 16 | Fit in some Windsurfing, which has become very popular in Mellieha Bay, St Pauls Bay or Bahar Ic-Caghaq. |
| 17 | Go scuba-diving or snorkelling, which is possible year-round with diving sites ranging from caves, steep drop-offs and wrecks. The principal sites are: Tugboat Rozi, a tug deliberately sunk just north of Mtarfa point; Mtarfa Point, a great site with caves, reefs, promontories and tunnels at depths of 15-30m; Cirkewwa Arch, with underwater walls and a magnificent arch where you can find diverse fish; L-Ahrax Point, shallow but stunning, with an impressive drop-off and rich marine life; St.Paul’s Islands, with a reef wall which drop 34m to a sandy bottom; and Anchor Bay, with many caves and passageways. Experienced divers should check out the unspoiled bays of Fomm ir-Rih and Ras ir-Raheb, both a little south of Gnejna Bay. Both snorkellers and divers should fly a code-A flag of tow a surface marker buoy to alert speedboat traffic. |
Whether you’re seeking action or relaxation, tranquility or excitement, you can count on finding it in Malta!