a guide to malta
exploring one of europe's smallest countries
My trip to Malta stemmed from a 2025 bucketlist goal: to scuba dive somewhere in Europe.
Previously, I’d completed my Open Water qualification in Thailand, and subsequently, my Advanced Open Water in Mexico. Meaning, I’d been spoiled with crystal blue waters and balmy temperatures. While I knew I wouldn’t be spotting clown fish and other tropical marine delights anywhere here in Europe, a country with sunnier climes sounded much more appealing than the chilly waters off the coast of my home in South West England.
The popular spots, such as the Canary Islands of Spain, Greece, and the Azores in Portugal, were all countries I’d already visited. As a keen traveller, I knew I wanted to combine the trip with an exploration of a new place. Enter: Malta.
Malta’s popularity with Brits has skyrocketed in recent years. According to Travel Weekly, it has seen over 30% growth in 2024 and experienced strong year-on-year rises in early 2025. Plus, my TikTok feed had been slowly feeding me a stream of videos showcasing it’s sunkissed yellow buildings, clear blue waters and the bustling streets of its tiny capital city.
key info
Currency: Euro: £1 = 1.19
Language: Maltese & English
Religion: Predominantly Roman Catholic
Visas: British citizens don't need a visa for short visits to Malta, allowing stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period
Weather: Malta has a hot, dry Mediterranean climate with long, sunny summers (June-Sept, 25-35°C) and mild, wet winters (Dec-Feb, 10-17°C), with little rain in summer but significant rainfall November-January. I visited in May and caught a lovely tan.
Airport: Malta International Airport is the country’s only airport. We flew from Stansted, London, with Ryanair for only £60. The best way to reach the airport is via Uber, it cost us only £15 to get to our hotel near Valleta.
my highlights! *:･ﾟ✧
Scuba diving - The primary reason for my trip to Malta? Scuba diving. It’s one of the top destinations in the Mediterranean for diving thanks to its warm weather, clear visibility and marine life. I booked two fun dives with OK Malta, and my mum tried her hand with a tester session in their big outdoor swimming pool. Spoiler alert: she hated it. I, on the other hand, had a great time. I can’t say I saw many interesting creatures on my dive, but we did head into an awesome underwater cave.
Step back in time in the silent city - The old capital of Malta is a sun-kissed, ancient fortress. Located in the West of the country, the fortress city feels like stepping back in time, with its looming walls and views across the countryside. Spend an afternoon wandering around the maze of the ‘Silent City’ or hop onto one of the horse-drawn carriages which line up outside the grand 18th century gate. If, like me, you’re a Game of Thrones fan, then you’ll instantly recognise the location as King’s Landing. We enjoyed lunch at Fontanella Tea Garden, soaking up the pleasant weather on their suntrap terrace before mooching across the neighbouring town of Rabat to explore St Paul’s Catacombs.
Head underground to explore the dark passageways of the archaeological site. Dating back to at least the 3rd or 4th BC, the interconnected tunnels cover over 2000 m2.and are the earliest evidence of Christianity in Malta. Warning, this isn’t an activity for the claustrophobic!
Tours of the tiny capital - Most people visiting Malta gravitate towards the capital city of Valetta, and for good reason. As one of the smallest capital cities in Europe, it’s extremely walkable, packed with restaurants, bars and cafes dotted on its grand staircased streets. Its geography juts out into the bay, offering incredible views of the surrounding ports. We started our trip with a guided walking tour offered by BenGoodTour, a Maltese local and expert on all things history and culture. I’d also recommend checking out St. John’s Co-Cathedral, a glittering site full of European artwork.
Boat rides to the 3 cities - TikTok tried to tell me that I should spend my third and final day in the fishing town of Marsaxlokk. And while I was happy to wander and eat seafood, Ben from our tour insisted that our time would be better spent exploring the three cities. It turns out that getting there is half the fun; The best way to reach the towns is via a traditional Maltese dgħajsa. These wooden catamaran boats can be spotted flittering back and forth across the Grand Harbour, dwarfed by the shadows of neighbouring cruise ships.
Bring cash! Crossings from Valletta (the dock is located here) to Birgu start from only a few euros, whereas longer tours start at around €15 per person.
Once in the 3 cities, I’d recommend wandering around the pretty streets that are considerably quieter than the capital. There are waterside restaurants to tuck into fresh seafood and a few museums to explore, including the Inquisitor's Palace and the Malta Maritime Museum. There is also Birgu Flea Market for browsing vintage knick-knacks on a Sunday. We grabbed lunch at Café Riche and soaked up the pleasant spring weather in their suntrap courtyard.
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Where we stayed - We based ourselves out of Chapter5 Boutique Hotel. It’s located in Ta’ Xbiex, a neighbourhood slightly north of Valetta and only a short bus ride away. It was more affordable than staying in the capital, and I loved the clean rooms and rooftop hot tub.
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