It's easy to see why people keep returning to Malta. As well as its fantastic climate, beautiful, honey-coloured towns, and rich history and culture, Malta is also home to a welcoming, friendly population and many small reminders of home. This blissful, Mediterranean island is also a paradise for nature-lovers and watersports enthusiasts, who love its quaint harbours dotted with colourful luzzus, the enchanting caves and idyllic coves, and its wealth of tranquil, unspoilt countryside.
Flights: UK - Luqa - UK
Accommodation as per hotel details
Meals as per hotel details
Local representative in resort
Transfers between overseas airport and hotel
All local and airport taxes/service charges
SLIEMA (Hotel Plaza)
Sliema is Malta's largest and most cosmopolitan resort and has much to offer including a wide variety of shops and restaurants as well as plenty of character. There is a long seafront promenade and the historic centre of Valletta is only 4.5km away.
Transfer time from Luqa to Sliema: 45 mins approximately.
QAWRA (Hotels Canifor and Qawra Palace)
Qawra is a small and friendly town with a pleasant seafront promenade, a good selection of watersports to choose from and plenty of restaurants, shops and waterfront cafés. Buses are readily available if you wish to explore the island.
Transfer time from Luqa to Qawra: 45 mins approximately.
St Julians
Set across two picturesque bays, St Julians is a vibrant coastal resort yet retains its original fishing-village charm. St Julians is ideal for relaxing days spent soaking up the sun on the large, rocky bathing beach or enjoying the range of watersports on offer. In the evenings, there is a wide range of restaurants and bars to enjoy.
Valletta
Malta's capital is a fortified city rich in intriguing historical and cultural heritage as well as fascinating architecture. You may wish to stroll to the Upper Barracca Gardens for panoramic views of the Grand Harbour or visit St John's cathedral and the Grand Master's Palace - a beautiful building housing the Parliament of the Republic of Malta and the Presidential offices.
Mdina & Rabat
Mdina and its suburb, Rabat, have a long, chequered history. Known as the 'Silent City', Mdina's defence bastions date back to the 9th-century while Rabat is a vibrant testimony to the Maltese way of life and home to the remains of a Roman villa with mosaic floors and catacombs.
Island of Gozo
Nestled just above Malta to the northwest, Gozo is a smaller, more rural island dotted with spectacular scenery and quiet harbour villages. The isle is famously thought to be the legendary island of Ogygia, home to Calypso in Greek Mythology. The island's capital, Victoria, is home to a picturesque cathedral, a pretty main square and a number of interesting museums. Outside of the towns, there are idyllic rocky inlets ideal for snorkelling and swimming.
Caves
A holiday to Malta wouldn't be complete without witnessing some of its famous subterranean caves. Perhaps the most spectacular is the Blue Grotto, a string of sea caves with stupendous rock arches, which can be reached via boat trips from Zurrieq in Malta.
Diving
Malta's warm, crystal clear waters, natural bays and reefs make scuba diving here wonderful. All around the island, there are dive sites, from wartime wrecks and labyrinthine caves to luminous coral reefs. Most of the principal resorts, such as St Julians, have diving schools and centres offering PADI courses for both beginners and experienced divers. The waters around both Malta and Gozo are renowned for their excellent visibility.
The best shopping can be found in Valletta and Sliema. Shops sell everything from souvenirs to essentials. The most popular market is held outside Valletta and is known as the 'Flea Market'. You can pick up some good buys such as woollen goods, Mdina glass and Filigree silver.
Malta offers a good selection of dining options from cafés and promenade snack stalls to bars and restaurants, with cuisine ranging from local produce to international dishes. There are a variety of dishes available for you to try including sword fish, Dott, Grouper (grilled or in tomato sauce), 'Pastizzi' (a ricotta cheesecake) and 'Kinnie' (a bitter sweet orange drink).
Golden Bay and Mellieha Bay are popular beaches with direct bus routes from St Julians, Qawra, Bugibba and Sliema. Qawra and Bugibba have rocky sea coves.
Language: Maltese and English.
Currency: Euro.
Time Difference: + 1 hour (BST).
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