Malta & Gozo

Listen to our Malta & Gozo podcast and follow in the footsteps of Andrew and Emily from Along Dusty Roads with our guide to Malta & Gozo... 

The sun-drenched Maltese archipelago lies slap bang in the centre of the Mediterranean, around 93 km south of Sicily and 288 km north of Africa. There are three main islands within the archipelago including Malta, Gozo and Comino.

Valletta: Valletta is Malta's small, but perfectly formed capital, built by the Knights of St John on a peninsula measuring just 1km by 600m. Such is the wealth of impressive historical sights packed within Valletta that UNESCO has named the entire city a World Heritage Site. Highlights include Valletta Waterfront, the fortifications and St John's Co Cathedral.

Marsaxlokk: Pronounced Marsa-shlock, this brightly painted fishing village can be reached within a 30-minute drive from Sliema.  Traditionally the wooden fishing boats are painted in eye-popping greens, yellows, reds and whites. Needless to say, the harbour looks as pretty as a postcard.

Mdina: Located in nothern Malta, the honey-coloured city of Mdina is one of Malta's most popular day trip destinations, not least since featuring in Game of Thrones. Wander the shaded alleyways for the perfect selfie back-drop. 

Casa Rocca Piccola: Visit the 16th century palace which is still inhabited by Maltese nobility. Inside Casa Rocca Piccola you'll find the family's private collection of art and antiques. Oh and look out for the photo of a pre-royal Meghan Markle who once visited the house. If you're lucky, the family will tell you the story behind the picture.

Guided tours cost €9 for adults and €5 for students.

Hop on an early morning ferry and go explore the sights of Malta's neighbour, Gozo.  The island's charm is immediate.  It’s greener, more rugged and much smaller than Malta.  Things move at a much slower pace too, with daily life dictated by the seasons, fishing and agriculture. Take a leaf out of Andrew and Emily's book and pay a visit to these two island hotspots while you're there:

Ġgantija Temples:  These ancient temples were discovered in the early 19th century and are thought to pre-date the pyramids of Egypt. A small collection of statuettes and other prehistoric objects found at Ġgantija can be seen in Gozo's Museum of Archaeology.

Ta Mena Estate: This vineyard and farm was founded in 1936 by the Spiteri family.  These days, it's a popular agritourism site, with the farm and vineyard suppyling some 85 organic products to the family's chain of farm shops. Try their sweet tomato paste if you get the chance -  it's deliciously tangy.

Ta’ Mena Estate, Rabat Road Xaghra, Gozo, Malta

Sleep like royalty with a stay at The Palace Malta hotel in Sliema. Set within Malta's main shopping district, this 5-star hotel offers luxurious rooms in a prime location. The hotel is also within easy walking distance  to a range of restaurants, nightlife and the largest promenade on the island. 

For the best rates and availabilty search Ryanair Rooms

Flights to Malta