Malta, a small European archipelago just south of Sicily, Italy, is perfect for a short getaway vacation. This island nation is a captivating blend of ancient history, beautiful coastlines, and a vibrant culture. Its compact size makes it incredibly easy to explore, allowing you to discover centuries-old ruins, stunning blue lagoons, and charming fortified cities all within a few days! For any traveler, Malta offers an unforgettable experience that packs a lot into a small package.
Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored by Norwegian Cruise Line, which is how I traveled to Malta.
I had the opportunity to visit Malta while on a Norwegian Cruise Line European cruise that also included Greece and Italy. I’ll admit: I did not know anything about Malta before booking this cruise, so I did a lot of research before the cruise started to make the most of visiting this island country with a long and rich history.
The cruise ship was docked for only one day, so my brother and I chose what we wanted to see and do the most. If you read my post on the apps I recommend when traveling, you might already know what I am going to say…I used Google Maps to help me see attractions, landmarks, and where they are located in relation to Valletta, the capital (where the ship was docked). After using Google Maps (and Google in general), my brother and I chose to see three attractions before heading back to the capital to get food and explore.
First…how do I get there?
If you are not visiting while on a cruise like I did, the most straightforward way to get to Malta is to fly from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to Malta International Airport (MLA). From the airport, you can easily get a taxi to take you to your accommodation! Click here to check destinations from the airport and their respective taxi fares. If you are interested in renting a car on your trip, click here to learn how to rent a car from the MLA airport and how to get your rental car when you arrive.
Malta might be a small country, but it has lots of things to do and see, including historical sites (such as temples and churches), beaches, hiking, and scuba diving.
Historical sites to visit in Malta
- The capital city of Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Valletta City Gate, which opens the city’s walls
- National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta
- The Lascaris War Rooms in Valletta, an underground complex of tunnels and chambers that housed the World War II Headquarters from where the island’s defense was conducted
- The ancient city of Mdina, the country’s former capital from antiquity to the medieval period
- Ħaġar Qim Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Mnajdra Temple, dating back over 5000 years
- Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, burial chambers dating back to 4000 BCE, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- St. John’s Co-Cathedral, completed in 1578
- Ġgantija temple complex, a UNESCO world heritage site that predates the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge, on Gozo island
- Victoria Lines: 19th-century British fortification wall spanning the main island ( island of Malta)
- Dwejra Tower, a watchtower that was originally completed in 1652, on Gozo island
- Other temples of Malta that are also UNESCO World Heritage sites are:
- Ta’ Ħaġrat
- Skorba
- Mnajdra
- Tarxien
Malta Beaches
- Golden Bay
- Riviera beach
- Ġnejna beach
- St. Thomas Bay
- Għadira Bay
- Sliema beach
- Hondoq ir-Rummien
- Ramla beach, on Gozo island
- Hondoq ir-Rummien, on Gozo island
- Blue Lagoon, on Comino island

Popular attractions around the Maltese islands
- Blue Grotto: sea caves
- Popeye Village theme park
- Upper and Lower Barrakka gardens, in Valletta
- Blue Lagoon, on Comino island
- Santa Maria caves, on Comino island
- Inland Sea Dive Site, on Gozo island

Scuba Diving in Malta
Malta is a fantastic place to scuba dive! Scuba diving is available mainly on Malta (the main island) and Gozo island. What makes Malta a popular place to scuba dive is not only because of the nice weather and clear blue water, but also because it offers divers the unique experience of seeing shipwrecks during dives. A popular wreck dive site is the Um El-Faroud wreck, which is on the southern side of Malta (the main island). Other popular diving spots include the Blue Hole and Reqqa Point, both on Gozo island.
If you are an avid scuba diver, make sure to book reservations well in advance for the sites you want to dive to!
How I got around the island
After researching attractions, my brother and I decided to visit Blue Grotto, Dingli Cliffs, and Golden Bay beach. After we left the port, there were lines of taxis waiting to pick up patrons. There is no rapid transit in Malta, so taxis or Uber were our options. After talking to a driver about how much it would cost for us to go to the three attractions we wanted, we decided to take a taxi. We decided on the taxi because the driver was going to stay with us all day, like having our own personal driver for the day!
My brother and I first went to see Blue Grotto, the most popular attraction in Malta. Blue Grotto features sea caves that you can access by boat. Tickets cost 10€ per person. If you rent a car and drive yourself, parking is free. Each boat holds around 10-12 people. Our wait was not too long because there were a lot of boats out taking people to see the caves. Our taxi driver waited in the parking lot until we were done.
After the Blue Grotto, our driver took us to see the Dingli Cliffs, about a 15 minute drive from Blue Grotto. The Dingli Cliffs are beautiful scenic cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean sea, with a chapel nearby that marks the area’s highest point. Nature and photographer lovers will love seeing the island’s rugged coastline and the waves of the sea crashing into the cliffs!
Our last stop was Golden Bay beach, a 20-minute drive from the Dingli Cliffs. Golden Bay beach is a very popular beach for locals and tourists to visit. To the right of the beach, there is a hotel (Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands), and some of the beach is part of hotel property; the rest of the beach is open to the public.
What I love about this beach is that the beach looks enclosed, as if it’s a private beach, because of the hotel on the right side and the cliffs on the left side. If you decide to go to Golden Bay beach, make sure to wear water shoes because the floor is a little rocky. The waves were calm and the water was warm. There is a small place to get food and drinks right behind the beach (Munchies Golden Bay–Spiaggia D’Oro).
We spent about 3 hours on the beach until the driver came to pick us up. Our driver dropped us off at the capital so we could explore before walking back to our ship. We saw Triton Fountain, Floriana Garden, Castille Palace, and walked along the streets of Valletta. Valletta has narrow and somewhat hilly streets, Baroque architecture, and its defensive walls, reminding you of its history. Valletta is a very walkable city, so you don’t need to worry about needing transportation to get around.

What not to miss when visiting Malta
- Golden Bay beach
- Blue Grotto
- Visiting the Triton Fountain, Floriana Gardens, and walking around Valletta
- Walking the Valletta Waterfront
- Visiting St. John’s Co-Cathedral
- Visiting Ħaġar Qim Temple
- Seeing Mdina Gate
I hope this post has helped you decide what you want to see in Malta. For those who are looking for a short getaway, it’s of course best to stay on the main island (Malta) and take ferries over to the smaller islands if you wish. If you have time, consider visiting Gozo and/or Comino as well to make your vacation even more enriching.