Underrated gems: Why you should visit Malta
A few years ago, a friend and I were discussing places to visit in Europe during spring. We ran through the usual suspects - Spain, France, Portugal etc... without feeling inspired as we had visited many of these countries before and wanted to see something new. After some frustration, we pulled out our phones and looked at an online map. “What about Malta?” my friend asked. I hesitated. “I don’t know anything about Malta, what’s there to do?” “No idea” my friend replied, “but we can find out.” After some googling, we decided to give it a shot and booked a holiday for 5 days in May. At the time, we were not overly excited about it and didn’t think it would be anything special. Little did we know that we were about to have our best trip that year.
Malta is an underrated place to visit in Europe but it has so much to offer to the budding travelite.
Here is why Malta should be on your travel bucket list:
Stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea
Malta’s location in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast makes it a hotspot for amazing panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. With hues of blue and green, its exotic sea is picture prefect and the coastline expands over 190 km with an array of bays, creeks, beaches and caves. My favourite beach is Paradise Bay located in Mellieha, the farthest north point of Malta. It is unique because from the top of the cliffs, it offers an unobstructed view of the islands of Gozo and Comino, two Maltese treasures. Its seclusion and tropical landscape make it the perfect beach to relax and unwind.
The best scuba diving and snorkelling experiences
Malta’s clear sea is ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving and several companies offer reasonably priced opportunities to dive for people of all levels. Some of the amazing sea life in the Mediterranean Sea include parrot fishes, groupers, moray eels, large breams, octopuses and cardinal fish. One of Malta's most popular dive sites is the Blue Hole, located on the west coast of Gozo. Its crystal clear blue waters make it perfect for diving and the marine life includes starfish, fireworms and even sea horses if you are lucky.
A bustling nightlife
I was surprised to discover that Malta has a buzzing nightlife. Saint Julian’s is a bustling town in the eastern region of Malta and the Paceville district is the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights. It offers a number of bars, hookah lounges, restaurants and clubs playing a range of music from salsa to pop and R&B. During the spring and summer, it is a hotspot for young people looking for a great night out but also offers places for more mature crowds and those looking for chilled bars and restaurants.
Maltese treasures: Gozo, Comino and the Blue Lagoon
Gozo and Comino are two beautiful sister islands of Malta. They are renowned for their diving sites, scenic views and relatively untouched beaches. Comino is also home to Malta’s infamous Blue Lagoon, a stunning white sandy beach with crystal clear blue water, perfect for swimming. Several companies can take you to Comino and Gozo from the mainland every hour and the journey usually takes 20mins each way. Several companies also offer sightseeing road tours of each island explaining their rich history and culture.
With so much to do and see in Malta, it is certainly not to be overlooked! Discover more at Get Your Guide.
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