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For an overview of the country, see our ",{"text":363,"type":350,"marks":364},"Malta travel guide",[365],{"type":366,"attrs":367},"link",{"href":368,"uuid":369,"anchor":17,"target":370,"linktype":29},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fmalta\u002F","9108fc72-4ab7-4ddc-aabf-43a7adf289cd","_self",{"text":372,"type":350},".",[],"0","BodyBlock",{"_uid":377,"body":378,"card":426,"layout":374,"component":375,"article_rounded":87},"da30fa68-459e-4477-800c-c87bab153fa6",{"type":341,"content":379},[380,385,391,396,401,406,411,416,421],{"type":344,"attrs":381,"content":382},{"level":346,"textAlign":17},[383],{"text":384,"type":350},"Valletta and the harbour",{"type":344,"attrs":386,"content":388},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},3,[389],{"text":390,"type":350},"1. St John's Co-Cathedral",{"type":352,"attrs":392,"content":393},{"textAlign":17},[394],{"text":395,"type":350},"Plain on the outside, one of the most lavish churches in Europe inside. It holds Caravaggio's The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist, the only painting he ever signed.",{"type":344,"attrs":397,"content":398},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[399],{"text":400,"type":350},"2. The noon gun at the Upper Barrakka Gardens",{"type":352,"attrs":402,"content":403},{"textAlign":17},[404],{"text":405,"type":350},"The Saluting Battery fires at 12 noon and 4pm every day. Arrive ten minutes early for a place at the railings.",{"type":344,"attrs":407,"content":408},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[409],{"text":410,"type":350},"3. A boat to the Three Cities",{"type":352,"attrs":412,"content":413},{"textAlign":17},[414],{"text":415,"type":350},"A small dghajsa, the traditional water taxi, takes you across the harbour to Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua in a few minutes. The streets here are quieter than in Valletta.",{"type":344,"attrs":417,"content":418},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[419],{"text":420,"type":350},"4. Enclosed balconies and narrow lanes",{"type":352,"attrs":422,"content":423},{"textAlign":17},[424],{"text":425,"type":350},"Wander Valletta without a plan, ideally early in the morning. The whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.",[],{"_uid":428,"body":429,"card":476,"layout":374,"component":375,"article_rounded":87},"75e4fd33-ef1a-4ac8-adc0-4dd0767798a3",{"type":341,"content":430},[431,436,441,446,451,456,461,466,471],{"type":344,"attrs":432,"content":433},{"level":346,"textAlign":17},[434],{"text":435,"type":350},"Inland",{"type":344,"attrs":437,"content":438},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[439],{"text":440,"type":350},"5. Mdina in the evening",{"type":352,"attrs":442,"content":443},{"textAlign":17},[444],{"text":445,"type":350},"The old walled capital is known as the Silent City. Come once the day-trippers have left and walk the streets by lamplight.",{"type":344,"attrs":447,"content":448},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[449],{"text":450,"type":350},"6. The catacombs in Rabat",{"type":352,"attrs":452,"content":453},{"textAlign":17},[454],{"text":455,"type":350},"Just outside Mdina lie St Paul's Catacombs, underground burial chambers from Roman times.",{"type":344,"attrs":457,"content":458},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[459],{"text":460,"type":350},"7. The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum",{"type":352,"attrs":462,"content":463},{"textAlign":17},[464],{"text":465,"type":350},"An underground burial complex cut into the rock more than 5,000 years ago. Only a few small groups are allowed in each day, so book weeks ahead.",{"type":344,"attrs":467,"content":468},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[469],{"text":470,"type":350},"8. The Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra temples",{"type":352,"attrs":472,"content":473},{"textAlign":17},[474],{"text":475,"type":350},"Two temple complexes on the south coast overlooking the sea, among the oldest free-standing structures in the world.",[],{"_uid":478,"image":479,"theme":16,"author":16,"component":486,"caption_text":487,"caption_title":481,"image_caption":16},"4b4f4b1a-6946-4aee-994f-51c0ac1fc2dd",{"id":16,"alt":480,"name":16,"focus":16,"title":481,"width":323,"height":324,"source":325,"filename":482,"copyright":483,"fieldtype":19,"meta_data":484,"public_id":485,"aspect_ratio":329,"content_type":330,"is_external_url":87},"Turquoise water in the Blue Lagoon on Comino","The Blue Lagoon, Comino","https:\u002F\u002Fres.cloudinary.com\u002Fpicolo\u002Fimage\u002Fupload\u002Fv1\u002FPicolo\u002FCountry\u002FMalta\u002Fblue-lagoon-comino-malta.jpg","Sergey Konstantinov",{"alt":480,"title":481},"Picolo\u002FCountry\u002FMalta\u002Fblue-lagoon-comino-malta","FullImage","Photo: Sergey Konstantinov \u002F Unsplash",{"_uid":489,"body":490,"card":555,"layout":374,"component":375,"article_rounded":87},"02e10f7f-8d7a-468f-afb6-d9f8cbff0fa5",{"type":341,"content":491},[492,497,502,507,512,517,522,527,532,537,542],{"type":344,"attrs":493,"content":494},{"level":346,"textAlign":17},[495],{"text":496,"type":350},"Sea and coast",{"type":344,"attrs":498,"content":499},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[500],{"text":501,"type":350},"9. The Blue Lagoon on Comino",{"type":352,"attrs":503,"content":504},{"textAlign":17},[505],{"text":506,"type":350},"Turquoise water in a channel between Comino and a tiny islet. In summer it fills with boats by midday. Take the first boat from Ċirkewwa or Sliema, or go in May or October.",{"type":344,"attrs":508,"content":509},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[510],{"text":511,"type":350},"10. The Blue Grotto",{"type":352,"attrs":513,"content":514},{"textAlign":17},[515],{"text":516,"type":350},"Small boats leave Wied iż-Żurrieq for the sea caves on the south coast. In the morning the water glows blue inside.",{"type":344,"attrs":518,"content":519},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[520],{"text":521,"type":350},"11. Swim at St Peter's Pool",{"type":352,"attrs":523,"content":524},{"textAlign":17},[525],{"text":526,"type":350},"A natural rock pool near Marsaxlokk where locals jump from the cliffs. No sand, but crystal-clear water.",{"type":344,"attrs":528,"content":529},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[530],{"text":531,"type":350},"12. The Marsaxlokk fish market",{"type":352,"attrs":533,"content":534},{"textAlign":17},[535],{"text":536,"type":350},"On Sunday mornings the harbour fills with stalls, and the colourful luzzu boats bob side by side. Have a fish lunch at one of the restaurants on the quay.",{"type":344,"attrs":538,"content":539},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[540],{"text":541,"type":350},"13. Golden Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa",{"type":352,"attrs":543,"content":544},{"textAlign":17},[545,547,554],{"text":546,"type":350},"Malta's best sandy beaches are in the north-west of the island. See more in ",{"text":548,"type":350,"marks":549},"the best beaches in Malta",[550],{"type":366,"attrs":551},{"href":552,"uuid":553,"anchor":17,"target":370,"linktype":29},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fmalta\u002Fbest-beaches-malta","63a43c40-5ac5-4008-9190-71e9ee7f504e",{"text":372,"type":350},[],{"_uid":557,"body":558,"card":593,"layout":374,"component":375,"article_rounded":87},"519fce37-8f40-4c43-961e-02a0ad27657d",{"type":341,"content":559},[560,565,570,583,588],{"type":344,"attrs":561,"content":562},{"level":346,"textAlign":17},[563],{"text":564,"type":350},"Beyond the main island",{"type":344,"attrs":566,"content":567},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[568],{"text":569,"type":350},"14. A day or two on Gozo",{"type":352,"attrs":571,"content":572},{"textAlign":17},[573,575,582],{"text":574,"type":350},"The ferry from Ċirkewwa takes around 25 minutes. Read more in our guide to ",{"text":576,"type":350,"marks":577},"Gozo",[578],{"type":366,"attrs":579},{"href":580,"uuid":581,"anchor":17,"target":370,"linktype":29},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fmalta\u002Fgozo\u002F","1883ac58-8c14-443c-a7f7-8b97af257459",{"text":372,"type":350},{"type":344,"attrs":584,"content":585},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[586],{"text":587,"type":350},"15. Diving",{"type":352,"attrs":589,"content":590},{"textAlign":17},[591],{"text":592,"type":350},"Malta and Gozo have clear water, wrecks and caves. Many dive centres offer try dives for beginners.",[],{"_uid":595,"body":596,"card":643,"layout":374,"component":375,"article_rounded":87},"bffbe81d-f205-4713-b34d-9913160d165f",{"type":341,"content":597},[598,603],{"type":344,"attrs":599,"content":600},{"level":346,"textAlign":17},[601],{"text":602,"type":350},"Good to know",{"type":604,"content":605},"bullet_list",[606,614,621,628],{"type":607,"content":608},"list_item",[609],{"type":352,"attrs":610,"content":611},{"textAlign":17},[612],{"text":613,"type":350},"Buses cover the whole island but are slow at rush hour. The ferry between Sliema and Valletta is quicker than the bus.",{"type":607,"content":615},[616],{"type":352,"attrs":617,"content":618},{"textAlign":17},[619],{"text":620,"type":350},"Malta drives on the left.",{"type":607,"content":622},[623],{"type":352,"attrs":624,"content":625},{"textAlign":17},[626],{"text":627,"type":350},"In summer the villages hold their festa, feasts for their patron saint with fireworks and processions.",{"type":607,"content":629},[630],{"type":352,"attrs":631,"content":632},{"textAlign":17},[633,635,642],{"text":634,"type":350},"For where to base yourself, read ",{"text":636,"type":350,"marks":637},"where to stay in Malta",[638],{"type":366,"attrs":639},{"href":640,"uuid":641,"anchor":17,"target":370,"linktype":29},"\u002Fen-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fmalta\u002Fwhere-to-stay-in-malta","a6cfcd5f-caf5-4864-8a8c-0fe5f04e7e6e",{"text":372,"type":350},[],{"_uid":645,"body":646,"card":693,"layout":374,"component":375,"article_rounded":87},"aef4a5ce-4e9c-40d2-956c-62b211a502d9",{"type":341,"content":647},[648,653,658,663,668,673,678,683,688],{"type":344,"attrs":649,"content":650},{"level":346,"textAlign":17},[651],{"text":652,"type":350},"Frequently asked questions about things to do in Malta",{"type":344,"attrs":654,"content":655},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[656],{"text":657,"type":350},"What should you not miss in Malta?",{"type":352,"attrs":659,"content":660},{"textAlign":17},[661],{"text":662,"type":350},"Valletta with St John's Co-Cathedral, Mdina, the temples on the south coast, the Blue Lagoon on Comino and the fish market in Marsaxlokk. If you have time, take the ferry to Gozo too.",{"type":344,"attrs":664,"content":665},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[666],{"text":667,"type":350},"How many days do you need in Malta?",{"type":352,"attrs":669,"content":670},{"textAlign":17},[671],{"text":672,"type":350},"Three days cover Valletta, Mdina and a boat trip. To also see Gozo, Comino and the temples, allow a week.",{"type":344,"attrs":674,"content":675},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[676],{"text":677,"type":350},"What is there to do in Malta in winter?",{"type":352,"attrs":679,"content":680},{"textAlign":17},[681],{"text":682,"type":350},"Winter is good for exploring Valletta and Mdina, the temples, the museums and the coastal paths. It is mild, but too cool to swim for most people.",{"type":344,"attrs":684,"content":685},{"level":387,"textAlign":17},[686],{"text":687,"type":350},"Do you need to book the Hypogeum in advance?",{"type":352,"attrs":689,"content":690},{"textAlign":17},[691],{"text":692,"type":350},"Yes. Only a few small groups are allowed in each day, and tickets often sell out weeks ahead.",[],{"_uid":695,"theme":16,"author":16,"component":696,"author_name":16,"author_text":16,"author_image":697,"section_overline":698,"facebook_share_link":699,"instagram_share_link":700},"634dc936-19dd-4f68-a257-1e047858252d","ArticleFooter",{"id":17,"alt":17,"name":16,"focus":17,"title":17,"filename":16,"copyright":17,"fieldtype":19},"Enjoy Malta",{"id":16,"url":16,"linktype":29,"fieldtype":30,"cached_url":16},{"id":16,"url":16,"linktype":29,"fieldtype":30,"cached_url":16},{"_uid":702,"card_type":703,"component":704,"filter_by":705},"96da5c96-e170-41f4-8aac-d50bf54080df","Articles","PaginatedArticles",{"_uid":706,"plugin":707,"values":708},"ba8d2f02-bf93-45cd-b72e-359a51286f12","storyblok-tags-select",[318],"Article",{"id":16,"alt":321,"name":16,"focus":16,"title":322,"width":323,"height":324,"source":325,"filename":299,"copyright":326,"fieldtype":19,"meta_data":711,"public_id":328,"aspect_ratio":329,"content_type":330,"is_external_url":87},{"alt":321,"title":322},"things-to-do-in-malta","en-gb\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinations\u002Feurope\u002Fmalta\u002Fthings-to-do-in-malta",-50,[318],228768758018104,"7ab4a50d-be8f-4638-9d38-088b3c66695a","2026-10-30T12:25:48.010Z",[720],{"id":721,"name":722,"slug":723,"published":95,"full_slug":724,"is_folder":87,"parent_id":725},236228634818630,"Ting å gjøre på Malta","ting-a-gjore-pa-malta","nb-no\u002Fpicolo\u002Fdestinasjoner\u002Feuropa\u002Fmalta\u002Fting-a-gjore-pa-malta",228768756514870]