There's something for everyone!

Malta is known for its historical sights and also for its beaches and clear Mediterranean waters, below we list just a few of these options. For such a small island it is amazing the range of things that are available to you.  We would be happy to supply more information on any specialist area that you are interested in.

Beaches in Malta

Malta has beaches for everyone, from windsurfers to sunbathers. Choose from golden sand, red sand, rocks, blue lagoons and even inland seas.  Some beaches and rocky shores are off the beaten track, but worth seeking out for their seclusion.  On larger beaches, you will find cafes or snack bars open during the summer season.  With Malta’s climate, beach life lasts well into October. Enjoy water sports and activities like windsurfing, jet and water skiing, para-kiting and fun rides. You can hire equipment from beach cafes or shops nearby.
The main coastal resorts and larger sandy beaches are in northern part of Malta.  Malta’s most popular beaches are Mellieha Bay, Ghajn Tuffieha and Golden Bay.  For smaller, quieter beaches, try those at the tip of Malta, overlooking Gozo – Paradise Bay and Armier.

Ghajn Tuffieha is a popular sandy beach nestling below hills and an unusually-shaped promontory. It is unspoilt and undeveloped yet has the facilities you need to enjoy a day on the beach sun lounger and umbrella hire, pedallos and a small snack bar. The beach can only be reached down a steep flight of steps or by a gravel track. Ghajn Tuffieha's location means it is not usually as crowded as its neighbour, Golden Bay. However its fine sand and rural surroundings make it the more alluring. The beach is generally safe for swimming but it is prone to strong currents when the wind is to the north-west. A red flag indicates when bathing should be limited to the shallow waters only.
Golden Bay is one of Malta s most popular sandy beaches. Despite this accolade, it is set among countryside and is relatively undeveloped. It does have the facilities you need for the day - a café-restaurant, sun lounger and umbrella hire, and plenty of fun water sports from jet skiing and paragliding to banana boat rides. It has easy access making it suitable for the less mobile or those with small children.  The beach is generally safe for swimming but it is prone to strong currents when the wind is to the north-west. A red flag indicates when bathing should be limited to the shallow waters only.
Mellieha Bay is Malta s largest and most popular sandy beach. It lies on the coast road leading to Cirkewwa and the Gozo ferry. There are no undercurrents here so the bay offers safe bathing and the shallow waters make it ideal for children. Mellieha has all the facilities you need. The old village of Mellieha is perched on the hill above the bay, but you will find plenty of cafes, restaurants and a few small hotels on the coast road itself. There are also kiosks on the fringes of the beach. There is a good choice of fun and sport activities from banana boat rides to pedallo hire. Mellieha is large enough not to become too crowded except at weekends during the peak summer months. It is also popular with windsurfers and water skiers. The north-easterly wind here and the wide inlet provide excellent windsurfing conditions almost all year round.
The Sliema and St Julian's coastline is has plenty of sunbathers during the peak summer months,  from Qui-si-Sana in Sliema to Balluta Bay in St Julian's, it is one long stretch of rocky shore. But still popular sun bathers and swimmers. Steps and handrails are placed every so often allow easy access to the water. There are flat rocks to spread a towel on. The sea here is deep, but generally clean, clear and safe to swim. It is also excellent for snorkelling. The favourite beach areas are: the Tigne' area, Qui si-Sana, Ghar id-Dud, the Exiles and Fond Ghadir. Some are well- known lidos or `beach clubs' though the entire coastline does have public access. The promenade is excellent for long, striding walks in winter, slow strolls on summer evenings You will find plenty of snack bars and restaurants on the coast road and kiosks near the shoreline.
St George’s - the recent major improvement on the former tiny patch of sand that used to be St George’s Bay means that this beach is now larger and properly managed. Facilities are available, and one is less than a minute’s walk from the restaurants, etc of St. Julian’s.
Birzebbugia is a flourishing, but small, seaside resort not far from Marsaxlokk in south-east Malta. Its shoreline hugs St George's although the sandy beach is known as Pretty Bay. It has been a popular bathing spot for Maltese holiday-makers for decades. In more recent years, the bay was artificially filled with sand recovered from the sea and now Pretty Bay is classed as a sandy beach. It lies right in the town centre so there are plenty of shops and restaurants along the coastline.

On or in the water

Scuba Diving The Maltese Islands’ clear blue Mediterranean sea is ideal for scuba diving and is very accessible. All three Islands offer excellent diving experiences with reefs, caves and wrecks to make the dive one of the most interesting in the Mediterranean. The calmness of the sea makes for excellent visibility and the wildlife danger risk is extremely low, so ideal for first time divers and beginners. For the more experienced divers, there are various sites that include archaeological artefacts, some from WWII, some even dating back to the Roman era. The depths of the dives vary, from the very shallow 12-metre Ghar Lapsi dive to Lantern Point, which takes divers to an underwater tunnel that leads down well over 50 metres. There are several types of scuba diving courses & scuba diving activities offered by locally licensed diving schools. Divers who wish to dive without accompaniment Should have the appropriate PADI certification and are required to have a buddy.

Sailing The islands are superb for sailing, there are many boat companies to select from and you could charter for a day (or more) with or without a skipper.  Visit in October and see the exciting Middle Sea Race
Windsurfing is a sport well suited to the Maltese Island's. There is always a location where the winds are favourable.
Canoeing or jetskiing Most beaches or lidos offer some water sports. You can rent jet-skiis, canoes, paddle boats and even windsurfers. Water skiing and paragliding are also offered in some places.
Boat Trips There are a wide range of boat trips including Captain Morgan’s Harbour Cruise seeing the fortifications from the water is quite an experience and the history of the battle that ensued here is fascinating: a full day sailing cruise with lunch takes in all the lovely bays of all three islands; Sunset cruises with music and dancing; round Malta cruises which again take in lovely sites that you may never come across on land and have interesting commentary on the islands history.  Don’t miss the opportunity to take a boat trip to Comino’s Blue Lagoon, the ultimate in azure water.
Fishing There are sport-fishing charters that take up to 6 customers for half day and full day trips, we recommend restricting your party to 4, for comfort.  Game fishing: June to December, Extreme bottom fishing: All the year round except August.

Other sporting activities

Horse riding including hacking, lessons for beginners and even polo lessons.
Go-karting - fun for all the family
Paintballing great for a group of friends.
Tennis and Squash Many hotels provide their own tennis and squash facilities. However if you are interested in playing at a sports club this is easily organised.
Trekking/walking Malta has an adundance of historical places and wonderful sites. If you are an avid walker and enjoy discovering new places on foot, then there are a number of splendid walks.
Abseiling and Rock-Climbing and Para-gliding are extremely popular as they can be done almost all year round and there are over 1,200 established climbing routes available.
Archery If you've never had a bow and arrow in your hands then this is an interesting sport to try.
Clay Pigeon Shooting If you've never tried this before either, then Malta is a great place to do it for the first time as it is such a popular sport.
Mountain Biking If you enjoy exploring new places on your own terms then renting a mountain bike is the ideal way of doing it. You can cycle through old villages (but be aware on some of the more rural roads) as well as through the Maltese rough terrain. You can rent bicycles from most scooter and car hire companies.
Jeep Safari this is a fun day out for large groups or individuals. You get the chance to drive round the island and see places that you wouldn't normally see. You can organise a Jeep Safari through our representative.

Want to try your luck?

There are four casinos on the island, the Dragonara Palace Casino situated within the Westin Dragonara grounds, Portomaso Casino located next to the Hilton hotel, Oracle Casino which is in Qawra and  Casino Di Venezia in Birgu

Golf

Malta has just one course, which is one of the oldest golf clubs in Europe, outside the UK, the Royal Malta Golf Club offers 18 holes of golf on a very well maintained course of parkland and flat terrain, It is a par 68 and the men’s length is 5487 whilst the ladies is 5125.  Founded in 1888, the Club moved to its present site in the early 1900s and was designed by British Services Engineers stationed on the island at the time.  It is Adjacent to the Marsa Sports Country Club and many hotels offer a courtesy transport service. Visitors can play any day except Thursday and Saturday mornings.
Visiting players must have a valid handicap certificate to produce if this is not available then the course will accept proof of membership of your home golf course.

Spas in Malta

Spas are generally found in hotels on the island, the hotels we offer that have spas and/or beauty salons are:

Corinthia Palace – The Athenaeum Spa
Corinthia San George – The Apollo Health and Beauty Centre
Hilton Malta Hotel – The Living Well Health Club
Westin Dragonara – Fitness and Beauty Centre

History, Culture and Art

As we have mentioned on several occasions in our introduction to Malta – history really does surround you.  If this is what interests you then it is a paradise with 7000 years of history on your doorstep.  There are so many historical, archaeological and cultural things to see and do that to list them here would be impossible.  We simple mention a few… our representative would be happy to give you much more detail on your area of special interest or on what not to miss.

Megalithic Temples (including Ggantija, in Gozo, the oldest freestanding temple in the world), the underground St Paul’s and St. Agatha’s catacombs, The Knights of St. John’s significant sites, such as Fort St Angelo and Fort Rinella (home to the world’s largest canon). WWII significant sites, such as the Mgarr war shelter, Mtarfa ex-British military buildings, The Armoury and the Maritime Museum in Vittoriosa are not to be missed.
The Museum of Roman Antiquities (commonly referred to as “The Roman Villa”) and various catacombs are to be found in Rabat. In the fortified medieval city of Mdina, visitors will come across everything from Napoleonic troops to flower festivals. The Cathedral and its museum are not to be missed, as well as the torturous Mdina dungeons and the Mdina Experience. For a romantic stroll like no other, wander the lamp lit streets of Mdina at night. Don’t miss the renowned chocolate cake at Fontanella Tea rooms, situated right on the bastion with a spectacular view.

For those who love art, the possibilities are endless – visit the impressive artistic collection at the National Museum of Fine Arts, see the Caravaggio’s Beheading of St. John at St. John’s co-Cathedral and visit the restored al frescos at ‘Norman House’, Palazzo Falzon in Mdina. To view more contemporary work, walk around the exhibits at the St Johns Cavalier Art Centre.