Malta is sunny and steeped in history.

Malta

Malta packs an extraordinary amount of history, culture and Mediterranean charm into its small but spectacular islands. With over 7,000 years of civilisation, honey-coloured baroque architecture and crystal-clear blue lagoons, Malta is unlike anywhere else in Europe. A short flight from Ireland, it rewards both the curious traveller and the sun-seeker in equal measure.

Malta is one of the Mediterranean’s best-kept secrets — a tiny archipelago with an outsized personality. The capital, Valletta, is a UNESCO World Heritage city packed with baroque palaces, grand churches and some of the finest museums in Southern Europe. The fortified cities of Mdina and Vittoriosa offer a step back into medieval times, while the remarkable megalithic temples — older than Stonehenge — speak to a civilisation that flourished here thousands of years before recorded history.

Beyond the culture, Malta delivers stunning natural beauty. The Blue Lagoon on Comino island is one of the most photographed stretches of water in the Mediterranean — a crystalline, shallow bay perfect for swimming and snorkelling. Gozo, the quieter sister island, is a world apart: rolling countryside, dramatic clifftops, excellent diving and a genuinely relaxed pace of life.

Malta’s food scene blends Sicilian, North African and British influences in a uniquely Maltese way — rabbit stew, fresh pasta, ftira bread and local wines are all worth seeking out. The island also has a lively nightlife scene centred on Paceville in St Julian’s.

Flying time from Dublin is under three hours, and the year-round mild climate makes Malta an excellent choice from spring through to late autumn. It’s a perfect destination for history lovers, beach seekers and anyone looking for a genuinely different Mediterranean experience.