Where is the best place to stay in Malta? Holidays in Malta: the best resorts. List of the most famous casinos in Malta

The main features of the island of Malta, the photo of which you will see in this article, are secluded bays, amazingly blue water, medieval citadels, as well as magnificent churches built in the Baroque style. Every year, tourists from all over the world visit the coast of Malta in order to get acquainted with the architectural monuments of the island, enjoy the taste of seafood or take a walk through the colorful villages. Holidays in Malta can be safely recommended to every person. Do you prefer to sunbathe without rushing anywhere? In this case, the beaches of this resort will be the perfect solution for you. Those who choose active entertainment for themselves should go sightseeing on the island.

The Maltese archipelago, located in the Mediterranean Sea, includes 3 islands - Comino, Gozo and Malta. At the same time, the latter is incredibly colorful and miniature, as you can see by finding the island of Malta on the map. Its length is 27 km with a width of 14.5 km. This state was previously owned by the Arabs, the Romans, Napoleon, and the Queen of England. Therefore, in order to see all its sights, tourists will need more than one week, although we can safely say that the time spent is worth it.

Malta in autumn

The climatic conditions of autumn in this place have a diverse characteristic. Holidays in Malta in September are not suitable for everyone. Here begins the velvet season, which can both please and grieve. Periodically, one has to complain about the rapid change in the weather associated with the proximity of the Mediterranean winter. Although if you take it as a whole, then a holiday in Malta in September is incredibly romantic and hot.

In October, the temperature is not so high, although there is still the opportunity to enjoy the echoes of summer. The number of cloudless clear days is getting smaller. This is due to the increase in precipitation. Although they are short-lived and, apart from the increase in humidity, do not cause other inconveniences. It is likely that showers are not the most joyful phenomenon for people, but this cannot be said about nature. After a hot summer, it comes to life before our eyes, covered with colorful flowers and greenery, which excites the imagination of vacationers on the island of Malta. Holidays in October here suggest that tourists will think over their wardrobe more carefully than usual. You can't rely on temperatures alone. It is also necessary to take into account the piercing winds, due to which the coolness is perceived "sharper", and the periodic absence of the sun. You need to bring a windproof jacket, comfortable hiking shoes, trousers and a pair of raglans and long-sleeved sweaters with you.

Climatic conditions in November are ambiguous here. From this month, all the islands begin to "cool down". Autumn is finally taking shape. But we must remember that in this place it is different from ours. It is still very warm during the day, and the sun occasionally peeks out in the sky. By the way, in November the duration of sunshine is equal to that which is recorded in the summer in the northwestern region of Europe. There is a huge advantage in traveling to the island of Malta at this time - holidays, the prices for which are usually quite high here, become more affordable at this time (a weekly ticket can be purchased for 25,000 rubles). Hills and valleys are covered with greenery, and near the houses of local residents, bougainvilleas and hibiscus begin to bloom actively. Pumpkins, pomegranates and olives ripen in vegetable gardens and orchards. In general, nature does not plan to go to sleep. Rather, on the contrary, after the downpours that hit the archipelago, it seems to have a 2nd wind, which is what makes Malta beautiful this season. Holidays in November will give pleasure to all nature lovers. Although warm clothes are still worth taking with you.

Valletta

Holidays in Malta are hard to imagine without a visit to Valletta, the capital of the republic. It is better to start your acquaintance with the city with a walk from the City Gate to the Cathedral of St. John, in which every corner is gilded, covered with intricate carvings or painted. Then, sitting in a horse-drawn cab, ride along the fortress walls, admiring the stunning panorama of the Great Harbour. By the way, a cab driver will tell the whole history of the island in a half-hour ride. The final chord will be a boat trip on the "sea taxi" around Valletta. There are a great many of these long, colorful boats.

It is also exciting to travel on rare Bedford buses that carry passengers around the city. These orange and yellow cars went to the Maltese after the British, in fact, as well as mailboxes and red telephone booths. The Maltese are just in love with these buses! They are everywhere: on towels, fridge magnets, ashtrays, mugs… The central interchange of buses is located at the City Gates, from where it is convenient to start the journey to the knights' fortresses (Sengleia, Cospicua and Vittoriosa). In addition, it is not difficult to get to the ruins of megalithic temples, which are at least a thousand years older than the pyramids of Egypt. And, of course, to Mdina - the first capital of Malta, which has a huge number of souvenir shops selling delicate lace, Maltese glass, elegant silver jewelry, as well as models of sailboats.

There are also secluded rocky beaches near Valletta. They can be easily reached by renting a bicycle. Diving is especially good here, because the remains of once sunken ships lie in the clear local waters, colorful fish flock by in whole flocks, and octopuses can be found in the rocks.

Sights of Malta

If we talk about holidays in Malta, then all kinds of excursions are its highlight. Description of all local attractions can take more than one article.

Particularly noteworthy are the ancient megalithic temples (for example, Ggantija, which is located on the island of Gozo), the Ar Dalam and Hypogeum caves, the catacombs of St. Paul and St. Agatha (in Rabat), as well as the temple in Most.

Those who are still more drawn to nature should go to see the cliffs of Ta "Cenc and Dingli Cliffs, as well as the Azure Window, an amazing natural arch. Among the most unusual attractions are the tracks of prehistoric carts in Ta" Cenc, Clapham Junction and on the territory of San Gwann.

Gastronomic delights in Malta

Having arranged a holiday in Malta, be sure to try the rabbit cooked in wine sauce. Each restaurant prepares it differently depending on the wine used. But the best way to feel the flavor of the local cuisine is to be in the bus terminal of the capital, where on the square there is a huge number of stalls stuffed with buns, national sweets, and pies. These treats cost a penny, while allowing you to fully experience Malta "taste".

The beaches of Malta

The sandy beaches of the island stretch along the entire coast, at the border with the sea, turning into a gentle, pleasant shoal.

The most popular beach is Mellieha Bay. In addition, it is the longest: its length is fifty meters of pure golden sand. It is located near Mellieha, in fact, and got its name in his honor.

On the west coast, you should pay attention to the Golden Bay beach - a sandy bay, which is located between two capes.

But on Ain Tuffiha, you will have to go down the stairs from the hotel to be on the beach. This is, of course, a great workout for the muscles, but for families with children, this option may not be the most convenient.

To get to Jnaina Bay, you will need to drive through the town of Mgarr, which is famous for its market, as well as sellers who are accommodating for discounts. The beach is limited by white flat rocks in the form of platforms, and this gives the whole landscape a special charm. The combination of bright azure sea and snow-white rocks is striking in its beauty.

In the central part of the coast is Paradise Bay - a very small sandy beach. Nearby there is a ferry to Gozo. In this place you will also find a staircase from the hotel to the beach.

In the town of Birzebbuja in the southeastern region of the coast of Malta, there is a very quiet and pretty Preity Bay - a great place for a secluded, relaxing holiday.

Right on the beach, you can buy or rent beach accessories (beach mats, sun loungers, swimwear, towels and umbrellas), quench your thirst with all kinds of non-alcoholic soft drinks or cocktails, dine in a restaurant or have a snack in a cafe.

Of the entertainment on the beaches of Malta, the most popular boat trips on water skis, canoes and scooters, as well as parachuting and paragliding. The kids will love the banana ride.

Excursions and entertainment

Tourists will appreciate the widest range of opportunities for active recreation. The Maltese Islands until mid-autumn offer scuba diving, sailing, canoeing and jet skiing, paragliding, skydiving - it's hard to list everything. Fans of the sea will be able to go on a cruise to admire the beauty of the secluded corners of the country and see a lot of interesting things in a short time. But you need to hurry: the navigation season closes at the end of September. Those who are not limited in time can choose bus excursions to explore the archipelago, as well as independent trips in a rental car. Malta is a museum island, striking with the abundance of monuments of forgotten civilizations, which testify to the diversity of its entire history.

But if you are one of those people who welcome everything unusual and new, then you will be interested in a half-hour train tour, whose route runs past the main historical sights, including: the Greek Gate, the Roman Villa, the monastery of St. Dominic.

Splash-and-Fun, amusement park

Located in Bahar ich-Chak, between St. Paul's Bay and Sliema. The park consists of a theme park and a water park, which has the largest water slides in this area of ​​the Mediterranean. There are also 2 swimming pools with parasols and sun loungers. The park features a railway, models of prehistoric animals, roller coasters, carousels, inflatable castles in which children can jump from the heart.

Mediterraneo Marine Park, marine park

It is located near Splash-and-Fun. Here the underwater world is represented by sea lions, Black Sea dolphins, as well as many fish in a huge aquarium. Several times a day, performances are organized in the park, the active participants of which are sea animals.

Popeye Village Amusement Park

The park is located near Mellieha, not far from Enker Bay. In 1980, a film about the sailor Papaya was filmed in Malta. After filming, all the sets were kept, and the set was turned into Popeye Village. This place has a swimming pool, roller coasters, water slides, a lazy river, a children's railway, many attractions, children's electric cars, and a cinema center.

Animated performances and free skiing are held here for children. Weather permitting, visitors are invited on a 20-minute schooner tour along the coast of the bay.

Language classes

Many go to Malta to combine their holidays with learning another language. The resort offers a huge variety of activities, regardless of the training and age of people. In addition to general courses, there are also specialized ones - for example, for people traveling on business trips abroad, or students.

The openness of the inhabitants of the island to foreigners makes it possible to instantly overcome the language barrier - in stiff England it is more difficult to step over oneself. Not every Maltese is fluent in the language, so they are well aware of the difficulties that arise in our country.

The islanders teach in schools, as well as invited teachers from the USA or England - this is necessary when you want to learn how to speak without an accent or train your ear for pronunciation.

Why is Malta so popular with language learners? To begin with, it is worth noting that the prices here are humane. So, the general course will cost you 100 euros per week, and the intensive course will cost you 144 euros. You can live in hostels or in a family, while the latter option costs 120 euros per week, in winter it is cheaper. In addition, the whole of Malta is open for you in your free time: beach holidays, ancient cities, seaside cafes are always at hand. Thus, a trip here is the most enjoyable method of learning a language.

• In this place it is forbidden to appear on the beach without a swimsuit.
• It is customary to tip here.
• It is forbidden to enter the church in beach clothes or in a headdress.
• Smoking is not allowed in public places in Malta. At the same time, citizens can report on those institutions that do not comply with this ban.
• Residents of Malta go to bed at 20:00. Life in the cities comes to a standstill after dark.
• Hotels in Malta have two- and three-pole sockets. You do not need to bring an adapter from home, they can be purchased on the island.
• On the island of Malta, prices are quite high - a six-day stay in a hotel starts from 1800 euros, while taking money with you is not necessary - there are ATMs everywhere.

Possible dangers

Too hot sun can cause heat stroke. Therefore, you need to use any available means of protection: creams, a hat, sunglasses - all this can be purchased near the beach. No need to sunbathe between 11:00-17:00, when the sun is especially harmful.

At sea, due to inattention, you can get a huge number of cuts on underwater sharp stones. They are especially numerous on rocky beaches. In order to return home without wounds and rested, you need to purchase rubber slippers.

Nightlight jellyfish, sea urchins and fireworms are often found close to the beach in shallow water. Communication with these creatures can cause a lot of trouble. Although you can eliminate the burn of a jellyfish yourself: you need to moisten the wound with sea water, then remove the poison and gently rinse with vinegar.

Holidays in Malta: reviews of tourists

Vacationers' opinions about the island differ, although this is mainly due to what time of year they were here. So, from the beginning of spring to mid-autumn, visitors here admire the wonderful climate, turquoise water and excellent opportunities for recreation. But those who want to spend holidays in Malta in October-November have different reviews - the rainy season begins here, which makes few people happy. Although at this moment nature “wakes up”, starting to delight the eye with all its colors. In addition, there is a great opportunity to slowly explore the island with all its many attractions.

The island state of Malta lies at the crossroads of the sea routes of Europe, Africa and Asia. If Italy on the map resembles a woman's boot, then the geographical contours of the nearest neighbor Malta are presented in the form of an elegant footprint from the boot of its many guests and conquerors who have ever set foot on this blessed land. Several miniature islands from ancient times served as a safe haven for travelers, merchants and emigrants who plied the sea. Even the famous pilgrim Odysseus enjoyed the hospitality of the local nymph Calypso for seven long years. By the way, translated from the ancient language of the eternal wanderers of the Phoenicians, Malta is a refuge.

The warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea wash the Maltese archipelago from all sides. The territory occupies several rocky islands. Three of them are so densely populated that the country is now the third most densely populated in the world, although its largest island is smaller than the area inside Moscow's ring road. The rest of the islands are uninhabited, so they attract travelers looking for unusual adventures. And even with all its guests put together, the state is still the smallest in the European Union.

Blue Maltese lagoons annually attract millions of tourists from all over the world. Even stay-at-home Britons traditionally run away from their rains and fogs to these sunny islands. The local mild climate is liked not only by beach lovers.

Over the past seven thousand years of history, countless historical and cultural monuments have accumulated on the islands: from legends about Atlantis in the archipelago and knightly symbols of the mysterious Order of Malta, to traces of Napoleon’s soldiers and British colonialists from the time of Queen Victoria. A fair number of English language schools attract students from all over the world with moderate cost and excellent quality of educational programs. The Mediterranean country was also chosen by those who prefer outdoor activities. Here, nature itself has created favorable conditions for avid yachtsmen, scuba divers and rock climbers.

The number of Russians who want to learn English is growing, combining a relaxing holiday with communication among native speakers. For more than a century and a half, the state was a colony of Great Britain, until the 70s of the twentieth century. The Republic of Malta is still part of the British Commonwealth. Therefore, the second state language, after Maltese, is the language of the great Lord Byron. In the minds of the British, with the light hand of the English poet, the definition of the country as a “garrison greenhouse” was fixed for a long time, hinting at a hot climate and belonging to a great empire. The poem "Farewell to Malta" was written by him during a visit to the island in 1809.

Scuba divers come to Malta all year round. The minimum water temperature in winter is 14 degrees and in summer 24 degrees favors scuba diving. There are several dozen training schools for beginner divers. The oldest Russian underwater club of Moscow State University has been taking its amateurs and professionals to the islands for many years, many of whom have experience of diving in different parts of the world, known for their diving parties. The local rocky coast is famous for grottoes and beautiful marine architecture at depth. Underwater caves do not leave indifferent the most sophisticated divers.

The Maltese archipelago is surrounded by countries on two continents. There are no land borders, only sea ones. To the north, at a distance of 90 km across the strait, the islands border Italian Sicily. Residents of the southern and western coasts, as before, meet sea caravans from Africa. Ancient trade routes of modern Egypt, Libya and Tunisia also cross here. A little further to the east live neighbors on the Greek islands. Loaded caravels of the merchants of the Basque country used to sail from the west, now planes of Spanish airlines arrive.

The three miniature islands of Malta, Comino and Gozo are home to the entire population of the parliamentary Republic of about four hundred people. The other islands do not have cities or villages due to their tiny size. The largest of them, Malta, has a size of 246 square kilometers, which is three and a half times smaller than Moscow. The length of its territory from north to south is 27 km.

The Maltese capital Valletta bears the name of its most famous knight and protector. With his submission in 1566, the construction of a new city began. This happened immediately after the successful victory of the knights of the Order of St. John over the troops of the Ottoman Empire.

Another major tourist city with an Arabic name, Mdina, is known for its car-free nature, which keeps its countless Baroque palaces and Moorish fortresses from destruction.

Malta is devoid of mountain landscape, the highest point is at an altitude of 253 meters above sea level. However, numerous low but steep stone slopes attract beginner climbers. A characteristic feature of the landscape is the absence of freshwater rivers. But the coastline is literally indented with rocky bays.

The Maltese language and its speakers are close to the Greeks and Italians. Now the local population is growing rapidly due to emigrants from North African countries. It is not uncommon for British grandparents to settle on the islands after they retire. Recently, a lot of marriages have been registered between the Maltese and the Russians.

Tourists come to Malta not only to swim in the warm Mediterranean waters and sunbathe on sunny beaches. The rich history of Europe, Africa and the Middle East, with its exciting stories, is fully reflected in the rich culture and luxurious architecture of the Maltese Islands, which attracts curious travelers from all over the world.

Current time in Valletta:
(UTC+1)

Artifacts that are seven thousand years old are stored in local museums. Buildings built long before the Egyptian pyramids still hide the history of the mysterious ancient people who lived on the territory of Malta in prehistoric times. Catholic churches cherish evidence of missionary work on the island of the Apostle Paul, the closest associate and contemporary of Jesus Christ. Italian palazzos, surrounded by works of landscape gardening art, delight experienced artists. The noble medieval knights of the famous Order of Malta left their traces everywhere, full of mystery and romance.

How to get to Malta

By plane

In addition to the obvious option to get to Malta from various cities of Russia with a connection in Moscow, there are other ways: both from the Russian capital and from the regions, various European airlines fly to the capital of Catalonia with a connection at their home airports. Below we list these airlines (cities of connections are indicated in brackets).

• Lufthansa (Frankfurt-on-Main): Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Samara.
• Austrian Airlines (Vienna): Moscow, St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar.
• AlItalia (Rome): Moscow, St. Petersburg.
• Brussels Airlines (Brussels): Moscow.
• Air Berlin (Berlin): Moscow.
• Swiss (Zurich): Moscow, St. Petersburg.
• Air Baltic (Riga): Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad.

From Italy and Greece

On Air Malta airbuses, you can get to Malta from Italian cities: Rome, Bologna, Catania, Reggio di Calabria, Palermo and Milan. In addition, there are several daily flights from Italy by Alitalia and Meridiana. Price from 130 euros.

There is an air connection with Athens. An economy class ticket costs 180-220 euros. Travel time 35 min. Direct flights on Fridays and Tuesdays. The same airline Air Malta has flights with one change on Mondays and Sundays costing from 250 to 350 euros.

Other airlines also operate flights from Greece and Italy to Malta, but with transfers. Sometimes the total flight time can reach 9 hours. (for example, Lufthansa has flights from Athens to Luqa via Frankfurt am Main). In any case, through the Italian cities mentioned above, getting to Malta will not be any problem.

On a ferryboat

Ferries run between the Italian island of Sicily and the Maltese capital. From the pier of the Sicilian towns of Catania and Pozzallo, ferries of the Virtu Ferries company leave for Valletta. There are high-speed flights, designed for 1.5 hours. There are also less high-speed boats that carry passengers from one state to another in 3 hours. The cost of tickets depends on the season and varies from 55 to 100 euros. Children are almost twice the price. The catamaran of the company Jean de la Valette, which can accommodate up to 800 passengers, goes to the Sicilian seaport and back. Another ferry crossing was laid from the Italian Genoa.

Having a Schengen visa allows you to move between European cities and Malta without any border problems.

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Climate and weather in Malta

The hot breath of close Africa is felt on the Maltese Islands, like in no other South European country. And only the northwest wind prevailing in winter, bringing storms and bad weather, reduces the average number of sunny days per year to three hundred. But even the winter "cool" weather does not prevent tourists from sunbathing and swimming in the numerous outdoor pools heated by the southern sun on New Year's holidays. Malta is on the same latitude as Morocco and Tunisia. But the warm Mediterranean winds blowing around the islands from all sides soften the climate, saturating the air with marine freshness.

There is no sweltering African heat in Malta, although once, many years ago, a maximum temperature of 43 degrees was recorded here. The usual summer temperature of 28-35 degrees is balanced by the intensive movement of air masses over the islands, which are very modest in size. In addition, they do not have any mountains or skyscrapers, which usually hold back the refreshing winds in other southern countries.

half a year summer

For half a year, from May to October, this summer lasts here. Russian tourists, who are accustomed to closely monitoring changes in temperature and rainfall in order to dress "according to the weather", can forget about their home habit during their stay in Malta. Typical summer clothes - shorts, T-shirts and sunglasses are not changed even by those who brought a couple of suitcases of dresses and shirts with them. Those who forget to put on baseball caps and hats in the morning are in for trouble in the form of sunstroke and sun-scorched tops. There is no fresh morning and cool evening in the middle of summer. A night temperature of twenty degrees comes to replace the daytime heat of thirty degrees. Only a fresh sea breeze on the coast pleases lovers of walks under the southern stars.

Travelers arriving on a night flight are met with increased air humidity, however, it is common in the Mediterranean countries. But the locals rarely enjoy the quick and warm rain. If a rare rain cloud appears in a bright blue sky, then not for long. The ten-minute rain is again replaced by heat. Therefore, an umbrella is needed here except from the sun. By the way, one more protection from the scorching rays - a thick layer of sunscreen, should not be neglected even in September, when the temperature sometimes warms up above 30 degrees during the day.

Autumn: swimming season continues

In mid-October, autumn comes to Malta. Although it is difficult for an ordinary inhabitant of central Russia to mistake the lush greenery of the surrounding nature and the air warmed up to 20-23 degrees for boring autumn weather. Our compatriot would rather call this time cool summer days, given the swimming season that continues until mid-November and the absence of heavy rains. The sea cools down very slowly under the southern hot sun. The water temperature in November is almost the same as the air temperature. Twenty degrees do not stop Russian tourists from sea bathing.

When going to Malta, at any time of the year, do not forget flip-flops or other open shoes with elastic soles for walking along the rocky coast. Sandy beaches on the islands are very rare, there are only 15 of them. They are mostly man-made. Elsewhere on the coast, people sunbathe on pebbles, sun loungers and artificial pontoons.

Winter: lots of sun and little rain

In December, the so-called "winter rainy season" begins. Oh, heat-loving southerners! They do not know the real torrential rains, dragging on for several weeks under the gloomy sky of our northern side. Therefore, the Maltese call their rare rain in December-January the whole “season”. And the average daily temperature plus 15-18 degrees is called winter. But the still bright sun does not allow the sea to cool down. The water temperature from December to February plus 14-16 allows divers to explore the clear blue waters of underwater caves rich in marine fauna at this time of the year with interest. In winter, the number of tourists in Malta is significantly reduced, but still decent discounts in this cool but warm season attract many people who run away to warm countries from the Christmas cold of their northern homeland.

And spring again

In March, a mild winter gives way to a long-awaited spring. From the end of February, the sun begins to noticeably bake. The already rare storm winds at sea end completely. Nature renews its colors, wild flowers, hibiscus and bougainvillea begin to bloom. The temperature creeps up and quickly crosses the twenty-degree mark during the day. It's time to get on a bike and, under the cool spring sun, go around the islands, emerald from young foliage. 4/5 of the country is not occupied by cities, but in the spring they are covered with green fields and flowering gardens.

Cities and regions

Since 1993, Malta has been divided into 68 municipalities, which are grouped into 6 districts and 3 regions. The districts are named: Outer Harbor (No. 3) and Inner Harbor (No. 1), Gozo and Comino Islands District (No. 6), West (No. 4), North (No. 2) and South East (No. 5) districts. The centers of the districts are the cities around which they were formed.

Regions of Malta

Cities of Malta

Valletta, La Valletta - the capital of the Republic of Malta, named after its founder - a knight, naval commander, master of the Order of St. John Parisot de la Valletta, who defended the city from the Turks.

Valletta is located on the northeast coast of the island of Malta, on a peninsula between Marsamxett and Grand Harbour, at the foot of Mount Sciberras.

The first settlements in this area date back to the 9th century BC. e. In the 7th century BC e. the area belonged to the Greeks, from the VI century BC. e. - the Carthaginians, since 218 - the Romans, then - the Byzantines, and since 869 - the Arabs. In the 11th century, Malta was annexed to Sicily by the Normans, who at the beginning of the 16th century transferred it to the Order of St. John.

The history of the city of Valletta begins with the victory of the Knights of Malta, Jean de La Vallette, over the Turkish troops of Suleiman the Magnificent, after which on March 28, 1566, the Grand Master laid the first stone of the new city with his own hands. The construction work, which was led by the Italian architect Francesco Laparelli da Cortona, was supported by donations from the entire Christian world and was carried out in accordance with all the canons of urban planning. So, special systems were created to drain wastewater and remove garbage from the city, the streets were planned so that the sea breeze cleaned and cooled the air of Valletta. The subsequent development of the city with residential buildings was supervised by the special City Planning Department that exists to this day. According to the rules, it was allowed to build houses only along the streets, decorate their corners with statues, and arrange a well in the courtyard to collect rainwater, it was forbidden to plant gardens in front of the facades. Upon completion of construction, Valletta was surrounded by a moat 1 km long, 20 m wide and 18 m deep.

Since 1570, the construction of the city was continued by Laparelli's student Gerolamo Cassar, who built many significant palaces and churches of the Maltese capital. Trade, crafts and art developed in Valletta. In 1798, Valletta was occupied by Napoleon's troops, who were given a warm welcome by the Knights of Malta, which ultimately made it possible to avoid the destruction of the city. In 1800, the island of Malta came under the rule of England, where it remained until 1974. During World War II, the city was badly damaged by German bombardments, but was rebuilt in peacetime. Since 1974, the city of Valletta has become the official capital of the Republic of Malta. Today the city is an open-air museum full of interesting historical and architectural monuments and attracting a lot of tourists every year.

Mdina is an ancient city in Malta, which was once its capital. The city was formed about 4000 years ago. At the turn of the II-I century. BC e. there was already a fortified Phoenician fortress on this site. The heyday of Mdina fell on the Roman period, when its territory was actually the current city and nearby Rabat. It is known that the Apostle Paul, who landed here after a shipwreck in 60 AD, visited Mdina. e.
The Arabs, having come to power, reduced the size of Mdina, but added more powerful fortifications and a moat to the fortress. The Knights of the Order of Saint John occupied Mdina in 1530.
Mdina, which is dominated by buildings in the Norman and Baroque style, is often called the "Aristocratic City" (Citta Notabile).
It is also worth seeing Rabat - a colorful suburb of Mdina, formed simultaneously with it, but separated by the Arabs from the city in 870 and remaining outside the fortress wall.
Car traffic is prohibited in Mdina.

Sliema is a famous resort in Malta, where the holiday season continues all year round. Sliema is located on the northern coast of the island, in Marsamxett harbor. Formed in the 19th century as a respectable metropolitan suburb, Sliema today is perhaps the most fashionable Maltese city, a center of tourism and shopping. There are also hotels of various "star" and level - from chic, like Crowne Plaza 5 * and Fortina Spa Resort 5 *, to small and democratic "starless" private boarding houses.

St. Julian's is a small resort town located between the fashionable Sliema and Puchville, following it to the west, on the shores of Spinola Bay. St. Julians, which grew out of a small village formed around the local cathedral, is today one of the liveliest resorts in Malta. St. Julians is best known for its excellent restaurants, of which there are a great many in the city.

Puchville is a small town, which has no border with St. Julians that preceded it. This is a disco and bar area with a nightlife that starts around 8 pm and ends by the next morning.

Marsascala is a resort town on the shores of the bay of the same name in the east of Malta. Marsaskala is a fairly large settlement by Maltese standards, with about 9,500 people living in it. The name of the city comes from the words "marsa" and "sqalli" and translates as "Sicilian port".

Cottonera

"Three cities" - Cottonera - a historical area near Marsascala, south of Valletta. The three towns are Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea, south of Valletta, the settlements where the Knights of the Order of Saint John originally settled in 1530. It housed the first residence of the Grand Master in Malta. Later, the knights erected new fortification lines (the Cottoner lines, in honor of Grand Master Nicholas Cottoner) that protected all three cities at once. Today Cottonera is the only place in Europe protected by two rows of fortress walls. Cottonera has many interesting architectural monuments.

Aura and Bugibba are two resort towns in the north of the island of Malta, forming the popular tourist area of ​​St. Paul's Bay. Originally small fishing villages, located near the place where in 60 AD. e. the ship of the Apostle Paul was wrecked, Aura and Bugibba today are comfortable resorts with numerous hotels, shops, bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Victoria is the unofficial capital of the island of Gozo, which, together with the island of Comino, forms a separate administrative-territorial unit of Malta. Victoria with the suburbs of Fontana and Kerch is the most populous city of the island, located in its center. Originally called Rabat, like a suburb of Mdina, in 1887 the city was renamed Victoria - in honor of the Queen of England, but among the locals and on car signs on the roads you can often find the old name.
A distinctive feature of Victoria is that there are absolutely no hotels marked with "stars" in it - only private rental housing. At the same time, there are always many tourists who want to visit Victoria: they are attracted by the local fortress (Citadel), the cathedral, many churches, museums, and two theaters.

Xlendi (or Xlendi) is one of the two main resorts of Gozo, located in a picturesque natural bay. Until the end of the 1980s, Xlendi was a small fishing village, but with the development of the tourism industry, it turned into a cozy resort town.

Marsalforn is another resort town in Gozo, located in the north of the island. Like other coastal resort towns in Malta, Marsalforn was also originally a fishing village. But the echoes of fishing can be found in the resort to this day - there are excellent fish restaurants here.

What to see

Malta, being for many centuries at the crossroads of European trade routes, has acquired many monuments of culture, architecture and history. Therefore, despite the relatively modest size, the island has something to see.

Below we list the main attractions of Malta. By clicking on the links, you will find more detailed information about the object (history, description), as well as find out the cost of tickets, ways to get there by public transport, opening hours, location on the map, photos and other useful nuances.

Sights of Malta

Museums in Malta

costume shows

In addition to the classic sights made of stone, Malta offers tourists all kinds of costume shows and dramatizations. The most popular ones are listed below.

Where to go in Malta

Attractions

Museums and galleries

Where to eat and drink

Entertainment

Parks and recreation areas

Transport

Shops and markets

Private guides in Malta

Russian private guides will help you to get acquainted with Malta in more detail.
Registered on the Experts.Tourister.Ru project.

What to do in Malta

Excursions

The list of excursions in small Malta is quite impressive. Here is what domestic and Maltese tour operators offer:

tourist train

The Melita Trains Sightseeing Tour is a red trackless train that provides a sightseeing tour around Mdina and Rabat. It departs every hour from the Roman Villa (Domus Romana). There is an audio guide in 7 languages. The train overcomes the route of 8 km in half an hour. .

Diving

Diving is a very popular pastime in Malta. The Maltese archipelago, consisting of the islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino, attracts divers from all over the world with the purity of coastal waters (visibility under water is 30-50 m at a depth of 20-30 m), rich underwater flora and fauna, a variety of underwater landscapes (grottoes, tunnels, caves, arches, etc.).

Diving in Malta is possible all year round: even in the winter months, the water temperature does not drop below 14°C, while in summer the sea temperature averages 23°C.

The flora and fauna of the Maltese waters is extremely rich: there are many species of fish (Mediterranean grouper, parrot fish, red mullet, moray eel, sunfish, stingray, flounder), octopuses, seahorses, squid, lobsters, starfish, crabs and cuttlefish. At the bottom there are corals, hard and soft, some varieties of which are practically not found in other areas of the Mediterranean Sea.

The most popular Maltese dive sites:

• Malta Island: Cirkewwa (Marfa Point), L-Ahrax Point, Delimara Point, St. Paul's Islands, Ghar Lapsi, Anchor Bay, Wied iz-Zurrieq, HMS Maori.
• Gozo Island: Xlendi Cave and Xlendi Reef, Fungus Rock, Reqqa Point.
• Comino Island: Irqieqa Point, Santa Maria Caves, Cominotto Reef.

In addition to these dive sites, there are a number of wrecks (wrecks).

Solo divers wishing to dive in Malta without an instructor must fill out an application form, present a dive book and a valid diver's certificate (minimum CMAS / 2 stars), 2 photos. All diving schools will help with paperwork.

Dive centers in Malta, united in, offer a wide range of courses, from initial training to advanced training according to international standards to the title of instructor. The duration of the courses is from 1 day. There are courses on PADI, CMAS and BSAC systems with the issuance of relevant international certificates and dive registration books.

List of diving schools:

Casino

Casinos are another entertainment in Malta. Foreign tourists over the age of 18 and Maltese citizens over the age of 25 are allowed to visit them. At the first visit, an identity document is required. All four casinos in Malta have adopted a dress code: visitors in bathing suits are not allowed, and shorts, sleeveless shirts and open sandals are prohibited after 20:00. In some casinos, you can rent a jacket and tie at the entrance.

List of the most famous casinos in Malta

• Oracle Casino
• Casino at Portomaso
• Casino di Venezia

Teaching English in Malta

Malta is also known in Europe as a country where you can effectively learn English. In recent years, Russians have also begun to come to the island to study English. They are attracted by the absence of visa problems, as well as the cost of education - 30-40% lower than in other English-speaking countries.

Language schools in Malta work all year round, training takes place according to traditional programs: preparation for the IELTS / Cambrige exams (about 3 months), simple courses of various durations.

The beaches of Malta

In the waters of the Maltese Islands, there are no tides, no strong undercurrents and dangerous marine life, so swimming on its beaches is quite comfortable. Since Malta is a small country, there are no endless beaches here, but small beaches in coves and on the shores of bays are also quite suitable for recreation. The beaches in Malta are sandy, rocky and pebbly, and are also divided into "wild" and "civilized". Entrance to them is free, with the exception of the beaches of hotels and clubs. Sun loungers and umbrellas - for a fee. Follow the links for more information.

Kitchen

Maltese cuisine is a mix of local culinary traditions and cuisines of other European countries (Italian, French), in particular Sicilian, with some shades of Moorish cuisine.

Maltese cuisine is simple and hearty. Seasonal products (fruits, vegetables), meat and seafood are used for their preparation.
So, the meal begins with a light appetizer "bigilla", made from vegetables seasoned with marinade and herbs.
Then soups are served - in meat broth, seasoned with fresh and dried vegetables and jbeinit cheese from the island of Gozo.

Maltese cuisine is famous for its stuffed dishes. So, the most famous specialties are stuffed octopus “arnit mimli” and “bragioli” – meat stuffed with herbs and eggs. Excellent fish dishes are "lampuki" (sea bream) with tomato sauce and "lampuki pai" - a pie with sea bream and vegetables. Another local cult dish is “stuffat tal fenech”, a rabbit stewed with herbs and garlic. Fans of the exotic should like the babbush snail stew.

In addition, it is worth trying the rice casserole with meat and tomatoes "ross fil-forn", vegetable stew "kapunata", local ravioli and pastas with various fillings.

Traditional Maltese bread is called “hobza”, and sandwiches made from it are called “hobz biz zeit”.

The meal is completed with Maltese sweets, of which there are a huge number in the local cuisine: pie with eggplant and dates “m'aret”, cakes “cannoli” with different fillings, halva with almonds “helva tat-tork”, nougat “cubbite”, biscuits with figs and almonds, etc.

In addition to strong coffee and tea, the Maltese drink the national non-alcoholic carbonated drink Kinnie. The drink has the taste of bitter oranges, herbs and spices (anise, ginseng, liquorice, rhubarb). It began to be produced by the Farsons company in Malta in 1952, as opposed to the American Coca-Cola and Pepsi. It is believed that "Kinney" perfectly quenches thirst.

The cost of a jar or bottle of "Kinny" is about 1 euro.

Malta is famous for its wines, winemaking has been a traditional occupation of the locals since ancient times. The following grape varieties are grown on the archipelago: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Moscato, Syrah, Gellewza, Girghentina.
The most important wine producers are companies and.

At lunch and dinner, the Maltese usually drink inexpensive table wines: Lachryma Vitis, Special Reserve, Vigne d’Or. In restaurants you can find Dolcino, Red / Green Label, La Vallette, Verdala. Antonin, Gran Cavalier, Marnisi are considered expensive collectors.
Lovers of sweet desserts should try Casella Moscato.

The cost of a bottle of wine is 2-20 euros.

The main local beer producer is Farsons. The most popular beer is light Ċisk (“Chisk”). You can also try dark varieties with a more textured taste - Blue Label and Lacto. A beer and lemonade cocktail is called Shandy. It is also worth trying another local variety - "1565" from Lowenbrau Malta.

Luna di sera

Shopping in Malta

Malta, of course, is not at all the capital of shopping, like, say, Milan or Paris. However, it is quite possible to dilute the pleasure of walking around the Middle Ages with purchases.

First of all, Malta has a huge number of souvenir shops and jewelry stores. There are large department stores, interesting stores of home goods and interior items. Valletta has many shoe stores and children's goods stores.

The town of Sliema is considered a paradise for shopping. The main shops there are located on St. Anne's Square, Tower Street, Tigne Street and Bisazza Street.

You can read more about shopping in this amazing island nation in the material " Shopping in Malta ».

Communication in Malta

In the Maltese archipelago, all domestic calls are considered local. Phone numbers are six digits. You can call from a landline phone in a hotel or apartment, from a mobile phone and from a payphone on the street, most of which are card (cardphone), a minority - coin (coinphone). There are two types of cards - EasyLine and Telecard, of various denominations. They can be bought at souvenir shops, gas stations, department stores, hotels. From all payphones you can call abroad.

Calls in the evening and on weekends are much cheaper than during business hours. You can also call from the hotel, but it will be significantly more expensive.

The international code for Malta is 356.

The international access code is 00, no need to wait for beeps. For example, a call to Russia will look like this: 00-7- area code - subscriber number.

• Call to Ukraine: 00-38- area code - subscriber number.
• To call from Russia to Malta: 8-10-356 is the subscriber's number.

There are two mobile operators in Malta - and their rates are approximately the same. Packages of local operators are worth buying if you plan to stay in Malta for a long time or if you are traveling in a large group.

Malta has a large number of Internet cafes and Wi-Fi hotspots. So, the owners of many hotels and apartments provide their guests with a similar service for free. In the bars and restaurants of the resort areas, in order to access the Internet, you need to order something from the menu. McDonalds eateries also provide Wi-Fi access. The cost of an hour of networking in an Internet cafe will be about 3-5 euros.

A map of Wi-Fi hotspots in Malta can be seen at.

Emergency phone numbers in Malta

Economy

Safety

Malta is a safe country for tourists. Crime here is almost zero, which is due to long traditions and the small size of the state. However, the old Maltese proverb “Having shaken hands with a Maltese, do not forget to count your fingers” did not arise from scratch, so some caution does not hurt: do not leave valuables in a car, documents and large amounts of cash should be stored in a hotel safe, carefully monitor for your belongings in public places.

Malta boasts attractive landscapes and good weather all year round. Small but rich in history, this country will be of interest to tourists of all ages. If you have difficulties with the place to choose for a stopover in Malta, we offer several options.

Gozo is an island that is located next to Malta and is the second largest. It is small, calm and picturesque. There are a number of interesting places to visit: the Azure Window, the cave of Calypso, the temples of Gzhantia.

Gozo is chosen by tourists who do not need casinos, clubs and noisy bars, and food prices here are lower than those offered on the island of Malta. This is especially true for picturesque villages, so it is worth combining a trip to non-tourist places with a trip to local restaurants.

This resort is an incredibly popular and lively place. It will be comfortable for those who do not mind the noise in the evenings and those who do not return to the hotel before midnight.

Young people will love the local clubs and restaurants, as well as the long promenade. In the center of the resort there is a tourist area where you can not only walk, but also arrange shopping.

This is the most fashionable area among the resorts of Malta. Sliema is a modern and developed city with the best places for shopping and dining.

Among the sights, it is worth highlighting the fort, the watchtower and many churches. It is worth noting that most of the tourists in Malta stay in Sliema, since the most modern hotels are located here.

Mellieha is a relatively quiet and sparsely built resort, located away from other holiday destinations, but rewarded with magnificent nature. It will appeal to those who go on vacation for the sake of relaxation, and not nightlife.

One of the best shallow beaches is located in Mellieha, so there are many tourists with children.

In the vicinity of the city, you can look at the ancient coastal fortifications, visit nature reserves or go to the islands of Comino and Gozo, which are nearby.

As soon as you get to the coast of St. Julians, you immediately see a large concentration of clubs, restaurants and lively bars.

This place is considered the best for nightlife in Malta. At the other end of the bay is a quieter part of the city, known for good quality hotels.

The capital of Malta has a lively atmosphere during the day and becomes quite a peaceful city at night. The choice of hotels is limited, but the city has a rich past, many museums, restaurants and shops.

It is worth visiting the majestic palaces, Freedom Square, numerous churches and cathedrals. Valletta is a city steeped in history that will be of interest to architecture lovers.

On a world map measuring 2 by 3 meters, the state of Malta occupies an area the size of a pinhead. What can fit on these tiny islands in the Mediterranean?

And here's what: megalithic temples built 5 thousand years ago; knightly fortresses and palaces; museums with prehistoric fossils and modern instruments that explain the laws of physics; water parks and adventure parks; language schools for children and adults; restaurants of national cuisine, from which comes the breathtaking smell of a rabbit stewed with wine and garlic ...

Oh yes, we must also mention the beaches in small bays - family vacations in Malta are most often devoted to excursions, but basking in the sun by the sea is also nice.

That's the main purpose of the trip to Malta - a lot of excursions and a little beach doing nothing. Our review is devoted to what else is interesting about holidays with children in Malta.

Where is Malta

Malta (officially the Republic of Malta) is an island state in the Mediterranean Sea, 93 km from the island of Sicily and 288 km from the coast of Tunisia.

The state includes the islands of the Maltese archipelago, only three of which - Malta, Gozo and Comino - are inhabited by people. The area of ​​the Republic of Malta is 316 sq. km, population - 429.344 thousand people. The capital of the state is Valletta.

Citizens of Russia and the CIS countries need a Schengen visa to enter Malta. Citizens of the EU and a number of other countries enjoy the right to visa-free entry.

Vacation with children

People come to Malta with children for various reasons. Someone chooses lively Sliema, where there are summer camps with the study of English. Someone stops the choice on Valletta, from where the paths to all the sights open.

Someone seeks to relax with a child on the sandy beaches of Mellieha. Which of these do you prefer? In Malta, the question is not so worth it - here you can use everything at once.

The territory of Malta is so small that you do not need to look for accommodation in a new city every time to travel around the country. You can live in a hotel of your choice and go on a new journey every day - to a good beach, on an excursion or for a walk in the forest.

Holidays in Malta are most suitable for families with teenagers who are not averse to learning something new. So many things are connected with this country: St. Paul visited here, the Order of Hospitallers acted here, Napoleon even ruled here for some time. Check out the "What to see" section to find out how many interesting places there are in Malta.

Malta for younger children will also be a good holiday destination. Here they are waiting for traditional entertainment (zoo, water park, aquarium) and original (the village of the sailor Popeye).

In the resort towns and on the beaches there are playgrounds, and in family hotels there are children's pools and clubs for young guests.

You can read about all the children's entertainment in the "Things to do" section. You can even come to Malta with a baby. The section “Where to go” will help you choose the right place to stay.

When is the best time to go

Tourists come to Malta all year round, but the vast majority of them choose the high season in Malta for holidays, that is, the period from April to October.

Resorts experience the greatest load in summer and early autumn, that is, during the beach season. At this time, the cost of flights and accommodation increases by 20-50% compared to prices in winter and early spring. Early booking helps save money.

The beginning of the swimming season in Malta coincides with the peak of the heat. Is it worth planning a vacation with a child at this time? Perhaps, teenagers may like the idea of ​​sunbathing on rocky beaches and diving from rocks into the sea, but for the sake of a beach holiday with a baby, you should choose a country with a mild climate and more comfortable beaches.

But if you do not strive for the southern islands in the summer, a holiday with a baby in Malta will be successful. In April, May, the second half of September and early October, the weather here is warm, but not hot, and therefore children easily acclimatize.

This time is also great for sightseeing trips. When is the best time to go to Malta? We offer you to learn more about the weather in this country.

Weather and climate

If you find Malta on the map, it turns out that it is located south of many resorts in Tunisia. Is it necessary to fear the African heat? Not at all: the climate of Malta is very similar to the climate of the islands of Greece and the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. It has hot, dry summers and rainy but mild winters.

The holiday season in Malta opens at the end of spring, when the air warms up to + 23-25 ​​° C. True, at this time you will have to limit yourself to sunbathing, since the water in the sea is too cold for swimming. But if you come to the opening of the season, you can not only lie on the beach, but also get out on excursions until the sun is hot.

The heat intensifies at the beginning of summer. In June, the air temperature rises to + 28 ° C, and this contributes to the fact that the sea warms up quickly.

June is a good time for a holiday in Malta: children can swim in the sea, while the heat is not too annoying.

In July and August, the thermometers show + 30-31 ° C in the morning, and sometimes rise to + 35 ° C during the day. At this time, it is best to get to the beach early in the morning or in the evening, and wait out the heat of the day in air-conditioned rooms hotels.

The best holiday in Malta with children begins in September. The weather in early autumn is very similar to June: the air temperature drops to + 27-28 ° C, but the sea remains very warm. At the same time, in September, many tourists go home, and the beaches become quiet and at ease.

On the beaches of Malta, you can sunbathe in October, as the air temperature does not drop below + 24-25 ° C. But you need to be prepared for the fact that clear days will alternate with cloudy ones.

In October, autumn rains begin, sometimes a cool wind blows, and excitement rises on the sea.

Rains intensify by November and pour until mid-spring. Despite this, sunny days in winter are not uncommon, and there is no reason to refuse excursions in Malta. The winter air temperature stays at +10-15°C, and already in March the air warms up to +17-18°C. This is the time of flowering, when the stony, barren-looking land is covered with a green carpet.

Sea water temperature

In Malta, there is a special date for the opening of the swimming season. This is St. George's Day, which is celebrated on April 23rd. The Maltese believe that on this day it is necessary to swim in the sea - and they swim, although the water temperature does not exceed +16 ° C.

Despite the fact that the swimming season is considered officially open, there are few who want to swim in the spring. In May, the sea temperature is only + 18 ° C, and only by the beginning of summer the water warms up to + 21 ° C.

In June, with the onset of hot days, the water in the sea becomes warmer day by day. Already at the end of the month, the water temperature in Malta rises to + 24 ° C, and in July and August the water warms up to + 26 ° C.

The sea remains almost the same warm in September. Usually the temperature stays at +24-25°С until the end of September and +23°С - until the end of October. Beach holidays in October are sometimes interfered with by rains, but divers find October weather quite suitable for diving.

Sea and beach

The coast of Malta is indented with bays, so the beaches here are small, accommodating several hundred, and sometimes only a few dozen people. The coast is mostly rocky, and the beaches are often built on natural stone platforms. But sometimes there are sandy beaches, natural and bulk, as well as sections of the coast covered with pebbles.

Sandy beaches are usually the best equipped. Entrance to them, like most of the beaches in Malta, is free, but for a fee you can use a sun lounger and sun umbrella.

The advantage of sandy beaches is a gentle entrance to the water and a shallow sea near the shore, which is convenient for swimming with kids. Minus - the overcrowding of the beaches in the high season.

The longest sandy beach in Malta is located in Adira Bay near Mellieha. The island of Gozo also has a spacious coast covered with sand - this is Ramla Bay.

There are sandy beaches in almost all resorts, as well as in deserted places, far from tourist places. It is worth visiting several beaches to see the multi-colored sand: white in Mellieha, pink in Bugibba, orange-red in Ramla Bay on the island of Gozo.

Rocky and pebbly beaches are often wild, which does not make them less popular. Some beaches of Sliema and Bugibba, located on the rocks, have even earned the "blue flag".

But with small children it is inconvenient to relax in such places: it is hard to lie on the stones, you have to go down the stairs into the water, the depth starts right at the shore. But with teenagers who swim well, you can settle in one of the many secluded bays and dive into the water directly from the rocks.

A feature of a beach holiday in Malta is the remoteness of the best beaches from popular resorts. Bus routes lead to some beaches, but most often the most picturesque bays can only be reached by car.

The most beautiful rocky beaches - Anchor bay in the northwest of Malta, near Mellieha, St. Paul's bay near Bugibba, embankment of Sliema, marsascala close to Valletta Marsaxlokk on the southern tip of Malta and many others.

It is for the sake of relaxing on the most beautiful rocky beach that it is worth getting to the tiny island of Comino: the Blue Lagoon is a favorite place for connoisseurs of a secluded beach holiday.

Nutrition

The all-inclusive system in Malta is not very common, more often the concepts of "breakfast only", "half board" or "full board" are offered.

If you are planning an independent holiday in Malta with children, you can opt for a room in an apart-hotel or an apartment. They are equipped with a kitchen, which means that it will be convenient for you to cook your usual food or warm up baby food.

All resorts have supermarkets and small grocery stores, as well as vegetable shops, where vegetables are fresher than in large retail chains. Food for the youngest tourists is sold in supermarkets and pharmacies.

With a child who is already eating from an adult table, you can visit restaurants of national cuisine. Maltese cuisine is reminiscent of Italian and Greek and is full of healthy dishes that are easy to digest.

Pizzerias are also very popular in Malta. Fidgety children will love a visit to the pastizzeria - a cafe where they bake pastizzi pies with savory fillings.

Summer camps and language centers

Not all children dream of studying during the holidays, but in the language camps in Malta, learning is fun and interesting. Since most of the camps are located in the resort regions of Malta, English lessons alternate with relaxing on the beach and trips on excursions.

Children of all ages can relax in the camps: younger students, teenagers, even youth.

It should be noted that the language centers in Malta are open all year round. Their popularity is in the price, which is almost half as much as in the countries of Western Europe. At the same time, many of those who studied in Malta are satisfied that they were finally able to speak English.

Medical tourism and wellness

Malta is known for its clinics that accept foreigners for treatment. The two largest clinics are located in Sliema and Santa Venera. They specialize in the treatment of diseases of the respiratory, endocrine, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems.

In addition, the islands in the Mediterranean are famous for their healing combination of natural factors. Climatotherapy is available to all vacationers, and if you are interested in specialized treatments, you can contact the thalassotherapy centers of St. Julians and Attard.

Transport

The main form of public transport in Malta is buses, comfortable, air-conditioned, although not always new. Most of the routes pass through Valletta, which sometimes stretches a trip that would take 20 minutes by car into an hour.

The numbering of the routes helps to understand the directions in which the buses move: the letter X denotes express trains connecting the resorts with the airport, numbers from 1 to 99 have routes going through the capital, numbers from 200 to 300 - bypassing the capital, numbers with the letter N - night routes.

Buses on the island of Gozo have numbers starting with 300. Several small city buses run around Valletta.

Most buses run from 6:00 to 23:00 with an interval of 15-30 minutes. The exact timetable is available at all stops. The daily bus fare is €1.50 in low season and €2 in high season. Night buses that run from 23:00 to 06:00 cost 3 euros. The ticket is valid for 2 hours.

If you want to travel a lot in Malta, we recommend buying a 7-day pass. The ticket price for an adult is 21 euros, tickets for children cost 15 euros.

The popular form of transport in Malta is ferries. They can reach the islands of Gozo and Comino, as well as the ports of Sicily. A ferry ticket to Gozo costs 4.65 euros, to Comino - 10 euros. The shortest ferry crossing is between Valleta and Sliema. Such a trip will cost 1.5 euros and take 15 minutes.

Taxi is a rather expensive way to get around. There are two taxi services on the islands: meters are installed in black cars, and you need to negotiate a price with the driver in white cars. The average price of a trip is 1-1.40 for each kilometer and 3.30-3.50 euros for landing.

If you intend to use a car to move around Malta, please note that here Left side traffic.

The car can be booked upon arrival or in advance via the Internet. There are several offices of companies that rent cars at the airport. Please note that the narrow streets of the Maltese cities are inconvenient for travel by car and, moreover, are always clogged with local transport.

But in country trips, the car is very convenient, because you do not have to go from one city to another through Valletta.

I'll start with general information. Malta is located on a small archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island of the same name Malta, as well as the islands of Gozo and Comino are considered inhabited. Despite the generally small size of the country, here you can find a vacation that takes into account a wide variety of requirements: there are places where there is silence and relaxation, there are noisy, cheerful round-the-clock parties, and lovers of active sports recreation will also find an ideal option for themselves. The level of accommodation is also very diverse: from inexpensive hostels to excellent five-star hotels.

I lived in St. Julian's - the noisiest and most active city in Malta. Of course, I wanted to be closer to the school where I studied, but for recreation, I would recommend choosing another area. After all, Malta is not a very big country, and in a few days you will have time to visit everywhere, but it is more pleasant to sleep when it is quiet. However, to each his own. I will try to give a description of the different areas and types of housing in Malta so that you can make your own choice. In the article you will learn what to expect here from apartments, and what from guesthouses, I will talk about the main areas of the island of Malta, as they differ from each other, and what features the islands of Gozo and Comino have.

Luxury accommodation - five star hotels, villas

Malta in recent decades has become very attractive for people with money. People come here to relax, study and have fun. In addition to a large number of nightclubs, there are also huge rich casinos. All this was the key to the fact that five-star hotels and luxury villas appeared on the island. Most luxury housing in the cities of St. Julians and Sliema. St. Julian's is the center of the city's nightlife, and is a kind of business center in Malta. It is not surprising that 70% of expensive hotels and villas can be found in this area.

5 star hotels

This category includes hotels of such world chains as Hilton, Corinthia, Radisson. The level of hotels corresponds to world standards, although prices are an order of magnitude lower. One night in a luxury hotel will cost you from 250 EUR in high season. You can view offers and prices relevant for the dates of your trip, and book your favorite option on. Be sure to check (for example,) if there are cheap last-minute tours for the time you need.

Breakfast is included in the room rate, and they are always worthy. Restaurants of five-star hotels are famous far beyond these very hotels. So even if you have chosen cheaper accommodation, I recommend that you plan dinner in one of the restaurants of a five-star hotel. Booking a table is, of course, better in advance.

Villas

Another luxury accommodation option in Malta is villas. These can be both modern buildings with swimming pools, gardens and a house for servants with a total area of ​​​​up to two kilometers, as well as ancient palaces of the nobles who once lived here, and large farm houses.

The ancient buildings (former palaces and farms) retain their charm, but at the same time, everything inside is completely renovated to meet modern requirements. You can see the most modern plumbing in a house where the walls are already five hundred years old. The scale of these villas: from 3 to 12 bedrooms with the ability to accommodate up to 30 people at a time. Ancient buildings are especially popular for romantic weddings.

The cost of renting luxury housing (whether new or old buildings), depending on the size, starts from 300 EUR per day. Separately, it should also be said about small villas up to 3 bedrooms. These are ordinary residential buildings with an area of ​​up to 100 square meters with a small adjacent territory, sometimes with a swimming pool. Basically, these villas were built after the 1970s, but there are also earlier ones. They can be equipped with the latest, and rather mediocre. That is, not all such houses can be called luxury housing, more often even the other way around. Rent small villas for a period of not less than a week. The cost of one week is from 500 EUR, depending on the size and configuration.

All offers and prices can be viewed at.

Mid-range accommodation - 4 and 3 star hotels, guesthouses

As elsewhere, three- and four-star hotels are the most numerous category. I also included guesthouses here, which are usually classified as budget housing, however, in Malta, guesthouses are rather small private hotels with a level worthy of at least three stars. And for the price, accommodation there is closer to three-star hotels. Although there are also very inexpensive options (they look, accordingly, easier).

The cost of housing in the middle price range starts from 50 EUR, and usually 150 EUR per day is the upper bar. Available rooms in 3 and 4 star hotels can be viewed, it is better to book on. I also recommend assessing the situation with cheap last-minute tours on. Guesthouses often post offers.

The rooms are usually clean, furniture and bedding are updated on time. Sometimes there may be cracks on the tiles (mainly in the bathroom on the floor, in places where something is constantly dropped, and no one is in a hurry to fix it). Tips left on the bed are often not accepted: not accepted. And in general, it seemed to me that in Malta they would rather offer some kind of additional service in order to earn more money, or they would immediately name a price higher than they would take a tip - proud. Also, given that there is not a single river or spring in Malta, that is, there is no fresh water of its own at all, it is carefully saved. Therefore, you will not be changed all the towels every day, only the ones you throw on the floor.

Many hotels offer half board, full board and all inclusive although the latter option is not very popular. Breakfasts are traditionally included in the room rate. Usually, a classic European menu is served in the morning, including porridge, bacon, eggs, bread, vegetables and seasonal fruits. Local cuisine is not distinguished by sophistication, it is quite simple. However, Italian and Thai cuisines are also common in Malta, and many hotels are ready to offer guests worthy lunches and dinners. The quality of the products is always good, a significant part of them is brought from Italy.

As for the all inclusive system, it implies only local drinks, and they are very cheap and not of very good quality. It is better to pay money and buy high-quality imported alcohol. First of all, this applies to strong alcohol and cocktails. The local wine is very simple, but at dinner it is quite possible to have a glass.

Cheap accommodation - 2 star hotels, hostels

This is perhaps the smallest category of housing. There are even fewer two-star hotels than five-star hotels. There are also hardly two dozen hostels in the entire archipelago. But if you are still interested in budget accommodation, then it is available, and even almost all year round you can book a room or a place in a dormitory. In summer, of course, it is a little more difficult due to the influx of tourists.

Hotels in this category are often quite shabby in terms of repairs and furniture, but they are always kept clean (bedding is white, not gray-yellow, as is sometimes the case, and towels look like terrycloths). Of course, there are no bathrobes and slippers in the rooms, breakfasts most often come for an additional fee. The staff is not particularly ceremonious (for example, they can enter the room and start cleaning even though you are currently sleeping in this room), and one of the two elevators works, but it works. In general, everything is flawed, but it is very budget.

The cost of a room in a two-star hotel, even in high season, starts from 25 EUR. A place in a dormitory room in a hostel - from 12 EUR. There are offers, you can also try to search for hostels and budget hotels on and on.

Apartments

Apartments are the second most popular type of accommodation in Malta. I specifically put them in a separate section, since this is a very extensive and diverse category with its own subtleties.

The photo below is an example of good apartments in Malta, the level is slightly above average.

The main feature of Malta in terms of housing is that, in addition to "short-term" tourists who come for one or two weeks, there are a lot of students from English schools, who, in turn, are interested in housing for three or four weeks, and often much longer. For example, students from Japan come to Malta for at least six months. Therefore, all apartments here are divided into two types:

1. Aparthotels, where rooms are rented for a short period, most often up to one month. You can, of course, more, but in this case it will be cheaper and more comfortable in the second category of apartments. Daily apartments cost from 35 EUR per day (of course, cheaper in the low season). For this amount, most often you get a small studio, where the kitchen area is in no way separated from the bedroom area, and the living area is completely absent. From 60 EUR per day, you can already count on a studio plus a bedroom. Offers the most pleasant prices for apartments for a short time.
2. Apartments for medium and long term. Strictly speaking, in the understanding of the Maltese, a long period starts from one year, so we will call the period from 1 to 11 months average. In fact, these are the same apartments, the difference is only in price. If you rent an apartment for one year, then the cost will be from 800 EUR per month (studio plus one bedroom). The same apartments for a period of six months will cost you 900–1,000 EUR (depending on the season). The indicated cost often does not include bills for water and electricity. For a Russian tourist, the prices for these services may come as a surprise, especially considering that we are not used to saving these resources. For more information about what you may encounter when renting apartments for a long time, read on our website. This is also true for other cities in Malta. See ads for renting apartments.

Where to stay

Districts of the island of Malta

As you can see on the map, most of the hotels are located on the northern, northeastern coast of the island. Here is the capital of the island Valletta, as well as the most significant and largest cities and St. Julian's.

However, this does not mean that nothing happens in the other part of the island and there is no life. In the central part of the island and in the south there are cities, hotels and their own habits.

Valletta

The largest city in Malta and its modern capital. Strictly speaking, Valetta itself is not a very large settlement, it can be walked from end to end in 30–40 minutes. It "grows" at the expense of numerous suburbs (and most often you will not be able to determine exactly where the city passes into the region - they are so united). Valletta is attractive because there are a lot of a wide variety of shops, a central bus station from where buses depart throughout the island, and a port. The port is also a minus of living in Valletta if you come to relax by the sea. Beaches we still prefer away from big ships. In this sense, the metropolitan suburbs are more interesting, where there is no shortage of hotels and apartments of the most diverse level.

It is also worth noting, despite the fact that Valletta became the capital of Malta only in 1974 (before that it was the main one, about it later), this city has existed since the 16th century, and therefore there is something to see here from the point of view of the country's history and culture. The only Maltese university is located in Valletta.

Sliema, St Julian's and neighboring towns

If you are looking for peace and solitude in the evening, Comino is undoubtedly the best place. Tourists are dominated by those who travel alone, or adult couples. Please note that ferry service is not regular during the winter and access to Comino may be closed in some months.

And finally

Until the 1970s, Malta was a country of fishing villages, a quiet European outskirts. But it was during this period that resorts began to develop rapidly, the capital was moved closer to the sea to Valletta, modern entertainment and expensive hotels appeared. And as a result of this development, today Malta can offer a huge variety in holiday formats: quiet and calm or cheerful and noisy. And thanks to the small size of the country, you can change from one part to another with ease several times during the day. I hope my brief overview of areas and prices will help you decide where to start exploring this beautiful country.