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Malta Introduction
Malta is an island full of history and archaeology where you can enjoy a romantic break or a family holiday with lots of adventure.
Its bays and beaches are simply stunning and if you enjoy snorkelling or diving, then you will be in your element looking at the underwater views. You can spend lazy days soaking up the glorious sun and cooling off in the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.
There are numerous places to visit including the island of Gozo and the amazing architecture that will take you back to life on Malta over 3,000 years ago. The history of Malta is clear to see and dates back to Neolithic times and also the Knights of St John made an impression on the island. There are palaces, cathedrals and museums to visit so you will find an abundance of things to see and do to keep your interest buzzing.
Malta is situated in a prime spot in the Mediterranean, the climate is wonderful which adds to its traditional charm and enchantment and enables visiting it all year round, so your holiday season can be extended. It is one of seven archipelago islands but, only 3 of these are inhabited. Gozo is easily reached by ferry or sea plane, this island is approximately the size of Manhattan in the USA. The other island of Comino which only has a handful of permanent residents is idyllic and is a popular place for tourists to visit. It has a stunning lagoon, appropriately named the Blue Lagoon for simply that reason. The waters are azure blue, crystal clear and beautiful for swimming in. It has also been featured in many films such as Troy, The Count of Monte Cristo and others.
Tourism is Malta's main economy, along with film productions (as quite a few big blockbusters are filmed in Malta each year), electronics and textiles manufacturing.
Malta Location
The open air museum (as they are commonly known as) of the Maltese islands are situated in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea.
Sicily is 93 kilometres south of Malta, and the north of Africa is 288 kilometres distance.
All the Maltese Islands are archipelago islands: with three being inhabited, Malta, Gozo and Comino.
Weather in Malta
Malta benefits from a hot, dry Mediterranean climate with warm, long summers and mild winters.
From end of June to the middle of September temperatures can reach a staggering 30ºC with sunshine averaging 10 hours per day. The warmth of the sun is adjusted by cooling sea breezes.
In the spring and the autumn there is a hot wind called Xlokk which can also create higher than average temperatures along with high humidity.
Rainfall generally occurs in the winter months and is around 10 cms per month during November to March.
Evening temperatures in the cooler months can drop quite low, so if visiting during these months it is advised to have a lightweight jacket or pullover with you just in case.
Transfers from Malta airport
Arriving at a foreign airport can often be a strenuous affair and with most customers traveling independently these days having a pre-booked airport transfer is an essential part of your holiday package. Local taxis at the airport can sometimes be limited or with long queues, by booking a pre-booked you can not only make a fantastic saving on your transfer but also avoid all the stress of queues and haggling with taxi drivers. Book your airport transfer service here now >>
Airport Shuttle Bus Service from Malta airport
In most of our gateway airports you can pre-book an Airport Shuttle Service. This is a pre-booked only service that operates between the relevant airport and holiday resort. In normal times you can expect to wait up to 30 minutes for your shuttle bus to arrive however as this is a pre-negotiated service and only available to participating travel companies then expect to pay far less to get from the airport to your destination accommodation than other traditional forms or transport such as local taxis. Book your airport shuttle service here now>>
Car Hire in Malta
By far the best way to explore Malta is to hire a car. You may find you have everything you need at your resort and won't feel like venturing much further, but for some you will appreciate the complete Malta if you have a car to get you around. For a more reasonable package you would do better to go a local agent rather than one of the international agents.
Car hire is easy. There are agencies available at most of the bigger resorts, you will need your driving licence and a valid passport when you take the agreement. The minimum age for hire of a normal saloon car is 25 years. If you require a child's seat you will need to request this at the time of booking.
In Malta you will drive on the left. Care should be taken particularly around some of the smaller roads which often have sharp bends and steep hills. Seat belts must be worn at all times when the engine is running, and parking restrictions must be observed.
With a car you will be able to go to some of the beaches a little out of the way and visit some of those shops away from the bigger towns. Supermarkets out of town are usually cheaper than those in the more well known resorts.
In Malta the road signs are international and modern. Care should be taken as a lot of the roads are very narrow and winding. Always carry your driving license, passport and car rental agreement because if you are unlucky enough to be stopped by the police, you could face a fine for not having one of these documents. Drink driving is illegal and heavy penalties are imposed if caught driving under the influence of alcohol.
Shopping in Malta
Malta can be as much, or as little as you want in the way of shopping. It has traditional shops set in narrow ancient streets, where you will find market stalls and bazaars offering something to interest you, or alternatively it has some up market trendy shops in Sliema or Valletta. There are quite a few boutiques offering the latest fashion wear.
No holiday to Malta would be complete without a visit to one of its markets. Markets are well organised to cater for the tourist trade, or you can visit a traditional market where locals go to buy their essential daily foods like meat, vegetables and fruit.
The two best markets are Valletta's Marsaxlokk market which takes place on Sundays and the Vittoriosa's market on Tuesdays. Both of which are full of overwhelming atmosphere and charm. You might be lucky to bag a bargain to take home, but at the least you will see the buzz of a typical street market.
Popular buys in Malta are lace and embroidery both of which are made by local craftspeople, olives which are grown on Malta, pottery, ceramics, paintings and metal crafted goods.
Arran style jumpers are made in Malta and can be a popular buy with tourists.
So, whatever you are looking for you have an abundance of choice on offer in the way of shopping.
Eating Out in Malta
Like most Mediterranean countries, Malta enjoys simple, but wholesome food that tastes delicious. A Maltese normal diet doesn't usually consist of fast food or convenience type food. They like their own locally produced fruit, salad and vegetables which are picked and cooked extremely fresh. They cook with olive oil from olives grown on Malta and make some tasty salad dressings which are low fat and high in nutrients, as is locally produced tomatoes.
The Maltese cuisine derives from Italian cuisine, thanks to the Roman occupation of the Maltese islands and the closeness of Sicily and Italy itself. Fish and shell fish feature in many restaurant menus, as does stews, meat and vegetable pasta dishes with delicious sauces. There is a good array of international restaurants which offer a choice of menus to suit all tastes and budgets, including Japanese, Thai, German, Italian and French dishes.
Rabbit features on many Maltese menus, particularly a dish called fenek, other dishes include lampuki which is a pie, bragjoli which is beef fillet stuffed with olives, aljotta is a seafood soup and minestrone soup as we all know and love.
Maltese bread is served to accompany meals and you will find a good selection of wines which have been produced on Malta and also locally produced ale.
If you are craving for some take aways you will find a few snack bars offering things like pizza, burgers and chips, fish and chips and kebabs. These tend to be cheaper than some of the restaurants of Malta, but you won't find the same atmosphere and ambiance. For good value, Maltese fare you can choose the menu of the day which will be offered in most of the traditional Maltese restaurants.
Nightlife in Malta
Malta has remained a laid back and quiet place where you would not come to if you are simply looking for loud music and clubs.
Having said that there are some options for evening entertainment with a variety of bars, restaurants and cafes to keep your pulse going.
If you are looking for clubs then the place to go is St Julians where you will find plenty of choice and something to suit everyone.
Nightlife in Valletta is quiet, there is nothing too vibrant in the evenings except for restaurants and bars, but you will find atmosphere and charm around the square of Il Bajja in Bugibba.
You will find a good choice of evening music concerts both classical and modern and theatrical events throughout the summer. These are held in historical, ancient venues to add to the charm or the open air where you will sit under the stars enjoying the entertainment. During the summer you can find lunch time concerts which are free on Wednesdays, at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta.
There is also the Eden Century Cinema, which is a fantastic 16 screen cinema where you can find the latest film releases being shown. You can view both matinee and evening films, check locally for schedules. There is also an alternative cinema at St George's Bay, an IMAX screen which is famous for showing its 3D films of adventure, science and nature.
The Music Room theatre in the St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity holds magnificent musical performances from local and European artists. The theatre has splendid acoustics where music is exceptional to listen to.
Malta Beaches
Malta has a wide and diverse range of beaches with something to suit everyone whether you enjoy sunbathing and relaxing on a glorious golden sandy beach, or sitting against the sun kissed rocks, swimming in crystal clear waters, scuba diving and snorkelling, or participating in something a little more adventurous like jet skiing, para gliding or water skiing, you will find it here on Malta. The ideal Mediterranean climate means that you can enjoy a beach paradise holiday well into the middle of October, with warm seas and long sunny days still in abundance.
Mellieha Bay
A popular beach with golden sand and shallow, clear waters. This beach does get quite busy during peak season but it is well organised with lifeguards and sunbathing facilities. It also has a selection of water sports and equipment for hire. Cafes and bars are alongside the beach front so you won't need to go far for refreshments and snacks. The beach is also known as Il Ghadira.
Golden Bay
This is one of Malta's largest beaches with beautiful red sand and cliffs surrounding it. It has a selection of watersports, sun bathing facilities and snack bars.
Ghajn Tuffieha
This is a smaller bay next to Golden Bay and is divided from the larger neighbouring beach by a peninsula. It is an idyllic beach but can only be reached by a long set of steps which are quite steep.
Gnejna Bay
This is a sandy beach which is quieter than some of the beaches on Malta. It is off the beaten track so could be difficult to reach without transport. It is set in delightful surroundings about 2 kms from Mgarr.
Armier Bay
This is a popular beach for lovers of windsurfing as the surf can be good here. There are some other water sports available and he beach is a favourite for locals at weekends.
Paradise Bay
This is a popular beach with locals at weekends, but is quieter on weekdays. It is a sandy beach situated on the other side of Gozo ferry harbour.
The Blue Lagoon Comino
The Blue Lagoon is a popular beach and can get quite busy when cruise boats and day excursion boats stop for passengers to swim. The water is turquoise blue, shallow and clean so it is ideal for young children to paddle and splash in. The sand is white and soft and simply ideal for making those sandcastles.
Malta has a couple of lidos which provide excellent facilities as a change from the beaches. There is a very large lido at Bugibba set in fantastic surroundings and also the Sunny Coast Lido at Qawra has a sundeck which is ideal for sun bathing, along with other facilities to make your day fantastic.
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