Malta is a beautiful island on the Mediterranean, positioned between Sicily and North Africa.
We've had the chance to visit a couple of times and now promote this destination as one of our travel hot-spots, perfect all year.
Malta is ideal in winter if, like us, you live somewhere cold like England - escape for a bit of warmth and sunshine.
Summer is bustling and alive with travellers. It's hot, yet still sublime.
Throughout August you'll come across many colourful religious festivals. Explosions you hear during the day and evening are just fireworks that are set off to celebrate.
Travel in Malta
Start your day at the Blue Grotto. You'll get the best light for taking photos, and can be first in line for an unmissable speedboat ride around the coastline.
At just €8 this is one of the best value experiences in Europe over the summer.
After an early morning ocean expedition among pretty sea caverns, head into the capital, Valletta, Europe's first and very beautiful planned city.
The streets of Valletta offer experiences dating back hundreds of years. Wander the side alleys to discover local coffee, boutiques, bars and cuisine.
Be sure to try traditional fare, ftira - we highly recommend Nenu the Artisan Baker.
While you have the best of Instagrammable landscapes both in and outside of the city, there's also much enticing history and architecture to be enjoyed.
Begin with the Malta Experience and The Knights Hospitallers for an intriguing look at Malta's influence through the ages.
The Upper Barrakka Gardens are accessible from the city and offer unbeatable free views across Malta.
Malta is brimming with history across the island.
A car is handy here, although the bus system is very good. The central meeting point is at the entrance to Valletta, from where you can take a clean, local bus just about anywhere.
We found that a weekly transport pass (€21 for a weekly option) was a very inexpensive and easy way to get around.
It works like an Oyster card in London - tap and go - and it's called 'Tallinja', available to buy at selected supermarkets, transport hubs and convenience stores.
Alternatively the the City Sightseeing hop-on-hop-off tour has two routes that explore Malta, and this will give you a good idea of the key attractions - both new and old - that you might like to investigate further.
Among ancient attractions you might enjoy, highlights include the Hagar Qim temples (Megalithic temple structures built on the Maltese islands between 3600 and 3000 BC), Mnajdra temples (three conjoined Neolithic temples dating from about 3000 BC) and the Ghar Dalam cave and museum which contains bone remains of animals that were stranded and subsequently became extinct in Malta at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum.
The fortified precinct of Mdina is a must.
It's one of Europe's finest examples of an ancient walled city, and is home now (as it has been in the past) to some of the island's most wealthy families.
Malta is magical when experienced from the water.
We found an excellent deal on board Luzzu Cruises from Sliema that took us around the gorgeous harbours of Malta.
Just €10 for an hour and a half!
Buy on-shore for the best price. These boats are smaller than the Captain Morgan option (a larger tour operator here), but way more fun and a much better value. You can even bring your own snacks and drinks on board.
It's easy to assume Malta is only history, surrounded by a few sun drenched beaches, however, we found evidence of the best of contemporary experiences too.
Everywhere you go, there's luxe waterfront options, like Step In at the Blue Grotto (pictured above left), Blue Creek Restaurant at Ghar Lapsi bay, and Q Bar on the Valletta waterfront (take the lift down to the water from the top of the city).
The best bit is, these lovely venues offer menus half the price of some other prime summer European destinations.
Moving into the afternoon, you might like to visit Marsaxlokk, a picturesque fishing village that features a range of fresh seafood and pasta dining options along the waterfront.
For something livelier, head towards the seafront in Sliema and try one of the ocean-side bars for post-lunch discounts on delicious cocktails.
We loved The Compass Lounge for the service, view and chilled lounge beats playing all afternoon.
If you're up for nightlife after the sun sets, then St Julien's and neighbouring Paceville may be the place for you.
This is the cool entertainment district where you'll find the main clubs of Malta, including a rooftop bar called Twenty Two.
Of course, these experiences only skim the surface of what's on offer in Malta.
There's surrounding islands and plenty of bars and beaches we've not had the chance to visit yet. You can dive here too, or laze around on the beach.
We'd love to know about your favourite Malta moments. Drop us a line in the comments on our blog at travellivelearn.com to share. We'll be sure to take a look on our next trip!
Getting around
The local bus system is excellent here, as mentioned. There are also plenty of ground and water tours you might like to book, so as to see the various areas around Malta.
Taxis are regulated and are quite good value. When you arrive at the airport you can take a bus, hire a car or purchase a ticket for a cab in the arrivals hall, then wait outside to be called for your journey.
Hopefully you're convinced this is a destination worth adding to your travel to-do list. See you there soon!
Credits:
Content and photography by Sarah Blinco, travellivelearn.com.