What to do in Malta: The insider's guide - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Travel What to do in Malta The insider’ s guide By You Magazine - October 5, 2018 The Apprentice returned to our screens on Wednesday and the first episode saw this year’s sixteen contestants sent to (in Lord Sugar’s words) ‘spectacular Malta’. As the budding entrepreneurs dashed around the Mediterranean island (not much bigger than the Isle of Wight) and Gozo (half its size) on a shopping task, we caught glimpses of bustling markets, yacht-filled bays and sleepy villages. An aerial shot of Valletta, Malta’s capital city Following the show, online searches for Malta increased by 1,500% – just 3 hours from London, it’s the perfect place for a short break. But if you don’t want to follow in the contestants’ confused footsteps, where should you head for on a visit to Malta? First, Malta’s capital Valletta, named European Capital of Culture for 2018, a vibrant city of narrow streets, museums, bars and cafes. At the entrance is the Triton Fountain, impressive by day, magnificent by night. The impressive Triton Fountain Explore the city by foot – The Upper Barakka Gardens which offer a magnificent view of the Grand Harbour and visiting cruise ships; St John’s Co-Cathedral containing Caravaggio’s famous painting, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist; the new food market Is-Suq tal-Belt in Merchants Street; the Lascaris War Rooms, Britain’s defence headquarters during the Second World War. The view from the Upper Barakka Gardens. Image: Getty Images If you’re in Valletta on a Friday night try The Bridge Bar – on a warm evening you can sit on the steps outside with a platter of local cheeses and Galletti (Maltese crackers) plus wine listening to a jazz band, soaking up the atmosphere. The busting Bridge Bar A must-see is the medieval town of Mdina, also known as ‘the silent city’ partly due to its lack of cars and small population. Once the capital, it sits on top of one of the highest hills of Malta surrounded by stone walls. Only a limited number of vehicles are allowed to enter but there are horse drawn carriages for those who don’t want to (or unable) to walk around the area. Mdina is particularly attractive at night, lanterns lighting up the eerily quiet streets. A traditional Maltese house in Mdina. Image: Rex Features Gozo, Malta’s sister island, is less than nine miles long and five miles wide and can be reached by ferry (which takes about 30 minutes). All roads lead to the capital Victoria, known to the Maltese as Rabat, where the ancient Citadel is situated. It has been meticulously restored over the last few years and like Mdina is stunning at night. Inside the Citadel. Image: Rex Features A popular natural landmark seen on Game of Thrones, the Azure Window, collapsed last year due to heavy storms. Visit instead, the Inland Sea at Dwejra Bay (a small natural lagoon) and perhaps cross the island to the oldest prehistoric buildings in the world – the Ġgantija Temples in Xagħra; they’re about 1,000 years older than the Pyramids in Egypt and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stunning waters of Malta Malta is sunny for over 300 days of the year, so there’s almost never a bad time to visit… RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Hotel review Wyndham Residences Costa Adeje National Trust is giving away free tickets this autumn Hotel review Una St Ives Cornwall DON' T MISS Fiona Bruce Sometimes I struggle not to cry November 14, 2021 17 beautiful 2021 diaries to help you to look forward to December 4, 2020 Why women leave men for women What’ s fuelling the rise of April 28, 2019 Hollywood veteran Laura Linney on plastic surgery friendship and her stellar July 3, 2017 You can shop the khaki jumpsuit from Holly Willoughby’ s new M& S July 17, 2019 The secrets and lies behind this happy family photo April 11, 2021 It’ s cocktail hour Olly Smith’ s cocktail recipes and Eleanor Maidment s canapé November 14, 2021 BBC One has revealed its Christmas TV schedule and there’ s lots December 2, 2020 YOU Beauty Box August Reviews August 1, 2017 Rome has been named the cheapest major city to visit in August 7, 2019 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved