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Information

Language: Maltese and English.
Time Zone: GMT +1
Malta Tourist Office: Park House, 14 Northfields, London SW18 1DD. Telephone: 020 8877 6994. www.visitmalta.com

Travel money

Euro

Things to do

Visit Mdina, the medieval capital, to see St Paul's Cathedral and the Catacombs. See the baroque architecture of the modern capital, Valletta. Explore the south's quiet fishing villages or visit Popeye Village, the set of Disney's film. Cruise the island's bays, take the children on a pirate ship, visit the islands of Gozo and Comino or take a trip to Sicily to see Mount Etna. Enjoy diving into caves or wrecks, or swim with dolphins at the Mediterraneo marine park. Visit Malta's museums, experiencing Medieval, Victorian and World War II times, or visit Fort Rinella to see the world's largest canon. Pamper yourself with Malta's variety of spa treatments and fitness centres.

Beaches

Malta’s sandy beaches and clear Mediterranean water will please even the fussiest beach fans.

Golden Bay on the west coast is a busy stretch, with cafes, watersports, boat trips and plenty of sand to top up your tan on.

In the north, Mellieha Bay’s shallow water is perfect for budding little swimmers, and banana boats and windsurfing adds to the fun; you can cool off from the sunshine in the many beach bars here.

Another stunner on the north coast, Paradise Bay is slightly quieter, with soft golden sand and amazingly blue sea, perfect for taking photos to show off back home.

Explore your destination

Highlights

• Imagining Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom and Eric Bana filming the blockbuster Troy in Malta, with scenes in Mellieha and Golden Sands, Maltese craftsmen helped build the huge sets for the city of Troy
• Diving into turquoise sea to explore reefs, shipwrecks and caves on your Malta holiday; coming flipper to fin with fishes and spotting octopuses and seahorses
• Feeling like royalty at the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta, surrounded by marble and gilt, it’s the president’s official residence and where Malta’s parliament meet
• Stepping back in time to see prehistoric megalithic temples, like Hagar Qim, which will be open to visitors until the end of July 2008, before being closed for restoration
• Exploring the medieval walled city, Mdina, to see beautiful St Paul’s Cathedral and the Mdina Gate of this, the aptly named ‘Silent City’
• Taking a boat trip to Comino to swim and snorkel in the amazing Blue Lagoon, with its white sand seabed
• Admiring the baroque architecture of Malta’s capital, Valletta, visiting St John’s Co-Cathedral, before stopping to enjoy a coffee in the cathedral’s square
• Pretending you’re Popeye at Sweethaven Village in Mellieha, the filmset of the Hollywood flick about our favourite spinach-eating sailor, starring Robin Williams
• Swimming with dolphins at Mediterraneo, a marine park where you can also watch dolphin and sea lion shows and have fun in a splash park
• Breathing in the heady scents of citrus at San Anton Palace & Gardens in Attard, built in the early 17th century, it’s now a residence of the Maltese president
• Even kids who wouldn’t remember Popeye will love Sweethaven Village, with its animation shows, a splash pool and play pool with inflatables
• Sightseeing isn’t boring on holiday in Malta, with exciting places to climb like Fort St Angelo, and the chance to see the 100 ton Armstrong gun at Fort Rinella, a bit like a cannon
• Malta’s beaches are clean and safe with shallow water, perfect for paddling and sandcastle building

Sicily

Whisking you across the Med to the island of The Godfather, you'll sail in a high-speed catamaran to cosmopolitan Sicily, to take in majestic Mount Etna and the pretty medieval town of Taormina.

Casino Gala Night

It's time to up the ante at Casino Di Venezia. After a romantic three course dinner, overlooking Grand Harbour, you'll be able to try your luck at the tables with some free gaming chips.

Fernandez Gulet - Gozo and Comino

It's utter relaxation aboard the Fernandez Gulet. Setting sail across the Blue Lagoon and around the islands of Gozo and Comino, you'll sunbathe on deck and splash and snorkel in secluded bays.

Food and drink

Food lovers can look forward to a British and Italian influence on Maltese holidays, reflecting the island’s history and location. In most resorts, you’ll find a good choice of international, Chinese and Italian restaurants, so you can always find something familiar.

Seafood is really popular here, with staples being Aljotta, a delicious fish soup made with tomatoes, rice and garlic, and Lampuki, a dorado fish and local veg pie. For meat eaters, there’s Fenek, rabbit, often made into a casserole with garlic and red wine.

If you’ve a sweet tooth, try Kannoli, delicious pastry stuffed with ricotta, chocolate and candied fruit, and to drink, enjoy a bottle of Gellewza wine with your meals.

Evening Flavour

Night owls looking for places to boogie will find the main nightclubs in Paceville. On the coast, near St Julian’s, Paceville also buzzes with wine bars, jazz clubs and plenty of restaurants.

You’ll also find a feast of clubs and bars to get your teeth into in Bugibba and Mellieha or, if you’re feeling lucky, you can head to the casinos in Qawra, St Julian’s and Bugibba.

For a more cultural night out, catch a show at Teatru Manoel in Valletta, Malta’s oldest theatre

Shopping

If you’re looking for a traditional memento of your Malta holiday, lace, silver, filigree, blown glass and pottery are perfect; Valletta’s old town is a charming place to browse for souvenirs shopping and you’ll find a fantastic selection Ta’Qali Craft Centre, near Mdina, and at Valletta’s Malta Crafts Centre.

Label lovers can visit the Bay Street mall in St Julian’s for designer shops and The Plaza in Sliema for high street names, as well as novelty gift shops.

Dates for the Diary

August: At Valletta’s Delicata Classic Wine Festival, you’ll watch grape crushers sinking their toes in to make wine, enjoy a glass or three and some Maltese appetisers, and be entertained by local musicians.