Local Fun

Embrace the laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle. So relax, take it slow, and if all else fails, just follow the sounds of fun and the smells of delicious food!

Feast on Pastizzi: The Maltese Equivalent of Fast Food

Sink your teeth into these crispy, flaky pastries filled with ricotta (irkotta) or mushy peas (pizzelli). They’re so good, you’ll wonder why the Maltese haven’t conquered the world with these buttery weapons of mass deliciousness. Pro tip: Eat them like a local – fast and furious, leaving a trail of flaky evidence on your shirt.

Take a Dip in the Sea: Anywhere, Anytime

Dive into waters so blue, you’ll think you’ve stumbled into a real-life filter. It’s like swimming in liquid sapphire, minus the expensive jewelry bill. Sunrise, sunset, from a rocky beach, from the pier, from an expanse of glorious sand. Malta has a beach for any taste. Pro tip: wind conditions are very important in picking a beach to avoid dangerous surf and jellfish. Try WhichBeach website that will give you recommendations as to which beach has good conditions at a given moment.

Go Scuba Diving: Become the Temporary Ruler of Poseidon’s Realm

Explore underwater caves, wrecks, and reefs. It’s like being in an aquarium, except you’re the one in the tank. Don’t be surprised if you start humming “Under the Sea” – it’s a common side effect of too much underwater beauty. Many scuba schools operate in Malta and can be found through a google search.

Take a Boat Ride to….Anywhere!

You don’t need to be going anywhere special to enjoy the wind and salt in your face. Take the public ferry from Sliema to Valletta and back, or between The Three Cities and Valletta for the cheapest view of the Grand Harbour. Longer guided tours and private trips leave from Sliema Ferries area, as well as in Marsaxlokk and Buggiba.

Evening Stroll in Mdina: Time Travel Without the Flux Capacitor

Wander the silent streets of this ancient walled city as the sun sets and after the hordes of tourists have left. It’s like stepping into a medieval time warp, but with better plumbing and fewer plagues. Listen closely, and you might hear the whispers of history (or just other tourists trying to find their way back to the main gate).

Indulge in a Fish Sunday Lunch: The Maltese Weekend Ritual

Join the locals for a traditional Sunday fish lunch. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, so pace yourself. By the end, you’ll be so full of fish, you might start growing gills. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal to need a siesta afterwards. Marsaxlokk is the classic destination.

Visit a Festa: Party Like It’s 1599

Experience a traditional Maltese feast day celebration. It’s like New Year’s Eve, Fourth of July, and a birthday party all rolled into one, with a healthy dose of religious fervor. Expect fireworks, processions, and enough food to feed a small army (or one very hungry tourist). They take place year round in all the villages and are open to anyone with a good attitude and zest for life!

Devour Imqaret: The Date Night You Can Actually Eat

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Imqaret – the Maltese pastry that puts the ‘date’ in ‘date night’! These deep-fried diamonds of deliciousness are stuffed with a sweet date filling that’ll make you wonder why you ever wasted time on other desserts. Fun fact: ‘Imqaret’ is derived from the Arabic word for ‘diamond’. So yes, you can truthfully tell your friends back home that you spent your vacation in Malta eating diamonds. Just maybe don’t mention they were pastry diamonds.

Sample Maltese Wine: Grape Expectations

Taste the fruits of Malta’s sun-soaked vineyards. The local wines are so good, you’ll wonder why they don’t export more.

Watch the Sunset from Upper Barrakka Gardens: Nature’s Own Light Show

End your day with a view that’ll make your Instagram followers weep with envy. As the sun dips into the Grand Harbour, you’ll understand why the Knights of Malta fought so hard to keep this rock.