In the Mood for Malta: A Country of Islands

In the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, halfway between Tunisia and Sicily, sit the islands of Malta. The country has a history that stretches back thousands of years and boasts some of the oldest man-made buildings on the planet. Technically, there are seven islands that make up the archipelago of more than 400,000 people, but only three are inhabited.

Malta

The isle of Malta is the most populated and is most likely where you’ll be arriving. Take a Malta airport transfer to the charming coastal capital city of Valletta 30 minutes away. Valletta was founded by the Knights of Malta, who were granted the land by Spain in the 16thcentury and who laid it out in a regular grid with an orderly city plan. The city is bounded by two harbours and packed with relics from the days of the Knights.

Get outside of Valletta to see a little bit more of what the island has to offer. Just outside of town, the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum archaeological site hosts catacombs that date back 5,000 years. Nearby are the Tarxien Temples, which are some of the best-preserved prehistoric cult sites stretching across nearly 5,500 square meters.

If it’s natural beauty you’re after, make a stop at the Blue Grotto and the Dingli Cliffs, a short drive from each other on the opposite coast from Valletta. Both sides offer some of the most remarkable viewpoints over the purest blue sea.

Gozo

Gozo is just eight kilometres across the sea from the island of Malta, but it might as well be another world. A short ferry ride will bring you to this small, picturesque isle that was featured in Homer’s Odyssey and still boasts a rugged, natural beauty. A walk around the coastline will reward you with hidden vistas, but be sure to stop at the Azure Window at Dwerja Bay. The 60-metre-high rock bridge leads to a small outcropping above the sea and has long been a favourite sport for photography and diving.

Comino

Comino is the baby of the three inhabited isles. At just 3.5 square kilometres it’s a fraction of the size of the other two. But what it lacks in square mileage it makes up for in other ways. Comino is car-free and sparsely populated, making it feel like it’s your own private paradise. There’s only one hotel on Comino, but the cool blue waters are perfect for snorkelers, divers and windsurfers looking for a day trip from one of the bigger islands. The Blue Lagoon is a haven of white sand and calm turquoise water that gets busy during the summer.

How to Get There

A direct flight from the United Kingdom is just about three hours. Book a Malta Airport transfer to pick you up and take you to your hotel in no time. Your Malta Airport transfer can handle your luggage and make it easy to get started on your holiday.

These three islands are a study in contrasts, each with their own unique offerings and charms.

Author Plate

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for an affordable Malta airport transfer service Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.