Discover The Cultural Heart of Malta

Malta is a wonderful destination full of plenty to do no matter what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for beaches it is best to stay in the north of the main island in St Paul’s or Mellieha Bay. From here you can explore the beaches and more of the two islands of Comino and Gozo which lie to the north. However, if you’re looking to take in the cultural sights and feels of Malta then you should explore its southeast corner. In this article, we’ll take you through the best places to visit, how to get around and everything else you could want to know.

Valletta
Valletta is Malta’s capital and is a small peninsula set between Sliema and the Three Cities. The city of Valletta only takes up the end half of the peninsula but all of it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is densely packaged with beautiful limestone buildings. Many of the buildings across the islands are built with this and it gives them a beautiful aesthetic. Many of Valletta’s buildings have been extensively protected and restored and therefore have looked the same on the outside for hundreds of years. 

Photo credit Olly Gaspar & Haylea Brown 

History is everywhere you go in Valletta from churches to museums and fortifications. Must-see historical sites are St John’s Co-Cathedral and the Grandmaster’s Palace. Both reflect the island’s highly important religious past which includes monastic orders such as the Knights Hospitaller. St John’s Co-Cathedral looks like a fairly unassuming church that fits in with Valletta’s aesthetic from the outside, inside you will be blown away by the intricate detail from its ceiling frescos to golden inlaid walls. Find out about Malta’s war history at Fort St Elmo or be transported back to ancient times at the National Museum of Archaeology. There is so much history to explore here. 

Valletta is more than just history; walk its beautiful streets whose grid-like nature allows for gorgeous views down narrow streets packed with restaurants and cafes or down to the harbour. Malta is a cultural melting pot influenced by the three continents which surround it. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Valletta. Once you emerge from the narrow streets you are treated to views across the harbour to either Sliema or Three Cities. As you walk around the edge of the peninsula taking in the views, stop for a break in either the Lower or Upper Barrakka Gardens. 

Three Cities
Getting between Sliema, Valletta and the Three Cities is easy and cheap. Take the longer land way on the country’s excellent bus network or take the ferry across the harbour. Both options are less than €2. Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua make up the Three Cities. Senglea and Vittoriosa each occupy a peninsula opposite Valletta whilst Cospicua sits behind and between the two. 

Much like Valletta, Three Cities are living history. Each building has been beautifully preserved, meaning you could spend hours just walking through the streets admiring everything around you. There are lots of restaurants, cafes and bars for you to stop at whilst you look around. The main tourist sites in Three Cities are the Inquisitor’s Palace, Malta at War Museum and Fort St Angelo. The Inquisitor’s Palace is where the head of the Catholic Inquisition on the island lived. It now chronicles the inquisition in Malta and how it was enforced. Malta at War explores Malta in WW2 and Fort St Angelo is a restored medieval fort which houses a museum and offers tourists panoramic harbour and sea views.  

Sliema
Sliema is by far the most modern of the three areas mentioned. There are a few beaches here and plenty of international hotel brands for you to stay at. The Point Shopping Mall offers those who visit a chance for some retail therapy along with other big name stores nearby. The waterfront that faces Valletta is a buzzing hub of café culture with eateries lining the streets. Sliema is not without history, and you can explore Fort Tigne or Manoel Island both which offer information and great harbour views in equal measure. 

Malta is the perfect European destination for winter sunshine holidays, with a flight just over 3 hours from the UK and temperatures that stay in the 20s. We hope we’ve shown you what you can do whilst there. Our brand Wintasun offers hundreds of accommodations across Malta, and two of our chosen ones are in this area. Malta Marriott sits on the edge of Sliema, overlooking Balluta Bay whilst Cugo Gran Macina overlooks the marina between Senglea and Vittoriosa in the Three Cities. Find out more about Malta here or explore more winter sun holidays in Europe or across the world.