Malta is like coming home. It’s a breath of fresh air. People are friendly and the food is freshly home-cooked. The Maltese lead a lovely simple life where buses are slow and churches and shrines are abundant. There are ancient relics, fortresses, temples, walled city, churches, small villages and rich history to learn more about.

Just about everyone speaks English, so no stress there.

If you travelling to Malta for a week or more, I suggest hiring a car or even a local driver. The local bus is great but it takes forever!

I based myself at Qawra which worked for me. Another good place would be Buggiba or Valletta with plenty of food options, accommodation and a bus station.

Foods to try include pepper cheese and Maltese sausage.

Malta is well known for its beaches and bays. So this should be at the top of your list. I’m not such a fan of swimming at the beach but bays are my new favourite thing. The water is calm and so crystal clear. Being in the water in a bay is relaxing as you avoid the stress of being dunked by the crashing waves. Mellieha Bay was awesome as they had a fun water park set up when we were there.

A visit to Valletta; the capital is a must. It has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. There is so much to see and do there, all doable on foot. You can find The Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, cobbled streets, dine by the water, and Grandmasters Palace. You can also find the plays and concerts here.

There is also the Old City of Mdina in Rabat that is worth a visit. It is one of the oldest settlements on the island. There is even a little tourist train you can take to give you a tour of the area. Yep, of course, I did it.

Aim to have your afternoon drinks at Senglea Harbour watching the sunset.

Make sure to prioritise one of your days to get out on a day trip out with Sea Adventure Excursions to the Blue Lagoon. Awesome place to relax, swim and snorkel. It is a very popular spot during summer so go early in the day. I caught a jet boat around to check out the Blue Grotto as well. Such beautiful water!

Another of my days was spent on the island of Gozo. I simply caught the Cirkewwa Ferry over then jumped on a Hop on Hop off tour bus. It is only 14km long and 7km at its widest point so you can easily get around it in a day. I spent the day checking out the sites such as; Citadel, the Dwejra Azure Window, Ramla Bay, Ta’ Pinu Basilica, Ggantija Temples, Xlendi Bay, and the main village of Rabat.

Have you been to Malta before? What do you suggest are places that people see or things to experience? We would love it if you joined the conversation and left a comment below.