 Valletta at dusk Malta is a wonderful destination full of plenty to do no matter what you’re looking for. If it is a beach holiday you’re looking for, it is best to stay in the north of the main island in St Paul’s or Mellieha Bay. It is here that many of the island's larger hotels are and you can easily access the two islands of Comino and Gozo. However, if you’re looking to take in the cultural sights and feels of Malta then you should explore its southeast and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Valletta and well as the neighbouring Three Cities and Sliema. 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. VallettaValletta 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 the whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is densely packaged with gorgeous buildings made of limestone. This is the case across much of the Maltese Archipelago and gives island and its buildings a beautiful aesthetic. A large part of this because many of Valletta’s buildings have been extensively protected and restored so they have remained the same on the outside for hundreds of years.  Valletta from above - Photo by Travel Photographer & Blogger Olly Gaspar - https://www.weseektravel.com/category/malta/ 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 are blown away by the intricately 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 so much history to explore here.  St John's Co-Cathedral 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.  Valletta's streets - Photo Credit Olly Gaspar & Haylea Brown Three CitiesGetting 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. The areas of 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.  At the bottom is Valletta, at the top on the right is Three Cities, the two left peninsulas are Kalkara 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, the 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 during the Second World War and its role in the conflict. Fort St Angelo is a restored medieval fort which now houses a museum and its battlements offer tourists panoramic harbour and sea views.  The marina between Senglea and Vittoriosa. In the bottom left is the ferry between Valletta and Three Cities SliemaSliema 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 though, and you can explore Fort Tigne or Manoel Island both of which offer information and great harbour views in equal measure.  Sliema Malta is the perfect for winter sunshine holidays, with a flight just over 3 hours from the UK and temperatures that stay in the early 20s throughout November to February. We hope that this article has shown you what you can do whilst there. Wintasun offers hundreds of accommodations across Malta, two of our chosen ones are in the southeast of Malta. 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.
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AuthorWintasun is a brand of Verini Travel, who's staff have a combined 35 years experience in the travel industry. Archives
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