Small yet mighty with adventure, Malta brings together a diverse history boarded by a stunning coastline (Picture: VisitMalta)
What Malta lacks in size, it certainly makes up for in character. This set of bijou islands in the heart of the Mediterranean has played an outsized role throughout history.
The earliest settlers can be traced back 7,000 years and Malta is home to one of the oldest megalithic sites in the world. The Phoenicians called the islands home, as did the Romans, Arabs and the Knights of St John. Malta also formed part of the British Empire for 150 years.
It’s all created a uniquely rich cultural heritage, where English is one of the official languages, the cuisine a blend of the Mediterranean and cities a picture-perfect example of Baroque splendour. Add in rolling countryside, stunning coastlines and the fact that Malta is one of the world’s best scuba diving locations, and you begin to understand that the best things come in small packages.
Just a three-and-a-half-hour flight away from the UK, Malta is easy to reach, too. Book your getaway with Jet2holidays and you can fly from your local airport. There are direct Jet2holidays flights from Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, East Midlands, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle and London Stansted. From 2025, you’ll also be able to fly from Liverpool John Lennon airport.
Baroque wonders and nature’s splendour go hand-in-hand across this island, with countless activities to make each day as exciting as the last (Picture: VisitMalta)
Hop on the saddle and cycle off to explore the island’s hidden corners (Picture: VisitMalta)
And the UK’s number one tour operator takes care of everything, from big discounts to small details. You can choose from a dazzling selection of hotels, resorts and villas across Malta, and your stay will be wrapped up in an ABTA and ATOL-protected package, including return flights, return transfers and 22kg baggage. Book with deposits from just £60 per person* and discover Malta’s unique mix of culture, history and nature.
Sensational cities
Europe’s smallest capital city, Valletta is a true Baroque beauty. To wander around this UNESCO World Heritage Site is to marvel at an open-air museum of honey-hued buildings, enchanting squares and architectural marvels, a 16th-century fortified gem built by the Knights of St John.
Visit St John’s Co-Cathedral, famed for its ornate golden interiors and home to Caravaggio’s Beheading of St. John the Baptist, and take in the exquisite opulence of the Grand Master’s Palace, one of the first buildings to be constructed in the city.
Valletta, the smallest capital city in Europe, is steeped in centuries of history and entices travellers to explore its streets (Picture: VisitMalta)
Hop on a traditional Maltese Dgħajsa, a colourful wooden boat, and head across the Grand Harbour to the Three Cities, a trio set on promontories jutting into the water. Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua offer great views, serenity and a slice of everyday Maltese life. And don’t miss Mdina, the country’s former capital originally founded by the Phoenicians. This fortified medieval town is …read more
Source:: Metro
