Weekend Breaks in Malta

The capital of Malta, Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's filled with sumptuous architecture and busy street markets. There are churches, cathedrals, and palaces dotted throughout the city, including the lavish St John's Co-Cathedral, which contains two paintings by legendary painter Caravaggio. The Upper Barrakka Gardens are also well worth a visit, as they offer breathtaking views of the harbour and have monuments and statues of notable historic figures such as Winston Churchill. If you visit in February, don't miss the colourful Maltese Festival.

Only a few miles from Valletta, Sliema is a busy resort town with a harbour and beautiful white-sand beaches, offering both a city break and beach holiday. It has a great selection of shops and restaurants, with many eateries overlooking the water and serving traditional Maltese dishes such as kapunata, which is similar to ratatouille. The nightlife in Sliema is buzzing and vibrant, with lively nightclubs that stay open into the early hours.

Malta is actually made up of three islands, with Gozo being the second largest. It offers a more peaceful and uncrowded version of Malta, with stunning blue lagoons and pristine beaches. Like the rest of Malta, it's rich in history. On Gozo, you can visit the Ta' Pinu Basilica or the Ggantija Temples, the oldest freestanding buildings in the world.