Malta The Mediterranean’s delightful island gem
As the saying goes: the best things come in small packages and that’s certainly true of Malta. The islands at the crossroads of the Mediterranean have history-stuffed towns, spectacular coastlines, incredible architecture, delicious food (a fusion of Southern Italian and North African) and year-round sunshine. What’s more, Malta is a breeze to reach, with a flight time of two hours from Switzerland. So let Cosa create your perfect holiday to this oft-overlooked jewel of the Mediterranean.
Where it is
Southern Europe
When to go
All year
Why go there
Historic sights
Mediterranean food
Brilliant beaches
What to see
Valletta
Qrendi
The Blue Lagoon
Captivating capital
Founded in 1565 by the Knights of St John, Valletta was designed as ‘a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen’. This architectural marvel is packed with sandstone churches and grand palaces.
Dip in to the Blue Lagoon
The luminous Blue Lagoon is one of those rare places where the hype is justified. Swim in the transparent turquoise waters, without the crowds, on a private sunset boat tour with Cosa
Have a pastizzi experience
Pastizzi (savoury ricotta-filled pastries) are a popular local snack so why not discover how to make these traditional pasties with a private chef in a palazzo.
Megalithic Malta
The mysterious Neolithic temples at Qrendi are the oldest stone architecture in the world, predating Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid. Feel your spine tingle as you wander through these extraordinary sites.
Travel in Malta
Compact Malta is not only easy to reach but it’s effortless to get around: on the main island of Malta, nothing is more than an hour away while it’s a painless 30-minute ferry ride to the outer islands of Gozo and Comino so that you can easily island hop. And wherever you go, you’ll be met by friendly Maltese who might well offer you a Kinnie, a bittersweet orange drink with herbs (although locals are partial to slipping in a shot of vodka).
Malta facts
Malta isn’t only one island but an archipelago, albeit not a large one: this is the smallest country in the EU and the 10th smallest in the world. That hasn’t stopped it being ruled by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, the Knights of Malta, and, most recently, France then Britain, before finally achieving independence in 1964. Malta has two official languages – Maltese (a combination of Arabic, Italian and English influences) and English – and both are spoken widely.
Time zone
UTC +1
Flight time
2 hours from Switzerland
Local currency
Euro
Dialling code
+356
