Malta City Guide — Attractions, Food & Tips

Malta City GuideA sun-baked archipelago where 7,000 years of history layer ancient temples beneath Baroque cathedrals, honey-coloured limestone fortresses guard turquoise harbours, and every village celebrates its own festa.Key Facts

Country: Malta

Currency: EUR (Euro)

Language: Maltese & English

Time Zone: UTC+1

Best Time to Visit: April–June

Top Places to Visit

Valletta — A UNESCO World Heritage city built by the Knights of St John after the Great Siege of 1565. Packed with Baroque palaces, churches, and the magnificent St John's Co-Cathedral with its Caravaggio masterpieces.

St John's Co-Cathedral — An austere exterior hides one of the most ornate church interiors in the world. Every surface is covered in gilded carvings, and the oratory houses Caravaggio's Beheading of Saint John.

Mdina — Malta's ancient walled capital, a hilltop citadel of narrow medieval streets, noble palaces, and sweeping views. Known as the Silent City for its car-free tranquility.

Blue Grotto — A series of sea caves where sunlight refracts through the water to create brilliant blue illumination. Small boats take visitors on a 25-minute tour of the caverns.

Hagar Qim Temples — A megalithic temple complex dating to 3600-3200 BC, making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids. A UNESCO World Heritage Site with an excellent visitor centre.

Local Food

Pastizzi — Flaky diamond-shaped pastries filled with ricotta or mushy peas — Malta's beloved street food, costing under 1 EUR at pastizzerias. Best eaten fresh and hot.

Rabbit Stew (Fenkata) — Malta's national dish — rabbit slow-cooked in wine and garlic. Fenkata is both a dish and a social tradition, often enjoyed as a communal feast.

Lampuki Pie — A baked pie filled with dolphinfish (lampuki), olives, capers, and tomatoes. A seasonal dish available in autumn when the lampuki are running.

Ftira — Malta's traditional sourdough flatbread, similar to focaccia, topped with tomatoes, olives, capers, and tuna. Gozo's ftira from Mekren bakery is legendary.

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