Holiday and stay in Malta

The ancient Greeks gave this island the name Melita, which can be translated as “Sweet Honey.” To this day, when talking about Malta, tourists describe it as a “paradise on earth.” Why?

It is a picturesque country, located on three islands in the Mediterranean Sea. They lie 93 km from Sicily and 288 km from Tunisia. It is an archipelago that includes Malta, Gozo, and Comino; some are inhabited, and a few are not. By area, Malta ranks 185th in the world, with only 316 square kilometers.

The island of Malta is 27 km long and 15 km wide. The area of Gozo is twice smaller, and Comino is only 2 km long.

But despite its very small size, it is a land so blessed that, throughout history, fierce battles were fought to control it. At first, this land was ruled by the Phoenicians. Later — the ancient Greeks. After them came the Romans, Carthaginians, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, and Spaniards. In 1530, the Roman Emperor Charles V gifted the archipelago to the Order of the Hospitallers of Malta (the Knights of St. John). These were the knights who, during the First Crusade in 1099, captured Jerusalem and later defended and cared for the Holy Land. In the 16th century, these knights founded Malta’s capital — the fortress-port city of Valletta, which served as the island’s guard.

History tells us that in the course of six days the islands were taken by Napoleon. Later, the protectorate belonged to Russia. After that, for 150 years Malta was colonized by Great Britain, escaping this status only in 1974.

Since 2004, Malta has been part of the European Union. The only operating currency is the euro.

The archipelago’s climate is ideal for lovers of beach отдыха. Summer is dry and warm; in August the air temperature reaches +28–34 °C. Winter is rainy: during the day it is +12–20 °C, and at night +7–12 °C.

Tourists are drawn by the sea with crystal-clear water, the variety of beaches — among the best in Europe — and even the sand. It can be three colors — white, red, and pink. Some beaches are marked with the Blue Flag.

It should be noted that the vast majority of beaches are pebble and rocky, and they require special footwear. But именно здесь the water is the чистейшая. Footwear is also needed because of sea urchins. The most fascinating sandy beaches in Malta are located in the north of the island.

The beauty of the sea continues underwater: here the seabed is extraordinary and the fauna is diverse, which draws to Malta many fans of diving from all corners of the world.

The archipelago offers its hospitality to every tourist. The island has many hotels, both premium and budget, and there are also hostels. At the 5-star Radisson Golden Sands hotel, they will proudly tell you that Queen Elizabeth II stayed here during her trip to the island.

Dining specifics: in Malta, All Inclusive is not practiced. Often, breakfast and lunch are offered, included in the accommodation price. But in the evening no one will be hungry: there are many places to eat for every taste, including 26 restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide.

Authentic Maltese cuisine reflects the stormy history of this land and has absorbed the culinary traditions of Italy (especially Sicily), Great Britain, Spain, Greece, France, and Mauritius. National dishes often use fresh seafood, fish, meat (rabbit, beef, pork, chicken), fruits and vegetables, grains, and olive oil. They are prepared as rolls or stewed, therefore their dishes are also healthy.

You can travel around the islands of the archipelago by buses, taxis, rented cars, and the ferry.