Why do we love Malta – is it the weather? The food? The architecture? That feeling of freedom and safety?
Sometimes it’s all those and more. And sometimes, it’s simply to let ourselves go and lose ourselves.
Nothing quite beats ditching the smartphone or map, and just roaming around Malta and seeing where you end up.
We’ve put together a list of some of the nicest places to get lost in – or as close to lost as our island allows.
SENGLEA
Often, it’s places like Senglea that are more memorable than the busy tourist resorts like Sliema and St Julian’s.
Senglea is truly traditional Malta, and simply strolling around the narrow streets without an agenda makes for a fantastic afternoon out.
And everyone in the street will say ‘Hello’ to you. Guaranteed.
BUSKETT GARDENS
Buskett is kind of like Malta’s version of the Scottish Highlands. It’s the great outdoors, Malta style, and our main forest.
Wild and unspoilt, it is perfect for Sunday afternoon woodland walks with the kids or the dog – and after 10 minutes or so you feel as if you’re abroad.
MUNXAR POINT
Munxar Point is one of Malta’s hidden gems at the tip of St Thomas Bay near Marsascala.
It’s a great place to walk or cycle to – or you can even get there by canoe and paddle through the natural limestone arch if you fancy it.
QRENDI
The Maqluba sinkhole is located at the village of Qrendi and was formed in 1343 during a violent storm.
It is home to a number of rare species of plants and fungi and is also the ideal destination to explore and lose yourself in for an hour or two. There are steps to get down and up again.
THE GOZO CITADEL
The Citadel is basically Gozo’s Mdina.
Once you’ve had your fill of the museums, the true pleasure of Gozo’s historic Citadel comes from roaming through backstreets.
You’ll soon stumble upon some ancient sculpture or a spectacular view of Victoria or Marsalforn from the bastions.
VALLETTA
There are only two ways to understand where things are in Valletta: either up, or down.
No matter where you set out on your walk, your trip will end in stairs! But it’s absolutely brilliant.
Strolling around the narrow lanes is the best way to discover the capital city.
MDINA
It’s hard not to get a little bit lost for 10 minutes or so in Mdina.
The best thing to do is to embrace it, and just keep walking until you eventually end up near the main gate again. It doesn’t take long.
If you’re looking to experience a hint of medieval Malta, try visiting alone at night. Now that’s creepy.
