{"id":710,"date":"2013-08-16T23:51:52","date_gmt":"2013-08-16T23:51:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/?p=710"},"modified":"2022-09-13T15:28:37","modified_gmt":"2022-09-13T15:28:37","slug":"710","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/710\/","title":{"rendered":"Marvellous Malta"},"content":{"rendered":"

With its striking fossil-studded cliffs and prehistoric temples, stunning scenery and sparkling sea, Malta<\/a>, the largest and cultural\/commercial hub of the Maltese Islands, is steeped in rich history as well as blessed with breathtakingly beautiful natural landscapes.<\/p>\n

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The Maltese archipelago lies virtually at the very heart of the Mediterranean, 93km south of Sicily <\/a>and 288km north of Africa. The archipelago consists of\u00a0three islands: Malta, Gozo<\/a> and Comino<\/a>. Malta\u2019s weather<\/a> is reliably wonderful for much of the year making it a top holiday <\/a>destination and the perfect place to escape to for a spot of last of the summer sunshine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When to go<\/strong><\/p>\n

Malta enjoys a warm, mild and sunny Mediterranean climate, which is strongly influenced by the sea. It is a popular place to visit all-year round, with pleasant temperatures and plenty of sunshine lasting well into mid to late October<\/a>. At this time of year, the current\u00a0average daily temperature<\/a>\u00a0is an enjoyable 27\u00b0C, potentially peaking at around 31\u00b0C and dropping to an average low of 22\u00b0C. The\u00a0average sea temperature<\/a>\u00a0in August is 27\u00b0C, so dive in, and with 11 hours of\u00a0daily sunshine<\/a>\u00a0outdoor pursuits are likely to be at the top of your holiday agenda.<\/p>\n

What to do<\/strong><\/p>\n

Visit Valleta<\/strong><\/p>\n

Valleta<\/a>, Malta\u2019s gorgeously picturesque UNESCO World Heritage<\/a> 17th<\/sup>-century capital city is a must see with elegant architecture, impressive fortifications, an open-air auditorium, numerous interesting museums, art galleries, plenty of excellent restaurants, and of course, the famous unobtrusive Maltese hospitality in abundance wherever you go.<\/p>\n

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Take a step back in time <\/strong><\/p>\n

Malta is also known for its rich history, 7,000 years worth no less, and impressive prehistoric sites, which range from gargantuan Megalithic temples standing proudly atop soaring sea cliffs and Hal Saflieni Hypogeum<\/a>, a 5000-year-old underground necropolis carved to perfection from rock is a sight not to be missed. The island\u2019s apparent and remarkable history also encompasses more recent times and Malta\u2019s battle scars tell a defiant story that dates back to WWII. Due to its geographical location and significance, Malta fended off full on warfare and its formidable fortresses and fortifications, walled cities, catacombs and complex network of underground tunnels are fascinating \u2013 history buff or not.<\/p>\n

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Hit the beach<\/strong><\/p>\n

With a plethora of attractive beaches to sunbathe on and a bevvy of beautiful coves to swim in, Malta is a Mecca for beach bums. From golden sand to red sand, rocky shores to romantic secluded spots, there is a beach for everyone and thanks to Malta\u2019s fantastic weather, you can hit the beach well into October. Malta’s most popular beaches<\/a> are\u00a0Mellie\u0127a Bay,\u00a0G\u0127ajn Tuffie\u0127a\u00a0and\u00a0Golden Bay. Many beaches offer water sports such as windsurfing, jet skiing, parakiting and fun rides. On larger beaches you\u2019ll find snack bars and cafes open during the summer season. The main coastal resorts and larger sandy beaches are located in the northern part of Malta. If you prefer smaller, quieter beaches, head to the tip of Malta to Paradise Bay\u00a0and\u00a0Armier, which overlook Gozo.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Dive deep<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019re never too far from the glistening Mediterranean when in Malta, which is a premier diving site with a plethora of wonderful dive sites<\/a> rich with marine life, fascinating underwater caves and even sunken WWII bombers to explore.<\/p>\n

Hopping on a boat and heading to Comino\u2019s Blue Lagoon<\/a> is sure to be a real highlight of your holiday in Malta. Gozo and Comino\u2019s rocky outlets and clear waters also offer excellent snorkelling.<\/p>\n

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Fun for all<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Popular activities in Malta include rock climbing<\/a>,\u00a0horse riding<\/a> and hiking<\/a>.\u00a0It\u2019s also well worth exploring the rural side of the island; wandering through charming fishing villages and soaking up the local atmosphere. Little ones will enjoy Malta\u2019s activity and theme parks, which includes a marine park<\/a>,\u00a0water park<\/a> and Sweethaven Village<\/a> \u2013 home to the\u00a0original\u00a0movie set\u00a0where the 1980 musical production of Popeye <\/em>was filmed.<\/p>\n

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Natural wonders<\/strong><\/p>\n

Malta has some eye-catching natural attractions which will have you reaching your camera. The\u00a0Azure Window<\/a>, the\u00a0Inland Sea<\/a> and\u00a0Fungus Rock<\/a>\u00a0make up an impressive trio of natural wonders located within a few meters from each other in Dwejra on Gozo – are absolute must-sees. There are also caves and grottos with interesting rock formations to discover all over Malta.<\/p>\n

Shop until you drop<\/strong><\/p>\n

Malta\u2019s is a great place to pick up some unique local gifts and souvenirs. From lace, pottery, silver filigree, knitwear, fabrics, baskets and clocks Maltese craftsmen are busy bees! Don\u2019t miss the opportunity to watch glass blowers at work, Maltese mouthblown and hand-crafted glass is renowned for its beauty and would make a very special Maltese memoir.<\/p>\n

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Where to dine<\/strong><\/p>\n

Making the most of the sea\u2019s bounty, many Maltese restaurants serve fabulous fish and seafood. Other local staples include rabbit and honey. Try zalzett<\/em>\u00a0(coriander flavoured Maltese sausage), and \u0121bejniet<\/em>\u00a0(local sheep cheese) with\u00a0galletti<\/em>\u00a0(Maltese crackers) washed down wih some fine Maltese wine. With Middle Eastern and Sicilian influences, Malta\u2019s rustic cuisine packs a flavoursome punch.<\/p>\n

Where to stay<\/strong><\/p>\n

Valetta is the place to stay if you\u2019re after a cultural, urban break. Check out Hotel Valentina <\/a>and Hotel Phoenicia<\/a>, which both deliver in terms of comfort, value, good amenities and service. Fancy squeezing in some unhindered R&R on the beach before the summer is out? Malta boasts some great beach resorts, head to Dolmen Resort Hotel & Spa <\/a>and Westin Dragonara Resort<\/a>\u00a0for pure unadulterated beachside bliss.<\/p>\n

Ready to go?<\/strong>\u00a0Click\u00a0here\u00a0<\/a>to book you flights.<\/p>\n

Happy holidays!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With its striking fossil-studded cliffs and prehistoric temples, stunning scenery and sparkling sea, Malta, the largest and cultural\/commercial hub of the Maltese Islands, is steeped in rich history as well as blessed with breathtakingly beautiful natural landscapes. The Maltese archipelago lies virtually at the very heart of the Mediterranean, 93km south of Sicily and 288km […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"post_views_count":1330,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[117],"class_list":["post-710","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-holidays","tag-resort-malta"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/710","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=710"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1008,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/710\/revisions\/1008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holiday-weather.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}