Events in 2024
Malta has a packed calendar of events in store for 2024, so why not time your trip with a festival?
Visit in January for the annual Valletta Baroque Festival, a three-week celebration of baroque music that takes place in the city’s most extravagant baroque buildings. February brings more energy (and sunshine) with its vibrant Carnival (Il-Karnival ta’ Malta) – one of the oldest historical festivals in Malta, which can be traced back to the Knights of St John’s occupancy in Malta.
The brand-new, family-oriented Wanderlust Festival packs in music, animated shows, interactive craft workshops and gourmet food across two days in April; later in the month, more than 100 Classic Fiat 500s will take to the islands’ streets in celebration of the iconic car.
Summer, meanwhile, is all about the tunes. Abode on the Rock, held on the island of Gozo in June, is four days of fun in the sun – think sunset villa parties, cave raves, boat parties and more. Ed Sheeran also touches down on the island for one night only as part of his chart-topper tour. Malta Jazz will return in July, as will Glitch Festival, which is back for its 7th edition in August.
Sightseeing
There are 320 historic monuments crammed into Malta’s tiny capital, Valletta – which has earnt the whole city recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Baroque architecture and features inspired by the 17th and 18th-century style line its streets, which was once the stronghold of the medieval Knights of St John. Its cultural jewel is St John’s Co-Cathedral, where you’ll find gold plated walls, beautiful tapestries and the only signed work by Caravaggio: The Beheading of St. John the Baptist.
Outside of the city, Malta’s Megalithic Temples (Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra and Tarxien) and the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum also hold the status.
You’ll find another UNESCO site on Gozo: the impressive Ġgantija Temples are the oldest freestanding structures in the world, and are thought to pre-date the Pyramids of Giza by 1,000 years.
Diving
Malta is known for its world-class scuba diving as the tranquil, clear Mediterranean waters provide mesmerising views of shipwrecks and sea life in its natural habitat. The secluded caves, stunning caverns and lavish reefs testify to why Malta is regularly voted the one of the best diving destinations in the world, and a popular spot to gain diving qualifications.
Children can gain their PADI certification from the age of ten, and those without certification can bring a snorkel to get a glimpse of it all, too.
Malta’s sister islands Gozo and Comino are just a 25-minute ferry away from Malta and offer more unique diving experiences.
Hiking
Malta’s rugged landscape is a rambler’s dream. Experience breathtaking scenery on a coast-hugging hike from Marsaskala to Marsaxlokk, where a fresh seafood lunch is the reward for your efforts or trace the less-trodden inland path of the Girgenti Valley. If you have a full day, the 11.2km (7 miles) walk from the Dingli Cliffs to Wied iż-Żurrieq is worth it for the prehistoric sites and pretty, clifftop church that you’ll pass along the way.
On Gozo, the walk from capital Victoria to Dwejra gives you a taste of the island’s west and ends with a swim or boat trip in the crystal-clear waters of the Inland Sea lagoon.
Watersports
The Maltese coastline is the perfect backdrop for adventures on the sea, whether you’re searching for surf-friendly swells (try Għajn Tuffieħa beach) or windsurfing and parasailing in St Julian’s.
High-octane thrills come by way of speedboats and jet-skis, and kayaking tours are offered in both Malta and Gozo for holidaymakers of all ages and abilities, ensuring everyone gets to explore the coastline.
If you prefer to relax and take in the picturesque scenery, charter a yacht or a sailboat to explore the islands.
Segways
Hop on a Segway to discover more than 7,000 years of history on the Mediterranean archipelago. Tours are available in the cities of Valletta and Mdina, and in the rolling hills of the Dingli cliffs.
