Malta is one of the smallest countries in Europe and nevertheless it is absolutely authentic and can’t be confused with anything else. Hardly noticeable on the map, it still attracts thousands of visitors per year who come to enjoy stunning beaches, ponder about ancient history and enjoy the Mediterranean spirit. After 5 days in Malta (which is ridiculously few, mind it when you plan your trip!), I’d love to share several things we loved about Malta, and so will you!

Blue Grotto

To be fair, I’m not a huge fan of cats, or at least neither of us melts down when seeing one. In Malta though, it’s impossible not to admire these fluffy balls who with all their attitude show that they ate the true bosses of this island.

Malta is known for its great spots for diving, and it remains a thing that we want to come back for. But the biggest crush for me was the color of the sea, which had an incredible range of shades. From turquoise to the deep purple – never before have I seen such a delicious and appealing sea.

Dwejra, Gozo

To be honest, it´s not that often that we confront any particular unfriendliness wherever it is, but Maltese hospitality did seem to us on the verge of exceptional. Not only helpful when one asks for help, but generous and kind, it was a pleasure to have some truly human contacts. This observation though doesn’t necessarily cover the employees of the tourist businesses.

I’m not sure you can find in Europe the food for such fair prices. Even if the actual Maltese cuisine isn’t exceptional, but even a simple salad will be generous and delicious. Not to mention a long line of restaurants in Sliema!

The statistics says that Malta enjoys the sunny sky more than any other place of Europe, and though we don’t belong to people who make difference between “good weather” and “bad weather”, I can’t agree, that during gloomy and humid winters of London, having some vitamin D in Malta with its 3000 hours of sunshine per year would be an unnecessary luxury. By the way, this fact made me much more appreciate that rainy day at the end of our trip! Rare means cool.

Dingli Cliffs

Okay, let me explain. :D In the post Malta in 5 days we tell about our hectic adventure, featuring all kinds of weird transport. But at the end of the day, the country stays very small, so you literally can see the domes of the towns in the middle of the island, while being on the coast. It’s difficult to believe that it’s not a place built on purpose for « outdoor » escape games. Or Hunger Games. :D Anyway, this particularity makes Malta different and we loved it. And jokes aside, its compact size allows seeing more while not spending a life on the road.

Draw an eye on a boat, and here you get the best fisherman’s companion called luzzu. Honestly, with this look on their faces, is it possible not to love them as a pet or a friend? The boats of Malta are one of its best-known symbols, and believe me, half of the pictures you will take there will feature these cuties. Centuries later, the eyes on luzzus, which symbolize the eye of Osiris or Horus stayed to protect the fishermen from evil.

Boats of Marsaxlokk

I think, this is self-explanatory. Just after the boats, balconies of Malta have the same iconic importance, especially those in Valletta. :)

Valletta suburbs

The list is not over, insert here the spots for partying, paradise beaches or the places of Games of Thrones setting which get any fan go crazy, but for me Malta was all about the melted ice-cream, tuna salads, orange juices and fantastic, unearthly beautiful sea.