Explore the unique history of Malta

Small but mighty

Crammed into a surface area of just a few square miles, you'll find unique archaeological sites, white-rock creeks and coasts with golden sand and wind-chiselled faces. Island-hop from the pristine blue waters of Gozo to the cove-riddled coastline of Comino, before ending up surrounded by centuries of history in the show-stopping capital of Valletta.

It's impossible not to stop and appreciate Malta's myriad of small villages and towns, filled to bursting with architectural and historic sites which tell the story of an island so often forced to defend itself from attack. To the north, you'll find the quaint village of Mellieha, whilst in the centre await the elegant historic towns of Rabat and Mdina and the prehistoric temples of Hagar Qim et Mnajdra.

At the head of it all sits Valletta, the Fortress City and historic home of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. Though almost intimidating from without, once inside you'll find a surprisingly small warren of historic must-sees flanked by bars and restaurants. It may be the capital but once darkness has fallen, the city becomes remarkably quiet and locals head ten minutes along the coast to St Julian's or Paceville, both with great restaurants and buzzing bars competing for space down narrow streets.

You'll find history to fill one hundred holidays on this little island, but if you're looking for beaches Malta is not the destination for you. Few and far between, you'll be hard-pushed to find even a square foot of free sand. Instead, most of the coast is devoted to rocky beaches and beautifully clear Mediterranean waters. No surprise then that diving brings many a visitor to the island's door, in search of WWII wreck dives and impressive underwater caves.

All three of the Maltese islands are worth discovering, whether you prefer to cycle them, hike them or even climb them. From the village-addled countryside and rocky coasts of the mainland, to the wide green pastures of Gozo, the distances are small enough that you can leave the car behind. Take time to stop at the tiny island of Camino too, nestled between the two bigger islands and virtually uninhabited save for one hotel and a smattering of snorkelling or diving day-trippers.