Malta

After 7,000 years of civilisation, the island of Malta has such a rich history that Malta is practically saturated with attractions and places of interest. The capital city of Valletta plays host to regular plays and concerts, as well as scores of exhibitions and street events.

The Museum of Archaeology in Valletta houses an exceptionally rich collection of prehistoric artefacts.

The War Museum at Fort St. Elmo is home to a Sunday military parade in period costumes re-enactment and the capital also possesses the impressive Grand Master’s Palace and St. John’s Co-cathedral.

With 7,000 years of history, the sites to visit are endless and all are within easy reach from the Allegro.   The Megalithic Temples (including Ggantija, the oldest freestanding temple in the world), the underground St Paul’s and St. Agatha’s catacombs, The Knights of St. John’s significant sites, such as Fort St Angelo and Fort Rinella (home to the world’s largest canon). WWII significant sites, such as the Mgarr war shelter, Mtarfa ex-British military buildings, The Armoury and the Maritime Museum in Vittoriosa are not to be missed.

Be on the look out for the Alarme and In Guardia Historical re-enactments, as well as interactive walkthrough and multimedia attractions that offer an overview of Malta’s history in under an hour. They’re interesting and a great way to learn the significance of what visitors will later be looking at.

The Museum of Roman Antiquities, commonly referred to as The Roman Villa or the Domus Romana,  and various catacombs are to be found in Rabat. In the fortified medieval city of Mdina, visitors will come across everything from Napoleonic troops to flower festivals. The Cathedral and its museum are not to be missed, as well as the torturous Mdina dungeons and the Mdina Experience. Mdina by night provides the backdrop to a romantic stroll by night.. Don’t miss the renowned chocolate cake at the Fontanella Tea rooms, situated right on the bastion with a spectacular view.

For those who love art, the possibilities are endless – visit the impressive artistic collection at the National Museum of Fine Arts, see the Caravaggio’s Beheading of St. John at St. John’s co-Cathedral and visit medieval Palazzo Falzon, which houses a large collection of antiques, in Mdina. To view more contemporary work, walk around the exhibits at the St Johns Cavalier Art Centre.

For fanciful fun, highlights are the passionate carnival and open-air concerts. Not to be missed is the Nadur carnival in Gozo and the parade in Valletta. Children will enjoy activity and fun parks, which include the old film set of Popeye Village.

The rural side of the Islands is fascinating, with charming villages & captivating folklore. With 365 spectacular churches, there are more than a few highlights – visit the Mosta church famous for its large dome (third largest dome in Europe). Visit the church of St. Nicholas in the village of Siggiewi.

Visit the three cities in Cottonera, have an evening walk on the Sliema or Bugibba promenade and visit the fortified Citadel in Gozo.

On Sunday morning go to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk market, the open-air market outside Valletta or the It-Tokk Victoria market in Gozo.

Summer is also Festa time, where the Maltese penchant for colour and passion provides an insight into the Mediterranean culture that permeates traditional Malta.

Please contact the reception so that we may design an itinerary that allows you to make the most of your stay in Malta.

Boasting of warm year-round weather as well being considered one of the safest places in the world, Malta is the ideal destination for families with young kids. The island also caters for our little travellers and a myriad of activities are available all year that will appeal to the young… and not so young!

Here is a list of venues and activities which are guaranteed to provide fun for all the family:

Nestling within Salina, BirdPark Malta so far has been Malta’s best kept secret! Home to over 200 species of birds and animals the park is a must for all those who have nature at heart. Flamingos, pelicans, swans, storks, owls, cranes, parrots and many other amazing birds from around the world thrive happily with kangaroos, wallabies, antelopes, meercats, deer, genets, marmosets and more. Visitors have the opportunity to learn about bird plumage cycles, flight, habitat, displays, song and calls, territory and pair formation, nests and eggs, migration and much more, whilst having the chance to observe and interact with wildlife. This nature-themed leisure park is a first for Malta and offers a unique experience as an educational and recreational attraction.

Splash and Fun Water Park features a full day of fun and adventure for the entire family. Whether you make a splash in the cool blue waves, take a thrilling ride down one of the water slides or just float around in the lazy river, Malta’s Premier family water park is the place to be in summer.

The daily animation programs are jam packed with fun and games provided by the professional animation team. With tropical dances, volley ball, salsa lessons, aerobics and much more

Mediterraneo Marine Park with its presentation of a variety of marine species has been one of Malta`s leading entertaining attractions. In a tranquil setting offset by Mediterranean Sea and gardens, Mediterraneo has created the right environment to reveal “the secrets of the sea”.

Besides dolphins, the park today boast a large selection of different species including sea lions, parrots, Green wing Amazons, cockatoos, snakes, tortoises, turtles and lizards as well as a new collection of insects.

Popeye Village has grown from its days from the film set of the 1980 musical production “Popeye” to a number of colourful activities for all young at heart. Here you will meet famous cartoon characters to greet and entertain your kids, grownups can be part of a filming experience with the animation crew, a number of attractions including Santa’s Toy Town, boat rides, water trampolines, sun bathing decks and much more. There is also Malta’s largest jump around and a fun park with numerous rides for kids.

In the run up to Christmas, Popeye Village magically becomes the workshop of the most loved toy maker in history. Visit Santa’s Toy town open just in December and discover how hard all the elves work in the different departments to make the dream toy of every kid around the world! Start from the post office where hundreds of letters are received and sorted, continue through the various workshops to see the Elves in action and finish with the Man himself, Santa!

The National Aquarium located in Qawra has twenty six tanks housing an impressive collection of fish specials, including a walk-through tunnel for adults and another one specially designed for children. The theme of the aquarium showcases Malta’s rich natural and cultural heritage including replicas of a submarine, a World War II bomber, Fortifications and others. The Malta National Aquarium Complex has two restaurants serving food prepared by award winning chefs. Patron of both restaurants can enjoy excellent views of St Paul’s islands.

Enter the fantastic Playmobil world and slip into the centre of action for which courage and agility are necessary to discover the adventurous worlds of the Playmobil Fun Park. Be it pirates, knights, cowboys or Indians at the Playmobil Fun Park, children can slip into the role of their favourite character and experience exciting adventures.

Sensational vision and a gripping commentary bring 7000 years of island history to life, in a purpose-built auditorium. Malta’s first and foremost audio-visual attraction, The Malta Experience has delighted over four million visitors since it opened in the 1980s. The Malta Experience is situated in Malta’s capital Valletta and can be listened to in 15 different languages. The Show is continuously updated using state-of-the-art technology.

With over 5 tumoli of landscaped gardens, with a touch of ‘wilderness’ to provide a natural setting in a well-kept outdoor facility, the LWS Animal Park is the home of an array of animals that were either donated or recovered from adverse conditions. These animals are kept in the best possible conditions the space can offer, and are under the care of specialist people.

Children love the park in particular because it provides a unique petting and feeding experience. This amazing ‘day out’ is topped by the miniature railway, climbing frames and play area, go karts and wheelchair swing. On the open days children can have their first horse-riding experience.