Malta

With its beautifully rugged terrain and sun-kissed facade, Malta is an

Island Country that you will fall in love immediately. Located in the

Mediterranean Sea and a stones throw from Sicily, Malta is an intruiging

country and with its long and absorbing history, there is so much to see,

even the children will love it.

Read on for our snapshot of Malta, with the focus on the Capital City, Valletta ...

In this Review:

* A little bit about Malta

* 5 things to do with the children

* Something for just Mum and Dad

* How to get there

* Where to stay

* Some beautiful pictures of Malta

The weather in Malta is beautiful and mild pretty much all year round.

The summer (June-August) can reach averages of degrees 28C (82 F) and be as

low as degrees 13C (55 F).

Where is Malta?
Malta is located in the Mediterranean Sea South of Sicily, East of Tunisia and

North of Libya.

Coordinates:

35°53′N 14°30′E

Click on the map to the Right to zoom in to the Town using Google Maps.

A quick history lesson on Malta...

Pottery found by archaeologists at Skorba resembles that found in Italy, and suggests that the Maltese islands were first settled in 5200 BC mainly by stone age hunters or farmers who had arrived from the larger island of Sicily. After 2500 BC, the Maltese Islands were depopulated for several decades until the arrival of a new influx of Bronze Age immigrants. Skip to 1530, when Emperor Charles V gave the islands to the Knights Hospitaller under the leadership of Frenchman Philippe de Villiers de L'Isle-Adam, Grand Master of the Order, in perpetual lease for which they had to pay the Tribute of the Maltese Falcon. These knights, a military religious order now known as the Knights of Malta, had been driven out of Rhodes by the Ottoman Empire in 1522. The Knights' reign ended when Napoleon captured Malta on his way to Egypt during the French Revolutionary Wars in 1798. In 1814, as part of the Treaty of Paris, Malta officially became a part of the British Empire and was used as a shipping way-station and fleet headquarters. During World War II, Malta played an important role owing to its proximity to Axis shipping lanes. Malta achieved its independence on 21 September 1964 (Independence Day) after intense negotiations with the United Kingdom. Malta then adopted a policy of neutrality in 1980. Malta joined the European Union on 1 May 2004.

Main Facts about the Republic of Malta:

Dominant Religion: Catholic

Currency: Euro

Language spoken: Maltese and English

Population: 446,000 (as at 2013)

Distance between Airport and City of Valletta - 15 mins.

Find out the currency conversion measures to your currency.

Read the Malta Airport Guide for details on how to use Public Transport to reach your hotel.

Alternatively, most hotels will have a Bus Shuttle Service available to take you to and from your hotel for a fee.

How long should you stay in Malta?

There are sufficient activities and things to do to last for at least 4 days in Valletta.

We think that 5-6 days is optimal.

Typical Souvenirs you can buy from Malta

The children will love the little Knight figurines from any of the souvenir stores.

Malta is also well known for its stunningly intricate lace, which always makes the perfect

gift for family and friends.

Hospitals around Malta

Just in case you find yourself needing the Emergency Room during your stay, here are some

Hospitals around Malta. Click on the map to the right or here to get all of the details for these facilities.

Five (5) things you can do in Malta with the kids includes:

1. Take a horse and Carriage ride around the City of Valletta

If you are interested in taking the children for a horse and carriage ride, you will be able to see almost the entire waters-edge view around Malta's Capital City, Valletta. The sights are interesting and the view is spectacular. Expect to pay around 40-60 Euros, and the pick up areas are everywhere around the circumference of the city.

Remember to tip a couple of Euro's if you think it was worthy!

2. Do the Hop-on Hop-off bus! For sure, this is a must do activity.

Take a look at Malta Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off bus tours.

You will not only be able to see Valletta (the Capital of Malta), but also the scenery outside of the city. Here, you will be able to see how the locals live on the outskirts of the city.

Hint: If you are staying in the City of Valletta, take note of the various towns that you see along the way. You may wish to return to those places (for example, St Julians) for a day out, perhaps to the beachside area.

3. A Cruise around Malta or closer Islands

A visit to Malta is certainly not complete without a Cruise around the Country itself.

There are a handful Cruises that you can choose from, be it a short morning cruise

to nearby Regions, or a day Cruise around the entire Country of Malta. On the longer

cruise, you have the opportunity to swim in the sparkling clear blue waters in a far

away swimming spot. This is a fabulous day out.

Hint: Bring your swimmers this day for sure and possibly a good book - you may be

able to sneak 1/2 hour to relax.

4. Beach at St Julians

If you are staying at St Julians (which is a very popular destination), you have access to this

area at any time. However, if you choose to stay within Valletta, you may wish to spend a day

in St Julians. It is a very popular destination for families, and has a beach and many restaurants.

St Julians is about 15-20 minutes by car from Valletta. Enquire at your hotel as to the best way

to reach St Julians. See further below for our Hotel Recommendations.

5. PlayMobil FunPark and Factory

A visit to Playmobil caters more for the younger children. The Fun Park was created to give children the opportunity to play with Playmobil's range of play-sets and figures. There are a couple of play areas for the children to enjoy. There is a tour that you can join that lasts for 45 minutes. You get a 10% discount when buying something from the Playmobil Shop, plus you will get a Playmobil Souvenir.

Note: Children under 5 cannot enter the factory due to safety rules, but they can enter the FunPark playing area.

You must wear closed flat shoes when entering the factory.