Malta is a three hour flight from London. It is snuggled just under Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea and stores thousands of years worth of history within its rocky coastline. Malta really is a great option for a wonderful family holiday. Here are 7 of the best things to do in Malta with kids!
1. Valletta – Malta with Kids
Valetta is the capital of Malta and the place simply took my breath away!
Adults and children alike fall in love with this slice of mediterranean history. It is without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Malta with kids!
Spend the day wandering around historic gardens; exploring important strategic forts like St Elmo’s; having a nose around the shops and markets in the old town and looking out across the beautiful Three Cities.
Did you know Queen Elizabeth II lived in Valletta from 1949 – 1951 in the early years of her marriage to Prince Phillip. He was stationed in Malta during this time as a naval officer. It is the only place, other than the UK, Queen Elizabeth II has ever lived.
Eager to know more about Valletta? Check out our post 10 Top Things to do in Valletta, Malta’s Amazing Capital with Kids
2. Mdina
Mdina, the Maltese fortified hill top city, has a history that dates back over 4000 years and used to be the island’s capital city. It is also dubbed the ‘Silent City’ as no cars are allowed past the city the walls.
Mdina is probably best know for being a prominent filming location in season one of the hit TV series Game of Thrones. The best place to compare screen to real life is the Mdina Gate.
Another visit well worth the money is St. Paul’s Cathedral and Museum. The intricate marble work on the floors and the colours in the cathedral are exquisite.
For more information about Mdina read our post Top 12 Things to do in Mdina with Kids
3. Sandy Beaches in Malta with Kids
Malta is not known for its sandy beaches, however, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any to discover!
The best ones by far are Riviera Beach on the north west side of the island and Golden Bay, situated a little bit further north up the coastline.
Both are easily accessible by public transport and both are wonderfully glorious sandy beaches. A day at the beach has to be listed as one of the best things to do in Malta with kids!
For a more comprehensive guide to Malta’s sandy beaches read our article 5 of Malta’s Best Sandy Beaches
4. Popeye Village
Popeye Village is the set of the 1980 film Popeye, which stared a very young Robin Williams. After filming ended the set was turned into a small theme park. At Popeye Village you can enjoy lots of Popeye themed memorabilia, explore Popeye and Olive Oyl’s houses and meet the characters.
To find out what else you can do at Popeye Village read our post 12 Reasons to Visit Popeye Village in Malta
5. Catacombs of Rabat – Malta with Kids
The Catacombs of Rabat are a series of tunnels where ancient communities of the past would inter their dead.
Within the Catacombs you can see human remains, inscriptions and the faint remains of painted tombs.
The tunnels have been used for various different things throughout the years such as air raid shelters and even a church!
To read about the Catacombs of Rabat in more detail take a look at our post Catacombs of Rabat, Malta
6. Day Trip to Gozo and Camino
A Day trip to Gozo or Gozo and Camino is a great addition to a holiday to Malta with kids.
You can book a day trip with a travel agent, who will arrange to collect and drop you off at your hotel, or you can book the ferry and bus services yourself.
Gozo is Malta’s smaller cousin to the north, but what it lacks in size it certainly makes up for in charm and history! One of the highlights is a visit to Ir-Rabat (Victoria), Gozo’s capital.
Our tour of Gozo was a bit whistle stop. This was mainly because we visited Camino on the same day on a pre-arranged tour. If I had the chance again I would definitely give Gozo my full attention for an entire day, as there is just so much to see.
Camino was good, but a little over rated. It has the tiniest little beach, which is very lovely, but also very packed. The island is uninhabited so there is nothing much to do – apart from build yourself a stone cairn.
7. National Aquarium, Bugibba
The National Aquarium is a great option if you are looking for something to do indoors.
There is a lovely restaurant over looking the water, a cafe with tables set up outside and a great underwater themed playground to let the kids blow off a bit of steam.
On arrival to the aquarium you can also ask for a wrist band. This allows you to re-enter the aquarium at any point in the day. A great excuse to break for lunch and then head back afterwards.
For other things to in Bugibba read our post 10 Things to do in Malta’s Bugibba with Kids
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