Malta may not be on your radar for a fun, family vacation.  But this small Mediterranean island just south of Sicily should be!

I’ve talked a lot about why Malta should be on your must-visit list of places in Europe to explore.  But it bears repeating.  So here are my 5 Family Favorites to help you explore Malta’s incredible history and scenic beauty.  Sure, you could always just hit the beach or wander the cruise-drag of Sliema – but there’s a lot more to Malta than meets the eye.

1.  The Megalithic Temples

Forget Stonehenge.  Boooo-ring.  And those pyramids in Egypt?   So, so young.  Malta is home to more than half a dozen megalithic temples – all of them built centuries before those Egyptian and British upstarts.  Though all are worth a visit, I’m partial to Mnajdra and Hagar Qim on the Southern coast.  Not only can you check out the temples but they are placed on some truly gorgeous sea views.  It’s a beautiful walk and your kids will love climbing around the old temple stones.  As an added plus, Chet spent a good half an hour trying to throw rocks at the islet of Filfla (which is very fun to say out loud, try it – Filllll-fla.  Fil-fllllllla!) after he learned that the British regularly used it for target practice.

2.  The Malta Experience

Okay, okay – it seems that every place has some sort of 3-D movie/mannequin/immersive historical experience attraction these days.  And most of them are fairly cheesy.  Okay, really cheesy.  If I’m honest, The Malta Experience is also a little hokey – but the kids love it.  And I’m talking about both my actual child and the 32-year-old man-boy I married.  It’s a great way to get an overview of Malta’s long and varied history, from the megalithic temples to the island’s role in World War II.  It’s fun and provides context for exploring the rest of the island.

3.  The Blue Grotto

Avid divers may be familiar with this fantastic grotto near the town of Zurrieq.  But you can also check out these cool caves and cliffs by boat.  The kids will enjoy the bumpy ride – as well as the giant jellyfish that the boat pilot will pull straight out of the water.  It’s the perfect combination of gross and cool.

4.  The Catacombs

Visit the city of Rabat and go check out St. Paul’s and St. Agatha’s catacombs.  These underground Roman cemeteries were all en vogue until the 4th century A.D.  And they are creepy, wicked fun.  Chet enjoyed running through the dimly lit labyrinth of tunnels.  In another year or two, I’m sure he’ll be just as tickled with the random skeleton you can still find hanging out in the different rock cut-outs.

5.  The city of Valletta

Valletta is Malta’s capital and so it might seem like something that is too big to be called a family favorite.  But, honestly, it’s a very accessible medieval fortress city with lots of pedestrian streets.  It’s a great town to just wander in -  and around, don’t forget to wander the top of the city walls – but you can also check out the Archeological Museum and the baroque masterpiece that is St. John’s Co-Cathedral.  On our first visit, Chet loved the cathedral’s tomb floors – the acoustics and tile were perfect for him to imitate “Happy Tappin’ with Elmo.”  But on his second visit, he loved the decorations of the tile floors themselves with animals, angels and, yes, skeletons.  Gave me some time to enjoy the ornate walls and chapels.

Recent posts by this author

• Have Kindle, Will Travel
• Aloft (and nostalgic)!
• Disneyland Paris. Not That There's Anything Wrong with That.
• My 3 Best Kept Travel Secrets
• 5 Fantastic European Luxury Hotels for Families