Add multicultural Malta to your must-see list

Direct Holidays

Direct Holidays is dedicated to providing the perfect holiday for you; whether that means a weekend of luxury or a cultural adventure that your family will remember forever. The best bit? By sourcing holidays straight from the tour provider and cutting out the middle man, you’re left with no third party fees to contend with. Direct Holidays has packages exclusive to the company available all over the world, including last minute, self-catering and all-inclusive deals. Malta is a Mediterranean archipelago not far off the south of Sicily, and the perfect place to experience several holidays in one; the islands provide an excellent beach scene, and they are dripping with culture influenced by neighbouring Sicily and North Africa. The climate is subtropical Mediterranean, which makes Malta the perfect place to lie on a white beach and top up your tan. While you’re out in the sun, there are always water shows to go and see; and if you don’t want to watch performing dolphins, you’ve always got the option of swimming with them!

The architecture is breathtaking, as well as the stories behind the buildings. In Malta you’ll visit surviving forts used by the Knights of Malta and Napoleon, Ggantija (the oldest freestanding manmade structure in the world), baroque churches and intricate Neolithic temples. It’s easy to get excited about the architecture in Malta, as it is such a direct link with the archipelago’s rich history.

The cuisine is multi-cultural, primarily taking influence from Sicily, England and Spain, and the same can be said for the music. Malta buzzes with music; from bands marching through the villages to traditional Maltese music known as Ghana, where opposing parties take turns lyrically debating a point over traditional folk guitar music.

Malta is the ideal family location, as it plays host to a number of family-themed entertainment complexes and water parks. Splash and Fun Water Park, between Qawra and St. Julians, is the perfect excuse to spend a day with your family; not only are there the expected water slides and flumes, but you can also play volleyball, attend tropical dances, salsa lessons and aerobics. You don’t even have to worry about lunch, as the building holds coffee bars and an ice cream parlour.

If you’ve had enough of the water, Jokers is just a few miles away in St Julian's; an entertainment complex full of arcade machines, traditional fairground rides, video games, thrill rides and even eateries and shopping facilities.

Although it is a recent addition to the Eurozone, a trip to Malta still represents fairly good value for money; day-to-day life in the country is cheaper than it is in the United Kingdom. A trip for the family to a pizzeria can cost around the equivalent of £25, while a family meal in an average Maltese restaurant should cost around the equivalent of £60.

Malta is the perfect place for retail therapy; the streets are lined with quaint shops and colourful markets, as well as high-end fashion retailers. In addition to shopping, a trip to Mdina, the ancient capital of Malta (known as the Silent City), is a must.

It is no surprise that the Greek word for Malta is ‘Melite’, meaning ‘honey-sweet’. Malta has something for everyone and should be at the top of your ‘places to visit’ list; it could be the holiday of your lifetime.