Search on the regions of the country
Budget & TipsWhen it comes to the pleasures of swimming, there's no need to head for the pools, as the deep blue sea is at your disposal, with its beautiful beaches and numerous coves. Near Valletta, the seafronts of Sliema and St Julian's are also ideal for a dip, as are the resorts of Malsaforn and Xlendi on Gozo. The archipelago is also the spot for scuba diving, all year round, with or without wetsuit. This is your chance to admire caves, caverns, walls, crevasses and numerous wrecks. Another specific activity is hiking, which is also available all year round, and a list of which can be found at the tourist office. In most cases, the starting and finishing points are served by buses. You can also hire a boat and take a cruise around Malta or go kayaking to discover the caves. And don't forget that many hotels, especially on the north coast, have their own spas.
What's very localIt's a great opportunity to discover bocci, the Maltese game of pétanque, which is played in every village, and you'll soon learn to recognize these playgrounds and the little café terraces next to them. In Valletta, there are two bocci courts, one in Marsaxmett harbour, the other under the Siege bell. You'll also find plenty of games in Floriana (near the soccer fields) and Buggiba, on the waterfront. You'll find that boules have been replaced by small balls and coloured wooden cylinders, either green or red, and that the aim is to approach with the balls and shoot with the cylinders. If you're in Malta on September 8 to commemorate the end of the great sieges, you can also take part in the "Regatta", a traditional boat race held in the Grand Harbour from 2 to 5 pm.
Your documents pleaseTo practice solo diving in the archipelago, a local permit (the C card) is required. It can be obtained from dive centers by providing a medical certificate (which can be issued on site), two passport photos, logbook and 1 Lm. If you wish to dive on your own, although this is not advisable, you must provide a certificate equivalent to CMAS/2, the confirmed diver level.
To be bookedAll scuba diving and other courses must be booked in advance. As with all supervised activities. All the more so if you wish to be assisted by a French-speaking instructor.
Main eventsAround February 24, running takes center stage with the Malta Marathon, which starts in Mdina and finishes in Sliema, and in April it's all about cycling, with the four-stage Tour of Malta.