Traditional activities
Bocci (Maltese bowls). Bocci is played in every village, and you'll soon learn to recognize these terraced playgrounds. It's easy to watch the games. Boules are replaced by small balls and cylinders made of colored wood, green or red. The jack is a tiny marble, which you first try to approach with the balls, then point or shoot with the cylinders. The principle is therefore much the same as that of pétanque.
Regatta, a typically Maltese boat race. Since the 16th century and the start of festivities commemorating the end of the Great Siege, these nautical jousts have been held on September 8. Different clubs compete against each other, and the rowers embark on traditional boats. The different categories of boats start from the bottom of the natural harbor and race up to the finish line at the Lascaris bastion. On this day, no merchant or passenger ships cross the Grand Harbour, which is entirely dedicated to regattas. There are plenty of spectators in the gardens of Upper Baracca, but the real supporters are on the quays of Valletta or Senglea.
Discovering the islands
Hiking. Walking in Malta and Gozo is an increasingly popular activity. Of course, we're not talking about treks or adventures here. Distances are short and, although the terrain is sometimes rugged, it presents no real difficulties. So you can hike alone or with your family. No specialized equipment is required, just a good pair of shoes. They combine the pleasure of walking with the discovery of sometimes wild landscapes, less-frequented villages and secluded bathing spots. In summer, the heat can be a problem, which is why many people prefer to walk during the other seasons, when the vegetation grows back, the hills are colored by flowers and the meadows are green. Gozo, even more than Malta, is an island for walkers. The nature and colors are better preserved, the valleys and villages more full of flowers. You're free to walk at random, along the coast or inland. Although there are few signposts, finding your way around is not a problem. You'll find it hard to get lost, especially on Gozo. The slightest relief offers a bird's eye view, and villages and their church towers are rarely far away and easily identifiable. The Malta Tourism Authority publishes excellent booklets on various walking routes (one for each path): Malta Countryside Walks or Gozo Countryside Walks. They are available in bookshops and from the tourist office, and are very well done, but only in English. The maps are precise, the itinerary (paths, roads) is well described, and you're also given invaluable information on the monuments encountered, the flora and fauna, anecdotes and so on. If you don't speak English, the maps are sufficiently precise and the photos sufficiently well chosen that you'll have no trouble following the right route. And, most of the time, departure and arrival points are served by buses.
Riding. Many clubs and hotels offer horseback rides of varying lengths to discover the archipelago.
Climbing. Malta, Gozo and Comino boast hundreds of climbing routes, and there's always a spot for a leisurely climb. And the weather makes it possible all year round!
Golf. There's only one golf course on the island of Malta, for lack of space of course. But what a course! The Royal Malta Golf Club has an excellent reputation and has been delighting golf enthusiasts since 1888.
On and under water, great possibilities
Fishing. Although there aren't many professional fishermen, there's a lot of fishing going on all around the coast. As along the Brittany coast, it's often while chatting on the harbour, in Mellieha Bay, Saint Paul's Bay or Saint Julian's Bay, that you can immerse yourself in a local fishing party, a very picturesque experience.
Sailing. You can choose to hire a boat and cruise around Malta, discovering its famous treasures or its secluded beaches. There are around 30 anchorages along the 200 km coastline of Malta, Gozo and Comino. The main season runs from April to November. For boat owners, Msida marina is by far the busiest. There are also numerous boat and yacht charter possibilities. There are around 30 rental companies, a list of which can be obtained from the tourist office.
Water sports. Windsurfing boards can be rented on virtually every beach and in all seaside hotels. Water-skiing, wakeboarding, jet-skiing and canoeing are also available. Finally, many seaside hotels rent or lend kayaks and paddles.
Scuba diving. The Maltese archipelago, with its cliffs and transparent, never-cold water, is the ideal place for scuba diving. The water temperature never drops below 13°C and averages 23°C in summer. So you can dive all year round, including in winter, when there are fewer tourists, and you can find a greater variety of fish that come close to the shore in search of warm, shallow water. In winter, Malta offers the sunshine and climate of a Northern European summer.
If Malta is considered by many to be a diving destination, it's because there are so many wrecks to explore. Recently, six wrecks were sunk near the island of Gozo, much to the delight of both experienced and novice divers. On the island of Gozo, at Dewjra, the Blue Hole has repeatedly been voted "Best dive site in the Mediterranean".
In Malta, there are virtually no tides and underwater currents are frequent in winter, but rare in summer. As some points are difficult to access, dive schools offer to take divers by boat to all the interesting sites. Underwater, divers can admire caverns, valleys, holes, caves, walls, crevasses and tunnels.
Visibility is around 30 m, and all schools offer night diving.
