Household holidays in Malta: why it is excellent with children

I’ve by no means fairly perceive why a sunny Mediterranean island with tons for youths to do shouldn’t be extra standard – however someway household holidays in Malta appear to remain just below the radar.

incorporates affiliate hyperlinks*

I’ve visited the island a few occasions, together with studying to dive in Malta, and it’s excellent for households, whether or not you might have youthful children or extra lively teenagers.

So when you’re questioning precisely what’s so tempting, right here’s why I believe you need to be placing Malta household holidays in your listing.

Flight time to Malta

It solely takes round three hours to fly from the UK to Malta – much less time than it takes to achieve the Greek islands or the Canary Islands.

There are low-cost flights with easyJet in addition to nationwide carriers together with KM Malta Airways and British Airways. Straightforward peasy actually (at all times a bonus while you’re flying with children).

There are not any difficult visa rules both – UK residents can enter with out restrictions for a keep of as much as 90 days (in a 180-day interval), and when you’re a US citizen, you may also keep for as much as three months.

Malta’s climate

Solar wonderful solar! And better of all, there’s an extended vacation season in Malta, so if you wish to skip the best temperatures of July and August when it’s within the low 30s, you’ll be able to nonetheless discover 25C heat in October.

There’s hardly ever greater than 7 or 8 days rain a month on common from November to February too, when you’re on the lookout for some winter solar with no long-haul flight.

Household-friendly motels

One of many largest elements while you’re visiting Malta with children is the place to remain – like so many Mediterranean locations, children are the centre of consideration so it’s very best for a relaxed escape.

All roads result in the capital Valletta too, so when you want the concept of resorts in Malta for households, you needn’t keep within the metropolis. Take a look at the motels set on totally different bays across the island – some could have their very own shuttle to Valletta as properly, when you don’t fancy ready for a bus or hiring a automotive.

My very own favorite approach to arrive is taking the ferry from Sliema so you’ll be able to see Valletta seem from the water, its honey gold buildings reflecting within the sea.

The island is residence to some nice resorts when you’re on the lookout for five-star household pampering too – someplace just like the Corinthia Lodge St George’s Bay is a powerful contender for greatest place to remain in Malta for households with a string of family-friendly companies, and you could find some nice extras when you e-book via Luxurious Escapes.

That features a complimentary children’ programme on sure dates, often throughout essential faculty vacation durations, in addition to a few of the necessities that you simply want when you’re visiting Malta with a child or toddler. from steriliser and bottle hotter to child tub, play mat, night time gentle, step stools, pushchair, potty and extra.

For barely older children, there’s even a spa menu aimed toward kids whereas 4 of the resort’s 9 eating places have a kids’s menu (and there’s babysitting too when you fancy testing the others).

When you want your individual area, there are some beautiful residences on PlumGuide together with choices for greater households, in addition to some with a non-public pool.

Or you may also discover some nice vacation packages for Malta from TUI and Jet2 Holidays, in addition to Malta motels on reserving.com.

For extra concepts of the place to remain in Malta with no automotive, take a look at the following tips

Malta household points of interest

Whether or not you’re on the lookout for a relaxed day on the seaside or days out with children in Malta, there’s a lot to maintain all ages entertained.

A number of Malta’s seashores are pebbly so when you’ve acquired your coronary heart set on sandcastles, head in the direction of the northern a part of the island – Ghadira Bay (or Mellieha Bay) is likely one of the hottest, together with Golden Bay on the west coast. 

Proper on the northern tip, you’ll additionally discover smaller seashores together with Paradise Bay and Armier.

There are additionally waterparks on Malta, open through the summer time months, in addition to diving for older children – over-eights can check out Bubblemaker fundamental scuba dives – and the Malta Nationwide Aquarium when you don’t need to get your ft moist.

Or step onto a movie set at Popeye Village, now remodeled right into a theme park. Film followers will discover fairly a number of different filming areas as they discover – Gladiator used Valletta as a backdrop, Malta has cropped up in a number of Bond movies, whereas areas doubled because the Crimson Maintain in Sport of Thrones.

For extra concepts of issues to do in Malta with children, take a look at this publish

Two extra islands to find

You’re not wanting issues to do with children on Malta, however when you do fancy exploring additional afield, it’s a brief boat or ferry experience to Malta’s sister islands, Gozo and Comino, whereas you may also e-book loads of boat journeys, together with non-public household boat excursions with iMalta boat journeys that may be tailor-made whether or not you might have teenagers or toddlers.

Comino, the smallest, has just a few everlasting inhabitants and is greatest recognized for its spectacular blue lagoon – not simply blue however a spectacular turquoise color (though it does get very busy lately). You was once ready swim throughout to the tinier island of Cominotto, however it’s busy with boat visitors lately.

Laid-back Gozo, in the meantime, is a little bit like Malta in miniature, from its historic websites just like the temple of Ggantija to its walled Citadella in Rabat, also called Victoria (or Vittorija).

It’s additionally residence to the fascinating Marsalforn salt pans in addition to the purple sand seaside of Ramla Bay – the shallow water is ideal with children, though count on it to get busy through the summer time.

You’ll be able to go to each Gozo and Comino on a day boat tour from Malta with children

The meals in Malta

With so many various cultures influencing Malta over the centuries, it means you could find some implausible meals alongside the best way.

There’s a lot round for fussier eaters, together with some nice Italian eating places (so pasta and pizza galore). Though having tried sea urchin pasta myself, I’m not stated that exact dish has been taken off menus!

For many who need to strive typical Maltese meals, that features some child-friendly choices too – pastizzi are cheese-filled pastry snacks (one phrase of warning: in case your children hate peas, some pastizzi additionally comprise these) or imqaret: dates wrapped in pastry then deep-fried. 

There’s additionally loads of gelato to assist settle down, together with some variations with a distinctly Maltese twist utilizing condensed milk, plus a cousin of Italian cannoli that includes lemony ricotta with chocolate, cherries or nuts.

Unsurprisingly you’ll discover fish galore – together with octopus for anybody extra adventurous but in addition some nice grilled fish recent from the ocean.

One different factor you’ll additionally see lots is rabbit: price realizing to be careful for or keep away from if there’s a pet bunny again at residence!

The historical past

Malta’s historical past stretches again for 1000’s of years with historic websites which make the pyramids look younger – the Ggantija temple complicated on Gozo was created within the Neolithic age and is over 5,500 years outdated, whereas the temples at Hagar Qim and Mnajdra date again to round 3600BC, a millennium earlier than the pyramids of Giza.

If mysterious megaliths don’t seize your children’ curiosity – though there’s now a customer’s centre at Hagar Qim to deliver the stones to life – then Malta has a lot extra historic spots that are simpler to understand.

The Knights of St John, based through the crusades, dominated Malta for 250 years, creating Valletta plus the Three Cities and Fort St Angelo alongside the best way.

Head to the Grandmaster’s Palace to see weapons from this era within the Palace Armoury, in addition to peeking into the Throne Room, earlier than wanting contained in the Baroque St John’s Co-Cathedral.

Then wander the winding streets previous the auberges, grand mansions which housed the totally different orders of knights and head on to the Higher Barrakka Gardens the place a cannon is fired from the Saluting Battery at midday and 4pm each day (besides Sundays).

Take a look at my video of the midday gun being fired to get a style of the expertise

Within the centre of the island, the medieval capital of Mdina is ideal if you wish to step again in time. The streets are closed to most visitors, so you’ll be able to stroll from the island’s different co-cathedral to its outdated partitions, down peaceable alleyways and fake you’re dwelling a number of hundred years in the past.

For extra concepts of the perfect issues to do in Mdina with children, take a look at my high picks

Close by, the catacombs of St Paul and St Agatha are higher for older children, whereas in Marsaxlokk on the southern tip, you’ll see the well-known vivid fishing boats or luzzu, embellished with eyes – believed to guard the fishermen, this dates again to the time of the Phoenicians round 3,000 years in the past.

Fairly a number of extra arrivals to Malta’s shores had their eyes set on its strategic location – which implies a number of forts remaining from its historical past too. Fort St Elmo is likely one of the greatest with children.

Renovated after being repeatedly attacked and destroyed, the In Guardia Parade sees re-enactors in costume to deliver the fort to life (takes place chosen Sundays). it’s additionally residence to the Nationwide Battle Museum, with objects relationship again to the Bronze Age.

*First revealed 2020, final up to date 2026*

PIN FOR LATER: FAMILY HOLIDAYS IN MALTA

Disclosure: This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee. All opinions and causes I like household holidays in Malta are my very own (aside from the ocean urchins…) 

Lodge picture courtesy of the Corinthia Lodge St George’s Bay, all others Depositphotos

LIKED THIS? SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER