Valletta
Valletta, the capital of Malta, is just 24 square miles, making it the smallest capital in Europe. The entire city itself is a UNESCO Heritage Site, so just walking around is a marvel. Explore St. John’s Co-Cathedral, a richly ornate example of Baroque architecture; and the Upper Barrakka Gardens, parks created in 1661 for the Knights of St. John, with fountains, sculptures, and arched colonnades that boast glorious views of Malta and the harbor.
Gozo
A 45-minute ferry ride from Malta is Gozo, a rural island with farmhouses and fishing villages as well as ancient treasures like the 5,000-year-old Ġgantija temples, a UNESCO Heritage Site and the oldest free-standing monuments in the world. Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu Basilica is also not to be missed, with its scenic views, 15th-century history, and sculptures made with Maltese stone. And for those with PADI cards, the island’s reefs, caves, and shipwrecks make it one of the best diving sites in the Mediterranean.
The Hypogeum
The third UNESCO Heritage Site in Malta is the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, an underground complex that is thought by archeologists to have been used as a sanctuary and cemetery. It was cut entirely out of limestone with prehistoric tools like flint and antlers. The Hypogeum dates from 3600 B.C.E., making it one of the best preserved and most essential structures from the Neolithic era.