Some holidays, understandably, require military-grade planning – but as a Type B, goes-with-the-flow girllie, that gives me the fear. I don’t want to colour-code an itinerary. I don’t want to set a 7:45am alarm on annual leave because that’s when the queue for the funicular is shortest. And I certainly don’t want to become the kind of person who has a spreadsheet for sunrise timings. Holiday admin should begin and end with remembering where I left my passport.
Luckily for me, Malta is wonderfully resistant to that sort of behaviour. It’s an island that rewards wandering over scheduling; one where getting sidetracked is a pleasantry. You’ll leave one church in Valletta in search of lunch and accidentally find a tiny wine bar, stop for a coffee that turns into an Aperol, somehow end up buying handmade jewellery and realise you’ve not actually made it to lunch until 3pm. Poor time management, Malta and me welcome you with open arms.
Better still, it’s tiny. At just 27km long, you can comfortably see the highlights in four or five days without ever feeling like you’re racing between them. One day you’re swimming in the impossibly clear waters of the Blue Lagoon, the next you’re getting lost in honey-coloured streets or watching fishing boats bob around a postcard harbour.
I know my stuff because I spent four days doing the hard work (read: research, obviously), so all that’s left for you to do is shamelessly steal my itinerary. Consider it my souvenir to you.
Where to stay
The Phoenicia, Valletta
You wouldn’t fly to France and skip Paris. Or hop across the Atlantic without spending a few days in New York. Malta’s capital deserves the same treatment. Before you venture to its beaches, fishing villages and impossibly blue swimming spots, start in Valletta. You can pitch up here for your entire trip, or simply stay for a couple of nights – we did the latter before moving to Mdina, the silent city, which I’ll dive into more below.
Conveniently, The Phoenicia Malta sits just outside the city’s gates, putting all of that within a five-minute walk, yet is still far enough away to escape the cruise-ship crowds. The rooms lean classic rather than trendy, while the infinity pool overlooking the harbour has a nasty habit of convincing you that your only plans for the afternoon should involve a sun lounger and the book you’ve been pretending to read all year. As it turns out, doing absolutely nothing is one of the great joys of being on holiday. The rules don’t apply!
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Book your stay at The Phoenicia, starting at £212 per night
Verdala Wellness Hotel, Mdina
Once you’ve ticked off the sightseeing, it’s time to disappear…
Verdala Wellness Hotel sits beside Mdina – Malta’s Silent City – and the mood immediately shifts. The traffic evaporates, the pace softens and suddenly your biggest decision of the day is whether to book another massage.
The hotel is one of Malta’s newest luxury stays; everything still has that deliciously untouched quality about it. It’s all clean lines, calming neutrals and floor-to-ceiling windows. Every corner feels meticulously considered, right down to the spa.
Speaking of the spa, it’s the reason to book. Whether you’re floating between thermal experiences, indulging in a treatment or simply stretching out on a lounger with nowhere to be, it’s almost impossible to leave without feeling anything other than deeply, gloriously relaxed.
Ending your trip here for a night or two (or three, if your budget can stretch that far) is my ultimate recommendation. Oh, what I would give to go back!
Book your stay at Verdala Wellness, starting at £218 per night
What to do
MICAS
Contemporary art can be intimidating – all tote bags and head nodding. Thankfully, MICAS doesn’t demand homework. Housed within a beautifully restored fortress, Malta’s contemporary art museum is a must-see for the creatives among us. There are outdoor cinema screenings and creative workshops galore; just make sure to check the website to see all that’s on for the duration of your trip.
Għajn Tuffieħa
Every destination has one beach that dominates everyone's camera roll. In Malta, it's Għajn Tuffieħa.
Yes, reaching it requires a fairly heroic staircase – the kind that has you arriving at the bottom already looking like you’ve been for a swim (hi, hello SWEAT!) – but that’s all part of the ritual. The reward is a beautiful stretch of golden sands and clear waters that you’ll happily lose an afternoon for.
Settling in for the day? Singita Restaurant is perched by the beach, serving up delicious lunch and drinks, meaning there’s no need to bring snacks. Unless it’s a Fanta Lemon and a packet of Lays; the ultimate Mediterranean beach day combo and a rite of passage in its own right.
Marsaxlokk
Before heading on an afternoon boat trip, it’s worth spending an hour or two of your Sunday morning in Marsaxlokk, Malta’s postcard fishing village. The colourful luzzu boats bob lazily in the harbour, making for great IG carousel photos (your post-holiday 10-part dump will thank you). But besides picture opps, blend in with the locals by browsing the market stalls that offer everything from seafood and fruit to fridge magnets and beaded anklets.
St Peter’s Pool
Of everything I did in Malta, St Peter’s Pool was probably my favourite. So, if, like me, you’re less into tanning and more into playing mermaids, this one’s for you.
Pitch your beach towel on the limestone rocks, spend a few hours swimming in the water, and live your best H2O: Just Add Water life. The rock jumps add a little adrenaline (and make you feel like the star of an American summer rom-com), but do be sensible and leave the Olympic diving ambitions to the professionals.
Top tip: Go early, around 10am, to beat the crowds and claim the best spot.
Blue Grotto
There’s nothing more disappointing than TikTok’s gross exaggeration of ‘you must go here!’ recommendations that never live up to real-life standards. Malta’s Blue Grotto, however, certainly meets the hype.
Take a half-hour winding boat tour through the sea caves to be met with fictional views and photo opportunities like no other. It’s scenic, relaxed and a less touristy alternative to an all-day boat trip to the Blue Lagoon.
(Note: The Blue Lagoon is great for a full-day beach, swimming, and snorkelling party atmosphere but do expect ~crowds~.)
Shopping in Valletta
The best shopping discoveries happen when you abandon Republic Street (the main pedestrian walkway) for whichever side alley catches your eye. Independent boutiques, tiny homeware shops and artisan jewellers are tucked into corners you’d miss if you were walking with purpose. There’s an excellent jewellery maker near St John’s Cathedral, too – bring cash, and perhaps a little self-restraint. I, unfortunately, did not practice the latter.
Where to eat
Contessa Restaurant
Hotel restaurants were once tarnished with beige club sandwiches and obligatory Caesar salads – and hey, there’s nothing wrong with that, but on day three, the repetition of taste can start to stale. But not at Contessa. Situated inside The Phoenicia, it’s genuinely worth booking regardless of whether you’re staying there. The terrace alone deserves its own reservation, while the menu offers a culinary masterclass in Mediterranean classics. My rec? Don’t skip the octopus!
Cockney’s
Eating seafood somewhere where the sea is actually within smelling distance hits different. Enter: Cockney’s. Overlooking the Marsamxett Harbour, this is the place to order whatever was pulled from the water that morning and settle in with a glass of wine. The seabass requires no notes.
The Bridge Bar
Some bars are designed for a quick drink. The Bridge Bar is designed for accidentally staying until close. Perched above Valletta’s streets, it’s known for its live jazz evenings where musicians play as people gather on the steps with drinks in hand. So, whether you’re there for a romantic date night or simply a couple of drinks after a day of exploring, this is Malta at its most charming.
Medina Restaurant
Mdina is known for its medieval streets, and so what better way to bask in that glory than with a candlelit dinner among the ancient walls? Medina Restaurant leans into that very magic with a small but mightily cinematic setting and a menu inspired by Mediterranean flavours. The Baba Ganoush = chef’s kiss.
Villa Bologna
Malta’s food scene is a delicious cultural mash-up, shaped by centuries of foreign rulers, Mediterranean trade and its close ties with Sicily and North Africa. So, after sampling the island’s local flavours, Villa Bologna offers a welcome twist: an Italian restaurant serving up plates of pasta and la dolce vita. It’s also the most Instagrammable foodie spot of the trip, with a vine-covered garden and antique furniture straight out of Letters to Juliet. Just be warned: you may leave with more than a full stomach… namely, a few mosquito bites. You are in a garden, after all.
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
