Discover Malta: Coastal magic, culture and unforgettable views

From Memmingen, we flew to Malta – straight into the heart of the Mediterranean, to an island that delivers far more than most people expect.

At the airport, we picked up our rental car. And then came the first challenge: driving on the left. If you’ve never done it, the first few minutes require some focus – after that, it becomes surprisingly normal. A car is definitely the right call on Malta, because while the island is small, the most interesting spots are scattered across the entire coast.

Our first stop was Marsaxlokk – a fishing village in the southeast with brightly painted boats in the harbor, called Luzzu. Not a staged tourist attraction, just a place that looks the way it does because it has for centuries.

From there, we worked our way across the island piece by piece: St. Peter’s Pool, a natural rock pool with crystal-clear water where you jump straight off the cliffs into the sea. Pretty Bay, a small sandy beach where you can simply pause and breathe. The Blue Grotto, reached by boat, where the light underwater actually glows as blue as the name promises. The Dingli Cliffs, the highest point on the island, from where you could almost see Africa if the visibility cooperates. And Paradise Bay, a cove that earns its name.

Then there was Popeye Village – yes, the actual film set from 1980, simply left standing. It sounds bizarre, but nestled into the rocky landscape it looks surprisingly charming.

In Valletta, we explored the capital on foot, in Sliema we walked the waterfront promenade, and in Rabat we dipped into the quieter, more traditional side of Malta.

What we didn’t manage: Comino and Gozo. Two islands that were on the list but that time simply didn’t allow for. A reason to come back.