Malta’s outdoors is mostly its coastline. The interior is small, farmed and quickly crossed; the interesting edges are where the limestone meets the sea, and almost everything worth doing happens there.
The diving is world-class and easy to reach, with wrecks and caverns reachable from the shore. The walking is better than its reputation, provided you go outside July and August and carry more water than feels reasonable.
What there is to do
Diving
The diving here is world class and easy to reach. There are wrecks and caverns you can swim to from the shore instead of taking a boat.
Sites close on wind rather than on weather, so a hot cloudless day can still shut half of them.
Diving in MaltaBook a dive
Walking
The walking is better than its reputation, along clifftops and coast paths with watchtowers on the headlands. Go in spring or autumn and carry more water than feels reasonable.
There is almost no shade anywhere on the route, and the limestone throws the heat back up at you.
Walking routes
On the water
Kayaks and paddleboards are available at the larger sandy bays through summer, usually without booking. A charter gets you to the bits of coast the roads do not reach.
An offshore wind flattens the water near the shore and pushes anything inflatable steadily out to sea. It is the most common way people get into trouble here.
WatersportsBook watersports
- Diving and snorkellingWrecks, caves and blue water, with sites for every level.
- Boat tripsBoat trips worth taking, and the ones that just circle the harbour.
- Hiking and natureCoastal paths, cliffs and where to walk without meeting a road.
- WatersportsKayaks, paddleboards, jet skis and where the sea suits each.
Wind governs everything on this coast. Boat trips are cancelled, dive sites become unreachable and sheltered bays turn dangerous, often on a clear sunny day. Check conditions before you set out rather than when you arrive.