Maltese islands

The Maltese islands are an archipelago in the central Mediterranean comprising the principal islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino with several smaller islets. The islands have a dense concentration of prehistoric, classical and early modern monuments and a continuous coastal and urban settlement history.

Travelers visit for fortified cities and Baroque architecture such as the capital Valletta, medieval Mdina, and numerous coastal towns; cultural museums and historic churches are widely accessible. Natural highlights include the Blue Lagoon on Comino for swimming and clear water, and rural landscapes and megalithic temples on Gozo and Malta. Prehistoric temple complexes, coastal cliffs, and a compact urban fabric make the islands possible to explore on short trips.

The islands have been inhabited since the Neolithic and contain some of the oldest free-standing stone monuments in the world. Over millennia they have been ruled and fortified by Phoenicians, Romans, medieval orders and the Knights of St John, whose 16th-century construction of Valletta shaped much of the main island’s historic core.

The archipelago lies in the central Mediterranean Sea, roughly 80 kilometres south of Sicily and centrally positioned between southern Europe and North Africa.

• Size and composition: The archipelago comprises three inhabited islands-Malta, Gozo and Comino-plus several smaller islets; the total land area is about 316 square kilometres.
• Prehistoric sites: Numerous prehistoric megalithic temples across the islands date to the Neolithic and Bronze Age; several of these temples are recognised as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

What to See #

• Malta (main island): The largest island that contains the national capital Valletta, major population centres, Malta International Airport and the main historical and urban attractions.
• Gozo: A smaller, hillier island with a rural character, known for its historic citadel towns and the Neolithic Ġgantija temple complex.
• Comino: A small island between Malta and Gozo dominated by the Blue Lagoon, a sheltered bay popular for swimming and day trips.