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The writing on the wall: after beating the tourism powerhouses of France, Italy and Spain to the title of fastest growing Mediterranean destination around, Malta does officially Europe’s next hot thing.
A tiny nation of three islands, nestled between the Italian island of Sicily and the coast of North Africa, it has been an established, sunny destination for Europeans for decades, but it wasn’t until recently that it captured the minds and hearts of people on our side of the pond.
Maybe it’s America’s newfound love for old-world allure and authentic escapes, or just the fact that Delta is launching the first nonstop transatlantic flights to Malta in 25 years this summer. Anyway, one thing is clear:
Malta has never been as popular as it is today, with record numbers of 12% increase in arrivals last year, and are currently on track to expand that 4 million visitors in 2026. Doesn’t that sound so impressive? Get ready to be amazed:
A small island that packs quite a punch
When we said small, we meant small-small. Malta is a country, all right, but with all its three main islands it still covers only 200 square kilometers.
The city of New York alone is 303 square kilometers, making it 2.5x larger than all of Malta combined. In terms of tourist value, they receive approximately 7.3 tourists per inhabitant, per year. If you compare it to Italy, they get about 1.2 tourists per inhabitant.
So yes, 4 million is quite a lot, even though there are bigger fish in the Mediterranean.
With the (re)discovery of Malta by America this year, you can expect these numbers to rise a little bit. Now if you’re wondering what the hype is about, boy, we still have a lot to cover, but we promise to keep it short.
Turquoise seas for days
For starters, Malta is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Mediterranean. From smooth sandy beaches to rugged pebble coves tucked into cliffs, all framed by the clearest turquoise water you’ll ever see, this is a small country that definitely punches above its weight when it comes to beach life.
Now, if you’re looking for the blue-green seas that probably popped up on your Insta feed at some point, you’ll actually have to take a boat trip from the main island of Malta and visit the microscopic, uninhabited rock outcrop. Comino.
It is the smallest of the Maltese islands and here you will find the Blue Lagoon. Unreal colors, shallow sandy bottom, and… very busy in the summer, but still breathtaking.
If you want to skip the chaos of the boat ride, head to Golden Bay.
The name says it all: it is one of the best sandy beaches on the main island of Malta. The sunsets are beautiful, the beachside taverns serve truly delicious seafood, and the whole atmosphere is relaxed, family-friendly and easy-going.
For something wilder and more relaxing, try Mellieħa Bay on the north side of the island. It’s the longest stretch of sand in Maltaand the perfect spot for an easy early afternoon dip.
Fancy a bit of adventure? Instead, head to St Peter’s Pool: a natural swimming spot that seems to have been carved almost straight out of the rock. It is a popular hotspot for cliff jumping and the water is crystal clear. Minus the crowds of the Blue Lagoon, which is honestly a welcome change.
The best thing about it is that, unlike La Barceloneta or Cannes Beach, pickpockets here are not the main concern of the casual sun worshiper. Malta is an island, a very small island, and most of the time you can’t go there.
In other words, Europe’s imported lackeys aren’t jumping on flights to wreak havoc in central Valletta. Of course, you should always consult the Travel Advisory Checker to look for travel alerts at your destination before your flight, but in all fairness: Beach experience in Malta it’s pretty chilly these days.
Here’s what travelers reported:
Old world charm in every corner
Of course you don’t fly all the way to an almost invisible point in Southern Europe just to get stranded. You could, but then you’d miss all the real fun.
Malta has one abundance of well-preserved ancient townships to his name, starting with Valletta, the walled port capital.
It is the smallest capital of the European Union a maze of narrow streets paved with limestone squares, and a modest Baroque cathedral that hides one of the most opulent, richly decorated interiors in the Mediterranean.
Step inside and you might catch a glimpse of Caravaggio’s “The beheading of Saint John the Baptist”.
Located across a bay from Valletta, the ‘Three Cities’ is a historic conurbation of independent towns known for their imposing fortifications, soaring domes and flag-draped alleys.
From the ramparts of Vittoriosa (or Birgu) to the harbor views of Senglea (L-Isla) and the layered fortress walls of Cospicua (Bormla), you can’t actually tell where one ends and the other beginsbut we think that would be the case on an island so small and so densely populated.
However, the cultural heart of Malta is not near Valletta: it lies a little further inland, in a small, walled town called Mdina.
This That’s what fairytales are made of: a drawbridge over a moat, ocher buildings with weathered shutters for eyes, and a castle-like feel you can only find in places like Dubrovnik and Carcassonne.
Before you pack your bags and head to Europe this summer, you should know that the controversial EES system has come into effect. In plain English, this just means that you are now subject to mandatory fingerprints and biometric scans end up as a tourist on the Old Continent.
Doing notAgain, don’t book flights to Europe this year without first checking the entry requirements here.
We need to talk about Gozo.
Malta The Island is the main attraction in Malta The Country, but if you ask me, your favorite Travel off the path Euro correspondent, Gozo is the next destination you should go to.
Malta’s smaller sister, still part of the same country and a 25-minute ferry ride away, yet somehow different, Gozo is the real showstopper here.
It is dominated by Victoria Citadel (Rabat), a capital and fortified city inland, in the center of the island. It feels like an even stranger, sleepier Mdina and The Fat Rabbit’s fenkata lamb stew? Will remain in my heart (and palate) forever.
Ramla Bay, on the north coast of Gozo, features a reddish sand surrounded by azure waterand while Malta’s beaches are such a barren land that you’ll be guzzling down that spare bottle of water like you haven’t seen hydration in days, it’s surrounded by a lush green valley.
In Dwejra Bay, the Inland Sea is a hidden gem that most visitors to Malta miss, and for the odd culture vulture whose heart skips a beat when looking at ancient stones collected in the middle of nowhere – em dash – oops! That would be me: the Ġgantija temples are a group of megalithic structures older than the pyramids.
Fly straight to this slice of heaven this summer
This summer, Americans can fly non-stop to Luqa International Airport (MLA), the main and only hub serving Malta, from New York (JFK).
Delta flights will be Active 3 times a weekwith a flight time of approximately 9 hours non-stop, and the start date is June 7, 2026.
You may want to secure your tickets quickly as availability is limited (this is a summer-only route) and Malta’s rising popularity shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Of course, if you miss the Delta connection, you can always get your beach bum across the pond and book a flight to Malta from $25 from major hubs like London or Barcelona.
