Family holidays in Malta: why it’s perfect with kids

I’ve never quite understand why a sunny Mediterranean island with lots for kids to do shouldn’t be more popular – but somehow family holidays in Malta seem to stay slightly under the radar.

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I’ve visited the island a couple of times, including learning to dive in Malta, and it’s somewhere I’d love to head back to with my daughter.

So if you’re wondering exactly what’s so tempting, here’s why I think you should be putting Malta family holidays on your list.

Flight time to Malta

It only takes around three hours to fly from the UK to Malta – less time than it takes to reach the Greek islands or the Canary Islands.

There are low-cost flights with easyJet as well as national carriers including Air Malta and British Airways. Easy peasy really (always a bonus when you’re flying with kids).

There are no tricky visa regulations either – UK citizens can enter without restrictions for a stay of up to 90 days (in a 180-day period), and if you’re a US citizen, you can also stay for up to three months.

Malta’s weather

Sun glorious sun! And best of all, there’s a long holiday season in Malta, so if you want to skip the highest temperatures of July and August when it’s in the low 30s, you can still find 25C warmth in October.

There’s rarely more than 7 or 8 days rain a month on average from November to February too, if you’re looking for some winter sun without a long-haul flight.

Family-friendly hotels

One of the biggest factors when you’re visiting Malta with kids is where to stay – like so many Mediterranean destinations, kids are the centre of attention so it’s ideal for a relaxed escape.

All roads lead to the capital Valletta too, so if you prefer the idea of resorts in Malta for families, you needn’t stay in the city. Check out the hotels set on different bays around the island – some will have their own shuttle to Valletta as well, if you don’t fancy waiting for a bus or hiring a car.

My own favourite way to arrive is taking the ferry from Sliema so you can see Valletta appear from the water, its honey gold buildings reflecting in the sea.

The island is home to some great resorts if you’re looking for five-star family pampering too – the Corinthia Hotel St George’s Bay is a strong contender for best place to stay in Malta for families with a string of family-friendly services.

That includes a complimentary kids’ programme on certain dates, usually during main school holiday periods, as well as some of the essentials that you need if you’re visiting Malta with a baby or toddler. from steriliser and bottle warmer to baby bath, play mat, night light, step stools, pushchair, potty and more.

For slightly older kids, there’s even a spa menu aimed at children while four of the resort’s nine restaurants have a children’s menu (and there’s babysitting too if you fancy checking out the others).

Add in a little children’s pool and car seats for the hotel shuttle to Valletta, plus the rooms also have balconies to relax on – useful with little ones who can nap inside or so you can sit out after their bedtime.

Malta family attractions

Whether you’re looking for a relaxed day on the beach or a day out with kids in Malta, there’s plenty to keep all ages entertained.

A lot of Malta’s beaches are pebbly so if you’ve got your heart set on sandcastles, head towards the northern part of the island – Ghadira Bay (or Mellieha Bay) is one of the most popular, along with Golden Bay on the west coast. 

Right at the northern tip, you’ll also find smaller beaches including Paradise Bay and Armier.

There are also waterparks on Malta, open during the summer months, as well as diving for older kids – over-eights can try out Bubblemaker basic scuba dives – and the Malta National Aquarium if you don’t want to get your feet wet.

Or step onto a film set at Popeye Village, now transformed into a theme park. Movie fans will notice quite a few other filming locations as they explore – Gladiator used Valletta as a backdrop, Malta has cropped up in a few Bond films, while areas doubled as the Red Keep in Game of Thrones.

For more ideas of things to do in Malta with kids, check out this post

Two more islands to discover

You’re not short of things to do with kids on Malta, but if you do fancy exploring further afield, it’s a short boat or ferry ride to Malta’s sister islands, Gozo and Comino.

Comino, the smallest, has only a few permanent inhabitants and is best known for its spectacular blue lagoon – not just blue but a spectacular turquoise colour.

You can even swim across it to the tinier island of Cominotto.

Laid-back Gozo, meanwhile, is a little like Malta in miniature, from its ancient sites like the temple of Ggantija to its walled Citadella in Rabat, also known as Victoria (or Vittorija).

It’s also home to the fascinating Marsalforn salt pans as well as the red sand beach of Ramla Bay – the shallow water is perfect with kids, although expect it to get busy during the summer.

The food in Malta

With so many different cultures influencing Malta over the centuries, it means you can find some fantastic food along the way.

There’s plenty around for fussier eaters, including some great Italian restaurants (so pasta and pizza galore). Although having tried sea urchin pasta myself, I’m not hurrying to have a second helping of that particular dish!

For those who want to try typical Maltese food, that includes some child-friendly options too – pastizzi are cheese-filled pastry snacks (one word of warning: if your kids hate peas, some pastizzi also contain these) or imqaret: dates wrapped in pastry then deep-fried. 

There’s also plenty of gelato to help cool down, including some versions with a distinctly Maltese twist using condensed milk, plus a cousin of Italian cannoli using lemony ricotta with chocolate, cherries or nuts.

Unsurprisingly you’ll find fish galore – including octopus for anyone more adventurous but also some great grilled fish fresh from the sea.

One other thing you’ll also see a lot is rabbit: worth knowing to watch out for or avoid if there’s a pet bunny back at home!

The history

Malta’s history stretches back for thousands of years with ancient sites which make the pyramids look young – the Ggantija temple complex on Gozo was created in the Neolithic age and is over 5,500 years old, while the temples at Hagar Qim and Mnajdra date back to around 3600BC, a millennium before the pyramids of Giza.

If mysterious megaliths don’t capture your kids’ interest – although there is now a visitor’s centre at Hagar Qim to try to bring the stones to life – then Malta has plenty more historic spots which are easier to appreciate.

The Knight of St John, founded during the crusades, ruled Malta for 250 years, creating Valletta plus the Three Cities and Fort St Angelo along the way.

Head to the Grandmaster’s Palace to see weapons from this period in the Palace Armoury, as well as peeking into the Throne Room, before looking inside the Baroque St John’s Co-Cathedral.

Then wander the winding streets past the auberges, grand mansions which housed the different orders of knights and head on to the Upper Barrakka Gardens where a cannon is fired from the Saluting Battery at noon every day.

In the centre of the island, the medieval capital of Mdina is perfect if you want to step back in time. The streets are closed to most traffic, so you can stroll from the island’s other co-cathedral to its old walls, down peaceful alleyways and pretend you’re living several hundred years ago.

Nearby, the catacombs of St Paul and St Agatha are better for older kids, while in Marsaxlokk on the southern tip, you’ll see the famous bright fishing boats or luzzu, decorated with eyes – believed to protect the fishermen, this dates back to the time of the Phoenicians around 3,000 years ago.

Quite a few more arrivals to Malta’s shores had their eyes set on its strategic location – which means lots of forts remaining from its history too. Fort St Elmo is one of the best with kids.

Renovated after being repeatedly attacked and destroyed, every Sunday sees the In Guardia Parade with re-enactors in costume to bring the fort to life. it’s also home to the National War Museum, with items dating back to the Bronze Age.

PIN FOR LATER: FAMILY HOLIDAYS IN MALTA

Disclosure: Compiled in association with Corinthia Hotel St George’s Bay. This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission. All opinions and reasons I love family holidays in Malta are my own (except for the sea urchins…) 

Hotel image courtesy of the Corinthia Hotel St George’s Bay, all others Depositphotos

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