With golden sunsets, historic cities, beautiful Mediterranean waters and some seriously romantic places to stay, Malta might just be one of Europe’s most underrated honeymoon destinations.
For newlyweds who want more than a traditional fly and flop honeymoon, the Maltese Islands offer an enticing combination of sunshine, culture, incredible food, beautiful hotels and experiences that can make a honeymoon feel genuinely personal.
We spoke to Janet Grech Dimech, Senior Manager Marketing for VisitMalta Destination Weddings at the Malta Tourism Authority, to discover why Malta and Gozo deserve a spot on your honeymoon shortlist.
Why Malta?
When you picture the classic European honeymoon destinations, Malta might not immediately spring to mind. According to Janet, that is part of what makes discovering it so special.
Despite its relatively small size, Malta packs an extraordinary amount into one destination. Couples can spend their days wandering through UNESCO World Heritage sites, discovering golden sandy beaches, enjoying world class dining and local wine, booking indulgent wellness treatments or simply strolling hand in hand along the coast.
Then there are the sunsets.
The waterfront promenades of Sliema and St Julian’s provide a gorgeous backdrop for an evening stroll as the sun goes down, while couples looking for something more intimate can retreat to one of the islands’ boutique hotels or historic properties.
It is this variety that can come as a surprise to first time visitors. Malta can deliver the sunshine and sea you want from a Mediterranean honeymoon, without making the entire trip about lying beside the pool.
What does the perfect Malta honeymoon look like?
For couples planning seven to ten days, Janet recommends resisting the temptation to fill every moment.
The beauty of honeymooning in Malta is being able to combine incredible experiences with plenty of time to simply enjoy being newly married.
Spend a day discovering Malta’s history, take a movie location tour or set sail from the spectacular Grand Harbour towards St Paul’s Island or Gozo. From the water, you can experience a completely different view of the Maltese Islands while enjoying the Mediterranean sun, sea breeze, good food and, most importantly, each other’s company.
Wine lovers can plan a tasting at local wineries such as Meridiana or Ta’ Betta, while a slower day might involve a couples massage, a wellness treatment and an evening watching the sunset.
The result is a honeymoon that can move at exactly the pace you want it to.
Malta and Gozo: why choose one?
You don’t have to.
Combining Malta and Gozo gives honeymooners the opportunity to experience two very different sides of the Maltese Islands within one trip.
Malta is the larger and busier of the two, with an incredible concentration of history, culture, restaurants and experiences.
Valletta should be high on your list. Malta’s capital is a UNESCO World Heritage city filled with beautiful architecture, historic streets and impressive fortifications. Janet also recommends exploring Mdina and the Three Cities, taking time to wander through narrow streets, stop at intimate cafés and soak up surroundings that date back hundreds of years.
Then change the pace completely with a stay or visit to Gozo.
Smaller, greener and more rural, Gozo has a wonderfully relaxed feel that lends itself beautifully to a honeymoon. Adventurous couples can explore on foot, book a quad bike tour or go diving, while the Citadel and St George’s Basilica are among the island’s cultural highlights.
It is the contrast between the two that makes combining them so appealing. Malta brings energy, history and culture, while Gozo offers the opportunity to slow everything down.
Beyond the beach
Of course, you can spend your honeymoon beside the Mediterranean, but Malta has plenty waiting when you decide to venture beyond your sun lounger.
Film lovers may recognise locations across the islands from major productions including Gladiator, Troy, The Count of Monte Cristo and Game of Thrones.
History and art lovers can visit St John’s Co Cathedral to discover its spectacular Baroque interior and artworks, while Malta’s prehistoric temples offer a glimpse into a history stretching back thousands of years.
Then there is the food and wine.
Think long romantic dinners, local wine tastings and lunches surrounded by beautiful vineyards. Add sailing, diving, historic cities and sunset walks and suddenly the idea of a traditional beach honeymoon feels a little limiting.
When should you honeymoon in Malta?
One of Malta’s biggest advantages is that it can be enjoyed throughout the year.
For couples who want to spend plenty of time exploring, however, Janet suggests thinking beyond the height of summer. July and August can bring particularly high temperatures, which may make days spent sightseeing and exploring the islands less comfortable.
Travelling outside those peak summer months can therefore be particularly appealing for honeymooners who want a balance of sunshine, culture and outdoor experiences.
It is also worth booking early, especially if you have your heart set on one of Malta’s smaller and more intimate places to stay.
Historic boutique hotels and elegant palazzinos are particularly sought after, with beautiful options found around Valletta, Mdina and Vittoriosa. With fewer rooms available than at a large resort, securing your favourite early can help avoid disappointment.
Where to stay for a luxury Malta honeymoon
If your honeymoon is the moment to really indulge, Malta and Gozo have no shortage of luxurious options.
In Malta, Janet recommends looking at Iniala Harbour House, Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands, Corinthia St George’s Bay, the adults only Verdala Wellness Hotel, The Xara Palace Relais & Châteaux, Hilton Malta and the new Hard Rock Hotel Malta.
For couples spending time on Gozo, options include Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, Hotel Ta’ Cenc & Spa and Grand Hotel Gozo.
The appeal is not simply having a long list of luxury hotels to choose from. Each offers a different honeymoon experience.
You might want a small and intimate historic property, a wellness focused escape where you can properly switch off, or a larger resort with everything you need within easy reach.
Choosing where to stay becomes less about finding the ‘best’ hotel and more about deciding how you want your honeymoon to feel.
A honeymoon that feels like you
Perhaps that is Malta’s greatest strength.
There is no single way to honeymoon here.
You can spend the morning exploring centuries old streets and the afternoon beside the water. You can dress up for an incredible dinner one evening and spend the next watching the sunset after a day at sea. You can fill your itinerary with history, diving, vineyards and adventure, or leave entire days blissfully empty.
And with Malta and Gozo offering two distinct experiences within the same trip, couples can create a honeymoon that combines discovery with exactly the kind of switch off time you will probably be craving after planning a wedding.
Small islands, it turns out, can make for a very big honeymoon.
Expert contributor: Janet Grech Dimech, Senior Manager Marketing, VisitMalta Destination Weddings, Malta Tourism Authority
Discover more about Malta at VisitMalta.