London, Paris, New York…..Malta

Paris, Venice, Rome, Dubrovnik, all great citybreak destinations but why not Valletta, the bite-size capital of Malta that is drenched in sun from spring to late autumn and yet only a three hour flight from home?

Like many of those attending this year’s Advantage Conference in Malta, it was my first time in Valletta and I left with the feeling that it was a great shame more people were not aware of its many charms, that is to say, its fascinating history, beautiful views and architectural wonders.

Founded by the Knights of St John in the mid-16^th century to protect the island from Turkish invaders, the bijoux, honey-coloured city is only a little over a kilometre long – you can see right from one end to the other when standing on the main thoroughfare – and one of its attractions is that you can walk all around it in less than an hour.

Not to be missed on your way round are the magnificent St John’s Co-Cathedral (don’t be misled by the plain exterior, the artwork inside is magnificent), the Grand Master’s Palace, the National Museum of Archaeology and the National War Museum that commemorates Malta’s heroic efforts during WWII when it provided a strategic base for the British and held out against the Nazis despite relentless air-raids.

Much of the city had to be rebuilt after the war, but the historic buildings were sympathetically restored. Today, they face a more tenacious enemy – acid rain, which is literally washing away the limestone.

Also high on the list of highlights is the view of the Grand Harbour, which is best appreciated from the Upper Barrakka Gardens, from where you can gaze across the impossibly blue waters to the Three Cities area on the opposite side of the bay. Get there at midday to watch the firing of the noon-day gun from the Saluting Battery, a daily ritual in Valletta.

There are few hotels within the city walls so most visitors stay either at the Grand Hotel Excelsior or the Hotel Phoenicia, both five-stars, which sit just outside, or in nearby St Julian’s, a lively resort teeming with bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Over a long weekend, visitors could spend a day in Valletta, a day relaxing by the hotel pool and another day touring the island. One of the great things about a short break in Malta is that nothing is too far away so it’s possible to see the rest of the country, even on a mini-break. A hop-on, hop-off bus provides regular tours of Malta, leaving every hour from Valletta or St Julian’s and stopping off at 20 or so of the main attractions, including the ancient capital Mdina (only 25 minutes from Valletta).

Another great way to see the island, especially Valletta, is from the sea. Captain Morgan operates regular motor cruises of the harbour, both during the daytime and in the evening. It’s also possible to visit nearby Gozo and Comino islands by ferry.

It’s easy to get to Malta as the national carrier has resumed its summer-only charter flights to Valletta from six UK regional airports this week. These are operating alongside its regular scheduled flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester and budget airlines easyJet and Ryanair also fly to Malta from the UK.

By Linsey McNeill