A travel blogger has shared her top tips for what she described as the “most underrated country in the world”, where you can get flights and five nights in a hotel for less than £500
15:55, 07 Jul 2026Updated 15:55, 07 Jul 2026
Streets in Birgu, in the south east of Malta(Image: Birmingham Mail)
A holidaymaker is encouraging travel fans to explore what she describes as the “most underrated country in the world” – offering plenty to do for less than £500 per person. Hannah, a young globe-trotter who frequently posts travel advice on her TikTok account @hannahshols, has high praise for a number of destinations – but reserves particular affection for Malta.
Situated beneath Italy and north of Tunisia, this jewel of a spot takes just three hours to fly to from the UK. During a visit to the small island nation with friends, Hannah discovered that they each paid slightly more than £400 for flights, a five-night hotel stay with rooftop pool access and breakfast included, plus baggage and transfers.
Her TikTok video documenting the trip racked up more than one million likes. She gushed: “Malta is by far the most underrated country I think I’ve ever visited.”
She added: “Even though Malta is the 10th smallest country in the world, it is definitely giving big country energy.” The clip showcases the destination’s stunning sea vistas, plentiful shops and eateries, historic sites, and beautiful gardens, reports the Mirror.
Looking back on her trip in 2024, Hannah revealed why the experience stood out. “One thing I loved about Malta was that it was like nowhere I’d ever been before,” she said. “It’s got such strong Arabic and Roman influences.”
She concluded with sincere praise: “It was just absolutely beautiful and everyone we met just seemed so proud to be Maltese.”
The travel influencer suggests a visit to the capital city of Valletta for anyone heading to Malta. Hannah and her group mainly explored the city by foot or took advantage of the bus network, which she described as “super convenient and cheap”.
She recommended: “Just spend a day in Valletta, roaming around, street dining, going to the boutique shops, wandering in and out of the gardens, seeing the cannons being fired at the saluting battery, and checking out the harbour front.”
Hannah also gave her seal of approval to the Gozo, Comino and Blue Lagoon cruise. This full-day boat trip sets off from Sliema and provides the opportunity to experience both islands in one day, alongside numerous landmarks.
According to Hannah, the price for her and her companions was “around £29 each”. Her video garnered more than 1,000 comments, with many sharing her views about the country. A local resident wrote: “I am from Malta and I am so happy that you loved our little island.”
Another user declared: “Malta is stunning, I would go back in a heartbeat,” while someone else commented: “Genuinely one of my favourite European destinations ever – never gets boring.”
“Omg I live in Malta, it’s so underrated,” another person posted.
How to get to Malta
A number of airlines, including Air Malta, Easyjet, British Airways, Ryanair, and Jet2, run direct flights from the UK to Malta. The busiest route is from London Heathrow to Malta International Airport, which sits in the island’s capital city of Valletta.
Flights are also available from Bournemouth, Liverpool, Norwich, Belfast, Manchester, Bristol, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, and Glasgow.
Many holiday hotspots have seen anti-tourism protests thanks to overcrowding and the issues it causes for locals. But the European island that’s the most overcrowded wants to pack more visitors in
The island has a tourist to local ratio of seven to one(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The most overcrowded island in Europe has seen no over-tourism protests – and bosses want more visitors.
A study has named the Continent’s most packed island, based on tourism density, and it’s not in the Balearics or Canaries.
In fact, the local tourism board wants to bring more visitors to the island and triple the tourism sector’s contribution to the economy. The plans would see the island’s visitor numbers rise from just over four million last year to 4.5 million by 2035.
With a total area of 316 km², Malta is roughly a fifth of the size of London and has a population of around 575,000, about a third of which are foreign residents. This means there’s a ratio of roughly seven tourists for each resident, so locals are already outnumbered.
The study was carried out by BookRetreats.com, which “analysed the latest data from the European Commission, focusing on overnight stays in tourist accommodation per square kilometre (km²)—a measure of tourism density.”
While Mallorca (Majorca) had the most visitors out of the islands in the study, nearly 14 million last year, Malta’s mainland came on top as the most overcrowded island due to its relatively small size. Brits account for the largest number of visitors year-round, and the island has long been a winter sun destination thanks to its 16C days in January and a majority of the island being fluent in English.
The capital, Valletta, has become a popular spot for sun-soaked city breaks thanks to its colourful 16th-century architecture, and the ancient walled city of Mdina is also a hit with tourists thanks to its winding medieval streets. It’s also famous for its beaches, especially in the north of the island, which has turquoise blue seas and calm, shallow waters.
But there have been some measures put in place on Malta’s islands to help ease overcrowding. For example, the Blue Lagoon on Comino used to get daily crowds of up to 12,000 in the summer, and in response, authorities capped tourist numbers to the white sand beach at 4,000 a day. There have since been calls to halve this number to protect the delicate ecosystem.
The islands of Gozo and Comino came 14th on the list, meaning while they’re still overcrowded, they don’t have the same tourism density as Malta’s mainland.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Spanish islands dominated much of the list of the most overcrowded spots, with Lanzarote, Ibiza, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria ranking highly. Greek islands including Corfu and Zakynthos (Zante), also made the top ten, as well as the Portuguese island of Madeira, which is also a winter sun favourite with Brits.
The island is now reachable from 19 airports across the United Kingdom, with flights available for as little as £45. Travellers swapping grey British skies for the 17-mile long destination can look forward to temperatures of around 32C throughout the summer months.
On arrival, Angela couldn’t help but observe that the “blue wink of the Mediterranean is a constant presence” around Malta. Boasting bustling shops, baroque facades, and 17th century watchtowers, Angela says the town “scores highly” for the “views alone”.
She does, however, note that Sliema may not be the ideal destination for a traditional beach holiday, with “rocky bays and outcrops” rather than the sweeping sandy shores some tourists might prefer, reports the Express.
The island does have some sandy beaches to offer. Ramla Beach, which translates as red sand, is regarded as one of the island’s most stunning stretches of coastline, with its rolling sands and crystal-blue waters.
Nestled at the foot of a lush valley and surrounded by rugged hills, Ramla Beach holds blue flag status and provides a wonderful opportunity for snorkelling, diving, or simply unwinding in the sun. The Bugibba Perched Beach, situated in the northern part of the island, is an artificial beach that has become a firm favourite amongst visitors.
Once a jagged rocky outcrop, the beach has been transformed and now boasts an array of cafes, along with all the usual amenities including sunbeds and parasols, perfect for a spot of sunbathing.
Those seeking a more culturally enriching experience can venture to Malta’s capital, Valletta, which was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1980. UNESCO describes the city as “inextricably linked to the history of the military and charitable Order of St John of Jerusalem”.
The city is home to an impressive 320 ancient monuments within just 55ha, cementing its status as one of the most historically dense destinations on the planet. The island also boasts a collection of ancient temples, with the gantija Temples tracing their origins back to 3,600 BC.
Nestled within the Gozitan countryside, the temples are so vast that local legend once held that they were built by giants.
Eager to uncover more history, Angela made her way to Mdina, a fortified city with a heritage stretching back approximately 4,000 years. This hilltop settlement served as the island’s capital until 1530.
Dubbed the “Silent City,” its cobbled streets feel like being “transported back in time,” according to Visit Malta. The tourism website adds: “Oozing of luxury and nobility, Mdina offers visitors a most discreet insight that only a few people can experience and witness during their lifetime.”
Malta’s cobbled streets and stunning vistas have also caught the eye of Hollywood.
Blockbusters including Game of Thrones, Troy, Gladiator, and Assassin’s Creed are amongst the major productions to have used the island as a filming location.
Having explored the island herself, Angela found it “grew on her,” despite the volume of tourists. She concluded: “Given the weather, the scenery, the heritage, and the sheer breadth of things to do, Malta looks set to continue having its ‘moment’ for some time yet.”
Sipping coffee in a grand square at one of Europe’s oldest cafe’s, Lucy Williamson discovers a Mediterranean escape that manages to be a city break, beach holiday, and history lesson all at once
09:30, 17 Jun 2026Updated 09:30, 17 Jun 2026
Malta: The Ultimate Lazy Traveler’s Weekend Guide
A spa day in the UK can easily set you back £150 before you’ve even ordered lunch. So when I found myself sipping coffee in a grand Maltese square at one of Europe’s oldest cafes, watching the morning sun bounce off honey-coloured limestone buildings after a £40 flight from London, I couldn’t help feeling I’d stumbled across one of Europe’s best-value city breaks.
Malta has long been a favourite with British travellers. Yet somehow it still feels slightly overlooked when conversations turn to weekend escapes. People talk about Lisbon, Barcelona and Rome. Meanwhile, sitting in the middle of the Mediterranean, Malta quietly enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine a year; making it one of the sunniest in Europe.
I spent three days there for a spontaneous solo trip and quickly realised Malta has cracked something many destinations haven’t. It manages to be a city break, a beach break and a history lesson all at once, without requiring military-grade holiday planning.
The first thing working in Malta’s favour is its size. This is not a destination where you’ll spend half your holiday staring at Google Maps, wondering whether the slightly disappointing mural is really worth a 45-minute metro journey and an existential crisis in the heat. Most places are close together. The capital city, Valletta, is wonderfully walkable.
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Things to do
If you stay in neighbouring Sliema, as I did at the Preluna Hotel (about £200 for two nights, includes its own beach club) accommodation is often cheaper than inside the capital itself. And the short ferry across to Valetta costs just a few euros. It glides over the water toward a city that looks like an enormous sandcastle built by a giant child who grew up to become an architect.
Many of the highlights cost nothing. The Upper Barrakka Gardens offer some of the finest views in the Mediterranean. Down below, crowds gather for the Saluting Battery (every day at 12pm and 4pm) where cannons are still fired in a tradition dating back centuries. Men in historical uniforms are responsible for the blasts which are to let everyone know what time it is. I loved it, but it seems an incredibly loud and dramatic alternative to just looking at your phone.
Jokes aside, it is an impressive tradition, although you only need to forget it’s happening once to understand why locals still flinch.
You also cannot miss the staggering Baroque interior of St John’s Co-Cathedral (€15 for adults) a church so violently covered in 24-carat gold leaf that it looks like the inside of a divine Ferrero Rocher.
Elsewhere, the city’s streets themselves do much of the heavy lifting. Ornate balconies lean over narrow lanes while laundry flutters overhead on washing lines. It is a deeply moving reminder that even though Valletta was built by the Knights of St John to defend European civilization from the Ottoman Empire, your romantic view of a historic fortress city is occasionally interrupted by a pair of massive beige knickers blowing in the wind.
Locals treat the sea like a public swimming pool that happens to have excellent views. Rocky platforms replace sand. Towels appear. People jump straight into the Mediterranean without the usual British negotiation involving sunbeds, parasols and passive aggressive towel placement.
No one seems to be running a system. It works anyway.
British nostalgia with better weather
Malta occasionally feels like Britain left something behind and never quite bothered to come back for it.
The island was part of the British Empire for more than 150 years, and the influence is still visible in ways that feel slightly surreal. English is an official language. Red phone boxes still stand in corners like they are waiting for a call that will never come.
I wandered into the local branch of Marks and Spencer to check on the progress of British civilization. I can confirm they did not have any picky bits in the Malta store; the traditional British tapas. But they did have tinnies – the traditional fuel for a British explorer. A Monsoon sits nearby. Even a copy of that day’s Daily Mirror at the local newsagent’s.
Where to eat
That blend of influences extends to the food scene. Malta borrows happily from Italy, North Africa and Britain, creating a character all of its own.
One street that perfectly captures the atmosphere is St Lucia Street. By day, it’s an attractive stepped lane. By night, it transforms into one of Valletta’s most buzzy dining spots, with tables cascading down the stone steps like a very tasty avalanche. I spent my second evening at Taste nursing an Aperol Spritz and a plate of rigatoni, which seemed to accidentally on purpose precede a huge tiramisu (€25 bill).
One of Europe’s oldest cafes
For a deeper glimpse into Malta’s past, I found myself at Caffe Cordina, one of Europe’s oldest cafés and one of Valletta’s most enduring institutions.
You will have to resist the temptation to just wander into the air-conditioned void of Starbucks just down the road for some whipped cream and regret. Keep walking, because you will be rewarded with an establishment that has spent nearly two centuries serving Maltese society.
The family’s story began in 1837, when their ancestors arrived from Italy and sold nougat from a donkey cart. They eventually opened a small shop that was destroyed by a German bomb during the Second World War. Yet, as the current owner, Luca Cordina, told me, that bomb was ironically “the best thing that ever happened to us”. It forced his grandfather, Cesare, to take out a bank loan, pivot, and establish the café in its current Valletta location in 1944.
It was a massive gamble. “My grandfather’s friends actually questioned him about the decision, calling him crazy,” Luca explained, noting that the bustling square we see today was little more than a garden at the time. But Cesare believed in the location when very few people did. His response to the doubters was simple: “When the sun rises, it warms everyone”.
That warmth has since attracted a staggering mix of patrons, hosting everyone from Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles to the 1984 Italian national football team. The café inspires just as much loyalty from its staff as its customers, with one employee noted to still be working the floor at 76 years old.
I had a coffee and a traditional ricotta pastizzi (€5.70 bill) and watched the world go by – stunning.
‘The Silent City’
My other favourite lunch spot was in Mdina, the former capital and one of the most atmospheric places on the island.
Game of Thrones fans will recognise parts of it immediately. Everyone else will spend the visit walking past groups who are absolutely certain they are standing exactly where something important happened and are more than willing to explain it in detail whether you asked or not.
It is known as the Silent City because it is incredibly quiet, which is a nice change from London, where the soundtrack is the incessant beeping of a stolen Lime bike.
That wonderful silence was much enjoyed on the roof terrace of the family-run cafe – Fontanella Tea Garden – which is built into the city wall and offers one of the best panoramic views around (Pizza + coffee came to €19).
Mdina is completely enclosed within ancient walls to stop medieval enemies from entering, though it seems they let any old person in these days – especially if you are wearing shorts and carrying a bottle of Fanta Lemon.
The verdict
Three days felt about right. Long enough to see Valletta, Mdina and the coastline without rushing. Short enough that it never drifted into routine. May was an ideal time to go – still warm, not baking, and a little quieter.
Malta works best for couples or solo travellers (like me on this occasion!) who like variety without effort. You get history, sea swims, good food and a walkable city without needing to plan your day around transport logistics or opening times.
Flights from London can be found for around £40 one way. I flew from Luton and returned to Gatwick using Avios points via British Airways, which made the trip back feel particularly smug.
By the time I got home, I’d spent less than many people pay for a day wrapped in a fluffy robe somewhere in the Home Counties.
The cost
Flight from London to Malta (one-way): £40
Preluna Hotel, Sliema (2 nights): £200
St John’s Co-Cathedral entry: €15
Dinner at Taste (Aperol Spritz, rigatoni, tiramisu): €25
Coffee and ricotta pastizzi at Caffe Cordina: €5.70
Pizza and coffee at Fontanella Tea Garden: €19
Sliema–Valletta ferry: €5
Return flight: Not included (paid using Avios points via British Airways) – would have been about £80
Malta’s position in the Mediterranean sea has made the islands a strategically important location since classical times, with the islands passing from one ruler to another through the ages.
In 1800, the British had assisted Malta in removing the occupying French forces and the Maltese people had asked to become a sovereign nation in the British Empire. This was ratified in the treaty of Paris in 1815.
Following the end of World War I, tensions had been rising due to the inability of the colonial government to ensure basic supplies to the island. This had led to some merchants being seen to have made a lot of money from the situation, while others fared badly.
Added to this was the feeling that political moves for greater autonomy and independence for Malta were seemingly going unheard.
In early June 1919, a change in the governor of the island was treated with scepticism by some and on June 7th, a crowd started removing British flags from buildings that had been flying at half-mast across the island due to the recent death of the President of the Court.
The mob grew in size and turned their attention to the homes of the merchants who had been doing well from the recent supply issues. It was at one of these houses that a standoff between the mob and the army ended in tragedy with the soldiers firing and killing three protestors and injuring fifty others. The uprising continued for a few days during which time, a fourth civilian died from injuries received while resisting arrest.
The uprising was short-lasting, but the bloody events of June 7th 1919 led to the National Assembly drafting the new Constitution. Two years later, Malta was given responsibility for self-government and home affairs and the first Maltese Parliament was set up.
Geraldine Noel was a lawyer in the UK when she accidentally found herself relocating to Malta, a sun-drenched Mediterranean island where English is an official language
Malta is becoming more popular as a Mediterranean destination(Image: Getty Images)
It was a complete twist of fate that led high-flying lawyer Geraldine Noel to swap her life for a Mediterranean paradise where English is spoken as a first language.
She said: “I never would have thought adopting a rescue dog and being banned from bringing it into the UK would have led me to settling in Malta, but I love my life here in the sun and wouldn’t change a thing.”
Born in south-west London, Geraldine was offered a position at a Maltese bank. This was before Brexit, she explains, when it was considerably easier for British citizens to live and work across EU nations.
She told the I newspaper how property prices on the sun-soaked island have shifted dramatically since she first arrived 16 years ago: “I’m very fortunate. I was able to purchase a property in the north of the island in St Paul’s Bay 13 years ago. So I’ve been able to avoid the year-on-year increase of property prices that we are currently dealing with.”
Soaring property prices are being driven by a significant surge in demand. Malta’s population is currently estimated to sit at around 580,000 – with much of the growth attributed to American retirees, drawn in by the Mediterranean haven’s warm climate and straightforward access to Italy, Greece, and North Africa. The single largest expat community in Malta, however, remains British – with roughly 15,000 Brits calling the island home.
Geraldine continued: “When I moved, a two-bedroom in St Paul’s Bay would have cost between £150,000 and £250,000 and now that same property would be worth between £200,000 and £350,000.”
This surge in property demand has sparked a construction boom, with new homes and extensions springing up across the island. The downside, Geraldine notes, is increased traffic and noise.
Yet it’s Malta’s tax system that proves most enticing to British expats, she explains: “Tax efficiency is one of the most appealing things about living here. Malta still has the British non-dom regime and a variety of tax breaks that include a 15% rate on income remitted to the country, and no capital gains or inheritance tax.”
Sadly, moving to Malta from the UK has become more complicated in recent years: “The curse of Brexit, though, means it’s so much harder for young people to move over – you have to have a work permit or be on a residency programme,” Geraldine said.
That said, she points out, skilled tradespeople – plumbers, carpenters or electricians – will find abundant opportunities thanks to Malta’s construction surge.
Ultimately, Malta offers an exceptional quality of life, Geraldine insists. She cultivates tropical fruit in her garden and lives just a five-minute stroll from the beach, while still enjoying familiar home comforts for nostalgic Brits: “There are so many things that make Malta appealing to British nationals,” Geraldine says.
“English is an official language, there are British pubs galore that do roasts with all the trimmings, red post boxes, Marks & Spencer. You can get Waitrose and Iceland-branded products in certain supermarkets. I actually have Greggs sausage rolls in the freezer right now.”
Malta remained under British rule until it achieved independence in 1964. As a result, English is one of the island’s two official languages, alongside Maltese.
