18 Interesting Facts We Bet You Didn’t Know About Malta

Welcome to Malta holidays! Home to 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, a thriving cultural scene and natural beauty, which combined makes the world’s most spectacular playground.

Gozo is the second-largest island in the Maltese archipelago, but it’s first in the hearts of many visitors as a place of spectacular beauty and natural landmarks. But, the tiny island of Comino is one of the most beautiful places in Malta. There’s not a lot here as it is pretty much uninhabited, but in terms of beauty – there are few places in the world that can match Comino.

Learn a bit about the country with these interesting Malta facts…

  1. The official languages of Malta are Maltese and English.
  2. Throughout history, tales have been told about Gozo and how it is thought to be Calypso’s Isle from Homer’s Odyssey.
  3. Malta is the largest of the three islands and is the administrative, cultural and commercial centre.
  4. If a person is from Malta they are called Maltese, but don’t get them mixed up with Gozitans – the people from the beautiful island of Gozo.
  5. Malta was formally colonised by Great Britain in 1814, but finally became independent in 1964.
  6. Helen of Troy, the mini-series and the movies Swept Away and The Count of Monte Cristo were filmed at the beautiful Blue Lagoon beach in Comino.
  7. The time difference is +1 GMT.
  8. The capital of Malta is Valletta which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Known for it’s museums and palaces – the capital is stunning.
  9. Gladiator, Captain Philips and Game of Thrones were filmed on the main island of Malta.
  10. Malta is one of the best windsurfing destinations in the world. The best time to go is between November and March.
  11. Comino is a car free island.
  12. His Majesty King George VI awarded the George Cross to Malta in 1942 for the bravery of the Maltese people during the Second World War and is featured on the flag.
  13. The weather – Malta has very mild winters and warm to hot summers.
  14. The oldest rock found in the Maltese islands was formed into what is known as the famous Azure Window and has featured in many movies, most recently in Game Of Thrones.
  15. Gozo is considered one of the top diving destinations in the Mediterranean.
  16. That said, jellyfish can be an issue in Malta, but there is a jellyfish map to find out which beaches are coded green – no jellyfish.
  17. Comino is named after the wild plant cumin that used to grow there.
  18. Driving in Malta is the same as in England (on the left hand side of the road). They also use roundabouts.

You can use these fun Malta facts to share with your friends, enhance your school report, give you a leg up on quiz night or best of all, you may even consider booking a holiday in Malta.

Check out our latest Malta holiday deals!