Nestled in the Med between Sicily and North Africa, you’d be forgiven for overlooking Malta for a weekend getaway.
But, little more than three hours away, it makes for the perfect mini-break, as I discovered.
Royally good view
Perched on a steep hill, Mdina is Malta’s enchanting old capital with ancient architecture and towering fortified walls straight out of Game Of Thrones.
It takes just an hour to wander around its practically car-free, pretty streets dotted with frescoes – beautiful ancient wall murals – and is particularly atmospheric in the evening.
Soak up the city by night by kipping at The Xara Palace, which was formerly a 17th-century palace and is now a boutique hotel, where most of the gorgeous, classically styled rooms overlook Mdina’s windy streets.
Even better, its top-floor Michelin-starred restaurant The de Mondion offers stunning panoramic views of the island.
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Expect exquisite dishes of snapper with salsify, lardons and clams, and local pigeon with beetroot, £42 each.
Or hit its trattoria, spilling out into a pretty square, for tasty pizzas for a tenner.
Ready, steady, UNESCO!
It’s tempting to stay at the palace the whole weekend, but the UNESCO-protected Baroque capital of Valletta is only half an hour’s drive away.
Explore Upper Barrakka Gardens, a beautiful park overlooking the Grand Harbour, and don’t let the simple exterior of St John’s Co-Cathedral fool you.
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5Inside, you’ll be struck by gold-leaf-covered ceilings, more than 375 coloured marble tombstones and treasure-filled chapels.
Entry costs £12 (Stjohnscocathedral.com).
Opposite the Grand Harbour are the Three Cities – a trio of ancient, fortified villages.
Whizz along the whole 18km area in just a couple of hours with Rolling Geeks – pre-programmed, self-drive electric buggies.
You’ll see the historical sites of Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua, be able to snap selfies galore from the buggy itself and still have time to grab a coffee, or even take a dip at Rinella Bay Beach.
Buggy rental costs from £80 for two adults (Rolling-geeks.com).
Foodies should finish the day at Rosami in nearby harbour town St Julian’s.
Tuck into dishes such as comté gnocchi with wild garlic and walnut, beef sirloin with artichoke and oyster sauce and mouth-watering chocolate and blackberry pudding.
An aperitif of its house-smoked negroni is a must, too.
A four-course set menu costs £62 (Rosami.xaracollection.com).
Snapper it up
For a lazier day, head to traditional fishing village Marsaxlokk, a 25-minute drive south, with its picturesque harbour of brightly coloured boats and bustling fish market on Sunday mornings.
Drop into Tartarun for lunch to share a platter of the local catch, such as red snapper, with crispy potato croquettes and traditional Maltese “ftira” bread, on the side, all for about £50.
The buttermilk-fried bream with buffalo sauce, £7, and breaded anchovies with blood-orange dip, £9, are also delicious.
Pair with a bottle of Kinnie, a Maltese soft drink made from tangy bitter orange, aromatic herbs and spices.
On your way back, among aromatic olive, fig and carob trees in the middle of the Maltese countryside, you’ll find the Ta’ Betta Wine Estate.
Set on almost 10 acres of land, it’s one of the youngest wineries on the isle – its oldest vintage is from just 2017!
Book ahead to enjoy a tour and informal tasting of the winery’s reds and whites with nibbles in the green terraces of Girgenti.
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Tastings cost from £62, though Fabulous readers can get 25% off* (Tabetta.com).
Gorgeous scenery, amazing eats and majestic architecture – what’s not to love?
FYI
Double rooms at The Xara Palace cost from £207 per night B&B (Xarapalace.com.mt).
Plan your trip at Visitmalta.com. Flights from the UK to Malta cost from £98 return (Airmalta.com).
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