Arrive early around 8am for the best light and fewest crowds. Watch the noon saluting battery cannon firing from the terrace below.

Arrive right at 9am opening to avoid queues. The Caravaggio paintings and inlaid marble floor are the main highlights inside.

Find a restaurant on Merchant Street or Old Bakery Street in Valletta serving lunch specials. Order a plate of pasta or a salad for a light midday meal.

Take bus 51 or 52 from Valletta bus terminal to Mdina (25 min). Walk the quiet narrow streets and visit St. Paul's Cathedral.

Look for the hidden courtyard at Palazzo Falson on St. Paul Street and the garden at Casa Bernardini on Villegaignon Street. Both are easy to miss without searching by name.

Check the Malta Tourism Authority website or ask at the Valletta information office for folk event schedules. Many happen at Fort St. Elmo or the Mediterranean Conference Centre.

Arrive by 8am when the fishermen unload their catch. Walk the harbor front past the colorful luzzu boats.

Head to Marsaxlokk's side streets near St. Peter's Church to see boat repair yards and net mending stations.

Stroll along the Marsaxlokk promenade and sample pastizzi from the stalls near the main square.

Take the ferry from Ċirkewwa to Comino. Arrive before 1pm to secure a spot on the limestone ledges.

Drive or taxi to the chapel at the cliff edge. Walk south along the clifftop path for the widest sea views.

Join a harbor sunset cruise departing from Sliema Ferry Terminal. Most operators offer complimentary Maltese wine onboard.

Book tickets weeks in advance as only 80 visitors are allowed per day. This UNESCO site is an underground prehistoric temple carved 10 meters below ground.

Head to Auberge de Provence on Republic Street to see the famous Sleeping Lady figurine and Bronze Age artifacts. Walk from the Hypogeum or take a short taxi (about $5).

Explore the morning market stalls along Merchant Street in Valletta. Try sampling local cheeses, olives, and fresh bread while browsing the local produce.

Take the Valletta Ferry across the Grand Harbor to Birgu (Vittoriosa), then walk through the narrow streets to the Inquisitor's Palace and along the marina. The waterfront views of Valletta are superb from this side.

Visit one of Europe's oldest working theaters on Old Theatre Street in Valletta. The baroque interior with its horseshoe auditorium and crystal chandeliers is worth a 30-minute guided tour.

Look for wine bars along Strait Street, the historic nightlife strip, and order a glass of Maltese wine. Ask for a Ġellewża or Girgentina, two native Maltese grape varieties.