Malta's capital, Valletta, will be the European capital of culture in 2018, which is a great excuse to go see this well-preserved city. It was founded in the early 16th century and to this day remains a breathtaking time capsule from that time period.
With a total of 320 monuments on a tiny peninsula with an area of just 136 acres, Valletta was called "one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world," by UNESCO (the city is also a world heritage site). Don't miss the grand master's palace, the city gate, and St. John's Cathedral.
The country itself is a small archipelago situated in between Sicily and the North African coast, bordered by the clear waters of the Mediterranean — which means that you're never far from the beach.