For views, most visitors flock to the Blue Grotto. But, though spectacular, there isn’t much walking to be done in the area.
It’s just a few steps down to the viewpoint and then you’re back on the main road.
To really stretch your legs, and for the highest point on the mainland, make for the quieter north-west coast instead, where you’ll find the Dingli Cliffs.
The area lies just a few km from its namesake village, and once formed a natural barrier to the many invaders that sought to make Malta their own.
At over 250m above sea level, views extend out to the tiny island of Filfla on a clear day, and the cliffs themselves stretch from just above the Blue Grotto up to Bahrija, which has excellent trails through what is ostensibly wine-growing country.
There, it has access to the island’s most secluded bay, Fomm Ir-Rih. While the route down can be a little treacherous, its great for a quiet swim far from the noisy east coast.
Back up on the cliffs, a bracing 11km walk skims the west coast up to Dingli, taking in old churches, a Bronze Age village and prehistoric complexes.
The perfect way to see the area in all its wild, scenic beauty.