Beaches, culture, outdoor adventure, wine & dine — what are your favorite things to do on a Mediterranean vacation? Because Malta’s got them all.

Comprising three islands that float in the Med about halfway between Italy and North Africa, Malta boasts 85 miles (137 km) of coastline spangled with sandy and rocky beaches, dramatic limestone cliffs, and turquoise-colored coves with crystal-clear water. Add more than 300 days of sunshine each year and you’ve got all the makings of a perfect beach vacation.

With sites that stretch back to prehistoric times, Malta offers plenty in the way of archeology and history, from the mysterious megalithic temple complex at Ħaġar Qim and the medieval Citadel of Gozo and St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, to the underground Lascaris War Rooms where the British and Maltese military strategized against the Nazis during World War Two.

Malta’s adrenaline-pumping activities run a broad gamut from wreck diving, speed boats, and sea kayaking to mountain biking and hiking coastal, cliff-top trails, abseiling and rock climbing on sheer sea cliffs, and horseback riding in the highlands.

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