Solo Travelers Rave About This Underrated European Destination For A Mediterranean Getaway

Europe's Mediterranean Sea is filled with delightful islands, perfect for a romantic escape. From Sicily, the buzzing, colorful island with the best food in Italy, to Crete, with its mythical labyrinth and incredible ancient ruins, there are stunning spots for a quintessential Mediterranean island getaway everywhere you turn.

Sometimes overlooked in favor of islands in Spain, Greece, or Italy, like Mallorca, Corfu, or Sardinia, Malta is one of Europe's underrated gems. This beautiful, rocky speck of land has a rich and fascinating history, as its geographical position between Europe and Africa has made it strategically important throughout the ages, fought over for centuries by Europe's major powers. Tourism to Malta is usually associated with luxury travel, thanks to its gorgeous historic villas and mansions, stunning hotels, beautiful beaches, and extremely relaxed tax laws. However, in the last few years, Malta and its underrated Mediterranean island neighbor, Gozo, have been lauded as an ideal destination for solo travelers looking for sun, sea, and safety.

Malta sits about 50 miles south of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, east of Tunisia and north of Libya. Getting there is relatively simple, as Malta International Airport is located just south of the capital, Valletta, and a taxi will take you to the center of town in around 20 minutes, or right across the island in just under an hour. More adventurous travelers might enjoy the experience of the ferry from Pozzallo in southern Sicily to Valletta, which takes around an hour and 45 minutes, with five sailings a day.

Malta is filled with stunning historic architecture, delightfully picturesque rocky bathing spots, marvelous landscapes ideal for hiking, and some excellent dining options. It is a great destination for any type of traveler, but it has a few characteristics that make it ideal for tourists on their own.

Most importantly, it is an extremely safe country to visit, making it ideal for solo travelers, and particularly women visiting by themselves. The World Justice Project ranked Malta 12th for order and security on a list of 143 countries in 2025, with a similar rating to places like the UAE, Hong Kong, and Finland. It has one of the lowest crime rates in Europe, with almost no violent crime and a 100% clearance rate for the few homicides it experiences. Redditor u/Third_eye1017 says, "Was there this summer solo and had a great time. Visited all 3 islands (highly recommend doing so!) Comino is beautiful and get there early if you wanna see the Lagoon before it becomes a mad house. Hiking around the island and finding quieter places was my favorite part of my 8 days in Malta. Didn't feel unsafe at all (I didn't go out to any clubs though). Plenty of times where I was very much in the middle of nowhere Malta walking to a hiking trail and again, felt completely safe."

As part of the European Union, Malta is extremely accessible and can be combined easily with ongoing travel around Europe without the need for extra visas or complicated border crossings or customs requirements. It is also an English-speaking country, making it a breeze to explore and enjoy. It is also a small island with good, accessible, reliable public transport, making it simple to get around as a solo traveler.

Most solo travelers will begin their Malta adventure in the exquisite capital, Valetta, one of the best cities in Europe for history buffs. This tiny, fortified city is stuffed with incredible Baroque architecture and historic buildings, and is a gem to explore. Founded in 1566 by the Knights of the Order of St. John (usually known as the Knights Hospitaller), it was held as their base of operations until the end of the 18th century, when it was briefly occupied by the French, before falling under British rule until Malta's independence in 1964. Although it is small, it is packed with sights, from the opulent Baroque grandeur of St. John's Co-Cathedral and the breathtaking beauty of the Barrakka Gardens to the splendid Grand Harbor and the historic Grandmaster's Palace.

Beyond Valletta, this tiny island holds many wonderful sights. The Blue Grotto is one of the most famous, a fabulous sea cave known for its eye-catching blue water. There are some exceptional hiking trails, and Malta's rocky limestone geography makes for an excellent place to walk. It is also worth seeking out the ancient megalithic temple of Ħaġar Qim, the oldest historic site on the island, at over 5,000 years old!

It is also worth taking the short boat ride over to neighboring Gozo, Malta's sister island. Gozo is smaller, quieter, and in many ways even more beautiful than Malta itself and is an amazing place to find a quiet spot to dive into the sea and swim off the rocky shoreline. Travelers used to visit to see the Azure Window, a limestone arch that recently collapsed into the water following a storm and has now formed an incredible underwater landscape that is an excellent option for keen scuba divers.