Whether it’s day or night, the resort town of Sliema thrums with activity. Historic cathedrals, watchtowers, and forts spatter the area, while along the waterfront locals shop, dine, bar hop, or stroll along the promenade for views of the shimmering Mediterranean.

Founded in 1565 by the Order of St John as a refuge for soldiers returning from the Crusades, Valletta is now the capital of Malta and a piece of living history. With an unsurpassed collection of original Baroque architecture, fortified city walls overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, and the spectacular Co-Cathedral of St John, which features intricately carved stone vaults and a famed painting by Caravaggio, it is no wonder that this smallest of European capital cities is a world heritage site.

One of the three principal islands of the Maltese archipelago, the island of Malta is the largest of the chain. Its capital Valletta, a lively, bustling city with many buildings dating back to the 16th century, teems with cathedrals, palaces and forts. The impressive Grand Harbour offers a dramatic arrival. The top archaeological attraction is the UNESCO-designated Hypogeum temple ruins, a macabre, 5400-square-foot underground necropolis and the world's only underground prehistoric temple.

Perched on a hilltop in northern Malta, laid-back Mellieħa has a more local feel than many of the island's more developed southern resort towns. You'll find Malta's longest beach here, the white-sand Mellieħa (or Għadira) Bay.

Part of the Maltese archipelago, Gozo is the second-largest of the seven-island chain and basks in the Mediterranean off the coast of Sicily. More rural than its sister island, Malta, Gozo has a population of 31,000. Home to some of the oldest religious structures in the world, the fascinating Ggantija temples, the island offers dramatic orange-red sands and perfect snorkeling waters at striking Ramla Bay. Rickety buses ply Gozo's roads, making getting about the island an exciting component of your trip.

Europe's largest thermal lake is reputed to work wonders on various medical conditions. The lake's healing waters and therapeutic mud have provoked a healthy stream of health tourists. Visitors can experience its beneficial effects in spas and hotels or for the authentic Heviz experience, bathe in the lake itself.

Caleta de Fuste (also known as El Castillo) is a rollicking tourist destination with wide beaches and outdoor sports, including sailing, diving, and windsurfing. Travelers enjoy sharing the blue waters with the  turtles and dolphins, as well as hitting the greens at the luxurious Fuerteventura Golf Club.  If you're looking for equal parts adventurous-trip and relaxation-central, you'll find it here with a day of snorkeling or trike riding followed by lounging on the serene sand beaches.