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About Malta
Diversity is in our DNA
Malta is the smallest European country, forming an archipelago between North Africa and Sicily with Gozo and Comino. Due to its position, Malta has attracted civilisations looking for a strategic position, such as Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Spanish and the British.
Diversity is in our DNA. Over the last decades, Malta has proudly achieved the status of LGBTIQ+ friendly place, ranking top of the ILGA Europe Rainbow Index for five years in a row!
Many steps have been taken over the last 20 years.
Malta welcomes and recognises all forms of couples and families, irrespective of their gender, while displays of affection in public areas can be witnessed without attracting any attention. There is no gay neighbourhood, as the LGBTIQ+ community is welcomed everywhere across our islands.
Timeline towards diversity
2002
LGB people allowed to serve openly in the military
Hate Crime provisions extended to include sexual orientation and gender identity
2013
Grounds for asylum protection; Provision that allows time on gender affirmation treatment as part of sick leave entitlements
2014
Constitutional anti-discrimination provisions for the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity; Recognition of same-sex couples and parenting rights including adoption through civil unions
2016
Conversion Therapy banned
2017
Marriage equality into force. Third-gender option on ID cards and Passports
2018
Access to IVF for lesbian couples and single persons; Access to free healthcare for trans persons and setting up of Gender Wellbeing Clinic
2019
MSMs allowed to donate blood (under a one-year deferral period)
2022
All genders, irrelevant of sexual orientation, are allowed to donate blood.
Malta’s top attractions
Archaeological sites
The island’s top cultural attractions include Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, a prehistoric burial chamber and UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to 2500 b.C., and Ħaġar Qim Megalithic Temple and Mnajdra Archaeological Park, a 5,000 years-old pre-historic site atop a sea cliff.
Towns and Villages
For a journey back in time, don’t miss Mdina and the fishing village of Marsaxlokk. Mdina is the old Capital of Malta, known as the Silent City for its narrow and quiet streets and the noble aura of its majestic palaces. Marsaxlokk is a popular destination for locals, who come here on Sundays for the fish market and for Sunday lunch. In the same area, don’t miss St Peter’s Pool, a natural swimming pool and one of Malta’s favourite destinations for swimmers and snorkelers.
Sliema is a seaside town that has transformed from a fishing village to a developing commercial hub, where traditional Maltese architecture meets a shopping haven with international and local brands alike. Next door to Sliema, the neighbouring town of St Julian’s is the most popular touristic area, bustling with nightlife all year round.
The islands of Gozo and Comino
Just a 45-minute ferry trip from Valletta and you’ll be in Gozo, a destination for laid-back travellers and nature lovers alike, offering locally produced food and wine, adventurous experiences such as hiking and kayaking, sightseeing in the towns of Cittadella and Victoria.
The nearby island of Comino is definitely worth a visit, especially for the Blue Lagoon, a magnificent cove with crystal clear water and a white-sand seabed. There are several options for getting to Comino and the Blue Lagoon, including day trips, hop-on-hop-off ferries and regular ferry services.