Land Sports

Golf

Malta has only one golf course (18 hole), at the Royal Malta Golf Club, found in the centre of the island, in an oasis of green, at Marsa.  It is a very pleasant course and the Clubhouse combines British charm with the blessings of Maltese sunshine.  Visitors can join on a daily or weekly basis, and lessons are available from the resident professional.  Reservations are recommended as this is currently the only golf course on Malta. http://www.maltagolf.org



Tennis and Squash

Tennis is very popular in Malta.  Apart from Marsa Sports Club and the Malta Tennis Federation in Sliema, most four and five star hotels have their own courts, with excellent facilities for tennis and squash players.

Bowling

The Eden Super Bowl, St George’s Bay, St Julian’s, has 20 lanes for tenpin bowling, with computerised scoring.  The Malta Tenpin Bowling Association organises a variety of tournaments and championships here.

An old traditional form of this sport is the Maltese bocci.  This is very popular at village level.  The bocci league and competitions are played mainly between the months of April and October.

Climbing

For a thrilling experience, try climbing the cliffs at Dingli, accompanied by an experienced guide.  As you look down on a timeless landscape, it is impossible not to feel exhilarated.  The experience is breathtaking, the view spectacular.  And higher, much higher up, you may become as light as a bird as you attempt paragliding at Mellieha bay.  Furthermore, you can opt for a walk into the countryside along the Maltese landscape, with its gentle hills, craggy ridges and steep cliffs.  Or you could board a helicopter at Xewkija in Gozo and get to know Maltese islands from the air.

 

Walking - Picnic - Hiking

With numerous country lanes to travel around and explore, and high level of personal safety, Malta and particularly Gozo, are ideal places for walking and hiking.  The Southwest areas of Malta and along the Cliffs at Dingli take you to a rural Malta that you might otherwise not see on your visit.  Many parts of Gozo have rural roadways where you can walk and much of the coastline remains unspoiled. 

 

Beyond Rabat to the Southwest, the main road leads towards the coast.  Verdala Palace and Buschetto or Buskett Gardens are on the right off this road.  Verdala palace is the summer residence of the president and the house is not open to the public.  The extensive gardens are now split into two sections, those which form the private gardens of the palace, and an area of natural woodland beyond which is a favourite picnic site of the Maltese families on summer weekends.  A large horticultural show is held here on 29th June of each year.

 

Also the cliffs around Ghajn Tuffieha Bay, out to the headland, are accessible by footpath and are popular with hikers.

 

Horse Riding

Horse riding is an offer at various locations on Malta. You can ride for one or two hours, following trails along the costal paths overlooking the beaches, among some of the island’s least-spoiled countryside.  The helpful, sociable guides at such riding centres, offer assistance to both experienced riders and complete novices. Given that no experience is necessary children are welcome too.

Horse Racing

Horse racing, of the trotting variety, is the most popular spectator sport in Malta.  Jockeys do not ride the horses but are pulled along behind on a flimsy-looking trap.  The track is at Marsa and meetings on winter Sundays (from October to May) pull in large crowds.  Racing continues throughout most of the year.  Programmes normally consist of sever or eight trotting races and one flat race.  For the times of races look in the local paper.