The more relaxed side of sailing.

The Maltese Islands offer beautiful sights and one can easily spend days sailing to different coasts, bays, caves and estuaries impossible or difficult to get to from the land. The following are just a few suggestions of the many places you can sail to, whether you are a novice or seasoned sailor.

Beginners

If you are a beginner, Birżebbuġa makes a good first port of call. There are lots of buoys, lights, fish farms and commercial vessels. “This makes an ideal trip for one to realise that most of sailing is common sense,” says Stephen Baynham from Sailing School Malta.

You can also try the Crystal Lagoon, located southeast of the Blue Lagoon. As the area is fringed by steep cliffs, it is only accessible by boat. The waters there are unbelievably clear, meaning you get to enjoy the beautiful waters and see the wonderful turquoise water of the Blue Lagoon, but without the crowds.

Dwejra Bay is a beautiful spot to stay the night. This is a full day’s sail from Valletta, but is not too strenuous and the sunsets are out of this world.

St Peter’s Pool is a great spot for swimming or to have a picnic lunch, though it is steadily becoming more and more popular among locals and tourists, so you might want to avoid peak season if you are not a crowd person.

Experienced sailors

If you’re up for a longer trip, head for Syracuse in Sicily. The trip is worth your while as the history of the place will leave you breathless. A visit to Mount Etna and the wonderful market there are a must.

For another long stretch of water, there’s Lampedusa, the largest island of the Italian Pelagie Islands and a wonderful site with few tourists.

You can even sail to another continent and go to Tunisia

Sail to Pantelleria and try the mud bath in the volcano basin which will leave you looking like a Smurf. Then treat yourself to one of the sweet wines the island is noted for – Moscato di Pantelleria and Moscato Passito di Pantelleria.

You may wish to wash off the clay before you hit the wine.

You can even sail to another continent and go to Tunisia, home to the best-preserved Roman amphitheatre in the world – El Jem – and the unique natural decors at Matmata.

Cruising

If you would rather have your meals made for you and have the option of treating yourself to an onboard massage, then you can always visit new places by cruise ship. There are a number of cruises which leave Malta and sail to some beautiful cities. Here are just a few of the many places you can visit by cruise ship.

Sicily

Trapani is so rich in history that a visit to the town is like taking a dip into a different centuries from the past. Monuments, churches and buildings narrate the Sicilian town’s rich history. The star of the end-point of Trapani is the Torre di Ligny, where the prehistoric museum is located. If you have the time, catch a cable car to the hilltop town of Erice and bask in the fantastic views. Cruise ships also visit Catania and Taormina.

Italy

Civitavecchia is a seaport located 80km west of Rome, meaning it is easy to head into the capital city and enjoy this haven of history, legend and monuments, not to mention its food and wine. Cruise ships also sail to the picturesque Florence, the symbol of Renaissance. La Spezia is the main hopping-off point for the Cinque Terre, a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. La Spezia is a wonderful naval base with a subtle charm, many good value restaurants and some interesting museums.

France

Savour delightful French sweets and cuisine in the picturesque town of Marseille in France, where style and history meet. Cruise ships also dock in Nice, well known for the beautiful view on the Promenade des Anglais, its famous waterfront, and Èze, famous worldwide for the view of the sea from its hilltop.

Spain

Admire the fantasy of the magnificent Gothic cathedral (La Seu) and enjoy contemporary art inside the one-time city walls at Es Baluard, in Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca’s only true city.

Greece

Visit the city where democracy was born, a city worshipped by gods and people alike, Athens. Its Acropolis is leading to be one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

Turkey

Located on the southwest coast of modern Turkey, Ephesus is an ancient Greek city Kusadasi.

Monaco

The arrival into the little Monte Carlo harbour is an experience in itself as you will are faced with the sight of one stupendous yacht after another. If you dock when it is still dark, you will see the city lights sparkling through the mountains surrounding the harbour and the Grand Casino.