Bugibba Holidays

Families are in luck in Bugibba, with practically everything tailored for those travelling with sprogs in tow. The snaking seafront promenade’s packed to the rafters with every-flavour restaurants and cafés, so views of St Paul’s Bay are easy to come by while you eat. There’s a constant buzz along Triq it-Turisti, too, with the lion’s share of souvenir shops and boutiques plying their trade here. When evening rolls around, bars fling open their doors for the ever-growing gaggle of hotel guests.

This once-small town’s got it sussed when it comes to classic package holidays. Peel away the first few layers, though, and there’s a brow-raising surprise squirrelled beneath the surface. Among the bumper crop of hotels is one with an ancient megalithic temple in the middle of its grounds. It was discovered in the 1920s, and the resort’s rapid growth led to the unusual, tourist-filled fringe.

Nothing says family holidays like a waterpark, and this place has a couple of splash-happy contenders right on its doorstep. For a quick paddle and play, there’s a fountain-filled splash zone right beside Bugibba’s rugged shoreline. If you’re more serious about your slides, the Splash & Fun Water Park’s worth a punt. Spaghetti-style flumes unravel into lounger-lined pools, drop-slides poke up into the sky, and a lazy river wraps around the lot like a giant ribbon. Neighbouring Qawra, meanwhile, serves up sea life in spades at Malta National Aquarium.

If you fancy ducking out for a bit, there are plenty of daytrip options in the mix. Head to Bugibba’s small harbour, and the island’s barely trodden neighbours, Gozo and Comino, are just a short sail away. They’re top territory for scuba diving, and a jaunt to the Blue Lagoon waltzes into Malta’s top things to do. Back on the main island, you can swap Bugibba’s sunbathing platforms for sweeps of sand if you skip across to nearby Mellieha Bay.