Car & Van Hire - Luqa

Car hire in Luqa will allow you to go all around Malta. This small island country is only 316 square km, so you'll be able to see just about everything. Visitors come to Malta for a variety of reasons. Of course, there's the glorious Mediterranean Sea. The water around the island is crystal-clear and ideal for snorkelling. Beyond that, Malta has some fascinating archaeological sites and a long, intriguing history. With something for all the family, it's the ideal choice for fun in the sun.

While on holiday in Malta, you should definitely spend a day exploring Valletta. This fortified city is the country's capital and has magnificent walls and ramparts. The cathedral does not look particularly impressive from the outside, but the interior is truly spectacular, with gilded decorations and paintings by great masters, such as Caravaggio. Other sights worth seeing include the Grandmaster's Palace, where the Order of Malta once met. Inside, you can see a fascinating military museum with over 5,000 weapons and pieces of armour. There's another museum at Fort Saint Elmo, where you can learn about Malta's role in WW2 and how the entire country was awarded the George Cross for gallantry.

Use a car or van hire in Luqa to visit Mdina, the former capital of Malta. Known as the noble city, this is a charming walk back in time. Beside it is Rabat, which is said to be where St Paul sought refuge after a shipwreck. The catacombs are delightfully spooky and are well worth a visit. Not far from Mdina is the archaeological site of Hagar Qim, a megalithic temple site dating back to around 3500 BC.

If you fancy a day trip, you can take the car ferry to either Gozo or Comino. These two smaller islands are sparsely populated and are a great way to get in touch with nature. On Gozo, you can visit the fortified Cittadella or the beaches at Marsalforn or Ramla Bay, two of the best in the country. Unlike the island of Malta, which has mostly rocky beaches, on Gozo, the beaches are sandy and ideal for families.

The even smaller island of Comino is famous for the Blue Lagoon, which is a stunning natural feature with incredible turquoise waters, just made for snorkelling. Most of the island's attractions are water-based. There's also the Crystal Lagoon and a number of beautiful sea caves, which you can visit with a kayak.

Malta is a country that depends heavily on tourism, so you're likely to see more traffic in the summer months. This is particularly true in areas in the north of the island, like St Paul's Bay, Sliema and St Julian's. Most hotels offer free car parks for guests, but apart from this, spaces can be rather hard to find. In the south, traffic is usually lighter, and you'll have an easier time finding a parking space. When the peak summer months die down, getting around Malta becomes far easier.

If you are heading for one of the island's main attractions in peak season, you will need to get up early to ensure a parking space. Do not park in the green bays that you see around Valletta. These are for residents only. As the city is small and easily walkable, it's easier to park on the outskirts. You'll find an underground car park near the Valletta City Gate, as well as a park-and-ride service from Floriana. Underground car parks are a good choice if you are travelling in the summer months, as Malta has incredibly high temperatures. It's always better to leave your car somewhere out of direct sunlight.

Malta is a former British colony, so unlike in most European countries, you will need to drive on the left. Roads are often in fairly poor condition, and potholes are a common sight. Drive cautiously. Locals in Malta may drive recklessly at times, and indicators are rarely used, so you will need to stay attentive. Speeding is a constant problem, but nowadays, there are more speed cameras and radars, so things are improving. Roads can be very narrow, especially when you are far from a city. You must keep your headlights on at all times, by day and night, or you risk being fined.

The ferry to Gozo leaves from Cirkewwa, at the northernmost point of the island of Malta. There are dozens of ferry crossings a day, with boats available as often as once every 30 minutes in peak season. The crossing takes around 25 minutes. You do not need to pay when you board the ship. Instead, you will pay for the return journey when you cross back to Malta at the end of the day. To get to Comino, you will need to take a boat trip without your car. There are no motorised vehicles at all on this small island.