Serving as a stepping-stone between southern Europe and northern Africa, Malta is the perfect mixture of all things Mediterranean. The tiny island nation just below Sicily has a rich and diverse cultural legacy, emerging from centuries of rule by all of history’s brand-name empires, from the Arabs, the Normans, the Kings of Aragon, Napoleon, the British crown, and, most recently, the millions of visitors that have basked on its beaches since its independence in 1964. With its year-round Mediterranean sun, Malta is a hotspot for international tourism; the island is so popular a destination that visitors often outnumber locals three to one. But this beautiful island group, comprised of Malta, Gozo, and Camino, has plenty to offer all who travel here. For those who crave salt in the air and sand beneath their toes, Malta offers numerous sandy beaches, beautiful natural wonders such as the Blue Lagoon and Calypso’s Cave, where Odysseus was said to have been kept a prisoner of love for seven years, and ample opportunities to swim, dive, and sail. For those who prefer more solid ground to stand on, the nation’s rich history provides much to do in the villages and cities as well, from Italian- and Arab-inspired food to megalithic temples—some of the oldest freestanding structures on earth—to the Baroque cathedrals and palaces of the capital Valletta. And with some of the most generous people on earth (it’s been empirically verified), Malta is a must-visit destination for any Mediterranean island-hopper.