When it comes to Mediterranean party islands, Ibiza and Mykonos are typically the first names that come to mind. Another Greek island with a developed party scene is Ios. Sicily and Crete, on the other hand, are better known for their geographical and historical landmarks. But did you know there’s an island that has both interesting historical spots and a fun party scene? That island is called Malta and I believe it’s a cool alternative to Ibiza, Mykonos, and Ios. Here’s why.

1. Malta has a lot of history per square km (or mile)

In case you didn’t know, the island of Malta is part of the tinny country of Malta (i.e., 316 sq km/122 sq mi), along with the islands of Gozo, Comino, and the uninhabited islets of Kemmunett (Comminotto) and Filfla. Valetta is the country’s current capital, Mdina is the former capital, while St. Julian’s is the party capital.

Exploring ancient temples and medieval cities during the day while partying during the night are just some of the things you can do in Malta. Indeed, one of Malta’s advantages over Ibiza, Mykonos, and Ios is that it has a lot of historical sites packed into a small area, being the better destination when you want to combine sunbathing and partying with some historical sightings. For example, Malta is home to some of the oldest structures in the world, including the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum and Megalithic Temples, which predate Stonehenge. Its capital city, Valletta, is a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with Baroque architecture and centuries-old fortifications. You can also take a look at Mdina, known as the “Silent City,” especially if you enjoy medieval cities, baroque structures, and cobblestone streets.

The other islands have some historical landmarks as well, but way fewer than Malta. For example, if you’re in Ibiza, consider going to Dalt Vila, the historic old town of Ibiza, located on a hill overlooking the city and the Mediterranean Sea. This fortified area dates back to the 16th century when it was built as a defensive structure by King Philip II to protect against pirate attacks and other invasions. The town is enclosed by thick Renaissance-era walls, which are considered some of the best-preserved in Europe and have earned Dalt Vila recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Mykonos has the nearby Delos, an ancient Greek archaeological site that you can visit by taking a boat to the uninhabited island of Delos. Also a UNESCO World Heritage site, Delos was considered the mythological birthplace of the twin gods Apollo and Artemis, and it became a major religious, cultural, and commercial center in the Aegean. It’s a place where you can explore ancient temples, mosaics, theater, and residential quarters, including the Sanctuary of Apollo and the Terrace of the Lions.

Finally, in Ios you can visit the so-called Tomb of Homer, located on a hill in the northern part of Ios. According to local legend, Ios is Homer’s final resting place. However, the authenticity of this claim is disputed and the exact location of Homer’s tomb has been a matter of debate among historians and archaeologists for centuries, with no conclusive evidence to confirm that he is located on Ios.

In other words, the history buzz in you can find something on each of these islands. If you want to spend most of the time sunbathing and/or partying, then Malta might sometimes feel overwhelming because you will have a harder time visiting most of its famous attractions. In Ibiza or Mykonos, on the other hand, all the main historical attractions can be seen in a few hours. That being said, in Malta, you have more options and you can pick the number of landmarks to explore based on, for e.g., how much time you have and how much sunbathing you want.

2. Malta has a long warm season

Malta, much like its Mediterranean counterparts, enjoys a long warm season. From late April to early November, the weather in Malta remains nice for beachgoers. For example, if you look at historical weather data for Valetta, you can see that the average day temperature was already above 20 °C (68 °F) by the end of April and remained so until the end of October. Weather in Ibiza was comparable to Malta in April of 2023,  but it was a few degrees colder in October of the same year, with average temperatures going below 25 °C (77 °F) more often. Finally, Mykonos and the nearby Ios were even slightly colder than Ibiza. Mykonos weather data for 2023 shows us day temperatures that are mostly below 20 °C (68 °F) even at the end of April and day temperatures that are often below 25 °C (77 °F) during the month of October.

Better yet, Malta has enough attractions to be a destination worth visiting during the entire year, whether it’s for hiking or historical sighting. Ibiza, Mykonos, and Ios are seldom visited outside the warm season, in part because there’s not much to see and do besides hiking, sunbathing, and partying. Malta is a better destination off-season because it has enough attractions to keep you busy even if the weather is not nice enough for sunbathing.

Speaking of tourists, they are less important in making Malta feel ‘alive’ than they are in making the other three islands feel the same. Malta is, after all, a country with a population of 531,113 people, and you can find events and a party scene throughout the entire year.

3. Malta is a better party island destination during the off-season

As mentioned, Malta’s party capital is St. Julian’s, with the Paceville district being the central party hub. There are other parts of the island where you can party as well, including Sliema, Rabat, Valetta, Gianpula Village, and even Gozo.

While Ibiza is probably the king of party islands, with festivals such as the International Music Summit and Ibiza Rocks, most of the action takes place during the summer, as suggested by the island’s events calendar. Malta has its fair share of events during the summer, such as the Lost & Found Festival and the Glitch Festival, and, unlike Ibiza, it’s not almost empty during the off-season. Feel free to check out Malta’s music events calendar.

Mykonos, Ibiza’s main competitor in the world of party islands, also hosts many events during the summer, including XLSIOR Festival, and is largely empty off-season. Ios, known for its youthful and laid-back beach bars, has fewer events throughout the year (e.g., Ios Music & Art Festival), and especially few off-season.

If you are traveling alone or otherwise looking for an easy way to meet people, you should know that, unlike Ibiza and Mykonos, Malta has pub crawls throughout the year. For example, there’s the Paceville Pub Crawl with Drinks and Games and the Pub Crawl of Paceville and St Julian’s with Drinks. Ios also has a pub crawl but is only active during the warm season.

4. Malta has good airport connections throughout the year

In terms of accessibility, Malta’s International Airport is well-connected to major cities across Europe and offers year-round flight options, making it easy for travelers to get there at any time of the year. By comparison, Ibiza also has strong airport connections, especially during the summer season when flights from all over Europe increase to accommodate the influx of tourists. However, the availability of flights decreases during the off-season, making travel to Ibiza less convenient outside of the peak months.

Mykonos, like Ibiza, enjoys solid flight connections during its summer peak from May to September, with many direct flights from European cities. However, travelers to Mykonos face similar seasonal limitations with reduced availability in the off-peak months.

Ios is the least accessible of the four islands as it doesn’t have its own airport. Travelers must fly to, for e.g.., Santorini, Mykonos, or Athens, and then take a ferry to Ios, making it a more time-consuming journey.

5. While in Malta, you’re on another continent while still in the EU (Well, technically)

Ever wanted to see Africa? One of Malta’s unique features is its location. Situated in the central Mediterranean, Malta lies at the crossroads of Europe and North Africa and it’s on the African plate. This means that Malta is, technically speaking, on the African continent.

The country’s position is reflected in the island’s mix of cultural influences, including Phoenician, Roman, Arabic, British, and Italian ones, which resulted in a blend of European and North African features. You might find it interesting to know that Maltese is a Semitic language with Arabic roots, but it incorporates Italian and English elements. It is also the only official Semitic language in the EU.

If you are seeking a destination that blends European and African influences, Malta is arguably the place to be, even more so than places like Sicily or Andalucía.

6. Malta is cheaper than Ibiza, Mykonos, and Ios

When comparing the costs between Malta, Ibiza, Mykonos, and Ios, the most expensive destination is Mykonos, followed closely by Ibiza. Mykonos is known for its luxury accommodations and pricey nightlife. Even budget travelers can struggle to keep costs down due to high demand for lodging and expensive activities, particularly during the peak season from June to September.

Ibiza is also costly, though slightly less so than Mykonos. The island’s famous beach clubs, parties, and luxurious resorts contribute to high travel expenses. While there are budget-friendly options, the overall cost remains elevated due to the popularity of its nightlife and summer tourism.

On the other hand, Ios offers a more budget-friendly experience than Mykonos and Ibiza. The island caters to younger travelers, and budget accommodations, and hostels are more common.

Malta is the most affordable and also has plenty of historical sites that you can visit for free, including Valetta itself. Even in the busier areas, costs remain lower than on the other islands.

Bottom Line: Malta is probably the only European island with a developed party scene that’s worth visiting all year long

If you are a traveler seeking more than just nightlife—one of those who want some history, some sunbathing, and some partying—Malta may well be one of the best choices you can make. Quite importantly, unlike Ibiza and Mykonos, Malta keeps much of its energy alive in all seasons.

While the goal of this post to explain in what ways Malta is a cool alternative to other party islands, I’m not saying it’s better at everything than Ibiza, Mykonos, or Ios. For example, many people might find Ibiza’s landscape, with its wooded areas of pine, juniper, rosemary, juniper, modroño, and palm hearts, prettier compared to Malta or the other two islands. Malta also doesn’t have a large number of beaches and many of them are rocky. The point is: that knowing that Malta is a potential cool destination should not replace your plans for exploring the other islands but expand it.

And if you are still unsure whether Malta should be on your island travel list, here’s a table that summarizes this post.