The Most Beautiful Destination-Wedding Venues to Book in Malta

What could be more romantic than this collection of 20 spruced-up farmhouses dotted around the teeny Maltese island of Gozo, with its atmospheric sights. The charm for wedding parties is in the attractive exposed limestone walls, beams and arches, the bathrooms with hot tubs, the dive-into pools and the terraces reached via spiral staircases. Top tip: settle in and watch the sunsets with a glass of fizz. Once the nuptials are over, be sure to visit the eerily magnificent megalithic temples at Ġgantija, and the recently restored Il-Kastell fortress, which towers above Gozo’s compact capital, Victoria.

An easy 1km (0.6mi) from Valletta’s romantic Baroque-era waterfront, this one’s for you if you’re seeking a serene wedding spot. Tie the knot in the gazebo, which stands in the prettily landscaped gardens that bloom all year round. Then party with the fortifications as the backdrop. Lie back and sip your celebratory champagne around the outdoor pool, encircled by the walls of the old fortress. Romantic rooms mix Maltese tiled floors and fresh-feeling shades of creams and natural greens and blues. You’ll dine well – fruit, vegetables and herbs grown in the hotel’s sun-kissed garden feature on the menus.

It doesn’t get more romantic than this wedding destination, set into the rocks above the soft sands of Golden Bay, which is one of Malta’s finest. Say “I do” on the sea-facing terrace with the Mediterranean shimmering in the background, or make it happen on the aptly named beach, lapped by green-blue waters. The hotel’s white towers contain relaxing modern rooms, some with balconies and some with sea views. Add in Ayurvedic spa treatments and daily yoga, and the wedding party will be as chilled as the champagne you’re drinking as a toast.

If you’re the happy couple, splash out on one of this converted 17th-century stone palazzo’s stellar suites, which come with terraces home to whirlpool tubs. Whichever of the high-ceilinged rooms you choose, you’ll be wrapped up in romantic decor, with antique tapestries, ancient paintings and cosy rugs. The Xara Palace is tucked away in the medieval city of Mdina, Malta’s original capital. Its walls form part of the bastion walls, so you’re steps from the sights such as the cathedral, the Carmelite church and Palazzo Falson.

In St Julian’s, on Malta’s east coast, this salmon-pink and wedding-cake-white palatial hotel stands grandly on its own peninsula, with access to a fine shorefront. Rooms cocoon guests in the colours of local limestone and the gentle waves of the Mediterranean Sea, with coast or garden-view balconies for watching the sun set. Go higher for more scenic outlooks. Fresh produce from the sea abounds, from tapas in an old boathouse down by the water’s edge to light local dishes in the blue-hued brasserie.

The pretty little coastal settlement of Mellieha is home to this attractive hillside hotel, made from two buildings connected by an ancient tunnel. It’s relaxation stations in these cool, cream-coloured rooms, which range from courtyard or lobby-facing economy level to a deluxe suite with modern, glassy furniture and a private plunge pool. Views take in charming churches. Tie the knot by the trio of pools, then dine at a rooftop-restaurant table overlooking the calm sea below. When the nuptials are over, hop over to the neighbouring island of Gozo – the connecting ferry departs just five minutes’ drive from the hotel.

If you love archaeology and history, how about a wedding venue with the ruins of a megalithic temple holding pride of place in its gardens? Set around scenic St Paul’s Bay, in Qawra resort, northeast Malta, the hotel is a temple to idle rest and recuperation, from lagoon-like pools and a private beach to jasmine-infused facials in the spa and sipping cocktails in the sea-facing Aqua Terrace Bar. A sea-view room is the one to book, although all are serene, bathed in natural tones and with balconies for breeze-stirred al fresco moments.

A six-minute walk from Portomaso Marina in buzzy central St Julian’s, this sleekly styled hotel is for fans of designer decor rather than chintz. Wall sculptures and a blue-lit bar create focal points as you enter in the glassy lobby, while rooms maintain the theme with geometric prints and feature walls. As the bride and groom, you two should book the monochrome rooftop penthouse with its generous sunbathing terrace. The essence of romance is dipping in the rooftop pool on balmy nights before sipping a negroni from the nearby bar with the glittering lights of St Julian’s below – pick out an authentic Maltese restaurant for dinner à deux.