Given their location in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, the Maltese islands are heavily affected by the wind and sea. In July and August, the days are long, sunny, and dry, making summer the perfect time to sunbathe on the archipelago’s rocky shores and dive in one of its many grottoes or caves. Fall and spring tend to be cooler but more humid. Winters are mild but never outright cold, with temperatures averaging around 55 degrees. Early June or late September are often the best times to visit. There are fewer crowds on either end of the European vacation season, and the temperate weather is perfect for strolling the limestone-walled cities and rocky shores.

The Maltese islands are reachable by plane or boat. The three main islands, Malta, Gozo, and Comino, are serviced by one airport, Malta International, which is known by locals as Luqa. While there are no direct flights from the United States, Air Malta code-shares with major airlines like Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Emirates, and British Airways.

As for the sea journey, Malta’s main cruise port in Valletta services lines such as Celebrity, Princess, MSC, Norwegian, and Holland America as part of their Mediterranean itineraries. Alternatively, Virtu Ferries offers passenger boats and excursions to and from ports in Sicily. The voyage is a little under two hours, and rates start at around $75 one way, depending on the season.Once you arrive on Maltese soil, rent a car.

Both Gozo and the main island of Malta are best seen with a rental car. Without one, you’ll be reliant on expensive taxi rides or the local bus system, which is cheap and has improved greatly over the past few years. Cars are permitted on the main ferry from Malta to Gozo, which departs from Cirkewwa Port and arrives at Mgarr Port on Gozo about 30 minutes later. Schedules vary depending on the season, but generally there’s about 90 minutes between crossings, and the cost is less than $6 on foot or $18 with a car.

Maltese cuisine is extremely diverse, influenced as it is by millennia of foreign settlement. You’ll have a taste of Italy, Turkey, and Britain, but local delicacies tend to be rustic: Rabbit stew and lampuki (dolphinfish) pie are advertised on menus everywhere. When dining by the shore, be prepared to choose your fish from a display before deciding how you want it filleted. You’ll come across varieties of fish you’ve never heard of (or at least different names for the ones you have), such as spnotta (bass), cerna (grouper), sargu (white bream), and trill (red mullet). Stews and red pasta sauces are often filled with octopus and squid.

Other local dishes include kapunata, a Maltese version of ratatouille, and widow’s soup, which includes a small round of gbejniet (sheep or goat cheese). Gbejniet can be found in various island dishes, especially on the typical antipasto plate, which also comes with olives, capers, sun-dried tomatoes, an eggplant spread, and pita crackers. It’s perfect as a late afternoon snack with a bottle of local white girgentina wine or a spritz—a Mediterranean favorite.

If you’re lucky enough to visit Malta during a festa (village feast) or an ode to a patron saint, you’re in for a treat. Starting in May and running through September, these celebrations see the towns filled with decorations—banners, flags, and twinkle lights—and joyful neighbors, who spill out into the streets to eat and drink. Some locals even go so far as to repaint their houses in the days leading up to a festa. Evenings often end with fireworks. The islands’ most prominent religious and historical festivals include the Mnarja, which is steeped in folklore, at the end of June and the Feast of Santa Marija in August. Visitors will also encounter a large number of more contemporary events throughout the year.

Carnival, in February, takes the form of a wild, raucous, and colorful festival in Valletta. In the town of Nadur on Gozo, however, it’s been nicknamed “Sobriquet”—the silent carnival—because people tend to dress and act more mysteriously. June brings the annual Valletta Film Festival, while July hosts the Malta Jazz Festival and Malta Arts Festival. The one-night-only Fjakkolata Festival of Lights in October sees Ghar Ilma Hill on Gozo lit up by hundreds of flaming lanterns.

Visitors from the United States to Malta must have a passport valid for at least three months upon entry, but do not need a visa to visit the country for up to 90 days. Maltese is the national language, but English is widely spoken. Given Malta’s close proximity to Italy, nearly 66 percent of the population also speaks Italian. The currency is the euro. Electricity is 230 volts, and sockets are type G (three rectangular pins in a triangle pattern).