Malta is an island-state in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy); it is made up of three islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino, with Malta being the largest. Throughout its history, the Maltese archipelago has been strategically important for Mediterranean dominance. Positioned between Sicily and North Africa, the country is the smallest member of the European Union not only in terms of population, with only half a million people, but also in terms of area, making it the world's fourth most densely populated country while also being the tenth smallest. Despite its small scale, Malta serves as a significant freight transit point, financial center, and tourist destination.

Malta has been continuously populated since ancient times, and has been conquered by nearly all civilizations interested in Mediterranean dominance, including the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Sicilians, and, most recently, the British. Both of them, as well as extensive trade in the region, left material and cultural legacies on the islands, but the Maltese and their language remain distinct in many ways. Malta has been a very popular holiday destination for decades, thanks to the population's universal awareness and use of English, as well as a wealth of both man-made structures from all periods of human life and sites of exceptional natural beauty.

There are also a variety of aquatic sports to choose from. Northern Malta is home to the country's beach resorts and vacation destinations. The country's two smaller islands, Gozo and Comino, are also popular beach destinations, but these are quieter, rockier, and better for snorkeling. The Mediterranean Sea surrounding Malta is famous for diving, and experienced divers may be able to find World War II or earlier artifacts.