Uniformed gunners fire a real cannon over the Grand Harbour at noon and 4 pm, below the gardens with Valletta's most famous view of the Three Cities.
A short crossing past giant bastions and yachts to Birgu, where children can explore Fort St Angelo and quiet lanes, then return by a traditional painted dgħajsa boat.
Small wooden boats nose into sea caves where the water glows electric blue, a 20-30-minute adventure children love.
The real wooden village built for the 1980 Popeye film, perched over Anchor Bay, with shows, play areas, boat rides and water activities.
Shallow, glass-clear turquoise water over white sand between two islands, like a giant natural swimming pool.
A hushed, car-free walled city of honey-coloured lanes and a bastion with views across the whole island; children feel they have walked into a castle.
The ferry ride to the green island of Gozo leads to giant stone temples older than the Egyptian pyramids, which children can walk around.
A harbour full of brightly painted luzzu boats with eyes on their bows, and a lively Sunday market and seafood lunches on the waterfront.
A cave where thousands of bones of dwarf elephants and hippos were found, displayed in a small museum: dinosaur-loving kids are hooked.
Huge colourful floats and costumed dance groups parade through Valletta, and children dress up too.