Things To Do in Qawra

Reefs, wrecks and rocky seabeds can all be found in the waters around St Paul’s Bay. There are local dive centres ready to train you up if you fancy going out squid-spotting – though you’d probably best steer clear of scorpion fish and black sea urchins. You can dive on your own, but centres will take groups out to the best spots.

From the outside, Simon’s looks like an old cinema. Inside, it’s crammed with Elvis memorabilia. Each night there’s a different act here – Sixties and Seventies tribute bands feature heavily, plus you’ll see some professional dancers showing off their best moves. Drinks cost more here than elsewhere in the centre, but the fun is thrown in for free.

There are plenty of supermarkets and convenience stores in Qawra along the main Tourist Street. But if you want to stock up on really authentic Maltese souvenirs, your best bet is Mdina, 30 minutes away by car. On the main thoroughfare, Villegaignon Street, you'll find little curio shops doing a roaring trade in handmade glass and antiques. Rainbow bright vases and vintage watches are just some of the goodies you can get your hands on.

Qawra has enough pubs and bars for a good night out, but Bugibba really steps things up if you fancy a livelier evening. All the action is around the main square and surrounding streets. Karaoke competes with live music and you can walk from Irish pub to theme bar. And there are clubs and discos here as well.

Most famous for causing the shipwreck of the apostle, St Paul, back in 60 AD, this rocky outcrop can be reached by a 10-minute boat ride from Buggiba harbour. No-one inhabits this barren islet any more, but there are plenty of lizards, a statue of St Paul, and some beautiful quartz formations to discover. Take a snorkel and mask as there are shoals of barracuda that cluster around these rocks.

This 3-day festival serves up a cocktail of bebop, flamenco and vocal jazz, featuring some of the world’s greatest talents from both Europe and America. It all takes place in Ta' Liesse, with Valletta’s Grand Harbour as a backdrop. Tickets sell out fast.

Qawra may not have sand, but you’re only about 20 minutes’ drive from some. Beach bars and watersports make white-sand Mellieha Bay a firm favourite. But locals love Ghajn Tuffieha Bay – it’s a surfer’s paradise, 180 steps down from the cliff top. And from here a 5-minute walk along the coast get you to wide and sandy Gnejna Bay.

It’s only 25 minutes by ferry to the tiny island of Gozo – a top spot for souvenirs. Over here you’ll find keepsakes made of limestone and metal along with the famous brightly-coloured Gozo glassware. Ten minutes from the port you can see it being made at the glass-blowing factory in the Ta’ Dbiegi Craft Village. There’s a silver shop and a leather-maker’s here, too.

Qawra’s buzzy after-dark scene is nourished by a long list of pubs and bars where you can kick back with a local draught beer and watch karaoke or tribute bands. For something more upmarket, you can always try your luck at the casino in the New Dolmen Hotel. Or if you want to boogie late in to the night, you’ve got the choice between Fuego, a sweltering salsa dance spot, and a couple of nightclubs in Buggiba’s ll Bajja square, a 5-minute walk away.

When customers become good friends, you know the owners must be doing something right. Husband and wife team John and Joan have certainly got their menu sussed. They’ll dish you up everything from Sunday roasts to traditional stewed rabbit – and they’re pretty good at rustling up something for veggies and vegans, too.

Qawra’s prom-side restaurants have a crowd-pleasing menu that covers familiar favourites like pizza and pasta. But the resort also does a good line in local dishes. Maltese rabbit and bragioli – beef rolls – are good ones to try. And you might want to order a timpana – that’s pasta and bolognese baked inside a pie.

The beach at Qawra Point lines up first-class snorkelling. The best spot is around the rocks that stick out from the headland. Slipper lobsters, parrotfish and barracudas are frequent visitors to this part of the Mediterranean. If you don’t already own snorkelling gear, you’ll find tonnes of it for sale at the beach shops along the promenade.

Hearty Maltese dishes like bragioli, which is stuffed beef, and stuffat tal-fenek, or rabbit stew, are up for grabs on Tourist Street, Qawra’s main thoroughfare. But if you want to go the whole 9 yards, pay a visit to Savini on the outskirts of town. This traditional restaurant is located in a 300-year-old farmhouse and serves perfectly cooked fish, which the chef fillets at your table. There’s also a ground floor wine bar for a pre-dinner drink.