Malta is a beautiful island nation located in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. It has a rich history and culture dating back over 7,000 years. Malta is known for its crystal clear waters, colorful fishing boats, historic sites, and lively festivals. It’s also a popular place for riddles and brain teasers.
Here are 57 fun riddles about Malta to challenge your mind:
Geography Riddles
1. I’m an archipelago country made up of 3 main islands. What am I?
Answer: Malta
2. My capital city Valletta has beautiful architecture and harbors. What country am I?
Answer: Malta
3. I’m one of the most densely populated countries in Europe even though I’m made up of islands. What country am I?
Answer: Malta
4. My main islands have evocative names related to honey or safety. What country am I?
Answer: Malta (Malta means refuge and Gozo may come from “gouzos” meaning joy)
5. I’m a Southern European country made up of an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea, with history dating back over 7,000 years. What am I?
Answer: Malta
6. My land area is 316 square kilometers (122 square miles). Name the country.
Answer: Malta
7. I’m located 93 km south of Sicily and 288 km east of Tunisia. I’m an archipelago country in the Mediterranean Sea. What country am I?
Answer: Malta
History & Culture Riddles
8. I reflect over 7,000 years of history with sites like the Hypogeum Temples dating to 3600-2500 BCE. I also have many imposing churches and palaces reflecting rule by various civilizations. What country am I?
Answer: Malta
9. My native language is a Semitic language written in Latin script that descends from Sicilian Arabic. What do I speak?
Answer: Maltese
10. I was part of the British Empire for 164 years, gaining independence in 1964. Name my country.
Answer: Malta
11. I am home to majestic coastal fortifications like Fort Saint Angelo which guarded the harbors of my capital. What country am I?
Answer: Malta
12. The Great Siege of 1565 was a famous battle fought in my country between the Ottoman Empire and the Knights of St John. What country am I?
Answer: Malta
Economy Riddles
13. A major part of my economy is based around maritime activity and I have the largest ship register in Europe. What country am I?
Answer: Malta
14. I became a member of the Eurozone in 2008. What EU country am I?
Answer: Malta
15. My sunny climate and natural harbors have made me a popular tourist destination and filming location for movies and TV shows. I am also a hub for English language learning. What country am I?
Answer: Malta
Food & Drink Riddles
16. A thick soup made from vegetables, small meatballs and pasta grapes is a specialty dish from my country. What is this soup called?
Answer: Kusksu
17. Soppa tal-armla is a traditional fish soup from my country. What country am I?
Answer: Malta
18. Figs, grapes, oranges and prickly pears grow especially well in my Mediterranean climate. What country am I?
Answer: Malta
19. I am known for honey production using native bees. Rabat in my country even has a Honey Museum. What country produces this sweet honey?
Answer: Malta
20. Pastizzi are a popular street food snack stuffed with ricotta or mushy peas unique to my country. Where are they from?
Answer: Malta
Activity Riddles
21.Watersports like diving and snorkeling are popular activities in my country because of my beautiful clear blue coastal waters. I also have water parks. What country am I?
Answer: Malta
22. Many come to my country to explore Baroque churches and majestic forts and palaces. I also have intriguing ancient temples. What country offers this history?
Answer: Malta
23. In February or March, depending on the dates of Lent and Easter, my people celebrate with colorful costumes, floats and dancing. What is this celebration called?
Answer: Carnival in Malta
24. Many Catholic religious festivals take place across my islands from June to September in honor of village patron saints. What country celebrates these festas?
Answer: Malta
Flag, Motto & Symbols Riddles
25. My national flag features two equal vertical stripes, white nearer the flag pole and red. In canton position there is representation of St George’s red and white cross with red outlining. What flag am I describing?
Answer: The Flag of Malta
26. My country’s motto “Virtute et constantia” means “With strength and consistency”. What virtuous country am I?
Answer: Malta
27. The Maltese cross is a famous symbol associated with my country, representing valor and heroism since the 16th century Siege of Malta. It can be seen on my flag too. What resilient country am I?
Answer: Malta
28. The eight-pointed Maltese Star is another popular national symbol uniquely associated with me and my identity. It combines the crosses of St George and Constantine. What country uses this star symbol?
Answer: The eight-pointed Maltese Star is a symbol of Malta.
Famous Names Riddles
29. This famous opera singer called the “King of Tenors” was born in my capital city in 1856. What was his name?
Answer: Giuseppe Borg Olivier
30. Dame Agatha Christie wrote a novel “They Came to Baghdad” inspired by time she stayed in my country. What country was that?
Answer: Malta
31. Helen Mirren won an Academy Award for playing the titular queen in “The Queen”, a movie depicting events in my country. What country was it?
Answer: The Queen depicted Queen Elizabeth II, and events in Malta.
Weather & Climate Riddles
32. Winters are mild and wet while summers are hot and dry in my Mediterranean climate. What European country am I?
Answer: Malta
33. My capital Valletta is one of Europe’s driest cities with just 584 mm annual average precipitation. What country is this rather dry city located in?
Answer: Valletta is the capital of Malta.
Wildlife Riddles
34. Despite being small islands, I have a surprising diversity of wildlife including frogs, bats, lizards and colorful birds. Over 400 species have been recorded. What country?
Answer: Malta
35. Birdwatchers come to me to try and spot unique species like the blue rock thrush, Sardinian warbler and spectacled warbler. What islands are they visiting?
Answer: Malta
Plantlife Riddles
36. 25 species of orchid bloom on my islands including the endemic Maltese pyramidal orchid. Where can these orchids be found?
Answer: The native orchids of Malta
37. What Mediterranean country has indigenous species of plants like the Maltese rock centaury and Maltese fleabane that have adapted to dry rocky habitats?
Answer: Malta
38. The national tree of my country is known by names like ballut, ћabra and olive tree. What country is this?
Answer: The national tree of Malta is the olive.
Geography Riddles Continued
39. My tallest mountain is Ta’ Zuta/Dingli Cliffs which rises 253 meters (830 feet) located on my main island’s north west coast. What country is this?
Answer: Malta
40. Blue Lagoon and Red Sandy Beach are scenic swimming spots along my coastline formed by tower karst geology and red sandstone cliffs. What country boasts these natural sights?
Answer: Malta
41. The UNESCO protected terraced fields at Buskett Gardens showing my island’s long history of agriculture can be found in my smallest capital city. Where are these gardens located?
Answer: Buskett Gardens featuring ancient terraced fields are found in Malta’s capital Valletta.
42. The scenic Blue Grotto sea cave formations located on the southeast coast near Zurrieq reflect my islands’ long geological history dating back millions of years. What country has these impressive grottoes?
Answer: The scenic Blue Grotto sea caves are located on the coast of Malta.
Miscellaneous Riddles
43. According to legend, a shipwrecked sailor named Calypso kept another sailor Odysseus as a “prisoner of love” for 7 years on my island Ogygia. What island country does this myth take place on?
Answer: The myth of Calypso and Odysseus takes place on the island of Gozo in Malta.
44. Fungus Rock located offshore near Dwejra on my islands was once thought to possess special medicinal properties leading it to be guarded and restricted. What country claims this legendary fungal rock formation?
Answer: Fungus Rock is located off the coast of Gozo, part of the Maltese archipelago.
45. The unique geological formation known as the Azure Window sadly collapsed in a storm in 2017, but can still be seen along my coast. Where was this landmark arch located before crumbling?
Answer: The Azure Window rock arch was located on Gozo in Malta before it collapsed.
Literature & Media Riddles
46. Parts of Season 1 of the popular HBO series Game of Thrones were filmed in my fortified cities like Mdina and Valletta. What country served as one of the filming locations?
Answer: Malta
47. Jules Verne wrote about me in his 1889 novel “Clovis Dardentor” calling my landscapes a “geological miracle”. What miraculous Mediterranean country was he describing in this lesser known work?
Answer: In Clovis Dardentor, Jules Verne wrote poetically about the landscapes of Malta.
48. Homer’s Odyssey references my island nation, specifically mentioning harbor towns on my second largest island. What country was described in this epic work?
Answer: In Homer’s Odyssey, he mentions harbor towns on the island of Gozo which is part of present day Malta.
People & Culture Riddles
49. Many of my surnames start with “C” like Caruana and Ciappara. This is likely linked to names relating to occupation including soldiers or traders. What country has surnames like this?
Answer: Surnames starting with C are common in Malta.
50. I speak a Semitic language influenced by Sicilian, Italian, English and more reflecting my strategic location and history. There are about 500,000 speakers globally. What unique language do I speak?
Answer: The Maltese language
51. My vibrant folk music features instruments like the l-żaqq and ir-rabbaba combined with harmonic singing by guitarists called għannejja. Where is this traditional music from?
Answer: Traditional Maltese folk music features special instruments and vocalists.
Architecture & Historical Sites Riddles
52. I’m a megalithic temple complex dating back over 5,500 years consisting of chambers and decorations like the Oracle Room, Holy of Holies, and spiral designs. Where am I located?
Answer: The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum in Malta
53. Baroque cathedrals with elaborate ornamentation designed by artist and knight Manuel Pinto de Fonseca proliferate in my capital city founded in the 16th century. What city is known for this architecture?
Answer: Valletta, the capital of Malta, features many Baroque cathedrals and architecture.
54. My defensive coastal towers called Redoubts were built in the 17th century by the Knights of Malta along my shoreline and designed with hollow bastions for canons. What island nation constructed these tactical towers?
Answer: The Maltese coastal defense Redoubts were built by the Knights of Malta in the 1600s.
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed this challenging set of 57 riddles testing your knowledge about the remarkable island country of Malta! From geography and history to culture, cuisine, wildlife and more—these brainteasers cover a range of topics related to this Mediterranean archipelago nation.
Malta may be small in size but it holds tremendous history and charm just waiting to be uncovered if you look closely at its details. With over 7,000 years of civilizations leaving their trace on the landscape, it offers much for the curious mind to ponder.
So now that you’ve solved these riddles, when will you come explore the sites and secrets of Malta for yourself? Let the sparkling seas and stone temples call your name for an adventure steeped in antiquity and living culture.
