Marsa, Malta

With a population of just 8,036, Marsa is a small, industrial port town that offers little in the way of modern amenities or cultural attractions. The town's history dates back to the Phoenicians, but today it's largely defined by its shipyards, power station, and horse racing track - hardly the idyllic Mediterranean experience many expats dream of.

Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as evidenced by the government's failed 2009 plan to regenerate the harbor area. And while the town was once plagued by malaria-carrying mosquitoes, that problem has been addressed, at least. Still, Marsa seems better suited for those drawn to its industrial character than anyone seeking a picturesque Maltese lifestyle.

This blunt port town is decidedly not for the faint of heart.