Rabat, Malta

Capital City

With a population of just 12,352, Rabat is a sleepy town that offers little in the way of big-city amenities. The ancient Roman catacombs and medieval architecture are charming, but the bureaucracy is a persistent headache - the local council even split off a separate town in 1999. Parts of the town were once part of the Roman city of Melite, but today Rabat feels more like a suburb of the nearby historic capital of Mdina. While the climate is mild and the town is safe, there's not much to do beyond visiting the catacombs. Unless you're a history buff content with a slow-paced, provincial lifestyle, Rabat is unlikely to fulfill the expectations of most expats.