Malta was a hidden gem. I absolutely loved my short time visiting this history-rich country with unbelievable coastal views. The country of Malta consists of an archipelago of three primary islands, Malta, Gozo, and Camino, located between the Sicilian and the North African coasts.
Malta is only 50 miles (80km) south of Sicily, so it was the perfect addition to our Sicily trip. We spent two nights in Malta and combined it with six nights exploring Sicily. (Be on the lookout for my Sicily Guides coming soon!)
Malta is only 316 km2 (122 sq mi), making it the world’s tenth smallest country by area. For comparison, it is one fifth of the area of London and 8.5x smaller than Rhode Island, USA. You can drive from one side of the island to the other in under one hour. Despite its size, Malta offers so much to see and rich history. On our two day trip, we only scratched the service.
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- When We Visited:
- Currency:
- Getting Around:
- Where We Stayed:
- Day 1:
- Day 2:
- Departure Morning:
- If We Had More Time:
When We Visited:
We visited Malta in early July and the weather was hot with bright blue skies. Malta has beautiful weather all year round with an annual average temperature of around 23°C (73°F). The summers are hot and the winters are mild. July is a very dry month and the chance of rain is low, making it the perfect time to visit.
Average Temperatures in July:
- 32°C (89-90°F)
Currency:
Malta is a member of the European Union and uses the Euro. We used primarily cash which we exchanged at our bank prior to our trip and supplemented with a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.
Getting Around:
We used Bolt, a ride service company to get to and from the airport and for a few other trips when walking wasn’t possible. Bolt, Uber, and eCabs are all available. Bolt has been established longer in Malta and offers competitive rates. Public transport is another option and is the most affordable. We didn’t navigate the public transport system on our short trip.
While writing this blog post, I discovered that there is a ferry service from Sliema to Valletta that offers inexpensive 15 minute rides with many departure/return times.
Where We Stayed:
We spent two nights at Azur Hotel on the Gzira/Sliema promenade. I chose this location because of its central location between the popular areas of Valetta, Sliema and St. Julian’s. Valletta is the UNESCO capital and offers many opportunities for sightseeing. Sliema is more urban and offers views of the old city and ports to easily access boat tours. (More on that below). St. Julian’s is known for its night life.
Our stay at Azur Hotel was very nice and the location was great for the quick trip. We had a nice room with a balcony and breakfast included each day (always a plus!)
Day 1:
Arrive in Malta:
We took a Bolt ride from Malta International Airport (MLA) to our hotel in Sliema to drop our bags off and freshen up before making the most of the day.
Quick bite for lunch:
We grabbed lunch down the street from our hotel at Eeetwell, a healthy fast-casual restaurant chain that originated in Malta with a focus on providing sustainable food. It was a great place for a quick healthy meal after a travel day.
Blue Grotto Il-Hnejja:
A must! The Blue Grotto is a collection of sea caves on the Maltese coast. The largest one is “Il-Hnejja” which translates to “The Arch”.
From our hotel, we took a Bolt to the other side of the country (only 15km away, about 22minutes) to reach Malta’s Blue Grotto. Our driver took us to the view point and we had a short walk. Use ‘Maps’ to search for the “Blue Wall and Grotto Viewpoint” and it will lead you down a short sandy path to this unbelievable view.
This picture is my wallpaper, I’m obsessed!
Torri Xutu:
There are 27 watch towers along the country’s coast, built in the 17th century by The Knights of St. John. This tower was completed in 1638 and played a role in World War II as well. It’s near the entrance to the Blue Grotto and the village of Wied iż-Żurrieq. This area also offered beautiful views of the coast!
The Blue Grotto:
We then made our way down the hill and through the village of Wied iż-Żurrieq to reach the Blue Grotto boat ticket office. Signs were well marked. You can purchase tickets for a 20-minute boat ride that takes you inside the caves of the Blue Grotto – a must do for your Malta visit.
An adult ticket is €10 but make sure you have cash because that’s all they take. If your thing is cliff jumping, you’ll find in in the area where the boats are. It’s also a great place to swim!
Upper Barrakka Gardens:
We took a Bolt from the Blue Grotto to the Upper Barrakka Gardens in the capital city of Valletta. The Upper Barrakka Gardens are a free public garden in the city that provides views of Valletta’s Grand Harbour and Vittoriosa’s Grand Harbour Marina.
When we visited, there was a pop-up Eco Market,offering local crafts, sustainable goods, and eco-friendly foods. Be sure to check out their website to see their event schedule around the city.
Saluting Battery:
The Upper Barrakka Gardens offer a view of the Saluting Battery Cannons. There is a ceremonial firing of the cannons every day at 12pm and 4pm. We just missed the 4pm ceremony, however it was still worth the view! The Saluting Battery offers a rich history; you can read more about it on their website.
Enjoy a Bajtra Spritz or a Cisk Beer:
While exploring the streets of Valetta, we stopped for a refreshing drink! Bajtra Spritz is a Maltese spritz made with Bajtra, a prickly pear liquor. Cisk, is the island’s most popular domestic beer brand offering Lager and Pilsner varieties.
Valletta Architecture:
The capital is famous for its colorful closed balconies called, “gallariji”. I loved the contrast of colors with the beige bricks.
Floriana:
Outside of the City Gates of Valletta sits the Tritons’ Fountain in the fortified town of Floriana.
We walked through the Mall Gardens in Floriana as we explored more of the city on foot.
Waterfronts:
We walked along the seafronts of Msida and Ta’xbiex, offering tranquil views of the docked boats.
Msida Church: A beautiful Baroque style church built in 1889.
Dinner in Ta’Xbiex:
I took a chance and booked a reservation at a restaurant that sounded great from the online writeup. The restaurant was built inside a 100 year old boat and offered Mediterranean cuisine overlooking Valletta. We found the service and food to be underwhelming and as it turns out – it’s now permanently closed!
Day 2:
We began Day 2 with a full day – 7.5 hour boat tour exploring the two smaller islands of Malta – Gozo and Camino. The tour included a visit to the iconic Blue Lagoon. I booked it through Viator and the dock was in Sliema, a short walk from our hotel. The tour was amazing and offered a tour guide on the boat, transportation, and free time on the Islands of Gozo and Comino.
Gozo:
Mgarr Harbor:
From Sliema, we made our way via boat to the island of Gozo. This was a larger boat with plenty of sitting area including a sundeck and refreshments available for purchase. Along the journey, a tour guide provided information about the harbors as we made our way north to Gozo. Upon our arrival, a bus picked us up to take us around some popular spots in Gozo.
Xlendi Bay:
The bus took us to a quick photo spot at Xlendi Bay. Along Xlendi Bay, you’ll find hiking trails offering panoramic views. There is swimming at a pebble beach and restaurants in the area. If you have more time in Gozo, it’s definitely worth spending some time at Xlendi Bay!
Victoria-The Capital City:
Next, we had some free time to explore and grab lunch in Victoria, the capital city of Gozo. The city is also known as Rabat.
Citadella:
The fort that sits atop the capital offered beautiful panoramic views of the island. The fortifications are believed to have begun around 1500 BC. There are multiple museums within the Citadella, and you can purchase tickets at the door.
Lunch Within The Fort:
We were hungry after a busy morning and ended up grabbing lunch at the fort. Definitely a tourist trap, but the view was amazing, service was good, the food was tasty at Cafe San Martino. The reviews aren’t great, but it definitely did the job providing us a quick lunch while exploring the fort.
Gozo Cathedral:
Enclosed in the Citadel and built between 1697 and 1711.
The Blue Lagoon:
Located on Camino Island, Blue Lagoon is famous for its bright turquoise water. It was without a doubt an incredible way to spend a hot summer day, but beware it does become very crowded with all of the tourists enjoying those boat tours.
One of the coolest things we learned on our trip to Malta is that the island of Comino has a population of only two residents! Despite the population of two, Comino has its fair share of tourists visiting the Blue Lagoon all year-round.
Our boat offered a water slide and snorkeling gear for purchase. Make sure to bring a towel! Walking down to the water was very rocky, but of course – it was worth it! You’ll find plenty of vendors around, and there are even lockers to store your belongings while you enjoy a swim.
Sliema:
We arrived back to Sliema in the early evening with plenty of daylight left. We explored Sliema on foot, taking our time to admire the seaside promenade.
The Point Shopping Mall:
We walked through “The Point”, a large shopping mall in Sliema that offers many brands and restaurant options. We had a loose plan and enjoyed discovering new areas by foot! We grabbed drinks and a snack in the outdoor portion of the mall at Frateli La Bufala.
Font Ghadir:
Also known as the Roman Baths in Sliema. These natural sea baths are believed to date back to the Victorian Era and are made out limestone.
We stopped for a few minutes while walking along the coastal streets of Sliema. It was really enjoyable and it seemed to be a popular area for locals to relax and take a dip.
Dinner at Ta’Kris:
When in Malta, you have to try traditional Maltese food! We ended our day with dinner at Ta’Kris Restaurant and Maltese Bistro.According to their website, they moved from their original location in Sliema to Gzira.
I learned that rabbit is a staple in Maltese dishes, so I tried a pasta with rabbit sauce paired with local wine, delicious!
Departure Morning:
Manoel Island:
We had a late morning flight so we spent the morning walking around and admiring the view from Manoel Island. It’s a small island that is connected to the municipality of Gzira by a small bridge. Fort Manoel sits on the island, it dates back to the 18th century. Apparently there have been plans to restore/develop the island, but currently it is mostly quiet. The island itself offered beautiful views of the sea and Valletta.
If We Had More Time:
We only had two full days to explore the country of Malta. There is so much to see. Below is a list of spots to consider visiting when planning your Maltese adventure.
Poppeye’s Village:
Visit Poppeye’s village, the film set from the 1980 musical production of “Popeye”. Located in Anchor Bay and about a 40 minute drive from Sliema. The village is open to the public and tickets are available to purchase!
Mdina:
Consider visiting Mdina! This would have been top on my list if we had one more day. This famous fortified city is known as the “silent city” because of its tranquility. It was the capital of Malta during the medieval period. The 4000 year old city is known for its Baroque architecture palaces, museums, views, and quiet streets. It is also well known from Game of Thrones (2011) filming locations. About a 25 minute drive from Sliema!
St. Paul’s Island:
St. Paul’s Island (also called “Selmunett”) is located on the northeast coast of Malta. St. Paul introduced Christianity to the Maltese people in AD 60, this bay and the islands are believed to be where his ship was wrecked and the reason for landing him on the island. The island is only accessible by boat and once there you can see the statue of St. Paul. The bay is about a 25 minute drive from Sliema.
The Three Cities:
Visit the “Three Cities” across the Grand Harbour from Valletta, “Vittoriosa (Birgu), Senglea (Isla), and Cospicua (Bormla).” Known for its historical sights, narrow streets, and beautiful views. Be sure to stop at Fort St. Angelo, the Church of St. Angelo, and Gardjola Gardens among others. Accessible by ferry, bus, or car!
Wineries:
If you have additional time in Malta, consider visiting a winery and sipping delicious Maltese wines while admiring the vineyards.
As always, thank you for reading and happy planning!
Getaways with Gabby 
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