9th September 2021
Best Places to Visit in Malta
If there is one vacation that I could relive, it would definitely be Malta. Surprisingly I didn’t know that Malta is a part of the European Union until we planned for my birthday trip in 2021.
Malta is a small and breathtakingly beautiful nation right in the Mediterranean. It is an archipelago between Tunisia and Siciliy, Italy
A lively nightlife, azure & crystal blue waters, picturesque fishing villages, rich cultural heritage , picture perfect beaches, friendly people, Malta has so much to offer to everyone. Almost 90% of the Maltese speak English. Malta was a crown colony of the UK and was declared independent in 1964.
The major three islands in the Maltese Archipelago are Valletta (the capital of Malta), Gozo and Comino, each with its own charm and beauty.
Currency:
The currency of Malta is Euro and we found it pretty affordable 🙂
How to Reach Malta:
Malta is very well connected and can be reached easily by air. We flew from Frankfurt by Lufthansa airlines and in 2.5 hours we landed at the Malta International Airport at Valletta. There are also ferries that run between Siciliy(Italy) and Malta. The trip takes around 3 hours each way and costs approx 30 Euros pp.
How to Get around Malta:
Malta is very well connected. Since the islands are small, taxis are very common and pretty affordable means to travel around. Public transport is also very reliable and goes to almost most of the popular tourist destinations. You can also hire a car if you want to travel around and hop between islands. There are ferries that take you and your car to other islands. In Malta, the cars use left hand driving.
Where to stay in Malta:
There are plenty of stay options in Valletta and Gozo that fit all budget sizes. We stayed for 3 nights in Valletta and 2 nights in Gozo. For Valletta I would recommend you to stay in the city center as most of the tourist spots and trendy cafes and restaurants are within walking distance.
Places to Visit in Malta
Valletta:
We started our trip with Valletta, the smallest European Capital. The architecture here is a feast for the eyes. And the most prominent and spectacular feature are the colorful vintage balconies. Something that would easily grab your attention and makes perfect for a postcard picture. It is strongly influenced by many cultures and is listed as a UNESCO heritage city. The city is built on a hill between two harbors. Morden Valletta is a hub for commercial activities and is the right blend of modern and old heritage vibes.
Tritton Fountain:
It is the first thing you will see when you enter the city gate of Valletta. It has three bronze Trittons and is one of the most famous landmarks of Valletta. Tritton the mythological Greek God and the messenger of the city is said to be guarding the entrance of the historical capital of Malta. It’s a significant symbol of strength. We boarded most of our buses and cabs from this spot.
City Gates of Valletta:
The Original City gates of Valletta are more than 500 years old. They are the central archway to enter one of the main streets of Valletta- The Republic Street and on a less crowded day it takes you on a journey to older times. There are plenty of spots to get yourself clicked here. It is from here the enchanting streets of Valletta begin and then you will find yourself smitten and lost in the captivating beauty of the place.
Upper Barrakka Gardens:
Just 500m away from the City Gate is the Upper Barrakka Gardens and serves as one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the city. With large looming columns here, greenery and the views of the sea, the place offers a respite from the summer heat. I would highly recommend visiting the gardens at noon to see the traditional firing of the canons at the Saluting battery by the Malta Heritage society. It is quite a sight to witness.
The Enchanting streets of Valletta:
It was our first evening in Valletta, and all we wanted was to just roam around in the enchanting streets and soak in the magic and beauty the streets had to offer. While strolling through these streets you will come across enchanting architecture, baroque churches & chapels, cute cafes, local business and small shops. Make sure you visit St. Lucy Street, which is hands down the most picturesque and instagrammable streets here. Speaking of instagrammable stuff, you will also see on some streets the typical British Style Big Red Telephone Booths which make a great prop in your pictures.
St. Peters Pool:
We started our second day in Valletta by visiting one of the most stunning natural swimming pools- St. Peters Pool. Also, it was my birthday and since I am a water baby so it was just the perfect thing to do. We took a cab from the city center to reach here and it cost us around 30 Euros for the half an hour travel. It is the perfect place to enjoy a leisurely swim or snorkeling. With azure and the light green waters St. Peter’s pool is the perfect Getaway. We spent almost 4 hours here and the vibe was so chill that we didn’t feel like leaving the place and enjoyed a couple of beers.
But make sure you carry drinking water, some food with you as there aren’t many facilities here. We found a small restaurant up a cliff that was selling just beers. Also, there aren’t any public toilets here.
TIP: The center of the charming fishing village Marsaxlokk is situated just 3.3 km away from St. Peter’s pool. You can combine these two spots and visit these gorgeous Maltese Village, enjoy some delicious seafood and bask in the Maltese sun.
Blue Grotto:
A 20 minute drive from the fishing village will take you to the Blue Grotto caves on the South eastern end of the island. Blue Grotto is one the most famous tourist spots and its crystal clear and deep waters make it ideal for scuba diving and snorkeling. It is a complex of sea caves and one can take a boat trip inside the cave to enjoy the beauty. The boat trip costs around 8 Euros per person. We couldn’t take the boat ride, since the sea was very choppy, so we headed to our next destination.
Mdina:
Mdina, also known as the silent city, is a perfect combination of the Baroque and Medieval Architecture. Its history dates back to more than 4000 years ago. You will be welcomed by the main gate of the city, which you might recognise as it was shown in the popular series Games of Thrones. This city is filled with religious and cultural treasures and it seemed as if it had a timeless atmosphere. Before Valletta was built, Mdina was the capital of Malta. If you feel that Mdina seems to be an Arabic name then you are right. The city was given its name Mdina by its Arab rulers. Make sure you don’t miss the St. Paul’s Cathedral here, it’s an absolute delight to the eyes. Also, there are plenty of pretty corners in the city that make perfect for postcard pictures. Considering its called the silent city, no cars are allowed in the city except a few of those of locals.
Nightlife in Valletta:
We thought as the sun set, the smallest capital of the EU would come to a standstill, but to our surprise, Valletta has a fantastic nightlife. The Valletta streets are full and buzzing with hip hop cafes, bars and restaurants. Around 9 there were also many life performances we saw adding to the beauty of the night. Enjoying the wine bars amidst the dramatic history, hits you differently. St. Julian’s is the hub of the night life here.
Traveling from Valletta to Gozo:
After our adventurous, beautiful trip and experiences in Valletta we headed towards the other island of Malta and our home for the next 2 days, Gozo. The distance between Valletta and Gozo is 29 km. To reach from Valletta to Gozo, we took a 1 hour bus ride from Valletta B6 to Cirkewwa. The bus ride to Cirkewwa is beautiful and insightful. From Cirkewwa we took the ferry towards Victoria. It is also a car ferry, so in case you have been traveling via a car in Valletta, you can bring your car as well in the ferry. Surprisingly, when we went to buy the tickets for the ferry at the ferry terminal, the staff told us we can pay back whenever we return back from Gozo to Valletta.
Gozo:
We stayed in the Gharb area of the island and it was pretty close to the iconic Dwejra Bay that had Azure window which was collapsed back in 2017
In Gozo we stayed in the Gharb district which was very calm and serene but the frequency of buses wasn’t very good and we felt it was a little remote. From our experience, I would highly recommend you to book your stay in Victoria city which is also the capital of Gozo and is centrally located and has really good connectivity. However, we stayed at a pretty cute little homestay.
Dwejra Bay:
Dwejra bay is one of the most dramatic coastal formations that I have ever seen. It is the home to the very famous Blue Hole which is rated as Europe’s one of the most popular diving spots and the fungus rocks. It is called the fungus rock because it is believed to have a special plant with medicinal properties. Enjoy a lovely swim in the background of the gigantic caves and rocks.
TIP: Although the Azure Window has Collapsed but you can really enjoy a beautiful magical sunset from there. We went there around 7ish and had the most magical and blissful moments of our entire trip that are still etched in my heart
Blue Lagoon:
The very gorgeous Blue Lagoon is located on Comino Island, which is the middle of the 3 main islands in Malta. I feel a trip to Malta is incomplete without being in this gorgeous island with crystal blue waters resembling the Cocktail that we enjoy sipping on a hot day.It surely makes a bucket list destination with jagged caves and turquoise blue waters.
Although you can get a little overwhelmed by the amount of tourists you will see there as the location is popular not just with the tourists but also the locals. You might find the island very commercialized unlike other Maltese islands.
There are plenty of ways to reach the Blue lagoon. Since we were staying in Gozo, we took a boat ride from the Mgarr harbor just opposite to the Gozo ferry terminal which cost us 10 Euros pp round trip. You can also reach here directly from Valletta by taking a bus to Cirkewwa and then a ferry from there to the island.
Marsalforn Bay:
Being a Blue Flag Beach, be assured that Marsalforn is the best beach for swimming and snorkeling in the crystal clear blue waters. The salt pans in Gozo are another interesting stopover. It is a pretty popular beach in Gozo and you will find a lot of locals enjoying their evenings here making you feel less tourist and more like a Maltese. You will also find a lot of ice cream kiosks, restaurants and bars along the beach. The best time to be here would be the sunset to breathe in the cool Mediterranean vibes.
Victoria:
Victoria is one of the most prominent towns in Malta and is the capital of Gozo. It is also known as Rabat by the Maltese, which means suburb in Arabic. Independence square is the center of Victoria where you can find cafes and a few local shops. I would recommend trying out a cafe called Rizzles. It’s mostly dominated by localistes and is a lovely place to enjoy a chilled beer on a hot evening. Btw I had one of my best chicken burgers there.
Citadel:
Citadel, also known as the Castello, is an absolute visit when you are in Victoria. Within the Citadel is the Gozo Cathedral. You can also find the old prison, the Folklore and Cathedral museum inside.
