Does anyone here have any experience traveling to Malta? Years ago I visited as a day trip on a cruise and have decided to return solo later this month for 5 days.
I am an experienced traveler, am active and a 70+ year old widow. I am quite interested in ancient ruins, art/photography/indigenous crafts/native culinary experiences.
Does anyone have a driver or guide information? Also, any spots not to miss or to avoid?
-St. John's Co-Cathedral
-Caravaggio's 'The Beheading of Saint John' and 'St Jerome Writing'. In the cathedral.
-Mdina
-Gozo
If you like ancient ruins: https://heritagemalta.mt/explore/hal-saflieni-hypogeum/
I haven't been there myself- when we went to Malta I realised too late that you need to book tickets for the hypogeum very far in advance. So if you're interested in going, look at booking as soon as possible.
We also really enjoyed Marsaxlokk.
We'be got our sights set on Malta aa well. RS doesn't have a guidebook but we found this one has kind of a similar vibe (got ours on the auction site).:
Title: Malta and Gozo
EAN: 9781804692479
ISBN: 9781804692479
Format: Paperback
Author: Juliet Rix
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides
Release Date: 03/10/2025
I was in Malta 3 years ago. Very easy to travel around by bus. I stayed in Valletta which was great for wandering but lots of steep streets. Take the ferry to see the Malta at War museum, bus to Hypogeum (need advanced tickets) and Tarxien temples, St John’s cathedral , museum of archeology, bus to Mdina. Lots to see.
Agree with the above posts; sent a week two years ago. Absolutely loved it! Stayed in Valetta; loved the cafes and music culture. Agree that buses are safe, cheap and reliable. We had tix for the hypogeum; well worth it! I also had the Bradt travel guide and found it useful (but I wish Rick would do one for there!). Try to find a local church that is having their festas (a week-long festival near the holy day for the church's patron saint... so there is almost always a couple around); full of fireworks, food and locals enjoying themselves. Many fun beaches. Gozo was cool but probably only worth it if you are there more than, say, 4 days? Enjoy Malta!
As noted above, it is super easy. Everybody speaks English, buses can take you everywhere for little money, eCabs take care if you are in a hurry.
You need at least one day in Valletta. Besides the Co Cathedral, try to take a water taxi gondola across the harbor!
Mdina is the next pick, again half a day to day. Consider going to Dingli cliffs later that day if not too hot.
Several Neolithic temples are open, just check google (the names are toung twisters)
Gozo is really nice, but possibly too much of a hassle for a four day trip unless you can get a boat excursion from Valletta.
Maltese cuisine can be tried in a number of nice spots. Off the top of my head I recall „Nenu the artisan baker“ in Valletta from two years ago to be nice. Website readily available…
