Hi
My 24 yr old son and I will be visiting Malta for 6 nights in September (while on a longer European trip) and was curious if anyone has any favorite or memorable restaurants?
We will be based on Malta, but I reckon with 6 days, we have enough time to visit another island if we want to.
Our interests and tastes are broad, with the exception of diving, snorkeling, caving that doesn't involve stairs or nightclubs.
We generally walk and use public transportation. I have read that Valletta is the main transportation hub and it's generally necessary to go there first to connect to anywhere else when using the buses, does anyone have comments about that?
Lastly, is it worth it to pay the extra money Valletta generally costs for atmosphere / convenience? I rent small apartments or hosted rooms, not hotels so there are probably more options for neighborhoods or towns.
Thanks
Tracy
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7053 posts
Many buses depart Sliema (a neighborhood slightly to the north) but, in my view, Sliema was an ugly, crowded and overdeveloped mess. I almost got an apartment there and glad I cancelled in favor of staying in Valletta, which has a lot more charm and is less modern. It's very easy to take a bus anywhere from the main bus station in Valletta because it's the hub (and the spokes go pretty much everywhere). If I didn't stay in Valetta, I would pick The Three Cities (slightly to the south of Valletta) which are also very atmospheric, but the bus connections aren't as frequent and central as Valetta. You can also consider Floriana, which is right outside (the fortified) Valletta and very close on foot. Mdina and Rabat were also incredibly beautiful, as were some smaller villages like Naxxar. Believe it or not, 6 days seems like a lot but Malta has a lot of interesting places that are spread all over the island and it takes time to see them. I barely saw Gozo for one day and it wasn't enough.
I really liked this place to eat in Valletta:
http://www.nenuthebaker.com
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g190328-d2526643-Reviews-Nenu_the_Artisan_Baker-Valletta_Island_of_Malta.html
Posted by
OP
seattle washington
36 posts
Thank you! I am absolutely going to eat there! Thank you for the neighborhood and bus comments as well. We want to chill out on this trip a bit, so if 6 days seems like a lot then that's perfect.
Tracy
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7053 posts
Tracy,
Also a heads up...it is blazing hot in Malta because it's so far south. I went in early to mid September 2015, and riding the bus was one of the highlights because they were (well) air conditioned. Being in crowded museums was tough. Even the gorgeous St. Johns Co-Cathedral in Valetta was wall-to-wall people and super stuffy. Bring the lightest clothes you can. During my trip, a biblical rainstorm also came through and cleared out the heat for at least a few days...that was some relief.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8312 posts
And to think that all that gold colored rock in the huge fortresse/waterfront was quarried in the Nile River Valley and brought over by sailing ships. The society in this area really goes back many, many centuries B.C.
Posted by
Denver, CO, USA
1600 posts
If you are up for driving on the other side of the road, consider a car rental which is very cheap in Malta. This will give you the flexibility to really move around the island including taking the ferry to Gozo if so inclined.
When spending time in Valletta, I just parked the car in the hotel parking lot (free) and took the bus in. However, did like having the car to explore.
Posted by
OP
seattle washington
36 posts
Agnes,
Thanks for the reminder, we were in southern Spain last September and it got a bit toasty for me for a few days in Granada and it wasn't even that far south!
Posted by
OP
seattle washington
36 posts
Thank you everyone for responding to my inquiry!
Tracy
Posted by
Niagara, Ontario
1674 posts
I was in Malta for two August weeks many moons ago. Very serene. My first and only case of severe sunburn. The water is gorgeous, most of the beaches pebbly. I was taken out one night to a restaurant which I always thought was called The Arches and it was fabulous. When I Google it now, it is not as I remember, presuming it is the same restaurant. Back then it was a post and beam type of place, very romantic, and I always thought it was on a country road?