Malta

Valletta because it has good transport connections and things to do (plus the fortifications are awesome to see). The rest of Malta is small villages; well worth seeing too.

Agreed - Valletta

Valletta. There are two Uber-like car services to get anywhere you want to go on the island. Both are very reasonably priced. There is an extensive bus system, but it is slow, crowded and somewhat unreliable. If you're only there for a few days, it will be well worth it to go the Uber-esque route. I can't remember the app names anymore, but your hotel or airbnb host will know. If you're going to be on Gozo as well, Victoria is your best bet. However, if you're looking for relaxation at the beach, google the many resorts to find the one that matches your needs. There are lots of them.

Thanks all, Valletta with a day trip to gozo sounds promising. I have tried to book the hygeum tour for January. Maybe I’m too early, or the tour is not open in January or horrors it’s already booked up….. but I have not been able to book the tour.

If you continue to be unsuccessful at booking the Hypogeum and have a bit of spare time in Valletta, go to there and see if there are any same-day tickets available. Sometimes there are no-shows. If there are tickets, but for later in the day, you can take an hour or two at the Tarxien Temples, an easy 10 minutes walk away. There are a couple of small coffee bars/snack bars in the area, too. Make sure you take a hat to the Temples. There isn't a lot of cover.