A Quick Guide to Malta
Thinking of a unique European destination? Think Malta. This beautiful island collection is located in the Mediterranean, in between Italy and Tunisia, and provides a variety of culture, architecture and history. We visited in April (just before the high season begins) and found beaches and islands that felt tropical, whilst also indulging in exploring 1000 year old archaeology sites and immersing ourselves in the rich cultural cities around the islands. Read our trip report here.
Flights
Flights from the UK can be purchased from as little as £200pp return, in the off-peak season and increasing up to £500pp in the summer months. The flight duration is just over 3hrs (depending on which airport you embark from).
Getting Around
When staying in the larger cities the easiest way to get around is either via Bolt cars (equivalent of Uber) or public transport, if you are staying in a more remote location then a hire car is recommended- check out the best rental options using Economy Bookings (well priced car rentals. They have a 24/7 reservation and support services during your rental).
With Bolt we found the prices similar to that of Uber in the UK, for example a trip from the Airport to Gzira (near to the Capital of Valletta) cost €12. It was a really easy app to use and came in handy in many situations.
We found the bus to be the most affordable option for getting around- you could either pay for a day ticket for €2 and you could travel anywhere within 2hrs of embarking, which was a great way to see the main island.
Places of Interest
There are too many places of interest to list them all in detail, we plan to publish individual blog post on some of the best places we visited. In short:
The Island of Gozo: A smaller island located to the North of the main island, it has it’s own community and makes you feel as though you have travelled to a different country. The island contains some of the most picturesque sights within Malta, as well as important historical places of interest. Travel to the island is easily arranged via a boat day trip- stopping off and some other interesting sights along the way. You can also choose to stay on this island during your trip, there is an abundance of hotels and apartments on the island itself.
Comino Island: A very small island located in between mainland Malta and Gozo, this location is a small piece of paradise. You can visit the island during a day trip to Gozo, or get a boat directly to Comino and spend the day there. The main area of the island is the blue lagoon, aptly named for its glistening aqua ocean bay, clear enough to see every fish. Within the bay are multiple food and drink stalls, as well as public toilets. The rest of the island is remote with only a handful of permanent residents, it is ideal for hiking.
Valletta (Malta’s Capital City): A unique place for a capital city, located on a peninsular into the ocean, this small area is a thriving place for culture and architecture as well as some stunning views across the bay. There are plenty of restaurants and bars packed tightly into one area- making it a great place for a walkabout, whilst taking in the beautiful buildings.
Mdina: The wall city, built on a hill and located centrally within the island was once Malta’s capital and is a sought after filming location, recognisable from Game of Thrones. The city is an excellent place to spend the day wandering the small streets and unique shops. The walled city is free to enter and contains paid museums, cafes, restaurants and viewpoints across the island.
Catacombs & Temples: Some of the oldest archaeological locations in the world located in various locations across the island. We thoroughly enjoyed a few hours in St, Pauls catacombs (located next to Mdina). We paid €6 each via the Heritage Malta website in advance- it is worth mentioning that you can buy a pass which gives you entry to multiple sites around the island.
Popeye Village: The set of the Robin Williams movie Popeye, this is a popular location for all ages, they have characters dressed in the theme of the film and the set is lovingly maintained to its originality.
St. Pauls Bay: A popular coastal town located in the north of the island, it offers picturesque views across the the ocean as well as a myriad of bars, restaurants and shops. This is one of the main locations to catch a boat across to Comino and Gozo, it makes for a great spot to chill out before or after your day trip.
Food & Drink
There is so many varying styles of cuisine within Malta due to its location. You will find a strong Italian influence, being so closely located to Sicily. We found there was not too many vegan options- mostly meat style burgers cooked in different ways, however we did find an amazing restaurant in Gzira called Balance Bowl which ended up being one of the best vegan restaurants we have ever visited. (if you would like to read more about how we find vegan options whilst travelling, click here.
Cocktails are well priced in most places, happy hour is offered in most bars at varying times. The local beer (Cisk) is cheap and refreshing, this is a good option if you’re on a budget.
Climate
The country is quite warm all year round, reaching highs of 36°C in Summer and only as low as 9°C in Winter. We went at the beginning of April and found it to be quite cool, with the weather starting to reach the early 20s (Celsius)/68 (Fahrenheit) towards the end of the week. One thing to note is that it was extremely windy, particularly in Valetta- perhaps due to it sticking out into the ocean. It was still warmer than England though (not surprising) and it was amusing to see everyone else in coats, gloves, and scarves in 16°C weather, meanwhile we were rocking shorts and t-shirts!
Top Tips
Tipping is not particularly customary; we did this out of kindness, but we were told that some establishments see it as an insult.
Use the bus if you can, it works out cheaper than hiring a car or using taxis… be warned though, the buses are notoriously busy- even in April which was the end of the low season, buses were full with most passengers standing- but there are multiple buses every few minutes (in popular places) that go to the same destination.
Book day trips (like a boat trip to Gozo) beforehand, so you can plan the rest of the days around that. If you have more time than we did on the island, we recommend staying more than 2hrs on Gozo to fully experience it- perhaps stay for a night or two.
The island is small enough to explore most of the map within a week. Keep in mind any activities you want to do and see and where they are on the island. If you’re wanting to cover most areas of the map, planning days around each area is best- or completing a section of areas that are close to each other within a day (just keep in mind the timings of any activities you might do during that day)
We hope you have enjoyed reading our quick guide to Malta. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you feel we missed anything, or if there is a particular country you think we should visit next- we’re always open to suggestions!
