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Travel To Malta For A Weekend Of Exploration
Malta was a beautiful surprise, full of culture, amazing architecture, history, and a haven for foodies. It’s a tiny island which can be crossed in around 30 minutes by car but has so much to offer that we felt that we should have stayed for one week instead of a weekend.
Valletta
Where To Stay
While there are plenty of options in town, where you stay will depend on what you are looking for. Valletta has a vibrant nightlife, so if this interests you then you might want to stay within the town itself. If you would like a little more peace and quiet there are a few hotel options just outside the city gates in Floriana.
We stayed at the Grand Hotel Excelsior which boasts a 5-star rating but has much lower prices than expected, mostly due to the hotel being quite outdated. It was only a 5-10 minute walk from the city gates and had its own pool, spa, and private beach. The breakfast was also excellent and the staff were very friendly and attentive.
What To Eat
Maltese food is a mix of Mediterranean and Italian. We found a lot of unique pastas and seafood which were excellent. There were also lots of options for goat and sheep cheese, and we especially enjoyed the goat cheese ravioli we found in a few places. It was easy to find salads and vegetables for almost every meal, too. We can highly recommend making a reservation at Taproom for dinner, or go to Nenu’s for lunch to experience Maltese pastries, pizzas, pasta, and shepherd’s pie.
It’s recommended especially during the high season to make a reservation as restaurants fill up fast. Many places allow you to make reservations online but if you need to call to make your reservation make sure you do so a few days in advance as the phone lines won’t be open prior to opening hours.
Prices for food were surprisingly cheap, although we were not that impressed by the wine. A pro tip if you like to try local wine: buy it in a shop versus the restaurants. We saw a red wine that one restaurant had priced at around €70 in a shop for only €24.
How To Get Around
Bolt is the best option for getting around the island. Because Malta itself is so small you can find Bolt drivers who are willing to drive from one corner to another. The white taxis which are the official taxis on Malta charge much higher prices. Our Bolt from the airport to our hotel was almost half the price of the white taxi. We did also see Uber drivers but Bolt was much more popular and widely available.
If you are on more of a budget you can take the public buses but they don’t always run on time and you need to be prepared to get aggressive if you are trying to stop a bus outside of the main station in Valletta. I saw locals stepping out into the street in front of buses, hailing them like a taxi. Traveling via public transport is not for the faint of heart!
What To See
Barraka Gardens (Lower & Upper)
These gardens are situated on the south side of Valletta and make for some great viewing points of the harbor. The Lower Gardens are much smaller and more intimate, offering a little oasis of green amongst the limestone buildings. The Upper Gardens are a 10 minute walk away and are much bigger. They overlook the city’s cannons which are set off each day at at sunrise, noon, and sunset. The Upper Gardens also have a great view of the harbor and a little cafe. Entry to both the gardens is free.
Archaeological Museum
This is a tiny museum that one can get through in less than two hours, but it’s a fascinating collection of ancient artifacts found on Malta. The most famous is the Venus of Malta which is believed to be around 23,000 years old. There are also many things left behind by the Phoenicians, some of the most famous travelers of the ancient seas. One thing to note, however, is that there is no air conditioning in the museum (only a few fans here and there), so if you are traveling in the summer be prepared to sweat! The entry fee was a very reasonable €5 for adults.
The Grandmaster’s Quarters
These were under renovation (August 2022) while we were visiting, but we were told they are worth a visit. One of the doors was open that we walked by and I got a shot of the interior. It looks like a gorgeous place to visit once renovations are finished!
Language
If learning a foreign language has been what has held you back from traveling, don’t let Malta intimidate you. Most recently a former British colony, everyone speaks English, as well as Maltese. Maltese is a strange mix of Italian, French, Spanish, and Arabic. If you want to learn a few phrases the locals are very friendly and happy to help. We met helpful, chatty locals everywhere, and many foreigners like to travel to the island for work in the summer so it has a very international flavor.
Wander
The streets of Valletta are full of gorgeous architecture. Each and every building has something to offer, and the colorful balconies interspersed amongst all of the white limestone are a photographer’s dream. Although we had a full three days here, we don’t think we went down every street. We were amazed at how beautiful the entire city was — day and night.
Mdina / Rabat
The ancient city of Mdina was the former capital of Malta. High on a hill you can literally see from one end of the island to the other from the city walls. It was also nicknamed the “Silent City” because its walls block out the traffic sounds outside and make it a very pleasant place to walk through. Get there early (before 10 or 11am) to beat the crowds and have the city to yourself.
Inside Mdina, make sure you visit St. Paul’s Cathedral. If you visit the cathedral you will need to wear modest clothing (they will give ladies a shawl to cover shoulders). The ticket includes a museum tour as well. Walk along the city walls to take in the view of the island and wander the streets (although the city isn’t as pretty as Valletta in our opinion).
Outside of Mdina is Rabat, an area that is famous for being the probable place where St. Paul lived for a few months after he was shipwrecked. The grotto where he might have preached, some old catacombs, and a small museum are within walking distance of Mdina. Tickets are fairly cheap at €5, although we weren’t that impressed with the grotto! There is no air conditioning so if you are traveling in the summer be prepared to brave the heat indoors.
Swimming
We were mostly disappointed with the beaches Malta had to offer. While sandy, they are usually dirty and overcrowded. If you want good swimming we would recommend heading to a Greek island and saving Malta for the culture, history, and architecture.
We visited Gnejna, a more local beach, and went early (arriving around 9am). When we left at 11am it was really filling up. There has been an attempt to control the trash as there are trash cans everywhere, but there was a lot of debris in the water.
If you want to make a day out of visiting Gnejna there is a bar, parking, and food available. Locals will also rent umbrellas to tourists and there were some kayaks and other water gear available for rent.
The beaches in Malta are generally sandy, but you have to swim out quite a ways to get to any clear water, and there are lots of boats to avoid so swimming isn’t always safe in deeper waters.
If you stay at the Grand Hotel Excelsior you will have direct access to the ocean, but no beach available. We found the swimming there was nice, but there was still debris in the water and you can’t swim out far due to the boats in the harbor.
Malta: A Great Weekend Trip
Valletta itself was worth visiting alone, and if you have time for a weekend getaway, Valletta and Rabat, as well as another city or two are very manageable. Malta is a very tiny island and easy to get around. If you want to extend your trip, we suggest adding Comino and Gozo to your list, accessible only by ferry. There are also plenty of ancient temples to be seen if you add time to your trip and have the interest.
Overall, we were very impressed by Malta and loved the food, culture, history, and architecture. It really is an island with a lot to offer, with very little language barrier, extremely friendly locals, and easy to get around.
