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Top 10 things to do in Malta
#travel #solotravel #inspiration #malta #exploration
Not all those who wander are lost.
Happy awesome 2023 to all my readers! As you have seen, I’ve set some goals for this year, which I’m planning to assert and achieve. They won’t be easy, as I always dream big. However, that is the beauty in their achievement, pushing myself out of the comfort zone, in order to see widths of this world I never imagined existed. Also, I hope I’m inspiring at least some of you to push forth and set new goals. Let me know in the comments if you have done this, or plan to do it soon.
2023 will be a year full of achievements, not only for me, but also for my readers and followers. I truly believe in that, and I will do everything humanly possible to make it happen. Because we have so much ahead of us, I have decided to bring you a fluent, easy to read post, to kick of the year with peace of mind. This will be quite simple and straight-forward – top 10 things to visit in Malta.
Malta is an interesting country, especially for one simple reason – it’s a rock in the middle of the sea, where people were able to sustain themselves through history. It has changed hands on several occasions, but it is left with some of the most unique and extraordinary heritage, at least in Europe. Plus, it is a great winter getaway for those of us who do not want to talk about winter below 15oC/59oF. Each city looks like an old town from ancient times, and each side you turn to shows a display of the Mediterranean Sea. Let us bask into the beauties of this rocky island.
1. Valetta
Unlike what some of us were taught in school, it’s not “La Valetta”, just “Valetta”. The capital is situated on the eastern part of the Malta island, and is full of different attractions. The entrance to the city is ornamented with the beautiful Triton Fountain, resembling classical sites in Italy, but with one small difference – everything is yellow. The bus station, stretching from the Triton Fountain downhill is well-organized, and a great place to whichever point of the islands you’re planning a trip to.
Each narrow street tells its own story, and there are various attractions everywhere. What’s important to notice, is the fact that the sea seems to be much more distant on maps, than it is in real life. Like “every road leads to Rome”, in Valetta every road leads to the sea. You can also find tour buses and boats to all the other parts of the islands of the Maltese archipelago.
The Saluting Battery in the Upper Barracks is a must-see event. Cannons shoot into the air every noon, as well as 4 PM. The shots are fired to salute the mariners who gave their lives to protect the islands. There is a quick history lesson about 15 minutes prior to the shots, so be sure to run early. Also, the best sports are taken even up to a half an hour in advance.
Don’t forget to take each alley down to the water. The atmosphere is simply different. Although most of the islands coast is not made for swimming, some great pictures can be taken from the ramparts.
2. Floriana
To be fairly honest, I’m not sure if Floriana is a big and beautiful garden, a part of Valetta, or a city that’s connected to the capital. I would say it’s about 10 minutes of walking away from the center of Valetta. Maybe 15. Whatever it may be, the large garden provides a sea (pun not intended) of nice floral and arboreal sites. We can absolutely not compare it to enormous gardens, such as the one in Versailles. However, given its location, the surface it’s placed on, and the type of soil of the island, it’s a greatly magnificent locality.
3. Sliema and St julian’s
I had to group these two together, because I cannot say with certainty where one ends and the other one begins. Unless I take a bus and listen to the names of the stops. My hotel was situated in St. Julian’s, and after finishing the sightseeing in Valetta, I decided to walk back, at least for as far as I could. My feet took me all around Sliema and back to the hotel in a matter of let’s say 2-3 hours.
Sliema is a fine place for swimmers or for anyone who wants to take a quick summer-like leisure vacay. The Point is a mall in Sliema, surrounded by hotels, which actually grant exit to the sea, for anyone who wants to take a swim. Now, heed my words – unless you’ve had a summer vacation in Montenegro, and know how to walk properly on slippery rocks and not get crushed by waves against the shore, don’t have more activities than sunbathing. The sea is strong, so I don’t recommend it for anyone who is not a good swimmer.
There are other beaches alongside the coast on the way to St Julian’s. As well as Spinola Bay and St George’s Bay. These two are a little better than the beaches in Sliema, as they are actually covered in sand, and you do not need to jump into the water. The good thing is that everything is so close together, you may need up to 20 minutes walking from one city to the beaches of the other. All in all, other than a few beaches, both Sliema and St Julian’s will be much more interesting architecturally.
4. Mdina and Rabat
Mdina – The old capital. Have you noticed the Arabic influence here? Stemming from Arabic, the word “Medina” would normally be used to refer to an “old city” or “old town”. Here comes the fun part – Mdina is connected to the city of Rabat (Arabic for “suburb”). Does it ring any bells? Do you know what the capital of Morocco is called?
Fun fact: The capital of the second largest Maltese island, Gozo, is now called Victoria. This name has been given to celebrate the birthday of the Queen of England, back in colonial times. Before that, the capital of Gozo was named (guess three times) – Rabat!
Mdina, or The Silent City, is the old capital of Malta. Official reports claim it to be over 4000 years old. They also state that St Paul has lived in this fortified city after running aground. I was surprised to see that the city still has residents, as it looks deserted (apart from tourists and any attractions, of course). Legend has it, that the city has gotten its nickname after the capital was moved to modern day Vittoriosa. Looks like the legend lives on.
I have had a chance to see the documentary about the Knights of Malta, within Mdina’s walls. I loved how picturesque and vivid all the statues are. The movie also provided a 20-minute history lesson about the development of the islands. If I’m not mistaken, the cost was around 6 EUR / $6.40. Also, at the entrance to the city, there is a dungeons tour, not intended for the faint of heart.
5. Bugibba and St Paul’s Bay
This city does not resemble Maltese architecture or culture, in general. It is located at the North of the island of Malta and the overall vibe is in complete dissonance with everything else I’ve seen there. Not in a bad way, it’s definitely a sight worth seeing, but as heads-up, you’ll be surprised you’re still on the same island.
The city looks less traditional, a little bit as if it had been imported from elsewhere. It is still full of various attractions, such as the Aquarium and quite some coastline. However, I’d refer to the point about Sliema and St Julian’s – in regards to the beaches.
Qawra Point Beach is another interesting locality in the neighborhood. But be careful when crossing to this peninsula. The map says it is connected to a much wider land bridge than it factually is (or maybe I just visited during high tide).
6. Salina National Park
Salina National Park is a good place to spend a portion of your time. It is connected to Bugibba by road and brings in a completely different atmosphere to anywhere else in the archipelago. In fact, it strongly resembles a pine forest. Just like in Valetta, you can find historical monuments that speak of allyship with the US. The walk around Salina will not take up a lot from your schedule, as, guess what, where exactly could they pin a forest in such a small island.
7. Gozo Island
Gozo is the second largest island in the archipelago. It is reachable by ferry, leaving the island of Malta from Mellieha (and, of course, when in Rome). I would suggest a Hop on hop off bus tour around Gozo, as it truly goes around the most important localities. Plus you get to hear a whole lot of fun history of the island. The picturesque leveled fields resemble the ones in Bali – the island consists of villages, not connected to one another, unlike the cities in the Maltese island. In fact, the nature of Gozo balances out the the quantity of rock on Malta. This is a reason why the island is self-sufficient and ships the remainders of its food to the bigger island.
Gozo is filled with beautiful churches, beaches and diving sites. Due to its size, going on a Hop on hop of tour is time-saving. This way, you can easily leave the tour to check out a site, and come back around 45 minutes later to continue where you left off.
8. Blue Grotto
This field of sea caves is absolutely astonishing. I won’t say much, but will leave a beautiful picture (of myself smiling) for you to check out. And a hint – do not miss this point, in any case!
9. Gardens around the Luqa Airport
In all honesty, these gardens are not really special. They are much smaller than Floriana, which also means less covered in various plants. The funniest thing around them is trying to read their names.
I would butcher the names with no diacritics, but just take a look at them! My personal favorite: Gnien iz-Zghazagh.
Still, they are a great pastime, in case your flight back leaves late and you’ve got to visit everything else on your list.
10. Luqa Airport
I feel like this is an attraction in its own right, and definitely an underrated one. Luckily, this is definitely the easiest way to get to and from the island, so you will be bound to enjoy it. What I really loved about it is the combination of the East and West. Apparently, it is in the European Union, and you cannot miss it – from the way the airport has been designed, the viewpoint, the museum on the top floor, and so on. But the palm trees in front truly resemble airports in Egypt, Tunisia or Jordan. I really took the time to bask in this beautiful combination of cultures – and I recommend you to do the same.
Is that all, folks? Of course not! Here’s a bonus – top 3 things I didn’t visit in Malta, that are worth visiting.
- Popeye Village – I’m not a fan of the movie, or the franchise in general. Plus, it was nowhere in my walking distance or anywhere near my route. From other people’s pictures I’ve seen, it’s nice and seems to offer a legitimate experience of the Popeye Movie.
- Marsaxlokk – I heard this place has great fish.
- Comino Island – This is the smallest of the 3 inhabited islands of the Maltese archipelago. It has only 4 year-round denizens. People speak of nice beaches on Comino. Since I went in December, this was not a good go-to. Would definitely visit next time.
Got an Easter egg coming up this Friday, so stay tuned. And let me know you’re taking a step forth and going on a solo trip in 2023!
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[…] out more about the Order, you can visit one of my blog posts about Malta. Or, you can travel to Malta, where you can also find guided tours and educational movies about their […]
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[…] Top 10 things to do in Malta […]
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