Discover Malta: Travel Guide

This is your ultimate travel guide to Malta. Where to go, when to go and how to get there. I have been to Malta for 8 days. I visited a lot of places and also Gozo, another island that is part of the Republic of Malta. Here you’ll find all of the important information about Malta.

Basic information

Transport

You can get to Malta easily with a plane. The airport is very modern and it is not big, so you don’t have to be afraid of getting lost. In front of the airport is a bus stop. Google maps are pretty accurate and they can help you with choosing a bus.

Note: Happened to me that the maps stopped to show the bus routes, in that case you can find it on the internet. You can find it here. 

To enter a bus you need to buy a ticket or a transport card. I fully recommend the card, it’s a good deal. There is an automat where you can buy the cards, it is located in the airport or next to the bus stop. (If you want to learn more about the cards check it out here.) The bus system in Malta is one of the best transport systems I have seen. You can get around the whole island with the bus, might happen that you have to change the line tho, depending where you are going. 

If you want to get to Comino or Gozo there are ferries going several times a day. The best option is to get to Cirkewwa. The ferries are cheap and take only a few minutes. You can purchase tickets at the ferry terminal. 

Note: If the weather is not the best might happen that the ferries are relocated. It happened to me, the people working there took care that everyone can find their way. Plus because of this reason I didn’t have to pay for the ticket, but let’s keep it a secret. 

Tip: I don’t recommend renting a car if you are not a good driver or if you are not used to driving on the islands. The streets are very narrow and often very hilly. There were a few accidents, so be careful. 

People and traditions

People in Malta were incredibly nice. The hospitality is there on the top level. I stayed at two places and the hosts were very helpful and kind. The same way I felt about bus drivers, people working in restaurants, attractions and souvenir shops. Almost everyone speaks English so a language barrier was not a problem. The overall atmosphere there was so lovely. People care about others. There were amazing places, playgrounds modern and safe for the kids, cat houses and food for the strays, whole families having picnics at the sea and just people hanging out together and helping each other.

Tip: I recommend you to find private accommodation, an apartment or a B&B. I did it and the hosts were the nicest and the most helpful people I ever met at any accommodation. 

If you visit Malta you have to try their traditional dishes pastizzi or stuffat tal-fenek. Pastizzi is a savory pastry with different fillings. The most famous one is the one with ricotta cheese.  Stuffat tal-fenek is a rabbit stew, this dish is the famous Maltese traditional dish. You can find them in any city in Malta. 

Tip: You can buy pastizzi in a little stand that you can find in several places in any city. The price is around 1-2€ and it is 100% worth it.

Fishing is big in Malta. It goes way back to the past. You can find there many traditional fishing boats called luzzu. The boats are painted in bright colors with a pair of eyes. The eyes are there to protect the fishermen at the sea. 

There were several events in Malta. It’s safe to say that if you come during the season Malta is very alive. There are festivals and events in many cities. While I was there there was a national holiday and a lot of fireworks and also an LGBTI+ pride. Even tho during summer there is a lot to do and see, a local told me that during winter and when the season ends, the whole island shuts down, so keep that in mind. 

Things to do

12. Popeye village

The Popeye village in Malta is a film set of the movie Popeye. The village looks very cute and wonderful. Sadly I didn’t get to visit it but definitely should be on your list. It is a big tourist attraction. 

11. Look for salt pans 

Malta has many places where you can find these salt pans. It is a very interesting thing to see and a great place to take a picture. Salt pans are a traditional way to collect sea salt. Once the sea water gets into the salt pan it is left there to dry and crystals of salt begin to form. There are many on the coast of Malta and Gozo. I visited Birżebbuġa and Xlendi, but walking on the coast you can find many places, this brings us to the next point.

10. Walk on the coast

Walking on the coast in Malta is so easy. In a short time you can get to a totally different and new place. There are many cliffs and rocks so you can be sure to enjoy an amazing view. I walked in Xlendi where I saw amazing cliffs, found many beautiful paths and a fortress, discovered a cave and saw groups of jellyfish. The nature of Malta had my breath taken. Walking around is definitely worth it.

9. Enjoy a beach day

It is quite hard to find a good sandy beach in Malta but there are a few. I visited Ramla beach on Gozo island. The beach was sandy and the sea was beautifully blue and clean. You can rent a sun bed and an umbrella. There are food stands and restaurants but also many people. Best beaches to visit  are Għadira Bay or Golden Bay in Malta. There are also other sandy beaches but mostly small. You can definitely find a lot of stony beaches that even have a leader to the water for easy entry. The beaches or swimming spots are protected by a lifeguard.

8. Interact with animals

By that I don’t mean touch or chase every animal you see. You should always respect and give space to the animal. What you can do is look for jellyfish or swim with them. Malta has so so many jellyfish. It is magical to see them. There are in groups in some bays but you can also see a lot of them from a boat. There are also many lizards. Everywhere you walk you see lizards of different sizes. They are also hanging out on buildings. You can interact with cats if they ask for it. Cats are hanging around in cities and villages. Many of them are big attention seekers so you can give them a cuddle. They will also appreciate a treat even tho the locals take good care of the cats. You may also meet a lot of birds, especially ducks and geese. I saw one nesting just next to the tourist path, it was very nice. But again, respect them and keep your distance. 

Note: There are many jellyfish in Maltese seas. Be careful what type of jellyfish you meet. Some might be dangerous. The majority of jellyfish in Malta is the fried egg jellyfish, it is big and yellow and it is mostly harmless.

7. Chase the sunset

I loved the sunsets in Malta. The sunsets over the sea, standing on the cliffs or over the salt pans. The sunsets were so colorful and unrealistic, like something on canvas. I recommend packing up some snacks and having a picnic in some nice location. 

6. Visit Valletta and Sliema

Valletta is the capital city of Malta. It definitely has to be on your list. It is a cute city with a lot of iconic streets, cafes and restaurants, souvenir shops but also a lot of historical sights. I recommend visiting Lower Barrakka Gardens, Siege Bell War Memorial, National War Museum, have a walk at the water and you will find many interesting places. The city itself has a lot of things to offer. You should not miss out on Sliema either. From Sliema you have a beautiful view of Valletta. I didn’t have a chance to visit Sliema fully because it started raining hard but you shouldn’t miss it. 

5. Visit Marsaxlokk

This is the most famous fishing village in Malta. You can find many of those traditional fishing boats (luzzu) there. It is not big but it has a great vibe. There is also a fish market held. You can walk around, enjoy some good food or ice cream and take many pictures. They also offer boat rides where you can sit in one of those pretty boats.

4. Visit Mdina

Mdina is a historical, beautiful city. In the past it was the capital city of Malta. The city is behind the walls. You find there a lot of historical buildings, souvenir shops, museums and fancy restaurants. It should be between your top things.

3. Take a boat to Comino or Gozo

If you have enough time, I recommend you to visit one, or both of these islands. A ferry to Gozo costs less than 5€ and takes around 20 minutes. The ferry departures every half an hour so you have many choices, there are even night ferries. The ferries to Comino are similar but be careful what ferry or boat you take, some of them might be tourist traps or private companies that will charge you more. The ferries are leaving from Cirkewwa and you can buy tickets on the location. Comino is great for boat trips and swimming. The island is very small but there are a few things to do. I visited Gozo for a few days. Gozo is bigger than Comino but smaller than Malta. It also offers many nice and interesting places. This leads us to the next point.

2. Visit Victoria

If you visit Gozo, you should go to Victoria. Victoria is the capital city of Gozo island. It has good bus connections and you can spend a nice day there. There is a castle you cannot miss. Once again there are beautiful historical buildings and because it is on the hill you can also enjoy the nice view. Gozo is very hilly, but you can see the sea and Comino and Malta both. From Victoria you can get easily anywhere on the island. A place you should 100% visit if you are an ice cream or sweets lover is Vanilla+ Gelateria Artigianale. They had the best ice cream I ever tried, many choices and even milkshakes, waffles and cakes. The staff was incredibly nice and because I’ve been there several times, they already recognized me. The ice cream place is next to the bus station and you can’t miss it.

1. Have a boat trip in Blue Grotto

Blue Grotto is one of the can’t miss places in Malta. You can jump on a small boat for 10€ and have a guided tour around the cliffs and the caves. The trip was unforgettable and cute. It takes around 20 minutes. After the boat ride you can walk around the cliffs and rocks and enjoy a stunning view. You can even go for a swim at some places or you can go diving. There are also souvenir shops, restaurants and a tower where the entrance is free or you can give them a donation of your choice. The water there is beautifully blue, clean and you can also see jellyfish. I fully recommend.

There are many places you can visit in Malta. For that I would need way more time than just a week. Malta is an amazing place full of activities, beautiful nature, good food and the kindest people.

Book your preferred activities

I’ll give this trip ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

How would you rate this trip?