Review of Malta

Malta my opinion

I went to Malta with an open mind and I give you my opinion in this article as I do in my city or country reviews section. You can find my reviews on Poland, Dubai, Myanmar, Brazil, and also Lisbon there.

My impression of Malta

Places visited: The islands of Malta, Comino, and Gozo Number of days in Malta: 4 days.

I stayed in Valletta, which is the capital of Malta and part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

Review of Valletta: it is an interesting place that you can visit in one or two days depending on what you want to see. What you immediately notice in Valletta is the magnificent architecture.

It is a pleasant place and everything is walkable but it is sometimes a bit hilly.

There are also nice views on the edges of Valletta, it is possible to find a quiet spot to swim otherwise there is the Grand Hotel Excelsior Malta with a superb pool. There are several interesting museums such as those of veterans, an archaeology museum, and also the war museum.

In the evening, Valletta is quite calm; if you want to go out partying or to a good restaurant, you will need to change neighborhoods and go to St Julian / Paceville.

Valletta is a central place on the island where you can catch many buses going in all directions. It is a quiet place where life is pleasant and everything is doable on foot. The city is beautiful at night.

Review of the island of Malta

Transportation on the island of Malta: I used several means to get around Malta, including the bus and the car.

The car can be a good way to get around the island except from Sliema to St Julian or Paceville where traffic is very dense.

You can also use the hop on hop off bus to get to the island’s tourist spots as it follows its route (more than 10 euros for the day).

For a more economical option, use the bus, a little less than 2 euros for a day ticket but it is not valid in the evening. However, the buses are inconsistent and you will need to be patient.

My impression is that at the terminus in Valletta, it seems easier to catch the bus but maybe I was lucky.

Place	To see	Duration
Valletta	St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Upper Barrakka Gardens	1-2 days
Mdina + Rabat	Silent city, catacombs	1 day
Three Cities (Birgu, Senglea, Cospicua)	Medieval architecture, ports	Half-day
Gozo	More authentic island, cliffs	1-2 days
Comino + Blue Lagoon	Turquoise lagoon	Half-day
Marsaxlokk	Fishing village, Sunday market	Half-day
Hagar Qim (temples)	UNESCO site, 5,600 years old	2-3 h

Malta is quite hilly, so I do not recommend getting around by bike; renting a car can be a good solution. Places or sites I visited on the island of Malta:

• Mdina is a fortified city that was formerly the capital of Malta. It is quite a fun visit where you can get around by carriage or on foot. This place offers one of the most beautiful views on the island.

• The south coast of Malta by Segway, although the coast of Malta is very pretty, I would only recommend it if you have the time. It is better to go to Comino if you want to see coastal landscapes.

• Valletta and St John’s Cathedral, which is a place not to be missed there.

Although I spent more time on the island of Malta, I was much more impressed by Gozo and also Comino. I will tell you about them later.

Safety in Malta: I walked around several nights in Valletta and also in Paceville / St Julian’s. There are no safety issues. However, when coming back from a night out, you can always have bad encounters.

Living in Malta: It is not a place for backpackers, but if you want to work and live there for a few months, it is possible. I saw many ads for small jobs.

You can go there to improve your English and/or work there for a summer. There are many language schools in St Julian’s.

Life in Malta is cheaper than in France, and living there for a few months can be a good way to see something different and live abroad. However, I don’t see myself staying there because it’s not exotic enough for me.

There are many young people who come to learn English by doing language stays; the age range is mostly from adolescence to the mid-twenties.

Malta is more focused on “cultural places,” there are very few nice beaches on the main island of Malta. So if you go there for the beach, you will be disappointed, however, the weather is pleasant almost all year round. Furthermore, Malta was the European Capital of Culture in 2018.

Accommodation in Malta: There are 3 accommodation options in Malta:

• Stay in Valletta, which is the historic center of the city; you won’t have to walk much to do the sightseeing or everything is accessible because it is the center. It is more suited for couples or elderly people who want a pleasant, calm, and quiet atmosphere. Here are the accommodations in Valletta.
• Stay in St Julian or Paceville, closer to bars or nightclubs, language schools to learn English. It is more suited for young people or solo travelers who want to meet others or go out at night. These are very lively neighborhoods, accommodations are cheaper, some prices are more for small budgets. Here are the accommodations in St Julian.
• Other places on the island corresponding to specific activities like Silemna, St Paul’s Bay, living with a local family, etc. This is the least accessible and less traditional accommodation choice.

If you want to choose your own accommodation in Malta, here is a site for selecting the best accommodations: See accommodations in Malta here.

The island of Gozo in Malta

(Summary, I will write a more complete article later) My opinion on Gozo: Gozo is much smaller than Malta. You feel less oppressed. There are many places to visit; I personally used the hop on hop off bus to get around. It is better to leave early in the morning because you have to take the boat at the northwest of the island to get there (allow 3 hours round trip).

The last boat back is around 4 pm, so it’s better not to miss it.

What to visit or do in three places in Gozo:

• The Ġgantija Temples which are UNESCO World Heritage sites dating back to more than 3000 BC.

• Go to the coasts to see the Azure Window which is an impressive place and go out to sea.

• The Citadel of Gozo in Victoria.

One possible solution if you have more than 3 days is to stay on the island of Gozo, which is a small Malta. The island of Gozo has its own particularities and differs greatly from the main island. It is quieter and more peaceful. If you want to see accommodations in Gozo: here is the link to the best accommodations in Gozo.

The island of Comino in Malta:

Comino is a small island, it’s worth it if you want peace and to walk around the island, but there is no marked trail. I walked around the island in two to three hours.

There are a lot of people upon arrival at Comino but if you decide to walk a bit around the island, you will meet few people. If you like walking and pretty beaches, go there because these are the most beautiful beaches in Malta, in my opinion.

The boat to get there costs 10 euros. There are beautiful spots on this island but if you only stay three days in Malta, it’s better to stay on the main island or go to Gozo because it takes about three hours by bus/boat round trip from Valletta and there are few things to do on this island but it is nevertheless calm and pretty and that’s what I liked.

Malta holidays review

If you want a sunny holiday, a few days in Malta is ideal for you. This way, you can practice your English, visit the cultural center of Valletta and the various historical monuments such as Mdina or the churches and cathedrals. However, if you want the beach, you will have to go to the island of Comino. For landscapes, you can visit the Popeye village or the Dingli Cliffs, watching a sunset can be very nice.

My conclusion and recommendation on Malta:

I recommend staying 3 to 5 days for Malta (Gozo 1 or 2 days and the island of Malta 3 or 4 days). If you want to go to Comino, add another day (Relaxation). You can even stay 2 weeks or more if you take an English language course service.

It is easier to get around with the Hop on Hop Off bus but if you have a smaller budget, go by bus; however, start your visits as early as possible in the day.

If you come to Malta, it’s to enrich yourself culturally. Except for Comino, the beaches are limited.

To extend the Mediterranean adventure, cheap destinations in Europe lists Mediterranean alternatives. A short tour of Malta gives more local details. And to compare with another Mediterranean island, the most beautiful islands in the world compares island destinations.

If you want information or guides, follow the link:

And you? What did you think of Malta?

This article is published following my participation in Blog Island Malta organized by iambassador in partnership with Malta Tourism Authority and Air Malta.

I wrote my feedback on my experiences in Malta and I retain full control over the published content.