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Discovering Malta: Magic in the Mediterranean
Published on June 11, 2025
Though Malta hadn’t been on my radar for long, as soon as I started researching this beautiful country I knew I had to plan a visit ASAP. This tiny, one-of-a-kind island nation is brimming with history and never-ending ocean views (just my style)! If it weren’t so far away, I’d have gone back already. Until then, I’ll be dreaming of returning with someone I can share the next adventure with, and encouraging everyone I know to experience the magic of Malta for themselves.
Day 1
If you’re looking for a central and convenient base in Malta, I’d absolutely recommend staying in the town of Sliema, where I stayed for the first few days of my trip. My accommodation was just a short walk to the ferry to Valletta, Malta’s capital city (and the smallest capital city in all of Europe!). The ferry runs every 30 minutes only takes about 5-10 minutes, offering a scenic and efficient way to access the capital. I genuinely looked forward to these peaceful rides throughout my stay! Given that driving in Malta is on the left side of the road (opposite of what I’m used to), I opted not to rent a car and relied instead on their public transit system, ferries, and car-sharing services like Bolt.
My first full day in Malta was the perfect introduction to this small island’s beauty and culture. After enjoying breakfast at Busy Bee Café, I hopped onto one of Malta’s famous vintage buses and headed to the historic town of Mdina. For information about the bus schedule and fares, click here.
Known as the “Silent City”, Mdina is a fortified, car-free town and a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. You might also recognize it as King’s Landing from the Game of Thrones TV series. Because I love starting trips with a good walking tour, I explored Mdina and its neighboring city, Rabat, with Ben on this free (tips-based) walking tour. He also hosts walking tours of Valletta and the Three Cities, which are just as worthwhile! For a similar experience with additional availability, check out this guided tour of Mdina and Rabat, and these tours of Valletta and the Three Cities.
After becoming acquainted with some Maltese history, culture, and politics, I decided it was time to try pastizzi, a savoury Maltese pastry traditionally filled with ricotta or mushy curried peas. I went to Is-Serkin, the most popular spot in Malta to try this unique treat. Just down the street at Chez Eman, you can try another Maltese staple, ftira, a traditional sourdough flatbread bread typically filled with tuna, olives, tomatoes, and other Mediterranean staples.
On the way back from Mdina, I stopped at the San Anton Gardens, and am so glad I did! I’ve developed a real love for strolling through public parks and botanical gardens while traveling, and this one was no exception. The shaded pathways provided some welcome relief from the sun, and the peacocks roaming freely were a delightful surprise!
Once back in Sliema, I walked along the waterfront to Tigné Point, where you’ll find a small rocky beach and a stunning view of Valletta across the water. I wrapped up the day with a traditional Maltese dinner at Ta’Kris restaurant, a cozy spot I would definitely recommend.
Day 2
After a wonderful introduction to Malta, next on my list was exploring the capital city of Valletta. I caught a morning ferry and enjoyed coffee and a bite to eat in the Upper Barrakka Gardens. These gardens offer a one of the best views of Malta’s Grand Harbour, and are known for the Saluting Battery, where cannons fire daily at 12pm and 4pm (excluding Sundays and public holidays). I spent the rest of my morning walking Valletta’s notably steep streets and making my way to the Lower Barrakka Gardens, another beautiful escape in the middle of the city overlooking the harbour and towns across the water.
While in Valletta, I highly recommend reserving a couple of hours to visit St. John’s Co-Cathedral. It’s open from 9am to 4:15pm daily (excluding Sundays and public holidays) and requires the purchase of a ticket to enter. Its ornate interior is breathtaking and contrasts starkly with its plain exterior façade. After visiting this catherdral, you’ll officially be 1/359th of the way to visiting every church in Malta. I think that’s a pretty impressive number of churches for such a small country!
On the opposite side of Valletta from the Sliema ferry terminal, you’ll find water taxis (traditional gondola-style boats) as well as a ferry that will take you across to the Three Cities. I opted for a water taxi, and highly recommend it. It’s a charming and memorable way to cross the harbour for only 3 euros! The ride drops you off in front of the St Lawrence Collegiate Church in Birgu, one of the Three Cities.
Speaking of these “Three Cities”, I was confused at first by the different names used for them, so here’s a quick tip to save you the same trouble: Vittoriosa is also known as Birgu, Senglea is also known as Isla, and Cospicua is also known as Bormla. To get to know them better, I joined a walking tour, which was a great way to learn about the area. Afterward, I grabbed a bite to eat at Tar-Rixu, a casual spot located on the waterfront in Senglea.
Day 3
After spending the last couple of days exploring Malta on foot, I was more than ready to experience the island from the water and to finally dive into the crystal-clear sea!
I started the morning with a stroll along the Dingli Cliffs before heading to Mellieħa for a half-day (4-hour) boat cruise. The cruise included swimming and snorkeling stops around the Gozo Harbour and Comino Island, with highlights such as Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, Santa Marija Bay, and a visit to the Santa Maria Caves. If you’re looking for a full-day option or a departure point closer to where you’re staying, you’re in luck – there are plenty of companies offering a variety of boat tours to suit your schedule and interests!
This activity was the perfect way to soak up the sun and experience Malta’s natural beauty from a different perspective. If boats aren’t your thing and you’d rather unwind on land, nearby spots like Paradise Bay, Golden Bay, and Qarraba Bay are beautiful optinos to relax and enjoy the sun, sand, and sea.
Day 4
Malta is an archipelago made up of five islands, three of which are inhabited: Malta, Comino, and Gozo. Over the last days, I’d explored the first two, and this day was all about adventuring third, Gozo. Ferries run hourly between Valletta and Gozo, and the journey takes 45 minutes. Be sure to book your tickets in advance!
To make the most of my time on Gozo, I booked a hop-on-hop-off bus ticket, which was a convenient and cost-effective way to see the major attractions. The buses ran regularly and I appreciated the flexibility they provided throughout the day. Some of my favorite stops included Victoria, Gozo’s capital city known for its medieval citadel with fortified walls, Ta’Pinu, a stunning church with a reputation for miracles, and the scenic bays of Ramla and Xlendi. If you’re planning to visit Gozo, I recommend dedicating a full day to explore everything it has to offer.
After a short nap on the ferry ride back to Valletta, I ended the day with a meal at Zero Sei Trattoria Romana. Nothing pairs better with a day of exploring than a hearty plate of pasta!
Day 5
Toward the end of the week, I moved accommodations to experience a quieter side of the island, and ended up staying at what quickly became one of my all-time favourite hotels: Palazzo Castagna. Read my honest review of this hotel here!
After dropping off my bags, I headed to the Marsaxlokk Sunday Market around 8:30am, and it was already buzzing with people! From there, I caught a bus to Marsaskala with the goal of walking along Malta’s southern coast all the way to St. Peter’s Pool, then looping back to Marsaxlokk. The views along the way were incredible, and the walk from Marsaskala to St. Peter’s Pool took just under two hours.
In the afternoon, I ventured to the village of Wied iż-Żurrieq on the southeast coast of Malta to visit the famous Blue Grotto. I spent some time swimming in the dazzling cobalt water before jumping on a 25-minute boat tour that provided up-close access to the sea caves and dramatic rock formations. If you’re up for a short climb, a 10-minute walk from the village leads to a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the Blue Grotto, which was an unforgettable sight.
Since I was staying near a traditional fishing village, it only made sense to end the day with a fresh seafood dinner. The octopus carpaccio at Roots Restaurant was incredible, and I still think about that dish to this day.
Day 6
On my last day in Malta, I opted for a slower pace and spent the morning lounging by the rooftop pool at my hotel. After a full week of exploring, it was just what I needed. If your accommodation doesn’t have a pool, Malta also has several lidos to check out, such as Manta, The Edge, and 1926 La Plage, where you can relax on a sunbed by the pool with food, drinks, and views overlooking the sea or a bay. Of course, being on an island, there’s always a beach or rocky cove nearby if you’d rather a swim in the sea. One thing about Malta is that there’s certainly no shortage of beautiful spots if you want to lay out in the sun or take a dip in that crystal-clear water.
After a week of ferry rides, coastal hikes, churches, markets, caves, swimming, and pastizzi, my final day felt like the perfect way to unwind and take it all in. Malta was completely captivating. I left rested and sunkissed, and already dreaming about going back.
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