Cruising the Mediterranean. What may very well be extra romantic? Infinite sunshine. Impossibly blue water. Fascinating ports with chic meals and beautiful umbrella drinks. Malta is an archipelago within the middle of the Mediterranean and would be the spotlight of your voyage.

If you’re the impartial sort, you will see Malta is straightforward and secure to move out by yourself. Public transportation is ubiquitous, environment friendly, and really cheap. As well as, the islands are small, so a automobile isn’t crucial. English is Malta’s second official language, together with Maltese. Most folk communicate English, Maltese, and Italian.

I counsel spending the day in Valletta, Mdina, Victoria, or on a Gozo tour. Selecting only one will probably be difficult. Nonetheless, my strategies will aid you immerse your self in Malta rapidly and get probably the most out of your day ashore in fascinating Malta.

1. Discover Valetta

A Metropolis Expertise

Valetta is the capital of Malta and a UNESCO World Heritage Web site. A lot of Malta’s human historical past has performed out in Valetta and left its mark on the structure, authorities, artwork, and religion.

Valletta is right for sampling the luxurious Mediterranean meals, admiring the artwork, and absorbing some historical past. Get an early begin for a much less crowded encounter. When the ships are in port, Valletta might be jampacked.

Getting There

Out of your cruise ship, stroll to the Upper Barrakka Lift, a few five-minute stroll. Then, by way of quick elevators, you’ll rapidly rise 190 toes to the traditional metropolis of Valletta. The raise is free going up and round €1 coming down.

The Sleeping Lady, a small figurine, at the National Museum of Archeology in Valletta, Malta.

The Sleeping Woman on the Nationwide Museum of Archeology in Valletta, Malta

Mary Charlebois

Go to The Sleeping Woman

The National Museum of Archeology is my glad place in Valletta. House of the Sleeping Woman, a figurine discovered when excavating the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, the museum fantastically presents Malta’s historical past. Prehistory, early historical past, Neolithic, and early Phoenician intervals are illuminated with everlasting and altering reveals.

The museum is quiet and calm. A self-guided tour is obtainable which you can obtain to your smartphone. Tickets are €2.50–5.00.

Hobz biz zejt, a Maltese open-faced sandwich with vegetables.

Hobz biz zejt, or Maltese borchetta. This dish adjustments with the season, however it’s all the time on the menu.

Mary Charlebois

Eat Malta

A meals tour of Valletta is without doubt one of the finest 3 hours of strolling and consuming you may expertise. Maltese meals is contemporary and regionally sourced. Timeless recipes are influenced by the season and historical past. Italy, solely 60 miles away, has a powerful affect on conventional Maltese dishes, as do the Center East, Africa, and Greece.

Offbeat Malta Food Trails is my selection for a meals tour of Valetta. You’ll pattern conventional delicacies and be taught the historical past behind the dishes and Valletta. Ask for Daniela Aquilina as your information. She is a local of Malta, a chef, a historian, and an artisanal chocolate maker at her firm Oil and More.

Triton Fountain in Valletta, Malta.

Triton Fountain in Valletta, Malta

Mary Charlebois

A Stroll In The Shade

Depart Valletta by way of Republic Avenue, by means of the town gates, and throughout Triton Plaza. If it’s early, the plaza could have few individuals within the space. That’s the very best time to get a photograph of the enchanting Triton Fountain. Proceed previous the fountain to the road and cross to admire the Independence Monument.

From there, take a stroll down the tree-lined mall. Superbly sculpted memorial statues honor Malta’s leaders and heroes by means of the ages and create a sculpture backyard. Cease at a bench and watch the world go by. There are church buildings, parks, squares, fountains, and small neighborhoods alongside the way in which. Whenever you attain the top of the mall, flip round and retrace your steps.

Afternoon Refreshment

Earlier than the Triton Plaza, cease into the Phoenicia for a day refreshment. The 5-star resort and resort is the crown jewel of Malta. You’ve gotten a number of selections for meals and libations, inside and outside. A cool beverage on the pool or within the gardens will reveal a “secret view” of Valletta’s ramparts and partitions on a sunny day.

Contained in the resort and within the gardens, you’ll discover a magnificent artwork assortment. The fantastically curated works cowl all genres and a number of other eras. Ask the concierge for steerage as you enter the resort.

Meandering stone passageway in Mdina, Malta.

Meandering passageway in Mdina, Malta

Mary Charlebois

2. Expertise Mdina

Particularly If You Like The Cool And Mysterious

Mysterious Mdina, dwelling for hundreds of years to the Knights of Malta and rich Maltese residents. Its slim passages and twisting streets lined with two-story sandstone buildings and partitions will beckon you to analyze. The Maltese name the walled metropolis of Mdina the “Silent Metropolis” partly due to the strict no-car laws.

Getting There

From the cruise ship terminal, take a direct bus to Mdina; it takes about 26 minutes and prices round €2. It’s also possible to catch a taxi that can take half the time however prices a number of occasions extra.

Professional Suggestions: Use the “journey planning” function for native buses at Malta Public Transport. The app can be downloaded to your smartphone.

In case you determine on a taxi, use the taxi reserving workplace on the Valletta Waterfront walkway. You pay prematurely in your vacation spot on the common fee, then give a voucher to the subsequent driver in line.

Issues To Do In Mdina

Whenever you arrive at Mdina, go to the vacationer data workplace (take the twond proper inside the town gates) for a map. Then, sit within the courtyard and determine which of the quite a few points of interest you’d like to go to. There are church buildings, chapels, museums, ramparts with astounding views, retailers, and eating places. You can do as I did and wander the passageways with no vacation spot in thoughts.

House made burrata cheese from Bacchus in Mdina, Malta.

Home made burrata cheese from Bacchus in Mdina, Malta

Mary Charlebois

Lunch At Bacchus

Bacchus serves the very best Mediterranean meals I’ve had in Malta. I’ve loved the fantastically crafted meals, wonderful service, and historic environment many occasions. Count on a menu that can change each day based on the season. Many issues are made in-house, together with the creamy burrata cheese and charcuterie. Take your time; it’s a spot for an extended, lazy lunch.

The sandstone walls of the Cittadella in Victoria, Gozo, Malta.

The sandstone partitions of the Cittadella in Victoria, Gozo, Malta

Mary Charlebois

3. Take A Deep Historical past Dive At The Citadel In Victoria

Victoria is the capital of Gozo, the principle island of Malta’s little sister to the north. It’s a energetic city of 6,900 and is the biggest city on Gozo. It’s a bustling transportation hub dominated by an imposing citadel, the Cittadella. The sandstone monolith protected residents from pirates and invaders in centuries previous. At this time it’s a beehive of historical past, church buildings, museums, eating places, and retailers.

Getting There

Stroll to the Gozo Fast Ferry terminal out of your cruise ship, only a few minutes alongside the waterfront. Take the high-speed boat to the ferry terminal at Gozo. In entrance of the terminal, board a direct bus to Victoria. The associated fee is round €2 and takes about quarter-hour. Stroll north on Triq That Putirjal to Triq ir-Repubblika. Flip west. The Cittadella is 5 minutes away. It’s the best factor in Victoria.

What To Do

As soon as on the Citadella, go to the customer data workplace (observe indicators). A small payment is charged to go to the middle, together with admission to a number of different Cittadella points of interest. It’s also possible to get a map and determine what you wish to see.

Don’t miss the “historic house” for a well-presented replica of 16th-century life. Gozo Cathedral has a well-known portray that depicts a dome that doesn’t exist. Though there are a number of stairs to climb, go as much as the ramparts. The view is excellent. You may see Gozo, Camino, and Malta.

Stroll The Avenue Market

Depart the Cittadella and cross Triq ir-Repubblika, then cross the plaza the place people are having refreshments and dialog. You’ll see the road market forward. It winds and wanders by means of again streets and squares. It’s a wonderful place to buy regionally made merchandise and souvenirs.

Tuk-tuk tour taxi waiting in Victoria Square, Gozo, Malta.

Tuk-tuk tour taxi ready in Victoria Sq., Gozo, Malta

Mary Charlebois

4. Get Round Gozo In A Tuk-Tuk

In case you’d prefer to get a sampler of Gozo’s magnificence, I counsel a full-day tuk-tuk tour of the island. Yippee, a regionally owned and operated Gozo tour firm, curates chauffeur-driven tuk-tuk excursions, quad excursions, self-drive e-Jeeps, and GoCar explorations. Yippee tour guides and drivers know Gozation tradition, geography, and historical past.

Getting There

Out of your cruise ship, stroll to the Gozo Fast Ferry terminal, only a few minutes alongside the waterfront. Then, take the high-speed boat to the ferry terminal at Gozo. Your Yippee information will meet you on the terminal.

On The Highway

Tuk-tuk excursions are a most of six and a driver. The small automobiles can get to locations the massive tour buses can’t go. You’ll go to villages, cities, cliffs, terraced farms, salt pans, and a Roman laundry. Stops are made ceaselessly together with your consolation in thoughts.

The complete-day excursions embody a Mediterranean lunch at an oceanside café. It’s an exquisite style of the Mediterranean food regimen. After your tuk-tuk tour, you’ll hop aboard Yippee’s boat and sail to Camino Island. There, you may swim and stroll earlier than returning to the Gozo ferry terminal in time to catch your ferry to the Valletta waterfront.

Why Journey Solo?

Getting out by yourself is an journey in a brand new nation. Nonetheless, in case you are prepared to offer it a attempt, Malta is right. Malta and Gozo are tiny islands; it’s exhausting to get misplaced. Malta is 17 miles lengthy by 9 miles large. Gozo is 9.5 miles lengthy by 4.5 miles large. As well as:

  • The nation’s historical past and structure are excellent.
  • Most folk communicate English, Maltese, and Italian.
  • Whereas many avenue names are Maltese, different directional indicators are in English.
  • Public transit is frequent, environment friendly, and cheap.
  • Malta has the bottom crime fee within the EU.
  • Maltese are pleasant and fascinating individuals. They love to speak about their nation and aid you take pleasure in it.

Savor your impartial journey in Malta; it will likely be the spotlight of your cruise. For extra data, go to Visit Malta and Visit Gozo.

To seek out out extra about issues to do in Malta, discover these articles:



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