Since the archipelago is not large, it can be explored quickly. My plane departed on Tuesday afternoon (February 25) and returned late Thursday evening. This gave me two days, which I made the most of. As usual, I was on the move from morning until evening, and I managed to see all the important sights except for one.

I booked a room through Airbnb in the town of Ta’ Xbiex. This is in a fairly central location, close to Valletta and just a few minutes from Route 1 (the main road with many buses).

Public Transportation

In Malta, buses are the main form of public transportation, and the Tallinja card is the simplest solution. There’s a four-day pass (19 euros) that allows unlimited travel. There are two machines in the arrival hall at the airport where you can easily purchase one. When boarding the bus, you need to tap the card on the sensor next to the driver.

There are numerous bus routes, making it easy to get anywhere. However, you need to flag down the bus, otherwise it won’t stop! Buses depart on time from their starting stations, but due to the heavy traffic on the roads, they almost never keep to the schedule. Timetables can be found on the website.

Weather

Although the Mediterranean Sea makes the temperature pleasant even in winter (it was 15-17 degrees Celsius), the weather can be very erratic. It can cloud over and pour with rain in a matter of moments. Then after a few minutes, it stops and the sun comes out. I experienced this several times on Thursday.

The wind often blows, which can make it feel cool when it’s cloudy. It’s good to have an extra sweater with you in case the weather turns worse.

Wednesday

Mellieħa

The Blue Lagoon and Gozo Island were planned for this day, but I got off in this town to look around. It’s a pleasant little town, with a nice church and a beautiful view of the Għadira Bay. It’s worth stopping for a coffee.

Next to the town is one of Malta’s most popular beaches, Għadira. In summer and in brilliant sunshine it’s surely beautiful, but now it was deserted, making it „just” an average sandy beach.

Popeye Village

This attraction is near Mellieha, and bus 101 goes there (I boarded at the Ghadira stop, from there it’s about 10 minutes).

The Popeye musical, which was released in the 1980s, was filmed here, with the film studio building a small village. Fortunately, they kept it and turned it into an adventure park. It’s situated in a very beautiful environment, and it’s worth coming here even just for a few photos. With children, it’s worth going inside too.

From here I traveled by bus 101 to the Cirkewwa ferry terminal.

Blue Lagoon

Between the main island and Gozo is Comino, where the most beautiful beach on the island is located. Cruise boats depart frequently from Cirkewwa and Marfa ferry terminals, and tickets can be purchased on site. Several buses go here, making it easy to reach by bus.

The boats also pass by the rocks on the coast of Comino, which can be seen in various forms with large caves. They dock in the Santa Maria Bay, from where the lagoon is about 1.2 km on foot. There is a small incline along the way, but the view is worth the walk!

Even in winter, with sunny-cloudy weather, the water is wonderful. There are several food stalls on the beach. Some people ventured into the water; judging by their squeals, the water wasn’t warm. 🙂

Since several ferries to Gozo were canceled due to the windy weather, I traveled back to Cirkewwa.

Gozo

This is Malta’s westernmost member, with its center being Rabat. There are regular ferry services from Cirkewwa to the island, and tickets can be purchased at the ports. The harbor on Gozo is in the settlement of Mġarr, from where bus 301 runs to Rabat.

The Citadel rises in the northern part of the town. It would have been a shame to miss this trip! The town itself is beautiful, but the fortress and the view from there are wonderful. You can walk around the city wall, giving you excellent panoramic views in all directions.

I also looked inside the St. George’s Church in the Old Town, where the entrance fee is 3 euros. The interior is extremely decorated, well worth this amount.

From here I sailed back to the main island and took the X1 bus to my accommodation.

Thursday

On this day, only the main island was on the program, primarily the capital, Valletta, and the former center, Mdina.

Before traveling to the capital, I took a short walk towards Sliema. From here there is a very nice view of Valletta and the harbor filled with yachts.

Valletta

I traveled by bus from my accommodation to the main bus station, which is right at the gate of the Old Town. Since I didn’t want to carry my bag all day, I left it in a luggage storage (PR Luggage Storage, information can be found on their website). The fee is 5 euros for five hours, with each additional hour costing 1 euro. You need to select the duration and can pay by card. If it stays in longer, you have to pay the difference.

The Old Town is very beautiful, with many hilly streets. I really enjoyed wandering around, and it’s worth strolling through the stepped streets. The colorful bay windows on the houses are interesting and make for a very pretty sight.

I went all the way to the fort on the shore, and then along the entire seafront. There’s a very good view of the „three cities” opposite (Birgu, Kalkara, Isla), especially from the Upper Barrakka Gardens.

Mdina

In the old capital there is a fortress similar to Rabat on Gozo. Several bus routes run here (51, 52, 53), and the journey takes about half an hour.

I can say the same about this as about the Citadel in Rabat. Great views, wonderful buildings, atmospheric alleys. From the city wall, you can see the northern part, and Valletta was clearly visible.

Back to Valletta and out to the airport

I returned to the capital in brilliant sunshine, so I was able to take many good pictures. I went to the luggage storage and took bus X4 out to the airport.

Summary

I have a positive opinion of Malta. Nice people, beautiful sights, and a pleasant atmosphere characterize the island. I got more than I expected. True, the weather was erratic, but it didn’t significantly affect my program.

In terms of price levels, it’s a little more expensive than Hungary. I experienced similar things in the shop and in the restaurant, but the difference is not terrible.

Malta in TikTok video

A Two days in Malta bejegyzés először Tips for journey-én jelent meg.

One of the most exciting islands in Europe. As it lies between Sicily and Africa, it is a blend of European and Arab influences.

I spent two days in Malta, you can read a report about it here!

Attractions in Malta

Valletta

The capital’s city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its location is already fantastic, bordered by city walls on the southwest and by the sea on the other sides.

The city is entered through the City Gate, comprising a larger central and two smaller side arches.

An interesting spot is the Barrakka Gardens atop the city walls, offering splendid views of the sea and the adjacent neighborhood. An elevator takes you down to the harbor.

Popular attractions include the Grandmaster’s Palace, known for the knight armors of the Order of St. John displayed in its corridors. The building hosts the Maltese Parliament and the President’s office.

The city’s largest religious building is St. John’s Co-Cathedral, home to Caravaggio’s paintings, including his famous „The Beheading of Saint John”.

At the city’s „tip” is Fort Saint Elmo, built in the 15th century. It now operates as a museum, housing many memorabilia, especially from World War II.

Argotti Botanical Gardens

Located on the way to Valletta in the small town of Floriana, these gardens feature massive oleanders, oak trees, and thousands of cacti. The garden offers beautiful views of the surroundings.

One of the villas hosts the Horticulture Museum, showcasing gardening tools, records, and documents.

Birgu

Opposite Valletta’s port side is Birgu (also known as Citta Vittoriosa), where the Inquisitor’s Palace is the main attraction. Like its Spanish counterpart, it was a site of torture for heretics – not for the faint-hearted.

In a side street, you can find the Executioner’s House, needless to say, what it displays.

But it’s also worth getting lost in the narrow, winding streets, which exude a great atmosphere.

Rinella Fort

Located northeast of Birgu, it houses the world’s largest cannon. The British built it in the late 19th century in response to an Italian naval threat. The defense was successful.

Mediterraneo Marine Park

Located between Valletta and Qawra, this marine park features dolphin shows, sea lion shows, and parrot shows. Swimming with dolphins and viewing various other animal species are also available.

Mdina

The former capital showcases Arabic architecture. The city is surrounded by stone walls, as many religious and knightly orders settled here, leaving behind many cultural relics.

Its main attraction is St. Paul’s Co-Cathedral, a counterpart to the St. John’s Cathedral in Valletta.

Bastion Square, the highest point of the city, offers excellent views of a large part of the country.

Marsaxlokk

A fishing village in the southeast known for its colorful fishing boats, luzzus. It supplies a large part of Malta’s seafood. During the week, fish are transported to Valletta, and on Sundays, they serve the local market.

Don’t miss the market and the string of restaurants around the harbor.

Popeye Village

The set of the 1980 film „Popeye” is located on the northwestern coast. Not demolished after filming, tourists can see the original 20 buildings.

The set looks beautiful from the sea, lying in a bay and surrounded by cliffs.

Qawra

This town is located in the northern part of the island, forming one of Malta’s main tourist areas together with the adjacent Buġibba. A scenic seaside promenade stretches almost throughout, making it an ideal choice for a tranquil and picturesque relaxation.

The Malta National Aquarium is also situated on the waterfront.

Golden Bay

Located near the town of Manikata, Golden Bay features a fine, light brown sandy beach with gradually deepening waters. It’s a haven for water sports enthusiasts, offering activities like surfing and water skiing.

Mellieha Beach

Located in the northwest corner of the island, this bay is considered by many to be the best and most beautiful beach in Malta.

It has fine sand and the sea deepens very slowly, making it an excellent choice for families with small children.

Splash and Fun Water Park

Directly next to the Mediterraneo Park, combining the two provides an excellent full-day program for kids.

It’s a good choice for all ages, offering not just slides but various other fun equipment. The „dark tunnel” slide, where you slide down in a large tube through a covered slide, is one of the best.

Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum

This underground burial temple in Paola, dating from 3300-2500 BC, is a complex, multi-level labyrinth carved into limestone, featuring over twenty chambers. It was used to inter about 6-7000 people.

Note that photography is prohibited, children under six are not allowed, and only 10 visitors are admitted per hour!

Gozo Island

The northwesternmost island is full of attractions and great restaurants. Ferries to Gozo depart from the Cirkewwa station in the northwestern tip of the main island.

Perhaps the most famous natural sight of Gozo was the Azure Window, a rock arch, which unfortunately collapsed in early 2017 due to a storm and can now only be seen in pictures.

The island’s center is Rabat (also known as Victoria). Its main attraction is the Citadel, which houses the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, the Archaeological Museum, the Ethnography Museum, the Natural Science Museum, and an armory.

The most beautiful beach is Ramla Bay, known for its orange sand and shallow turquoise water. A notable feature on the beach is a statue of the Virgin Mary.

The Ġgantija temple ruins are very well-preserved archaeological buildings. The site also features prehistoric archaeological finds.

The Xewkija Rotunda is Gozo’s largest church, with a dome that is the third-largest in the world. Its impressive size can be seen from afar.

The Ta’ Cenc cliffs are the highest rock walls on the island. The view is fantastic, and a visit is highly recommended.

Comino

This small island lies between Malta and Gozo. Its size is evident by the fact that it only has two hotels.

The main reason tourists visit Comino by boat is the Blue Lagoon. Don’t imagine a long beach; this stunning cove has about 10 meters of shoreline, but the color of the water and the surroundings make the trip worthwhile.

Regular boats to the island depart from the Cirkewwa station. Schedule and prices can be found here!

Weather

The climate is Mediterranean, characterized by mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. Most of the year, the weather is dominated by clear skies and brilliant sunshine. The summer heat is mitigated by almost constant northwestern winds. Occasionally, hot and extremely humid air currents from the Sahara, which make cooling down difficult, interrupt this. This wind is called xlokk in Malta, but it rarely occurs in extreme degrees.

Summer usually ends in late September when air currents from the Atlantic Ocean reach the islands.

The Maltese winter is defined by alternating European cold, Saharan heat, and Atlantic cool air masses. Snow can fall during colder periods, but frost is unknown on the islands.

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