Visiting Malta

Must have apps when visiting Malta:
Visitmalta.com
Tallinja
WhichBeach
Bolt
MyMalta

Most of the bars and clubs are conveniently located in Paceville/St. Julians, Gzira and in Buġibba, so if you’re staying in those necks of the woods, a night on the town can include numerous stops without the need for transport.

Here are only a few of the best sandy beaches in Malta:

Ghadira Bay. The longest beach in Malta, this bay is accessible by just a few steps. Facilities include snack bars and cafes.

Ghajn Tuffieha Bay (aka Riviera). With over a 100 steps to climb down a hillside path, this bay is renowned as one of the best sandy and protected bays.

Golden Bay. With a 5 star hotel located next to this bay, Golden Bay is especially popular with the tourists residing at this hotel.

Paradise Bay. Situated in the northern part of Malta, this beach is very popular with the younger crowds as a lot of parties and events take place here in the weekends. If you love diving, a school is open right next to the beach all year round.

Ramla l-Hamra. Gozo’s largest and most popular sandy beach comes with bright orange-red coloured sand and beautiful clear waters.

Some of the best rocky beaches in Malta are Anchor Bay, Ghar Lapsi, Marsascala Bay, Marsaxlokk Bay, Mistra Bay, Salina Bay, St Thomas Bay, St Paul’s Bay and the Sliema seafront. In Gozo, Marsalforn Bay and Xlendi are two of the most sought after rocky beaches. In Comino, the Blue Lagoon has the most beautiful scenic views and clearest water out of all the islands.

Valletta: Set on a peninsula overlooking harbours and creeks on both sides, the city replaced Mdina as the nation’s capital. It has a long and illustrious history as a centre of governance and administration for all those who ruled over the archipelago since its establishment after the great siege of 1565.

Modern Valletta is a thriving city. Thanks to its grid layout and small size, the city can easily be explored on foot, and the intrepid adventurer will be well rewarded with expansive views, quaint shops selling all manner of goods, great restaurants, and above all, stunning architecture. Must see Upper and Lower Barakka, The Grand Master Palace, St. Elmo, Lascaris War Rooms, Archaeology, Fine Arts museums.

Mdina: Dive back into time and reacquaint yourself with a classic city. Given its timeless and classic view of past centuries, Mdina’s entrances are one of the most striking entries to a town along with those in Rhodes and Pitigliano. The value of Mdina means there is a restriction in place on the entry of cars, so it remains a silent city due to its very quiet and calm atmosphere brimming with hidden treasures that will entice you with their allure.

Shopping: Sliema Ferries, Tigne Point, Bay Street, Valletta

Comino: Day cruise. Ensure booking includes Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon.

Gozo: Gozo is the epitome of a truly Mediterranean destination. Quaint villages with narrow streets, rustic bars and restaurants serving traditional food (try the local specialities Rabbit or Ravioli stuffed with goat’s cheese) and wine, and a vibrant village life, where time seems to slow down to a crawl. Possibly though, the most quintessentially Mediterranean characteristic of all abounds on this little island – Hospitality. Gozitans are quieter, and more understated than their more egregious Maltese cousins, but their warmth and welcome is the stuff of legend. The City of Victoria in Gozo is a must visit.

The Three Cities: Malta’s Three Cities are Senglea (La Isla), Vittoriosa (Birgu) and Cospicua (Bormla)

Visiting the Three Cities
By Bus
From Valletta, it only takes 15 minutes to drive to the Three Cities . Here are the steps:
Walk to Valletta’s Main Bus Station
Board Buses 1, 2, 3, 5 and 213
Get off at one of the bus stops in Birgu.

How to Use the Public Ferry to the Three Cities, Malta
1.Wherever you are in Valletta, make your way the Upper Barrakka Lift.
This lift connects Upper Barrakka Garden to the Lascaris Ditch. The lift can carry 21 passengers at a time, and is 58 meters high.
2. Go down the lift and walk across the street to the Valletta Waterfront. Take note: Going up the Barrakka lift costs 1 Euro. But if you’re going down the lift to take the ferry, the ticket cost includes the use of lift.
3. Go to the dock and wait for the ferry to arrive. There may be a line up of passengers already.
4. Pay your fare. The return ticket cost is €2.80 per person.
5. Enjoy the ride and the view. The ride takes only 7 minutes, but it’s enough to get a lot of sweeping shots of Valletta and the Three Cities.
6. Arrive at the dock of Cospicua (Bormla).