10 DAYS IN MALTA

Welcome to the ultimate Malta itinerary – the most popular choice nowadays for a summer holiday.

Malta is the prettiest island I’ve seen so far. The water is crystal clear and the pretty streets will take you by surprise. I can say that you’ll see some breathtaking views when visiting Malta.

Did you know that Malta is a popular shooting location? Even the Da Vinci Code and the Orient Express were shot here!

Ultimate travel guide to Malta – 10 amazing things to do in Malta

• Wander around in Valletta

Valletta, the capital city of Malta, was declared as the European Capital of Culture of 2018, making Malta the latest holiday hotspot.

Valletta was recognized by UNESCO World Heritage in 1980. As a result, the city has one of the highest concentrations of historical attractions in the world. Discover the amazing architecture of the St. John’s Co-Cathedral.

One of my most favorite things to do, was visiting the Upper Barakka Gardens. Up here, you have a viewpoint of the Three Cities Birgu (Vittoriosa), Senglea (Isla) and Bormla (Cospicua). From this top we saw a huge yacht and many other amazing boats to look at. If you’re lucky enough, you can watch the canons being set off in the afternoon.

Everywhere you walk, you’ll see some Instagram worthy spots. So make sure you get lost in Valletta!

• Spend the day at the Blue Lagoon

I think this was my favorite place in Malta. My friends and I took a boat in Sliema and were dropped off at the Blue Lagoon. Before arriving at the Blue Lagoon, we stopped at the Elephant Rock. This was so pretty!

Once we arrived at the Blue Lagoon, I couldn’t believe how busy it was over there! So many people …

You’ll find food and drink stalls at the island but believe me it’s necessary because it’s really hot on the island. Make sure you use sunscreen and wear a hat because my friend didn’t and she had a sun stroke. Anyway, it was so beautiful and I was really excited to swim in the Blue Lagoon.

• Blue Grotto caves

The Blue Grotto, known as Taħt il-Ħnejja, is a complex of seven caves along the southern coast of Malta. You would think that the water is photoshopped because of the incredible blue water. It’s one of the most popular and most scenic spots on the island.

Because there are many boats at and in the Blue Grotto, diving and snorkeling is not allowed. However, you can visit a diving excursion and then dive in one of the most famous spots in the Mediterranean Sea, to the wreck of the Um El Faroud.

How to get there? We bought tickets at the ticket booth at the seaside and went with the boat. Expect to spend half a day there. If I can give you one tip, it would be best to visit the Blue Grotto in the morning.

• Mdina, the Silent City

Upon arrival, you’ll see the Mdina Gate which my Game of Thrones fans will immediately recognize. The gate served as the entrance to King’s Landing in the first season. Various scenes were filmed here. If you’d like to do a Game of Thrones tour, I recommend this one: https://www.maltafilmtours.com/game-of-thrones-tour

Walking around in Mdina with all the ancient buildings and cathedrals, it’s like living in another world. The ancient walled city was the previous capital of Malta and remained the same since the 16th century which is crazy! I even witnessed a beautiful wedding when visiting. To see other wedding traditions and how the people were dressed, it was all so dreamy. It makes you want to marry already ..

Until today, it’s still called the Silent City since there is no traffic allowed. It’s a small city so enjoy every single street and take your time to explore Mdina.

• Marsaxlokk

A fishing village full of colorful boats. In Marsaxlokk you’ll catch a glimpse of the authentic Maltese life. In the summer months there is a market in the harbor every day but it’s best to visit the village on Sunday. Sunday is the biggest market, you’ll see local fishermen with their fresh catch. The atmosphere resembles a local feast. It’s quite busy with lots of music, stalls with food and drinks. Make sure you enjoy the views and traditional products!

By the way, if you’re too hot (especially in the summer), you can go for a swim in St. Peter’s Pool.

• Gozo

A perfect place to enjoy your vacation while discovering the beauty of the island. As a Game of Thrones fan I really wanted to see the famous Azure Window but I didn’t get a chance to see it. In 2017, the window collapsed during a storm. Nowadays it’s still known as the Blue Hole and you can swim in it. Make sure to visit the Salt Pans and the Citadel.

• Popeye village

I highly recommend to visit Popeye village. It’s the ideal place for adults as well as for children. Its purpose built film set village was made for the Popeye Musical with Robin Williams in 1980. It’s a small theme park with shows and games. You’ll have so much fun over there! This place is super picturesque and the viewpoint is so unique.

• Sliema

This traditional Maltese town is filled with colorful balconies, a lot of restaurants and pubs and shopping streets. From Sliema, you have an amazing view of Valletta. Everything in Sliema is walkable and it can be very picturesque. Wander along the promenade, enjoy the happy hours and the Maltese cuisine & go to the Point Shopping mall if you like to shop. Or go crazy and get a tattoo like I did (not being a bad influence at all). I don’t know the name of the shop anymore, just his name Marcel. His work was amazing and not expensive at all.

• The Three Cities

In the south of Malta, you will find The Three Cities (Cospicua, Senglea and Vittoriosa). They present the maritime history of Malta. Each city has its own character that distinguishes it from the other places on the island. It’s not a very touristic place so you can admire all the beauty in silence.

• Enjoy the nightlife in Malta

Last but not least, go crazy in Malta and make sure you go enjoy the nightlife. Before I went to Malta, I found this group on Facebook “Malta top events 2019”. In this group you’ll find some great things to do, for example Cafe del Mar and a Latin party in Gianpula Village. I was so happy my friends and I discovered this. You have to buy the tickets in advance because it’s sold out really fast. Enjoy good music with a beautiful view and a lot of drinks. St. Julian’s is also very popular to go out with its variety of bars and nightclubs. We discovered some nice clubs walking around in St. Julian’s.

If you have any other questions about Malta, feel free to ask me!