As much as I love going away with Lu, sometimes it just feels good to go somewhere by myself. Okay okay I didn´t go all by myself. I went with the other most important male in my life right now. So Lu stayed at school and I burned all my remaining holiday days from 2018. Yup, there is always a first and so I had quite a couple of those days left. Why Malta? It is south enough to be much warmer than Germany and it seemed like a unique place due to its cultural mix & Arabic influence. And also, because I was never there before. It is always more exciting to go somewhere we´ve never been to before, don´t you think?

USEFUL INFORMATIONFOR TRAVELLING TO MALTA

DRIVING & TRANSPORT IN MALTA

We flew to Malta from HANOVER via MUNICH with LUFTHANSA, because unfortunately this is the only real connection we have from here. If you are closer to an airport with LOW-COST AIRLINES connections then you can get a much cheaper ticket. Malta is quite small so it is easy to explore the island with a RENTED CAR. If you are not so keep on DRIVING ON THE LEFT, you can very easily do the same by taking the PUBLIC BUS. A 7-DAY BUS PASS costs only 21€, single ticket in wintertime is 1,5€ (valid for 2hrs including connections), in the main season it is 3€. Bus stops are practically everywhere and it is kind of an experience on its own, you know, for people watching.

We decided to RENT A SCOOTER. Even though it was February, it was warm enough to do that. The only problem was, that we had to go all the way to either Valetta or Sliema / St. Giljan to rent one. So we used the buses a couple of times as well.

The absolute PRIVILEGE OF A SCOOTER is that you can overtake all the cars in a traffic jam and you can park it everywhere. And there were quite a lot of those – in the winter they seem to be repairing lots of roads, to make them ready for the summer. We came everywhere with it and paid only 45€ for 4 days. Note that the rent prices go up a lot in the summer.

ACCOMMODATION IN MALTA

We booked our accommodation in BIRZEBUGGA – a TYPICAL MALTESE STONE HOUSE with a TERRACE on top, via AIRBNB. For 4 nights we paid around 200€, but that might be more expensive in the main season. Birzebugga is extremely quiet and seems to be far less touristy as some other places. We did not want to stay in Valetta, St. Giljan or Sliema, as those seemed so busy and loud and full of BIG HOTELS. Malta is a relatively small island so it doesn´t really matter which area you are staying at, you can explore the island without having to change hotels.

FOOD IN MALTA

In the 5 days we were there we ate a lot of SEAFOOD and a lot of STARTERS – delicious BRUSCHETTAS, FRIED CALAMARI, CLAMS, really good BREAD, FTIRA, CHEESE (try the local sheep cheese called Gbejniet), SALADS, OLIVES, CAPERS, accompanied by a refreshing CISK LOCAL BEER or MALTESE WINE. You can basically survive only with these yummy starters. As for MAIN DISHES, the delicacies include FRIED RABBIT, MALTESE SAUSAGE and OCTOPUS. If you have a sweet tooth, try KANNOLI or CASSATA for desert.

There are lots of little MARKETS on every corner, also open on Sundays. And although they look rather small, you´d be surprised you can really find almost anything in there. We had our own kitchen so we never went out for BREAKFAST and buying things for dinner was an easy one. A proper lunch /dinner for two with wine or beer was between 40-60€, which is much less than back home.

WHAT TO SEE & DO IN MALTA

BIRZEBBUGA | quiet little town in the SE of Malta

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BIRZEBUGGA is a very QUIET LITTLE VILLAGE, we would have probably not visited if we had not stayed there. It had everything one needs otherwise, a SANDY BEACH in the main bay called PRETTY BAY, RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, BUS STATIONS, even a huge CHILDREN´S PLAYGROUND and a nice bay for FISHERMAN´S BOATS towards the end of the town.

MARSAXLOKK | traditional colorful fishing village with iconic Luzzu boats

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This small FISHERMAN´S VILLAGE was just around the corner from Birzebugga, so we visited quite often. Marsaxklokk is most famous for its HARBOUR, dotted with TRADITIONAL COLORFUL BOATS, called LUZZU.

It is also a great place for an afternoon drink, walk around the town or lunch / dinner at one of the many many SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS. And of course there is a CHURCH as well. We heard that there are 365 CHURCHES on Malta. One for each day of the year. From here, it is easy to reach other places like ST. PETER´S POOL, REMARKABLE STONES, KALANKA BAY, GHAR DALAM CAVE and more.

ST. PETER´S POOL | amazing cliffs, rocks, bays and natural swimming pools

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After a short drive from Marsaxlokk on a pretty bumpy road we stopped at a smaller PARKING and continued on FOOT. The place does feel a little bit off the beaten track and the road is really very narrow at the last part, so it only fits one car at a time. Again, the scooter scored plus point here. Coming with a BUS, you will ahve to walk about 30min from the closesst BUS STOP.

This little ROCKY BAY is supposed to be a great spot for SWIMMING and SNORKELLING in the summer, but only when the sea isn´t rough. The views are beautiful though, especially in the SUNSET SUNLIGHT. You can walk around on the top of the cliffs, just around the corner you find another great spot, the so-called REMARKABLE STONES.

REMARKABLE STONES | wild coast with eroded rocks and carved pools

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Along the right side looking at St. Peter´s Pool you can continue to this amazing place full of ERODED STONES all shapes and sizes and little CARVED POOLS. You can walk the coastline to FURTHER BAYS, where you can possibly SWIM in the summer as well.

We spend the last DAYLIGHT hour of our day here and it was a good time to visit, with only a few other visitors admiring the rocks.

COMINO ISLAND | day trip from Cirkewwa

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We also did a DAY TRIP to this little island, situated BETWEEN GOZO and MALTA. It was another perfect sunny day and the island is just big enough for a RELAXED EASY HIKE all around it. Not to mention its famous BLUE LAGOON, which alone is worthy of a visit. There is a separate POST about Comino, you can READ IT by clicking on the button below.

read more about COMINO

BLUE CAVE | scenic cliffs and Blue Grotto cave

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One day we drove up the WEST COAST and we first stopped at this beautiful spot. THE BLUE GROTTO CAVE was just as impressive to look at from the top of the cliff. There is a parking at the BLUE WALL AND GROTTO VIEWPOINT. If you want you can also drive down and take a BOAT TOUR which takes you along the cliffs and inside the cave.

HAGAR QIM | interesting archaeological site and temples

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This MEGALITHIC TEMPLE COMPLEX is one of the best preserved temples of such kind and therefore also an UNESCO World Heritage Site. For 10€ per person we bought a COMBINED TICKET which allowed us to see the remains of HAGAR QIM as well as the MNAJDRA TEMPLE further down the coast.

After a 4D show and a walk through the MUSEUM part, we continued outside towards the TEMPLE, which is covered for protection. We also took the free AUDIO GUIDE and learned a few interesting facts while visiting. Even if you are not really a history freak you will probably enjoy this place, so go for it if you have time.

MNAJDRA | a smaller temple historical site

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Just a short walk down the path you reach ANOTHER TEMPLE COMPLEX, which is also under UNESCO. Just as Hagar Qim, the remains are protected under a huge tent. Although quite similar to the other complex, it is still interesting to walk around the former temple rooms.

DINGLI CLIFFS | wonderfull cliffs on the western side of Malta

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The cliffs extend over a larger area on the WEST COAST of the island, from the village DINGLI to the BLUE GROTTO. These cliffs mark the HIGHEST POINT on Malta, with over 250m above sea level. They must be beautiful to see form a BOAT, but the VIEWS from the top are magnificent as well.

Along the road, there are numerous places and VIEWPOINTS to stop and enjoy the views. Sometimes we spotted broken cars that fell over the cliffs, sometimes something more joyful, like this awesome pool.

Towards the end of the cliffs, close to DINGLI VILLAGE, there is a LITTLE CHAPEL as well and a RESTAURANT serving tasty food with a sea breeze.

There was a lot of ROAD WORKS going on on the streets of many towns, so we sometimes took the little narrow ways, which was perfect with the scooter. And everything was blooming so the countryside was anyway nicer than the busy towns.

ST. PAUL´S CATACOMBS, RABAT | impressive underground tombs

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I have to admit, this was a nice surprise. I don´t even remember when was the last time I visited CATACOMBS, so this felt like a new experience. The whole site is very well organized and good maintained, with lots of INFORMATION and funny extras like funny facts signs to read while you pee on the toilet.

This UNDERGROUND ROMAN CEMETARY is quite a big site and if you want to go into every single one of the catacombs it will take you some time before you are finished. The catacombs are named after a CHURCH close-by. And there were beautiful CHERRY TREES blooming in the middle of February! Did I already mention it felt like spring :).

MDINA | one of the most beautidul walled cities in Europe

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One of Europe´s FINEST OLD WALLED CITIES used to be a part of a Roman city called MELITA and it is a place you should not miss visiting while on Malta. Actually this was one of our favourite spots. The CARFREE centre is nice to walk around, with NARROW STREETS and HOUSES with beautifulBALCONIES. The buildings are really nicely renovated but keeping that OLD CHARM.

This BAROQUE CATHEDRAL is one of the most visible sights in Mdina. You might think it is just another church (and there are really many many churches on Malta), but this one is actually worth going in.

We also shortly visited the CATHEDRAL MUSEUM, facing the cathedral´s entrance. Inside one can see ARTWORKS and other things that used to be located in the cathedral.

If you are looking for a restaurant with a great view, head to FONTANELLA TEA GARDEN. Or just walk around the WALLS here around, you´ll get pretty much the same VIEWS all the way to the sea at the northern side of the island.

The WALLS OF MDINA from the outside. There is one big ENTRANCE into the old city, as well as several smaller ones. This was a great place to spend an afternoon.

SAN GILJAN & SLIEMA | lively towns for people who like parties and entertainment

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Besides RENTING THE SCOOTER here, we did not do much, but just driving through the are a couple of times gave us some first impressions. Lots and lots of BARS and RESTAURANTS, TOURIST AGENCIES offering DAY TRIPS, SHOPS and so on and so on. It might be the best place in Malta if you are looking for fun NIGHTS OUT. There are also a couple of MARINAS for the boats and bays to chill at the sea. But the traffic is quite busy, if you have a car you can easily get stuck.

GHADIRA BAY, MELLIEHA | nice long sandy beach and peacefull atmosphere

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We stopped here just shortly ON THE WAY FROM COMINO ISLAND as the BEACH seemed pretty nice. WHITE SAND and lots of space, but maybe it is different in the summer. There seemed to be a lot of HOTELS and RESTAURANTS nearby too, so this might be a good place to stay.

POPEYE VILLAGE | Popeye musical movie set

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This is another interesting stop if you are on the way to or from Gozo or Comino island. Not so far from CIRKEWWA ferry terminal you can visit this FILM SET OF THE 1980 MUSICAL `POPEYE´. It looks like a THEME PARK of some sort, offering all kinds of ACTIVITIES, including swimming in the summer. If you are short on time like we were, it is still worthy of a stop on the nearby cliff from where you get a FREE VIEW on the whole place.

VALETTA | Malta´s largest and capital city

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We spend ONE WHOLE DAY in Valetta, which was not our initial intention, but sometimes things don´t go by plan. Anyhow, I believe we have seen most of the city, it is actually not as big as it might appear on the map. In the summer it can be nice to take A BOAT TRIP so that you can see the city from the sea as well.

After driving all around the city we parked the scooter at the NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM and walked around FORT ST. ELMO. Some great views on the other side from here.

The walk to the UPPER BARRAKKA GARDENS was short and we enjoyed the views. This PUBLIC GARDEN is situated on the top of the SALUTING BATTERY and offer great PANORAMIC VIEWS of the GREAT HARBOUR.

Besides SHOPS, there are lots of BARS and RESTAURANTS in Valetta. And most of them are dotted along this narrow street, called STRAIT STREET. We had a couple of DRINKS and APPETIZERS. After all it was Saturday.

I can´t really say Malta was the most amazing place I´ve been to, but it is really very nice for a week of holidays or even just for a couple of days. It is EASY TO GET AROUND with a rented car or a scooter and even with public buses. The WEATHER is good all year around, the FOOD is delicious and ENGLISH is widely spoken so all that makes it easy to travel. Loved the ARCHITECTURE. Some of the BEACHES are very nice and the CLIFFS are impressive. It is also great because even though still in Europe, it can make you feel as if you were in a far away country at times.

VISITING MALTA IN WINTERTIME OR SUMMERTIME?

Sure you cannot swim, but you get so many other advantages. Cheaper flights, cheaper bus tickets, cheaper car rental. There are much less visitors, beaches are empty, so are other places of interest. There is less traffic on the roads and it is easier to get a parking space. It is not hot, but it is still warm enough to sit outside. What is not so good is, there can be many road works. Some of the restaurants are closed. The museums close sooner. There is less daylight so you have less hours in the day for exploring. And as I said, you cannot swim.

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