I came to Malta as part of my solo adventure around Europe and it did not disappoint! I think Malta is one of the most unique places I have ever visited. Yes, it’s an island, and I’ve been to many of those but it offers so much and the architecture makes you feel like you have stepped back in time, which makes sense considering it’s a famous filming location for big time movies and TV shows (Game of Thrones, Gladiator, Popeye, Troy, Munich, Midnight Express, World War Z, etc). I spent 4 days here but I wish I had more time. Although not long, as always, I made sure to do as much as I possibly could!

Where to stay:

I chose to stay in Il-Mellieħa, which is about 40 minutes opposite side of the island from the capital, Valletta. Reason being is it’s a lot closer to the beaches that I wanted to visit and it’s the part of the island that is more for nature. I stayed in an Airbnb which was located near the water. The area is great for walking but I had a car and used that most of the time since all the places I was going to required a vehicle. Which leads me to my next point, you definitely should consider renting a car when visiting Malta. Public transportation isn’t reliable and not always accessible depending on where you’re going. I rented mine at the airport. Another thing to notate is parking is not the best here. You can only park in the white marked spaces and those are hard to come by. The city wasn’t built for a lot of traffic and the drivers are some of the craziest I’ve ever encountered to be cautious.

Activities/Sightseeing:

Valletta. The capital is a tiny walled city filled with history, museums, palaces and grand churches. I only spent a few hours here as it was a tad overwhelming due to the volume of people that were there. But it’s definitely worth checking out!
Upper Barraca Gardens- These beautiful elevated gardens are the perfect spot for a spectacular view of the grand Harbour.
Strait Street- Perfect for nightlife. So many bars and restaurants if you’re looking to be social!
St. John’s Cathedral- Built between 1573-1577, the inside is breath-taking. It cost 10 euros.
Hagar Qim- A temple that dates back to 3600 – 3200 BC. Such a cool experience.
Marasaxlokk- A really fun fishing village with colorful boats.
Blue Grotto
Blue Lagoon
Paradise Bay Beach- One of my favorite beaches!
Xrobb Il-Għagin- Another stunning beach.
Popeye’s Village Anchor Bay- The set of the infamous film starring the beloved Robbin Williams is still in action and is now an amusement park. You can book your tickets here.
Mellieha Parish Church
Go to Mdina, the silent city. An Arabic walled city and the infamous location for the set of GOT. It’s a popular tourist destination so be aware, it’s filled with a lot of people. Parking is a mess and you’re not allowed to drive in the city itself. You must park in the designated parking areas in the surrounding outskirts.
St. Paul’s Catacombs- I really like to see ruins and remains. If you’re into this as well, definitely worth checking out!

Gozo:

If you have a rental car, you can take a ferry that transports cars. Since Gozo is a bit vast, it’s best to have a vehicle to get around. I drove my car to Ċirkewwa, since this is the only port that allows you to cross over with your car. You can see the ferry schedule here. The total crossing time was 45 minutes. I spent the entire day here and had the best time.

Visit the infamous orange sand Ramla Beach
Go snorkeling or scuba diving in Hondoq Ir-Rummien Bay, Qala Gozo. The water is so clear and there are so many fishes!
Ta’ Xwejni Salt Pans- thousands of years old. Located on the coast.
Victoria (also known as Rabat) is the capital of Gozo Island. I loved getting lost here. I let myself wander and came across some stunning settings. A great place to go shopping and tons of restaurants to choose from as well!

Food:

Caffe Cordina- I ordered a Pastizzi which is a traditional Maltese pastry filled with either Ricotta cheese or smashed peas. Scrumptious!
Try a Maltese Coffee- Coffee with Anais. It’s an acquired taste. Worth trying, though!
Dinner at Tal-Puzzu
Dinner at Maldonado Bistro (Gozo)
Dinner at Ocean Basket
Breakfast and coffee at Debbie’s Cafe
Brunch at Villager by Munchies
Breakfast at The Corner Café