5 Days in a Mediterranean Paradise: Malta Travel Guide
Malta is a small country that often gets overlooked for more popular vacation destinations like the Greek islands or Sicily.
But when I visited, I thought Malta had some of the most incredible historical stories, the most delicious food scene, and the bluest water I’ve ever seen. It’s a small island, but it absolutely deserves a spot on your vacation bucket list. Before you plan your trip, here are all of the best things to do, and some insider tips as well!
Here is my Malta travel guide!
Brief History
Malta has an incredible historical story, dating back to over 7,000 years ago. It underwent many different rulers such as Great Britain, Napoleon, and the Knights of St. John before gaining independence in 1964. The capital city of Valletta was attacked many times by the axis powers in WWII, making it named the most bombed city in the world. The city was later rebuilt, and museums and historical sites share the country’s unique story to travelers from all around the world.
How Long to Stay
Malta is not a very big island, only 122 square miles of land area. However, there is a lot to do on this small island.
I recommend giving yourself 3 full days to explore and a day on each end of the trip to travel if you want to be able to explore the whole island. This way you can spend 1 day in Valletta, one in Gozo and the Blue Lagoon, and one day exploring the beaches and coastline.
What to Pack
If you are visiting in the summer months, definitely pack your summer clothes, the sun will feel pretty hot. I would also pack a few sets of warmer clothes for walking around or having dinner at night, when it tends to be just slightly on the chillier side.
If you are traveling in the off season, bring more warm clothes than you think. It gets very windy, and the sun is not nearly as hot as it is in summer.
Make sure you have an adapter for charging your devices, Malta has the type E plug.
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Places to Eat
Ta kris – This was the absolute best restaurant I ate at in all of Malta. They had a range of traditional Maltese dishes, including rabbit. It is a great restaurant to branch out and try some authentic Maltese cuisine. You may want to make a reservation here to make sure you get a spot!
Eddie’s Cafe – This restaurant is the perfect place to stop for lunch while you’re exploring the city. There are so many meals to choose from here, you definitely can’t go wrong finding something you like!
Spar – Spar is a bumping cafe with some of the best Maltese baked goods with the best prices. I recommend trying the Qassatat or Pastizzi, two traditional Maltese pastries.
Tal Kafe – A great coffee spot, and one of the coolest cafes I’ve seen, is Tal Kafe. This cafe had a very old, traditional feel to it, with stone walls and arches behind the coffee counter. I had the opportunity to learn how Maltese coffee was made here. It has a very strong, herbal taste, different from any other coffee I’ve tried.
Valletta Food Market – Can’t decide what to eat? Take a walk through the Valletta Food Market to find cuisines from all over the world. You will find much more than just Maltese food here, also Vietnamese, Filipino, Italian, and more. It’s a great place in the center of Valletta to take a snack break and explore some international foods.
Things to Do
Swim in the Blue Lagoon – Arguably Malta’s most famous attraction is the blue lagoon. You can take a boat ride from Valletta to swim in some of the bluest water in the world.
Fort St. Elmo – Malta has a really interesting historical background. You can learn all about it as you walk through the fort that was once used to defend the island at Fort St. Elmo and the National War Museum.
Explore Gozo – Many of the boat rides that go to the lagoon also take you to Malta’s second largest island, Gozo. It is a much quieter scene here, and you can explore the coast near the port, or take a bus to Victoria, the island’s main city.
Take a Food Tour – A walking food tour is one of the best ways to explore the city and its history while also tasting and learning about the history of the island.
Cannons at the Saluting Battery – Watch from the Upper Barrakka Gardens as the cannons fire at noon every day except Sunday. These cannons used to protect the island from attacks, and today they are still fired to carry on the tradition.
Visit an Old Church – Malta is home to several churches from the 1500’s, displaying incredible architecture from the outside as well the inside. I recommend seeing St. Dominic’s or St. Johns.
For more things to do: 15 Can’t-Miss Things to Do in Valletta, Malta’s Historic Capital.
Tips Before You Go
Bring a reusable water bottle that you can fill using the large bottled water. This will save you money if you don’t feel comfortable drinking the tap water on the island.
Check the weather before you book a boat ride. I went when it was windy and the water was rough and EVERYONE got seasick. Just make sure it’s going to be a nice sunny day when you plan to visit the lagoon and Gozo.
Stay in towns outside of Valletta, like Sliema, for more affordable prices. I stayed in Sliema, and it was very safe and I could still get to all of the sights easily.
When visiting in the summer, plan your trip ahead and book activities and restaurants early. The island is very condensed and it may be tough to find openings the day of.
Carry some euros on you just in case you visit a smaller shop or restaurant, or take transportation that does not take card.
Malta is only a small spec on a map, but it is packed with incredible history, food, and culture.
It is so different from any other European country I’ve been to, with some of the most beautiful architecture in the world. It’s a place that feels like you could spend a lifetime exploring, wandering down every narrow city street in Valletta, or cruising in the blue lagoon.
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