Amazing Island Adventure in Malta

Malta is an island full of surprises.

Let’s start with the general tips and need to know facts. Start with hiring your own car as the island is easily accessible, parking is convenient (usually free on the side of the road so avoid heading to ‘paid’ parking areas) and you can explore the island at your own pace. Expect warm tropical climates during the summer months so make sure you are your protected from the strong UV rays. As an ex-British colony, everyone speaks fluent English and the locals are more than happy to help if you get lost or need help.

Accommodation wise, we choose Corinthia Palace Hotel. This hotel is truly a diamond in the rough. However, very rough. Long story short, the service, room and hardware was significantly below par so would not recommend this place. I am certain that there are plenty of great accommodation options in Malta so I wanted to keep this section short.

Moving on to the highlights in Malta.

The Blue Lagoon Experience. This is by far one of the most amazing experience in Malta as you get to visit a completely natural lagoon like environment in the Island of Comino in between the main Malta and Gozo Island. The water is crystal clear and as blue as a man-made swimming pool with little to no artificial addition to the environment. To make the most of your experience, there’s a couple of important factors to consider:

Get there as early as you can as after 11am, the crowds starting swarming in like locust and the tranquil atmosphere is almost completely ruined. My recommendation is to catch the ferry from Malta as early as 8am to Gozo and once you arrive in Gozo, catch the direct Ferry (return ticket at about 10 Euros) to the Blue Lagoon (which is situated right next to the Ferry terminal in Gozo). What was amazing was that because we left Gozo at 9am for the Blue Lagoon, we had our private boat taking us directly there. When we arrived at the Blue Lagoon, there was only about half a dozen people around so you can really take in the sights on your own without the crowds.

Getting there early means that you can get the best sun chairs in the house (right on the water front) for about 7.50 EURO per person for the entire day. Now you should note that you can of course take up your own space anywhere without paying as you will only be charged for using the sun chairs and the umbrella. We saw lots of folks do that and make the most of sitting on the jaggered rocks (this is perfectly fine). If you choose to take up the sun chairs, make sure you choose one without other seats in front of you and make sure there isn’t too many free space in front as some cheeky tourists may just swot in that space later on.

Best Kodak Moment can be taken from the water so don’t forget to pack your waterproof camera if you have one as you will be able to capture some awesome shots right in the middle of the action. And of course don’t forget to take in the sights from on high to get the entire panoramic view of the beautiful environment.

Another useful tip here is to bring along your rock shoes. Although it is not necessary for these in the actual blue lagoon, it will make your ‘walking around’ the lagoon so much easier and pleasant. Make sure you arrive early and you can stay right until the afternoon but we choose to pack and leave around lunchtime just when the massive tourist boats arrived with thousands of tourists and this is not an exaggeration.

The Blue Lagoon is a must visit attraction in Malta.

Gozo Experience. An unexpected surprise in our visit to Malta was exploring the Island of Gozo (second largest Island in Malta). To make the most of the island, you should absolutely consider renting your own car as with the average climate of Malta, awaiting for the public buses or catching taxis would severely inhibit your mobility, making the most of your time and comfort of your overall experience. Here’s some highlights and tips:

Victoria (Capital of Gozo) is the town centre of Gozo and has a very interesting vibe. This is a perfect place to grab lunch and have a quick wonder around to soak in the local culture. We were thoroughly impressed with the dining options here. For the first time, we tried the traditional rabbit dish which is served in its entirety. Yes, including the entire head. This is your ‘heads up’ about this traditional dish. Victoria is about a 10 minute’s drive from the main ferry terminal.

Azure Window is another highlight attraction in the island of Gozo. This is about a 15 minute drive from Victoria with easy to navigate signage. The site is an impressive natural formation of rocks and pools underneath for folks to enjoy. There’s several vantage points but the best one by far is to take the walk down the designated path to the water (with your trust rock shoes). You will be able to enjoy the view from water level and checkout the beautiful rock pools. For Game of Throne fans, this is the filming location where the Queen of Dragons (Daenerys) was deflowered by Khal Drogo from Season 1.

Malta offers a plenty of other interesting attractions to visit and here’s a few I would recommend:

Mdina. Old town heritage site of Malta which is worth a trip to visit preferably during the morning or late afternoon to avoid the boiling midday sun. Explore the old town streets, cathedral and vantage points as one of the highest points in the island. You can grab a bite to eat or just come for a quick visit. You can visit the old in about 2 hours. It will take about 15 minutes’ drive from main Valletta town centre.

Valletta. The capital of Malta and one of the largest walled/fortress cities we’ve seen. Interestingly, it’s one of those places which looks magnificent and impressive from afar but is less so walking through the streets. Note that to get the best vantage point, you will need to visit Sellima which is on opposite side to get the best view of the old town. However, it is still worth a visit through the town. Like before, I would recommend a visit either in the early morning or late afternoon/early evening to avoid the boiling midday sun. Parking for this lovely old town is available all around the boundary of the city — so take a good look. Highlights include the St. John’s Cathedral and the Salute Battery where an impressive canon display is demonstrated every day at 4pm.

Sellima & St Julian. This is an incredibly long coast line along the main townships in Malta which lasts for a couple of miles. You can enjoy the broadwalk by foot or of course enjoy it from the comfort your own car. There’s plenty of eateries and bars around here and is often recommended by locals. The best part of Sellima is the view towards the Valletta (old town of Malta).

Popeye Village. Absolutely random attraction as the purposely created set for the 1980’s movie musical by Disney. It’s an old film set and water park. Unless you’re a super Popeye fan, I would recommend that you enjoy the set from the outside with wonderful views of this fictional village.

Malta is an island full of surprises. Hire your own car, explore at your own pace and you will get find your own little corner to relax and soak in the vitamin D.