Malta 2024

Malta is one of the smallest countries in the world, covering just 316 square kilometers, but it is one of the most densely populated.
The island nation is home to some of the world’s oldest freestanding structures, the Megalithic Temples, which date back to around 3600 BCE.
Malta’s strategic location in the Mediterranean made it a sought-after territory for numerous civilizations, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and the British.
The Knights of St. John, who ruled Malta for centuries, built elaborate fortifications that still dominate the island’s landscape.
Malta’s capital, Valletta, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was one of the first planned cities in Europe, laid out in the 16th century.
Malta has its own unique language, Maltese, which is the only Semitic language written in the Latin script and contains influences from Arabic, Italian, and English.
The traditional Maltese fishing boats, known as “luzzu,” are painted in vibrant colors and often feature the Eye of Horus for protection.
Malta has been a filming location for numerous blockbuster movies and TV series, including *Gladiator*, *Troy*, and *Game of Thrones*.
The Hypogeum of Ħal Saflieni, an underground necropolis in Malta, is over 5,000 years old and features intricate carvings and red ochre paintings.
Malta is known for its stunning natural attractions, including the Blue Lagoon on Comino Island and the Dingli Cliffs.
During World War II, Malta was awarded the George Cross by King George VI for the bravery of its people during relentless Axis bombing campaigns.
Despite its small size, Malta has three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the City of Valletta, the Megalithic Temples, and the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum.
The Maltese archipelago consists of three inhabited islands—Malta, Gozo, and Comino—with a few smaller, uninhabited ones.
Malta is famous for its festa celebrations, where towns and villages honor their patron saints with colorful parades, fireworks, and feasts.
The traditional Maltese dessert, *Kannoli*, is a crunchy pastry filled with ricotta or cream, often flavored with citrus or chocolate.

Malta, Valletta - Traditional Maltese Ham Ftira

Malta, Valletta - Pea and Ricotta Pastizzi

Malta, Valletta - Traditional Maltese Olive Ftira

Malta, Valletta - Full English Breakfast

Malta, Valletta - Pea and Ricotta Qassata

Malta, Gozo - Gozo Sausage Ragu Paccheri

Malta, Valletta - Traditional Maltese Ham Ftira

Malta, Valletta - Sicilian Cannoli

Malta, Rabat - The honey ring

Malta, Valletta - Breakfast wrap

Malta, Valletta - Caffe Cordina

Malta, Gozo - Rabbit pasta

Malta, Valletta - Aperol Spritz

Malta, Valletta - Breakfast bagel

Malta, Valletta - Caffe Cordina

Malta, Marsaxlokk - Lampuki fish

Malta, Valletta - Cisk beer

Malta, Valletta - Aperol Spritz

Malta, Valletta - Pea and Ricotta Pastizzi

Malta, Valletta - Sicilian Cannoli

Malta, Rabat - Burger and fries

Malta, Valletta - Traditional Maltese Olive Ftira

Malta, Valletta - Full English Breakfast

Malta, Valletta - Pea and Ricotta Qassata

Malta, Valletta - Burger and Fries

Malta, Valletta - Bruschetta

Malta, Gozo - Gozo Sausage Ragu Paccheri

Malta, Sliema - Breakfast Eggs

Malta, Valletta - Pea and Ricotta Pastizzi

Malta, Rabat - The honey rings

Malta, Rabat - Traditional Pie

Malta, Rabat - Traditional Pastizzi

Malta, Marsaxlokk - Seafood pasta

Malta, Rabat - Traditional Qassatat

Malta, Valletta - Traditional Maltese Ham Ftira

Malta, Valletta - Rabbit Sauce Pasta

Malta, Valletta - Qassata

Malta, Rabat - Almond Cookie

Malta, Rabat - Maltija pizza

Malta, Sliema - Full English Breakfast

Malta, Valletta - Old Town drinks

At the time of our travel:

1 euro = 4,27 zł (PLN)

cannolo - 3 euro
coffee - 2 euro
pasta arrabbiata - 15 euro
St John Co-Cathedral ticket - 15 euro (audio inc)
7 day travel card - 25 euro
glass of house red - 5 euro
Aperol Spritz happy hour - 2 for 8 euro
ferry Sliema to Valletta (return ticket) - 3.80 euro
Battery Gun salute ticket - 3 euro
Grand Master's Palace - 12 euro
Marsaxlokk harbour cruise - 10 euro
water 2l - 1 euro
pastizzi - 0.8 euro
Traditional Maltese Ham Ftira - 5.45 euro
peas and ricotta qassata - 1.90 euro
Garganelli Maltese Pasta - 12 euro
rabbit pasta - 16 euro
Ggantija Temple ticket - 8 euro
Gozo Hop On Hop Off bus - 20 euro

📌 GENERAL INFORMATION

tap water is desalinated sea water - it is not poisonous, but it is not recommended for drinking, and it tastes a bit salty (although we made coffee with it)
you can return plastic bottles in supermarkets
EU so euro 🙂 ATMs are everywhere

🚍 TRANSPORT

IMPORTANT - it is worth buying a Tallija Card at the airport right after arrival, it costs 25 euros, valid for 7 days from the first use, works on all buses in Malta and Gozo, it is also worth downloading the Tallija app
we also used Bolt - (the distances are quite short so it is not expensive, the route from the airport to Sliema is 15 euros)
ferry from Sliema to Valletta - 3 euros
Valletta to Vittoriosa gondola - 5 euros

🌤️ WEATHER

we were there at the beginning of December - on the app it was 18 degrees and rain, in real life it was sunny in the morning, then clouds, then drizzle, then sun and so on 😉
despite the sun, there was a cold wind, so a sweatshirt was a must (I also have a wooly hat)
it rains heavily at night and there are thunderstorms

🍳 FOOD

it's worth trying the rabbit - spaghetti with rabbit or rabbit stew - 12-18 euros
you can buy pastizzi everywhere - local snacks with ricotta cheese and peas - approx. 0.8 euro
there is a delicious seafood 🙂
local drink is Kinnie - carbonated, orange flavoured, not really my taste
for breakfast you can eat Traditional Maltese Ftira - a local pita-type roll with filling - 5-7 euros

✨ VALLETTA

St. John's Co-Cathedral (15 euros, audioguide included in the ticket price) beautiful, plus an exhibition about the painter, Caravaggio - so worth it!
Saluting Battery - a cannon is shot at 12:00 and 16:00 daily - you can watch it from the balcony in the Upper Barraca Gardens or for 3 euros from up close (in my opinion it's worth it), in addition, after the firing, the guide shows you around
Upper Barracca Gardens can be reached by elevator (return ticket 1 euro)
ferry from Sliema to Valletta - 3 euros, every 30 minutes, takes 20 minutes
on the other side of the city there is a ferry or local gondolas to Vittarosa (2 euros per ride)
we went on the "Free Walking Tour" (FREE so you pay at the end as much as you think it was worth) - amazing - we learned a lot, super interesting - I booked it on GuruWalk
Grand Master's Palace (12 euros) - specifically the Armoury - an amazing collection of weapons from the period of the Knights of Malta: armour, muskets, swords, pistols, daggers - the male part of the trip was fascinated by this 🙂

✨ VITTARIOSA

much quieter than in Valletta (which we fled because a huge cruise ship had just arrived and the streets were flooded with people)
beautiful stone streets, fantastic for walking

✨ MARSAXLOKK

the port and the boats are very beautiful, the port itself is tiny
the Sunday fish market has 4 stands with fish and the rest is made-in China stuff - it's really NOT worth it, in addition there are constantly buses full of tourists
it's worth taking a local boat to St. Paul's Bay - 1 hour for 10 euros
lots of small restaurants with delicious food, e.g. baked fish (Lampuki) with fries + salad - 18 euros - delicious!

✨ GOZO

ferry from Cwikkerwa leaves every 30 minutes (3.80 euro return ticket)
on the other side we bought a Hop On - Hop Off Bus Ticket (20 euros, 2 routes intersecting in Viktor, buses every 45 minutes)
we visited the Ggantija Temple complex of Megalithic Temples (8 euros)
the Tallijja Card for buses also works in Gozo
it was terribly windy, but even though the weather was nice, it's worth having a hat

✨ MDINA and RABAT

definitely our most favourite places
at 9 a.m. streets were completely empty (truly the City of Silence)
it's also difficult to find an open cafe (everything starts at 10:00)
a beautiful stone town with little charming streets
15 min walk to Rabat - a little more life and more people there
famous pastizzi restaurant - Is Serkin Crystal Palace
we liked it so much that the next day we came again - this time on the "Free Walking Tour" - I highly recommend it!

❤️ GENERALLY - Malta stole our hearts - beautiful architecture, delicious food, very nice people 🙂 a paradise for amateur photographers and historians 🙂 we will definitely come back here ❤️

- more

Our route

Transportation

Favourites

15 Interesting Facts You May Not Know
(credit: internet)

Travel essentials

Favourite places to eat

Our favourite local food

Some prices

Inspirations

Travel tips