The original trip was going to be Sicily and Tuscany for a Thanksgiving getaway in 2024. Once we starting the planning and others booked flights for Italy, I realized I would have a few days prior to go since there was no reason to sit home over the weekend. So after a little bit of research of what new country would be fun to explore and easily connect to Sicily to meet the friends, I decided on Malta. I didn’t know anyone who had been there and started my research.
Malta will be my 99th country, so last before triple digits so even more exciting!
With two full days I thought that would work well, but once I started doing my research, I easily could have stayed for a week or more. There was so much to do and see and I know it would have been better in sunny times, but off we went. Tim decided to join me on this pre-portion of the trip and also had never been. It was mid-November and while it was sunny, it was mild temperatures. We were able to wear shorts and a sundress one day as it got to the low 70’s so that was a bonus.
First full day, we took the local bus from our hotel in St. Julian’s Balluta Bay. This was hotel area was right along the water with nicer restaurants and places to go.
The local bus took us into the main town of Valletta where we walked and walked and really saw the town. So many cute buildings, cafe’s, cobblestone streets. We went to the one big attraction, St. John’s Cathedral, which was a beautiful baroque style church. Amazing high ceilings and so much beautiful art including originals from Caravaggio (which I remembered studying in Art History classed in college).
Valletta was just a gem to wander around, get lost, turn up different streets. We did make it to the upper gardens for the canon firing. Happens daily at noon and 4:00. While we expected a larger event, there were about 8 canons, but they fire one canon ball at this hour. Fun to see over the water and a great lookout for the 3 cities across the waterway.
The streets in Valletta were very steep and each block had different hangings like these above our heads. Made our wandering more fun to see them all and the ornate doors and window boxes everywhere.
We had to regroup each night at the hotel bar with fancy cocktails. The bartenders were so interesting to talk to all most had immigrated from India to Malta to work and were just lovely. This was one of my favorite drinks with the local prickly pear liquor from the island of Gozo. So delicious I had to buy a bottle to bring home.
After walking around town, we took the short ferry over to The 3 Cities. The boat ride was the highlight to really see more by water and some of the very fancy yachts all parked in the harbor.
Gozo Island Day Trip
The second full day was planned for an excursion to the island of Gozo. From all I read, it was supposed to be a magical island worth the ferry ride. In the summer months, many people will pair a trip to Gozo, the blue grotto and another island as a full day. As it was the off season, we knew there wasn’t much point to go to the blue grotto to swim and decided on Gozo for the day.
We decided to do the hop on hop off bus (vs renting a car). From what we heard, things were closing so best to do the bus, see what we wanted and maybe get off here or there. Once we started the bus trip, we ended up staying on the bus the whole time as so much was closed and we thought better to see it all vs being stuck.
In the end, not sure I would recommend going to Gozo in the off season, I’m sure when it’s more popular and sunny it would have been a difference experience.
It was finally time to leave Malta and head to Catania, Sicily to meet our other friends. Ryan Air was the only non-stop option so after a few drinks in the lounge, we were off.
I always heard that Ryan Air was a no frills airline and that is true. Quite simple like Spirit Airlines and no frills but it did the job for the quick hour flight.
Logistics:
Malta Marriott Resort & Spa. 39 Main St, Balluta Bay, St Julian’s, Malta STJ1017. +3562311000. 3 nights for $500.