Okay let me first start by saying 5 days in Malta is not enough. I could have been there for months and still never wanted to leave. However, if you’re looking to get to the main sights than 5 days in Malta should be enough to hit the highlights.
We ventured to the smaller European island in October and had perfect weather. It was really unpredictable though because it had flooded the week before we got there and then again the week after we left. I couldn’t imagine going in the summer months though because it got to be close to 30 degrees Celsius, if not more, during our trip.
You can get to Malta from almost any major airport in Europe. We flew from Dublin and got a direct flight with Ryanair. On the way back we flew direct into London with EasyJet. Neither flight was particularly expensive, especially when you compare it to North America prices. Plus they were relatively short trips as well, a couple of hours each at most.
Once you’re there it’s pretty easy to get around the island through taxis or transit. Although if you’re going to be navigating through the cities on your own I would recommend walking, you’ll always see more stuff that way!
How did we spend our 5 days in Malta? Read on to find out.
Sliema
We started our trip by staying in Sliema. This was for a few reasons but mostly because it was closer for us to get to the Comino Island. I wouldn’t necessarily say there is a lot of things to do in Sliema but it’s a great spot to walk around.
Down by the water there are a number of great restaurants. During the day you’ll get some epic views of the water below. At night, it also looks beautiful all lit up.
I found Sliema to be a great spot for accommodations. It’s a little bit cheaper than the more popular Valletta area. If you’re looking for a great place to stay you absolutely must stay at The Palace. Not only are the rooms spacious and comfortable but the rooftop pool is to die for!
| What to see |
- Roman Baths: Located along the coastline you’ll find these ancient baths. Unfortunately for us, the weather was not cooperating and we weren’t actually able to see them this visit. The waves in that area can get pretty high and scary so we steered clear!
- The Coastal wall: I’m not sure this area even has a name but it’s essentially the pathway along the city wall. On the one
side you’ll have a beautiful view of Valletta across the bay and the other the viewfo the buildings of Sliema. There are some really nice restaurants along the wall for you to enjoy. - Happy Hour: Honestly, if you’re going to have some of the amazing views that Sliema does you might as well enjoy it! We were fortunate enough to have one of the best views from our hotel balcony so sitting there and watching the sun go down was honestly epic.
Comino and Gozo Island
If you’ve got 5 days in Malta than the Comino Island needs to be on your list of places to visit. It’s a short ferry ride from the mainland and if you pick the right tour you won’t even notice the distance. The country of Malta is actually made up of 3 islands which include these 2 alongside the main island.
While I tried finding ways of saving us money to try and get to the island on our own, I’m really glad we booked a tour. It wasn’t too expensive and it meant we didn’t have to worry about transportation anywhere. We were picked up close to our hotel and dropped off several hours later in the same location. Too easy.
Make sure to pick a tour that gives you the option to visit Gozo island. There aren’t a ton of things to do here but it’s a must visit during your 5 days in Malta. Having someone drive you around is super important because you’ll get to see pretty much everything in a short amount of time.
| What to see |
- The Blue Lagoon: Not to be confused with the Blue Lagoon from Iceland, this Maltese version is all natural. It’s an absolutely stunning spot filled with beer, food, and tons and tons of people. It can get crazy busy during the day so try and choose a tour that will get you there fairly early.
- Ta’Pinu: Once you venture over to Gozo Island one of the main attractions is Ta’Pinu, an exceptionally large Catholic Church. I didn’t get to go in because I was wearing shorts and had my shoulders exposed but just viewing it from the outside was super impressive. The Pope actually visited this spot several years ago.
- Gran Castello Historical House: This is the first spot we saw on the island and I was super impressed. The grounds are much larger than you may think. It took us a good 30 minutes to walk around and get a good sense of it. Travel to the top for some of the best views of the island. If you plan on just walking along the walls and the grounds then it’s free to explore.
- St. George’s Basilica: Located not too far from the Historical house you’ll find this giant Basilica. I actually stumbled upon it by accident. The religious building is a historical Baroque-style church.
Mdina
I honestly think of all of the places we visited in Malta, Mdina was my favourite. One of Ben’s best friends is Maltese and said that if we do anything on the island we must visit Mdina. We were definitely not disappointed.
Feeling a little adventurous (and cheap) we decided to take public transit to the city just North of Valletta. It was a really easy ride filled with other tourists like ourselves. The journey in total took about 30 minutes and cost less than a Cappuccino.
For those of you that watch Game of Thrones, you may recognize the city of Mdina as there were many scenes from the show filmed here. Having never watched the show, I was taken aback with how gorgeous the architecture of the city was.
In an effort to preserve the ancient streets and walls, only residents are allowed to drive their vehicles inside the city. You’ll find it’s an extremely walk-able city so that shouldn’t be a problem at all. If you’re feeling super touristy you can rent a horse and buggy to take you around but I typically steer clear of those kinds of activities.
| What to see |
- Mdina Gate: It’s likely that the Mdina gate is going to be the first thing you see before entering the city. It’s a gorgeous arc that leads you right into the city walls. If you’re patient, you can catch a beautiful photo of the horse and buggies traveling through the gate.
- St. Paul’s Cathedral: The biggest structure in Mdina is St. Paul’s Cathedral. It towers over the rest of the city in the most beautiful way. The church was built and dedicated to (as you may have guessed) St. Paul the Apostle.
- Walk around: There’s nothing better to do in this small city than to walk around and admire the views. We visited on a beautiful day and while I thought it would have been swarming with tourists, there were many streets that we were completely alone. You’ll also find the city can be very quiet because there is no traffic and the walls are so high they almost act as sound barriers to the outside world.
- De Mondion: If you’re looking to enjoy a cold beer and some lunch after wandering through the streets than you absolutely must dine at De Mondion. The view from their rooftop seats
are absolutely incredible. The food was also really delicious. I could not recommend this place enough.
Valletta
Last but not least, the main city of Malta, Valletta. We split our time here with Sliema wanting to experience the best of both worlds.
During the day Valletta can get incredibly busy as there are tons of tourists milling about. Combine that with the cruise ships that port nearby and it’s borderline hard to move through the small streets.
We mostly explored Valletta first thing in the morning or at night so that the streets weren’t as packed and we were able to enjoy our time a little more.
Valletta is a really walkable city. We were able to
| What to see |
- Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens: One of my
favourite spots in Malta is the Barrakka Gardens. While they aren’t actually next to each other they are close by and provide different (and equally gorgeous) views of the water and the city. The gardens are perfectly manicured and a great spot to walk around. I would recommend grabbing a bear at the stall in the Upper Barrakka Garden to people watch. - Fort Saint Elmo: If you’re into history then you should put Fort Saint Elmo on your list of things to see. I had no idea Malta had so much history before wanding through the fort. One surprising thing I found was that Malta was pretty integral to World War 2 because of its geographical position.
- The Saluting Battery: You can actually view the Saluting Battery from the Upper Barrakka gardens. Head over to the North side of the gardens and just look down! You have to pay to get inside and honestly I didn’t think it was worth it because you can see everything you need to from above.
- St. George’s Square: In the heart of Valletta you’ll find St. George’s Square which is also home to the Grandmaster’s Palace. This is the one thing I wish we had have paid
for to go inside. The palace, even from the street, looked incredibly opulent. The Grandmaster’s Palace currently is home to the President of Malta which is pretty cool! - Merchant Street: We were lucky enough to have our hotel located right along Merchant Street meaning we got to walk up and down it several times during our 5 days in Malta. You’ll find some amazing restaurants and shops along this street. However, it’s also one of the biggest pedestrian streets I’ve ever seen!
Where to stay
There are so many beautiful places to stay in Malta we had a hard time choosing! Whether you’re choosing to stay in a hotel or an Airbnb I really don’t think you could go wrong. Even their hostels are stunning!
- The Palace: This hotel was by far one of my
favourite hotels I’ve ever stayed in. The views from the balconywas more incredible than I could even describe in words. The rooms were also large – believe it or not our room had its own dining room table! | Avg price: $250 | - Two Pillows Hostel: This hostel is a far cry from the typical European hostel. The rooms are all individually decorated and super cute. You can get your own room to feel like you’re living in luxury but with half the cost. | Ave price: $60 |
- The St. John Hotel: Of all of the boutique hotels we’ve stayed in, this is definitely top of the list. The details in these rooms were unbelievable. It’s also is super high-tech with USB adapters and
littel gadgets located everywhere. |Avg price: $350 |
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