Malta Travel Forum

valletta is one of our cruise ports of call. i'd like info on making the most of my time, i.e. must see places, restaurants. i read there are ferries to the other islands, about 20 minutes each way. any info on fees. is it better to take the bus to locations on malta or walk? where can i get a map of the routes and is there an all day, on/off bus pass?

How long to you have on shore? The buses are ridiculously cheap and are an experience in themselves. When the cruise ships come in, Valletta is heaving!! So I would suggest that you perhaps forsake your fellow cruisers and take a bus to Mdina.

Gozo is the other island - about 20 minutes or so from what I can remember about it - best thing about Gozo is the scenery to and from it - otherwise its nothing to write home about. Try eating in Cafe Codino - cant remember how you spell it - but is got wonderful ornate glass in the ceiling. There's also a stately home/palace on the island. Really there's not an awlful lot to do in Malta and its very scruffy

I have information about Gozo on my Malta pages. Whilst I would not be as disparging about it as the previous poster, it makes much more sense to use the island's wonderful and idiosyncratic bus service to explore the mainland. It is far too large a place to explore only by walking, as is Gozo.

You could visit Mdina/Rabat, but expect it to be full of other visitors (probab ly quite a lot from cruise ships!). The bus trip to Mellieha is a good way of seeing one side of the island, and Mellieha itself is a pleasant enough place to spend an hour or two.

The bus website is here:

http://www.malta-info.co.uk/transport/malta_bus_services.htm

In Valletta itself, is the old theatre which has an interesting tour. Also the Cathedral merits a visit, as do the two Caravaggios (The Beheading of John the Baptist, and St Jerome), which are in the Cathedral museum and can only be accessed through the Cathedral. On two visits to Valletta I have never yet managed a tour of the Presidential Palace - not for want of trying but it is only open when the President doesn't require it for official (or other) occasions. A walk around the perimeter of the town gives you a good idea of its strategic position, and you can take the bus over to the other side (sorry, for the mo I have fogotten the name) to visit the Fort - well worthwhile. Or you could take the fery over to Sliema, though that is rather touristy, and take the bus back. Outside of Valletta there is a "stately home", as mentioned by a previous poster. I will have a look in my files and let you know further. When we visited one hot and dusty September day, it took all our self-control not to dive head-first into the lush green lawn, seemingly the only green left on the island! If you are into archaeology, then there are some extremely interesting sites (all info is readily available on Google) but you might not have the time and the opening hours can be slightly erratic. It would take you about 40 minutes by bus to reach the ferry for Gozo.

I have info about Malta's archaeology on my pages.

There is a wonderful and unique World Heritage site (Tarxien prehistoric temples) about 20 minutes by bus from Valetta, which is well worth taking the time to visit if such things interest you.

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/73696/6ed6e/

I too found Malta to be rather too built-up for my taste.

Haven't yet found the info about the "stately home" - so much for my filing system. However, other things to do in Valletta have come to light. There's Fort St Elmo where they do a re-enactment. There's also the Malta Experience, if you like that sort of thing. And I almost forgot or missed out the Casa Rocca Piccola - which is a large old house in Valletta belonging still to the same family. It is quite an experience to go on a guided tour, especially if it is conducted by the present owner, The Marquis, whose obvious love and enthusiasm for his home and for Malta is a joy. It is also the only private house in Valletta which has its own garden. That's where I'd go if I only had time to do one thing after the Caravaggios! In Mosta there is the very large church with the very large dome - I think it is the third largest unsupported dome. In Valletta, you can also visit the underground war rooms in the cliffs - I initially reluctantly went because my children wanted to go and I ended up being absolutely fascinated.

Well, I have had something of a minor triumph, although I feel I have done the Labours of Hercules to achieve it! The stately home is the Palazzo Parisio, located in Naxxar.
www.palazzoparisio.com/plazzoparisio and then click on "visits". Or alternatively you can google Palazzo Parisio Naxxar and click on the first item on the list, ignoring the fact that it says that it is no longer available!

Bus 55 from Valletta will get you there.

Since my last visit there have been sundry "improvements" in that it now has a good cafe (there was only a snack bar) and a gift shop.

If you only have one day in Malta then I wouldn't recommend going to gozo as it would take up half the day in travelling to get to and from Valletta and that won't leave much time to see things in Gozo. Plus Gozo is best explored by car as buses don't go too far.

I would stick to Malta. Pick one or two things of interest which interest you - example if you're interested in churches or shopping you can just roam around Valletta, if you're interested in history and architecture, you can get a bus to Mdina to visit the old capital and fortifications - and if you go - try the chocolate cake from Fontanella cafe - its simply divine! The best on the island. You also get gorgeous views from Mdina and you can also choose to venture to Rabat to see the catacombs and some other lovely churches.

If you prefer other things then just write what your interests are and I'll try guide you for the best place to go.