Malta Travel Forum

Hi guys,

Me and my girlfriend (both in our 25s) decided to go to Malta (Sliema) in the end of July for 4 days. Because we are going for the first time, I am not sure what to do and what to see in those 4 days.

I have searched and found couple of websites, which are really helpful, but still i would like if someone, who went/live in Malta can tell us some good places and things to do.

I can tell you our interests so it would be easier for you guys to advise us.

We would love to go to a sandy beach, we also like historical places, local markets, activities like scuba diving, surfing, camel riding, quad biking, go karting, good restaurant to eat, night out as well like good bar and if possible with belly dancing or a salsa bar, sheesha bar and things like that.

also we would like a boat cruise or ferry and also go to gozo, so would help if you can also tell what to see there

I would really appreciate if you can advise us.

Thanks

The sandy beach is the hardest question - Golden Bay and a couple of others are OK but are away from where you are staying. IMO, Golden Beach is just that - a beach, a few shops and a huge hotel complex. Nothing much else there - dunno about any other beaches.
Sliema is great for accessing Valletta - plenty of buses or the ferry to take you across and also they run the Grand Harbour cruises from there. I have done a couple of Malta tips - many other members will have great advice intheir pages.
The buses from Valletta bus station are plentyful, cheap, and go everywhere! Plan a few journeys and you will cram a lot in those 4 days.
Mdina and Rabat are a must - get the bus and go via Mostar to see the church before hopping back on the bus. Personally I would miss-out the craft village on the way to Mdina but each to their own.
Nightlife in Buggiba/Qawra is very good if you can get a bus to Qawra bus station and back - they run quite late I think.
We enjoyed Marsaslokk and Dingli Cliffs - again easy by bus.
Gozo - get an organisd trip - it is well worth it. Buggiba Harbour does boat trips to Blue Lagoon - that is a full day or half day and includes swimming/snorkling (along with the rest of the crowds!)

Browse a few travel pages in here - LOADS of great advice.

You won't be short of things to do...although I think sheesha bars and belly-dancing are unlikely. I don't think there are any camels in Malta.

Malta is not much bigger than the Isle of Wight and has Arabic, Italian and British heritages and influences. Fish & chips, pubs and English breakfasts are commonplace, especially on the north coast. Plenty of bars, nightclubs, pubs etc.

Salsa here (there may be others):

http://www.fuego.com.mt/

You won't find many sandy beaches, although Mellieha has a nice one. Most Maltese beaches are rocky.

Make sure you visit some of the stunning prehistoric temples. Malta has many of them: the 'best' are at Tarxien (easy bus ride from Valetta), Hagar Qim and Mjnadra. Gozo has the superb Ggantija. If you can, pre-book tickets for the Hypogeum..an underground temple complex, entirely fascinating.

http://www.heritagemalta.org/hmshop/hmshop.html

You will also find lots of other history...explore Valetta and Mdina/Rabat especially.

Marsaxlokk has a regular market. It's a pretty fishing village on the south coast of the island. There is also a large market around the Valetta city walls on Sundays.

Malta buses are excellent and cheap. They tend to radiate to/from Valetta, covering almost all the island. You'll find routes and timetables here;

http://www.atp.com.mt/atp/servlet/ControllerServlet?action=listSummerBusRoutes

Gozo is best explored on an organised tour, unless you intend to hire a car. Although small, getting around by bus will take up a lot of time. You'll find polenty of tour companies offering day tours and cruises of various types when you are in Malta...........no problems with that at all.

You can get the ferry to Gozo from Cirkewwa, to the extreme west of the main island. http://www.gozochannel.com/

Hello you can get a bus to the couple of sandy beaches or drive but to be honest it is nice to swim off thr rocks at sliema.
There is historic places aplenty in Malta Mdina is I think the best Valletta is great and easy to get to.
There is a good Sunday morning market at Marsaxlokk, and loads of boat trips from Sliema.
Day trips to Gozo are good and olny a few Euros you can book them at most of the shops on the front.
I hope I have been a little help if you want to ask me anything please feel free Ian.

Thank you so much guys. I am keeping a notes and will write them in order to make a list of what to do.

Have a good look at the VT Malta pages for lots of info and tips about what to do/see and where to go (I have some, including info about the temples):

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Malta/TravelGuide-Malta.html