Valletta Travel Forum

Unfortunately my guide is capable of being misunderstood, because it states opening hours concerning St. John's Co Cathedral (Monday-friday 9:30-12:30 a.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m. and 9:30-12:30 a.m. on saturdays). I'm unsure, wether this opening hours are just for the associated museum or also for the cathedral and the oratorio itself.

May I visit the church (not the museum) on sundays?

The last time I was in Europe I brought home a bottle of Cinnamon and Clove flavor liquore (Tentura)and loved it. I have been unable to get it here in the U.S. I will be going to Europe again soon and would love to bring home a few more bottles. Does anyone know if I can buy this in Valletta? Thanks, Irv

How do you get to the NAAFI canteen in Valletta?

Hello!
I am planning a trip to Malta and am thinking of staying in Sliema but have read that I may need to journey to Valletta in order to get buses to elsewhere on the island. Does anybody know approximately how long the bus trip from Sliema to Valletta takes? I've looked on the ATP website but all I can find is how often they leave, not how long they take. I appreciate that it will differ due to traffic etc, but if anyone knows an average time that would be really helpful! It may mean the difference between staying in Sliema and staying in Valletta.

Thanks,
Jiimanie

I have got some questions about Grand Harbour cruises: Which operators are recommandable for these? And when do they start, how long does a tour take? Do they all start in Sliema? And finally: Is it more advisable to do a cruise a.m. or p.m. for photography reasons (eg. back lighting due to sun, etc).

Thanx in advance!

I'll visit Malta next October and I'll be reliant to public busses. I'll stay in Sliema. Because it is necessary to make a reservation for visitng the Hypogeum and to specify the visitng hour, I need to make a timetable of my second day in Malta.

So here is my rough plan: Early in the morning (after taking my breakfast) I want to make a Grand Harbour boat-tour. When will these tours start and how long do they take? Are there tours starting in Sliema and ending in Valletta (because of the bus connection to Hypogeum)? Or will it be necessary to take the ferry from Sliema to Valletta after the tour to catch a bus to Hypogeum?

After that I'll visit Hypogeum. So here is the crucial question: How late it'll be, when I'll arrive at Hypogeum? How long will the public bus take from Valletta to Hypogeum? (BTW: Which Bus should I take?)

After that I'd like to visit Tarxien temples, Marsaxlokk and Vittoriosa. Is this too much for one day (I'm in good condiotion but reliant to public busses as mentioned). Or do you even see a change to do Mdina too?

Thanx in advance!

Which Maltese site you'd recommend as basis for locational tours around the island and Gozo?

I'll visit Malta in late October for about 4 days. I am planning to visit Valetta's old town, Gozo and Hal Saflieni Hypogeum for sure and every other site, I'm able to do...

btw: I'd prefer to stay somewhere, where I can go out at night and not in the middle of nowhere. Please keep in mind, that the bathing season will be over...

Hello VT,

My wife and I are from Sweden. Our cruise will visit Valletta on December 2, 2009. We want to do some walking in the morning but the up-hill steps will be too much for us. I have 2 ideas and hope you can help us with your comments.

We could go to the "Upper Barrakka Gardens". Can you get a bus at the waterfront or do you have to walk to the bus station at the fountain? What bus number would we take? From Barrakka Gardens we could walk back down to the waterfront. Are there several roads leading from the garden to the waterfront? Do you have a favorite route or triq? Do you have favorite places to get a cool drink and/or something light to eat along the way?

Second could walk from Valletta to Sliema and take the ferry back. Maybe we would walk to the bus station and then thru Maglio Gardens to the strand and then on to Sliema. Do you have special places you like along this
walk?

Which of these walks would you recommend for a 62 year old couple in average health? We have about 4 or 5 hours, from early (8 am) morning to around noon or 1 pm. We really like local hang-outs and a cold Cisk or 2 would be great even in December at noon.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to answer this question.

Hi all - I have booked a to stay at Grand Harbour and am trying to find out just how many steps are there to climb to get to bus terminal. Can Taxis get down there if I am coming back late at night?

Thanks

I got a recommendation to read a book "Capalan of Malta" by Montsarrat before my trip to Malta next summer. But it is out of print except in Malta. Can you tell me how I might purchase it?

We will be in docking in Valletta for 7 hours. Will have about 5 hours to see the best available. Friends want to take the 3 cities & a Maltese 'Dghajsas' boat ride. The cities are Senglea, Vittoriosa, & Marsaxlokk. Is this a very good tour?

I would like to see more of Valletta & Marsaxlokk. Tell me about Vallett, Best way to get around and what is the cost of transportation around town and over the marsaxlokk.

Remember it is First Week Of December. Please help with experiences and suggestions.

Thank You

Steve

Our first stop on our cruise would be Valletta. I found a shore excursion from the cruise liner and would like to know if this is OK? We will only have 8 hours there and would like to know if this would be a recommendable tour?
Any info and input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

"This comprehensive excursion begins with a scenic drive to Cospicua. Walk along the narrow historic streets of this city, admiring amongst other notable sites, the Church of St. Lawrence and Fort St. Angelo from the outside. Continue to Marsaxlokk, Malta's largest fishing village, where you'll have free time to enjoy the colorful scenery. Then drive through tiny villages, to Wied iz-Zurrieq to view the Blue Grotto from the top. Afterward drive through Girgenti, which houses the summer residence of the Prime Minister before reaching Buskett Gardens, on Dingli Cliffs to admire the view from Malta's highest point. Drive through Rabat, past the fortifications of Mdina, Malta's old capital city, and continue your drive through Mosta, known for its famous dome, before driving back to the pier to re-embark your vessel."

We are three barcelona boys twenty years old, we´ll arrive to Malta next Thursday just for two nights, please what area from the island do you recomend to spend that time a little beat funny.
Thanks

I will do Mediterranean cruise in May and I would like to know if it it necessary to join shore excursion of Malta with the cruise or can we do ourself.
The ship will be at Valletta and how we could take a bus to visit the city and small lanes....

Can anybody help me and let me know where in Valletta you can get (huge quantities of) used books at reasonable prices? Are there any street markets (boot markets) or are there book stores for used books?
Thanks for your help
Tom

Hi We are based in the UK and are looking to come to Malta during late May and want to stay in or around Valletta.

We were thinking of staying at the Phoenicia Hotel but are now unsure as I understand it is not part of the La-Meridien group any more so am usure who ownes it now and what the standard would be like?? Can anyone help please. Or recommend anthother good four or five star hotel in the Valletta area

Also is it good weather in mAy ( do not mind if there is not much sun but really dont want rain!!!)

Hope you can help

Hi, me and my sister are thinking of heading to Malta for New Years Eve. Weve never been there before but as well be travelling Italy it is close for us and thought it would be something different.
Does anyone know what goes on and if there are any festivals, traditional parties, etc. Or anything that would be helpful would be great.
Is Valletta the best place to stay? Any suggestions on where to stay, hotels, hostels etc.. Were not fussy just something not too expensive... We are planning on staying about 5 days over that period.
Thanks..

I will be in Valleta on a cruise ship for 7 hours. Any suggestions on how to use our time? place, restaurant and "non touristic" stores. Also what kind of food they eat in Malta?

Thanks,
Adela

We will be arriving via cruise ship for a one day visit. My wife can not go up/down more than 1 or 2 steps and needs a wheelchair for distances of more than a few dozen yards. If we take a taxi or carraige to town how hard will it be to wander and shop etc?

Does anyone know if the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta is open on Sundays, especially the 11´th of Feb. 2007? I heard that everything is closed on Sundays. Do the museum have a web page? I haven´t found any info.

Does anyone have any ideas about a flat to rent in Valletta for 7 nights from 31st March 2007. We are wanting to visit Malta for the first time, do not want to stay in a tourist area and cannot find a nice hotel/flat rental. We want to be really near the historical areas and get away from the tourist area. Thank you.

Hello,

My wife and I recently spent our honeymoon in Malta. Absolutely loved it. I was hoping to look for/buy a painting of the Valletta view (from Sliema where we stayed), but ran out of time.

Could you refer me to an art shop or two, that might have a catalog or web-site on which I could view some paintings?

My E-mail address is marc_farina@yahoo.com and home address is 353 E. 78th St./11A/New York, NY 10021/USA.

Thank you,
Marc Farina

My girlfriend and I were thinking about going to Malta for a short break - She suggested sometime around mid-February as it co-incided with both Valentines Day (14th Feb) and her birthday which is 2 days later. It is the first time in Malta for both of us.

When I did some research, I found that the Annual Maltese Carnival was taking place this year from Feb 24-28.

I suspect it will very quiet in mid-Feb, so I am wondering whether to suggest that we go later in the month or not. Maybe somebody could list the advantages and disadvantages of the 2 periods in question.

Is the carnival really spectacular, lasting 4 whole days or just a procession with a few floats, lasting a couple of hours ?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Always interested in the Knights of Malta and the Great Seige. Unfortunately our cruise ship (HAL Westerdam) is only stopping for a total of 7 hrs. (11x 6P on 10/6)
Any advice on how to maximize this short stay (probably concentrating on Valletta - Grand Masters Palace, fortifications, St. Elmo, etc). Would a personal guide for the two of us make sense to maximize this short time frame? Any thoughts would be sincerely appreciated. Walter & Carol

Dear All,

IWe are visiting Malta over Christmas this year and we are staying in Mellieha.

Does anyone know if busses ride regularliy during christmas and if a car hire would though be necessary to see all nice places in Malta?

Do you also have suggestions for a car hire company
reasonable priced where I can rent a car from the airport for 4 persons?

Thanks for your replies!

I am looking for an aupair I have already registered on <a href="http://www.aupair-agency.com/Aupair-Agencies.htm" title="aupair agencies">aupair agencies</a> and I am getting a lot of responce but how will my aupair find some friends when she arrives?

Hi,

We're going to Sliema in December this year. We'd normally go to The Gambia for some winter sun but can't this year because I'm pregnant! We're used to self catering and are seasoned travellers, but this time we've got for a bit of luxury and are staying half-board!

We would like to have a relaxed week site-seeing using local transport and walking as much as I can. I know some of Valletta streets are steep but are there any tourist places I should avoid?

Also, any food I should avoid, or anything you suggest we take with us, English tea I guess ;-)

Many thanks

Lynn

Hi everyone around Malta,
can someone give a hint about language travel holidays in Malta? My wife wants to spend about a week or two in summer 2004 in Malta to improve her English. Are there any guided holidays? Is there a chance for something like a short term (au-pair) stay in a Maltesan family?

We will arrive in Valletta on 6/26, coming in on a cruise. Any suggestions of what to see, and how to do it in an interesting way without the baggage of a large tour group?