Perfect getaways: Tips and tricks for a fantastic long weekend trip in Malta
This month I was in Malta for the first time and I have to say that it went over my expectations. The natural landscapes, from the see-through blue sea to the cliffs and sandy beaches deeply amazed my eyes. And I have to say, even though I feel like I could have stayed there forever, our plan for a three-day trip allowed us to pretty much see the whole island and still making us wish for more.
So first thing we decided to do was:
Do not stay in Valletta!
Valletta is amazing and there is so much too see, but it is also very touristic, you will pay more in terms of accommodation and you will not be able to fully enjoy the landscape and nature, at least not on your own. So we actually decided to stay in St. Paul's bay in the Buccaneers, a nice guest house, with cosy rooms and a nice rooftop swimming pool. To be honest it was not the Sheraton, but the price quality relation was very good, the staff very friendly and the breakfast pretty nice and yummy (go for the full english breakfast option ;)
Get a motorbike!
There's so much to see in Malta, even though the island is actually not very big, there are wonderful places everywhere, and let's be honest, transportation in Malta is not the best and most efficient thing. So upon arrival we asked for a transfer to the hotel (booked directly with them) and the next day in the morning we asked the hotel if they knew where we could rent a motorbike. They knew a guy that worked for a scooter rental called Funscooters and in 30 min the motorbike was there. You will have to do a deposit, so I advise you to take photos of the scooter, because they will check the damages later. Even though they were very professional and there were no problems, just be on the safe side and check exactly if the motorbike has problems.
Day 1 : The south of Malta
Even though it is possible to go from St Paul's Bay to the South in more or less 30 minutes, we decided to take the coast line way and avoid the highway, which permitted us to get a wonderful overview of the Maltese coastline. We therefore, drove through all the bays, and I would definitely advise you to make a stop in Ballutta Bay and appreciate the wonderful church and buildings just next to the blue see-through water.
After Ballutta Bay, you will pass by Valletta with the motorbike which will give you a small overview of what is there to see on the third day. Our main destination that day was Marsaxlokk, a traditional fishing village in the South Eastern Region of Malta, which is also known for the daily market (bigger than usual on Sundays). Definitely this is a must-see! The colourful boats, the cute fish restaurants and the cosy atmosphere, however, it is also a super-touristic place, so if you plan to have lunch in Marsaxlokk I advise you to book a table before you get there. There are gigantic queues in every small restaurant at the village, but the fish is great!
After having lunch in Marsaxlokk, there are still three places that are a must-see! When you see yourself back on the road, not very far from the village you will find St. Peters Pool, a very beautiful natural swimming pool. The clear crystal water is not the only impressive thing there, the natural white cliffs surrounding it, give another dimension to the beach. For me, even though this beach was quite impressive if you walk a little further there is the perfect hidden gem, which you will see in the photo below. I was quite surprised however, that even though some of the rocks looked so fragile and not particularly safe and considering the fall of the Azure Window in March 2017, that there was barely any indication to be careful or of warning, but I would definitely not advise you to stay under the rocks or to go on top of them. But you will have plenty to look at! Following the St. Peters Pool you will find Il Kalanka, which is equally beautiful. After you get some sun and go for a swim ( or a couple of swimms a day), you can just have dinner and explore the nice Mdina, with a lot to explore.
Day 2: The North of Malta and Gozo!
So... I have to be honest, this was probably my first day of the whole trip! I know it's hard to say what is more amazing, particularly when there is soooo many wonderful things everywhere in the island. But this day was just perfect!
So, first thing we did after having an early breakfast was to drive to the Popeye Village. The Popeye Village is not only the cutest village ever, but it is also a film set purposely built village, which was then converted into a small attraction fun park, consisting of a collection of small cute wooden buildings. Most people just go there to have a look around or to go inside the Popeye Village, but honestly, I went for a swim there and it was absolutely amazing! The colour of the water is a mix of blue and green and goes perfectly well with the small little village, you will feel like you are in paradise. So just go for a swim, grab a drink, take your time and enjoy the sun at the wonderful Anchor Bay and Popeye Village.
After you had the time of your life at the Popeye Village (yes! the day just started!) head up North and take the ferry to Gozo. The motorbike can go in the ferry and you will be the first one to enter (Hoorrayy!! Benefits of having a motorbike rather than a car). When you get to Gozo, you need to check out the Cathedral. For me it was impressive to see something so familiar to me, a Catholic church, but in such an exotic stone and colour.
After that head out to Dwejra, to check out the Azure Window Memorial. Unfortunately the Azure Window is not there anymore, but you have the Inland Sea which is absolutely amazing and where you can chill and swim. There you also have the Blue Hole, which is believed to be the original 'Azure window' until the 17th or 18th century. It is also quite cool to walk from there to the Dwejra Bay, since you will have the chance to see some really high cliffs and if you're lucky a crocodile (nope not a real one, a rock, but still looks quite real with some imagination!) Finally, to end the day in perfection, end back to Malta and take the other ferry to the blue lagoon, where you can chill for the rest of the day.
Third day: St Paul's Bay and Valletta
This is the last day of the long weekend trip and of course, now is time for the city trip! However, before you go... you must go to the Qawra Point Beach. A more surrealistic landscape you cannot imagine... Blue crystal waters, a symmetrical natural swimming pool, jelly fish swimming around and an abandoned ship. There was definitely something magical in this moment, that I took back with me in my mind. After this wonderful memory, it is time to go to the city, and to take the public transportation (ironic yay!). So, some things to take in consideration: if the buses are full, they will just ignore you and continue their journey and if there is a time schedule on the bus stop, just ignore it! They never follow the time schedule, so at some point you don't even know if they are very late or too early. So my advice is take in consideration these aspects, particularly when you go to the airport.
Once you get to Valletta, though, there is loads to see, from the Triton Fountain to the Lower and Upper Barrakka Gardens, from Museums to Churches. Everything that you can imagine. It all depends on your interests and how much time you have left. Once you are about to go back to the airport, not far from the Triton Fountain you have a direct bus to the airport.
Hope this blogpost was of interest and helped you plan your trip even better!
Have a great time in Malta!