My four night experience *Scroll to the bottom for quick links*
Where do I begin?
Malta is one for your bucket list this year, and after spending four nights uncovering the Island's best-kept secrets, I hope this guide on making the most of your trip comes in handy!
Before we dive in I just want to share a little context, so every year me and my friend, Jess, head on a 'fingers crossed it's sunny' holiday, with the past two years being a week in Mallorca. After indulging in golden skies and oceanfront tapas in Cala D'or, we decided it was time for a change. SO... Malta it was.
One of the best things about Malta is how easy it is to move around the Island, and how budget-friendly it comes too. So, when it comes to choosing where you stay you can't go too far wrong! But of course, you'll get a few recommendations from me either way :)
We stayed at the Maritim Antonine hotel and Spa in Mellieha at the north of the island.
NIGHT ONE
After an afternoon flight and a rather long transfer, we arrived at our hotel at around 9pm. To be completely honest, I was definitely pleasantly surprised when we first walked in, open reception, classy atmosphere and the comfiest bed! The only downside to our stay was the fact we had a street facing room which meant when the sun did decide to make an appearance, it didn't shine on our room. Of course, if you're not travelling on a budget the upgrade to a garden facing room can't hurt to secure that golden view!
Once we were all checked-in, we took a wonder around Mellieha to find somewhere for a late night snack, and truly if you take anything from this blog it would be to eat here... L'amingo Bar & Restaurant.
wholesome story incoming ...
Now, the most important part of any meal is usually the food, and I can confirm we definitely had zero complaints there. BBQ pizza, carbonara and two slices of traditional gateaux, delicious. But the real reason L'amingo is a must try whilst in Mellieha is for a very special waiter. This family ran establishment comes to life with a welcoming feel as soon as you walk in, and after having our order taken by an elderly gentlemen, I got chatting to the owner . As it turns out, the elderly gentlemen was his brother in law who was working evenings at the restaurant after loosing his wife so he wasn't
lonely. Unfortunately I didn't get his name but his kindness and his story gives every more reason to dine here! As the conversation built I became steeped with a feeling of love towards Malta, I don't know if it was the friendliness of the family or the meal ticking every box, but I had already fallen in love with this beautiful country.
DAY ONE
Following a perfect evening we decided to venture further into Malta to revel in its surreal landscapes and complete serenity. Completely unaware of the weather forecast for the day. We embarked on a journey from Mellieha, taking the 44 bus for €2.50 each. The bus ride itself turned out to be a highlight, offering stunning views along the way.
Upon arriving in Valletta, we were greeted by the sight of the iconic Tritans Fountain, which set the tone for the rest of our morning. We wandered towards the waterfront, where we immersed ourselves in the rich history of the city and were captivated by the views. If you ever find yourself in Valletta, I highly recommend indulging in a classic fishing boat ride or a harbour cruise, especially on a sunny day. It will truly add the perfect finishing touch to an already remarkable trip.
A quick down pour later and we found ourselves searching for for a combination of lunch and shelter, which is when we stumbled upon Ocean Basket, a fish restaurant just off of Valetta's classic high street ... if you've seen the steps you'll know!
Unfortunately for us, after enjoying our lunch the grey skies took over and the hope we had for a sunny afternoon swiftly turned to an indoors backup plan for the day.
We jumped on the 13A bus from Valletta to Sliema for an afternoon of INDOOR shopping ... emphasis on the INDOOR. I'm not 100% sure if there are other shopping centres around the Island, but we definitely found the Point Shopping Mall the best for us. A little bit of damage later and we 'thought' we would head over to St Julians for dinner on our way back to the hotel. SPOILOR... the weather had very, very different plans for us!
Let's paint a scene ... torrential rain, extreme winds, shorts and an oversized shirt on and yep, crocs too. It all meant one thing was needed, a beer coat for the run to the uber! All things considered, we ended up having a great couple of drinks outside a the bar Veranda, which was lovely and the uber back ( it took around 50 minutes because it was 5pm!) was only €20. So all in all, a wet and rainy success i'd day.
Despite not planning for it, the evening ended up unfolding beautifully as we spent the night at our hotels in-house cocktail bar drinking with a lovely couple from Leeds, who happened to love a pina colada and a bit of ABBA too. No complaints here.
DAY TWO
Before we travelled to Malta, we had a brief plan for the things we wanted to do during our trip, and one of those things was to visit Gozo Island for the day.
We had a slightly later start to the day than we had planned, yes that was my fault for counting 9 am as an early rise, so we grabbed a coffee and head straight to the tourism stand next door to our hotel to get a little more information on trips to Gozo, and here are the biggest tips I can give based on that conversation & my own experience...
The ferry is super easy to get to via public transport from Mellieha ( the €2.50 bus always comes in handy) so if you're not planning on doing a mix of Gozo, Blue Lagoon and Comino Islands then it is easier to make your own way there!
The Blue Lagoon can get very busy and crowded so if you visit in summer consider how much time you want to spend there.
The ferry to Gozo direct is only €4 for a return trip and it runs every half an hour until 11pm, so you can make a whole day out of it
Gozo has a lot to see, but it's all spread out so hop on hop off busses are a great way to get to see the whole island, they're €20pp and there's a bus at each of the stops every 15/30 minutes!
A little confusion later and we were on the bus heading to Victoria, Gozo's capital! Quaint roads and backstreet boutiques presented the perfect picturesque centre, with history dating back to the 15oo's and modern art capturing the true resilience of the island.
Next stop ... Xaghra ... Ggantija Temples ... Fontana and Xlendi.
Xlendi is a quaint spot on the coast of Gozo, with just a couple of bars, restaurants and shops, but if you time your visit right, you can enjoy a private (ish) dinner overlooking the water. It is genuinely a beautiful spot to watch the sun sink beyond the cliffs and enjoy the evening in Gozo before heading back to Mgarr to catch a ferry back to Malta.
Once again, an unfaultable evening. We head to the 210 bar across from our hotel to enjoy a few pints of cisk and a sex on the beach or three and called it a night.
Note ~ Mellieha is a beautiful part of the island and perfect for sandy beaches, local dining and a tranquil break from the hustle of city centres, but if night life is the pivotal point of your trip then I would suggest staying in St Julian's or St Pauls Bay instead!
DAY THREE
***THE SUN WAS SHINING!!!
I can not explain how happy we were at the site of a clear blue sky and the feeling of the warm summer sun beating down on our shoulders. F I N A L L Y! Of course, after an over cast few days we had to make the most of the glorious weather, so back to the bus stop for a quick journey over to St Jualins for the day.
In general, Malta is a breathe-taking island with so much to offer in every corner, but St Julian's truly does have my heart. Thank the weather, or call it perfect timing, but even though it was just for a few hours, life felt truly blissful and for that brief moment, nothing could compare. After strolling along the harbour side, we sat beside the bay, sun on our faces and the complete sound of relaxation simply took over.
Crystal blue waters home to colourful fishing boats, and rowdy bars mellowed by the peace of the bay painted a postcard perfect scene, and with that it was time to explore what else St Julians had to offer. We head further into the heart of the town, popping into evil eye boutiques and corny souvenir shops along the way, until we reached Balluta Bay. The ocean glistened as the sun became tainted by an overcast sky and we began what some may count as a bar cruel .. cocktail edition. Starting at Hugos terrace and working our way back towards the front ... we enjoyed Negronis at Raffael's and mojitos at the thirsty barbers and before we knew it, it was time to eat again!
I know I have made a few 'best part about Malta' comments by this point, BUT, I can not emphasise how convenient the buses are! We jumped on the 222 from St Julian's to Sliema and headed straight to La Vida for a tapas dinner ... Y U M!
This meal deserves a section of its own, fresh calamari, potato bravas, the most succulent prawns with avocado & chipotle dressing and tacos, not to mention the chunky churros with fresh caramel and the brownie and ice cream. Another restaurant I would 100% recommend trying out during your stay.
THE LAST DAY
What's your opinion on late night flights? The hindsight always gets me! The thought of having a whole extra day to spend exploring always seems better than the day itself, check out at 10am but the transfer doesn't come until 7pm, flight at 10.30pm but delays mean it's more like midnight .... a long, long day. BUT, that being said, it did mean we had the chance to spend the day in Mellieha
properly and explore the beach.
At the very last minute, we took our luggage down and handed our cards in before heading down to the beach. (It's down a rather steep hill so catching the bus down is definitely more convenient, but if you're looking for a leisurely stroll to kill a little time then it may be worth it.)
Malta's sandy beaches are few and far between, so having one right on your doorstep is perfect for the breezeless mornings and days dedicated to topping up a tan. Unfortunately, it was more the case of wind burn and covered head to toe cloud bathing for us! Though the red roar sunburn on my chest does suggest otherwise. For lunch, I enjoyed my final cocktail of the trip, one pina colada with extra cream, and food wise we indulged in a rather large crispy onion & pulled beef focaccia, with parmesan and truffle wedges. I promise it tasted better than it looks aha! and with a view of the beach what better way to end our time in Malta?
We spent the rest of the day around the roof top pool in our hotel and lounging around the cocktail bar, before heading to the airport for our flight :)
QUICK TIPS | RECCOMENDATIONS
Where to stay?
Where to eat?
Bus pass ( 1 week)
Gozo Island
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