Malta has been on my radar for the last two years and I finally had the opportunity to visit for 6 days the first week of October with the Malta Tourism Authority. The weather was perfect the entire time, with temperatures in the high 70s to low 80s. It truly still felt like summer. Malta is located in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast. It’s known for historic sites with numerous fortresses, temples and of course stunning Mediterranean waters. The best way to get around Malta is by car, I highly recommend renting a car for the week. Below is a full itinerary of how our group spent 6 days in Malta.

DAY 1-2: THE CAPITAL – VALLETTA

Many of us flew from New York to Malta with a layover in London with British Airways. We flew business class which made our flight very comfortable. The beds are comfortable, has plenty of privacy and a lot of storage space. The best part of my experience is the staff, they were very friendly and accommodating in every way possible. Our flight to London was roughly under 7 hours and under 4 hours to Malta.

WHERE TO STAY IN VALLETTA

The Phoenicia Hotel is located in the heart of Valletta making it very convenient to walk around the capital city. The five-star property has 136 rooms & suites that have recently been beautifully renovated. My favorite part of the hotel is the beautiful infinity pool. Make time to relax by the pool and watch the sunset.

THINGS TO DO IN VALLETTA

Valletta was declared European Capital of Culture and luckily for us, we had the opportunity to experience Notte Bianca events, a celebration of people, culture and art. The city was boosting with people, music, and events throughout the city. Here are a few highlights of things to do in Valletta:

• Upper Barraca Gardens: a public garden  with panoramic views of the Grand Harbour
• St John’s Cathedral: 10 euros for adults & I recommended going early before the crowds
• Walk through Strait Street
• Casa Rocca Piccola: 16th-century palace. Tickets are 9 euros for adults.
• Lunch at Ta Noni Restaurant
• Try a Paztizz: traditional pastry with a filling of ricotta
• Try Maltese Coffee (coffee spiked with Anise)
• Grand Master Palace: once the residence of the Grand Masters of the Knights of St John

Upper Barraca Gardens

St John’s Cathedral

Hat: Will & Bear – Dress: Just One Answer – Boots: Dear Frances

DAY 3 – HAGAR QIM & THE BLUE GROTTO

Spend the day visiting Hagar Qim and Mnajda Temples, The Megalithic Temples of Malta are some of the most ancient religious sites on Earth. A fun fact is that it’s over 5000 years old and older than the Egyptian pyramids.

Make a stop at the top of The Blue Grotto for a photo before heading down for a boat ride. The Blue Grotto is a complex of seven caves along the southern coast of the island. The best time to visit is in the morning or early afternoon. The boat tours depart from a harbor Wied iż-Żurrieq, in the seaside village of Żurrieq. If you have a car, head towards Żurrieq and follow the signs to the Blue Grotto.

Lunch at Don Berto Restaurant for views of the waterfront.

Visit Fort St Angelo, located at the center of the Grand Harbour. Built in the medieval period as a castle called the Castrum Maris and was rebuilt by the Order of Saint John. The top of the fort has amazing views of the harbor.

Cross by boat from Vittoriosa to Valletta Waterfront for views of Valletta

DAY 4 – GOZO

WHERE TO STAY

Corinthia Palace Hotel is located across from the President’s Palace and has plenty of charm and history. The property has 147 rooms with balconies and some of the best restaurants on property! I loved my experience and I highly recommend spending a few nights dining at Villa Corinthia & Rickshaw.

WHAT TO DO IN GOZO

• Visit Ta Rikardu farm and learn how to make cheeselets
• Explore the Citadel: the capital city of Gozo
• Visit the Salt Pans
• Lunch at II Kartell Restaurant
• Ta’ Dbiegi Crafts Village: the oldest crafts village in Gozo
• Wied il-Ghasri: a valley with amazing water for snorkeling and swimming. A must visit!

Citadel

Salt Pans

Wied il-Ghasri

DAY 5 – POPEYE VILLAGE, MDINA, BLUE LAGOON (COMINO)

• Visit Popeye Village: an old film set from the 1980 Popeye Musical with Robin Williams. This is one of my highlights and I highly recommend making a visit. It’s now a small theme park with shows and games, which makes it fun for the family. Tickets are 15 euros for adults
• Mdina: a fortified city in the Northern Region of Malta, which served as the island’s capital from antiquity to the medieval period. This is also where they filmed the first season of Game of Thrones
• Lunch at Palazzo De Piro
• Blue Lagoon in Comino: this is the most beautiful place in Malta. You’ll want to spend most of your day here! To get to the Blue Lagoon is by boat from Cirkewwa (far Northern tip of the main island Malta) and get dropped off at The Blue Lagoon. It costs 10 euros roundtrip

Popeye Village

Mdina

Blue Lagoon

DAY 6

• Visit Dingli Cliffs: highest point in Malta. Great for sunset
• The village of Mosta to view the Mosta Church Dome
• Relax and spend time at the hotel pool

Malta has exceeded my expectations and I’ve fallen in love with the beautiful island! Malta has been a well-kept secret but it’s definitely no longer a secret. It’s becoming the next hottest destination and you can pretty much see why from all my photos.

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