Best Places to visit in Malta and Gozo island

I recently went on a one-week trip to Malta and wanted to share the best places I visited around the island.

Malta is stunning, and it’s worth exploring all the different sides of the island, such as Gozo.

You will discover that there is more to see and do than just visiting the capital city of Valletta.

Here is my guide to all the places worth visiting across Malta and Gozo island.

Flying to Malta is super easy from the United Kingdom

Malta is an affordable destination in Europe from the UK, with many low-cost budget airlines flying direct to Malta international airport.

You can fly with either the flag carrier airline Air Malta or other budget airlines like Ryanair or Easyjet.

Many options for you to choose from to book an affordable escape to Malta.

Travel around Malta with Tallinja – the Malta transport bus card

If you don’t want to use a rental car on the island, you can use the local Malta bus service, connecting it from its primary bus terminal in Valletta.

For the best value, purchase a Tallinja – Malta transportation card. You get 12 single journeys for a total of €15.00.

That works out to be €1.20 per bus journey.

You can also transfer to another bus for the same price if you tap your card within a specific time frame, which is perfect if you need to transfer in Valletta onto another route for no additional cost to reach your final destination.

The bus service can be found on google maps and departure times are accurate from the Valletta bus terminal.

I found some routes busy and full, especially around popular beach areas, such as Golden Bay Beach.

At the end of the day, when everyone is trying to get home or back to hotels, the bus becomes typically complete rather quickly, and you have to wait for the next one, which can be around 30 minutes to an hour.

Depending on the time of year you visit Malta, it can be hit or miss, so I’d plan to depart from beach locations earlier to miss the rush.

You can also use the bus pass to get to Malta International Airport, which is extremely handy.

Expect the journey to take longer than a taxi, so be prepared to add some additional time to your trip.

I Purchased my Tallinja Malta transport bus card from WHSmiths in Saint Paul’s Bay, and many other shops around the island sell the pass.

Staying at Saint Paul’s Bay at The San Anton Hotel

I’d recommend staying in Saint Paul’s Bay when looking for holiday accommodation in Malta.

The area is excellent to stay in with many affordable hotel options with a short bus commute into The capital city of Valletta.

There are loads of bars and restaurants in the area to enjoy, making it an ideal place to stay on the island.

It’s also a lovely area to walk around by the coast and enjoy the sunset in the evening.

The cheapest hotel I could find in the Saint Paul’s Bay area was the San Anton Hotel which also offered swimming pool access, and breakfast was included in the stay. It was primary, but you can’t beat the location for the price.

The island of Gozo on a day boat trip

From Saint Paul’s Bay, you can book a Gozo day trip boat cruise that departs daily and will take you to the island of Gozo with a stop off along the way to the Blue Lagoon.

The return trip is a great way to explore the island of Gozo from the Malta mainland.

Once you’ve arrived at the port, grab a bus to the city of Victoria, perfect to explore for half-day as well as visit the Citadel; wander around, and you have plenty to see and do here.

The Blue Lagoon Malta on the way to Gozo

Not to be confused with the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, Malta has its own Blue Lagoon worth checking out.

This included stop-off with my boat ticket to Gozo, which was an excellent addition to my ticket that departed from St Paul’s.

Perfect spot for an hour or two, but the area is packed with visitors, so that I wouldn’t spend too much time here.

Perfect for a pineapple cocktail, a quick dip, enjoy the views, then head onwards to Gozo.

Spend some time in the capital city of Valletta

On my visit to Valletta, I spent a lot of time exploring the city.

It’s a fantastic place to visit with its lively atmosphere and historical importance.

I loved spending the evening in Valletta, especially for a happy hour cocktail and aperitif at the newly renovated Is-Suq Tal-Belt, Food Market.

Be sure not to miss the breathtaking interior of St. John’s Cathedral and the Grand Master’s Palace to learn more about the Order of the Knights.

And of course, those looking at some shopping, be sure to check out Republic Street and Merchant Street.

On your walk around Valletta, you should stumble across The Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum.

I ended up in Valletta a few times throughout the week, mainly in the evenings, to enjoy the tremendous late-night outdoor dining culture that spills out into the streets.

Explore the walled city of Mdina

Mdina is nicknamed on the island as the silent city and used to be the capital of Malta in the medieval period.

A fortress surrounds this picturesque city, and you can enter via the bridge to walk around this unique walled city.

Today you can walk around and meet some of the local 300+ Residents that still live within the fortified walls.

You can find a selection of gift shops, a tourism information office and a handful of cafes and restaurants worth visiting.

Mdina was also used as one of the filming locations in Malta for the popular TV series, Game of Thrones.

Stop off at the Ħaġar Qim UNESCO world heritage site

One attraction worth visiting in Malta is the Ħaġar Qim, a UNESCO world heritage site that dates back to 3600-3200 BC.

On display is a selection of ruins discovered from excavating a megalithic temple complex, dating from the Ggantija phase.

The selection of Megalithic Temples is among the most ancient religious sites that can be found on Earth.

UNESCO describes the site as a unique architectural masterpiece.

Please make sure you reserve some time to explore the site as it’s one of those must-check-out spots on the island of Malta.

Head over to The stunning Blue Grotto

If you’re heading over to Ħaġar Qim, be sure to check out the Blue Grotto, which is also located on this side of the island and located close by.

This stunning cove is worth checking out and stopping for a photo.

The Blue Grotto glimmers in the sunlight, creating an excellent deep blue colour which is how it got its name as the Blue Grotto.

If you want to explore deeper into the cove, you can see the Blue Grotto from the water as part of a local boat tour.

The high-speed rib boat is a popular option to explore the cove.

If you have opted for the bus, you can find a bus stop close by and view the Blue Grotto from the roadside above from the viewing platform.

Relax on the Golden Bay Beach for some sea, sand and sun

Malta has loads of stunning beaches worth visiting on the island.

If I had to choose one, my highlight was the Golden Bay Beach.

I could have happily spent a whole day relaxing on the sand by the crystal clear sea.

You can also find a lovely cafe close by to the car park, a perfect spot for drinks and lunch.

The Golden Bay Beach has a handful of hotels close by but didn’t come across as a busy spot compared to the other beaches around Malta.

Close by to the beach, you can also find a popular hiking route that will take you around the coast by some old windmills, which was great fun to do, and I would highly recommend walking.

Have a wonderful trip to the island of Malta

Thank you for visiting my blog post and checking out my guide to the island of Malta.

I hope you found it helpful and plan on visiting soon, have a fantastic trip.

If you have any more questions, please feel free to send me a message, and I’ll be happy to help.

Checkout my video to things to do in Malta