It was the month of Feb, my mum had arrived to London and it was Jarrod’s birthday week so ofcourse a getaway was going to be essential. Researching the hottest places in Europe for this time of the year, Malta was at the top of the list. We set aside three full days to spend here and packed it fill with the must sees and must do’s Malta has to offer. Everything you need to know for a 3-day escape below!
Our Itinerary
DAY 1: St Julian’s Bay & Valletta
DAY 2: Old Town of Mdina
DAY 3: Fishing Village of Marsaxlokk
Accommodation & Finer Details
- Where to stay: We booked our accommodation through airbnb, for a two bedroom apartment in the heart of St Julian’s Bay. It was one street away from the bay itself, great cafe’s and the location was perfectly central in terms of getting around the island. As it was winter we weren’t to fussed about staying next to swimming holes as knew it would be too cold for a drop. For 3 nights the apartment came to £278 which I felt was so reasonably priced! Definitely recommend this place for anyone wanting to stay here.
- Arriving from the airport: No uber in Malta however the Taxi service is set up great! It is all a fixed price and there are taxi hubs set up at all the main cities so no need to order any in advance
Day 1
St Julian’s Bay
- Brunch Spot: A gorgeous spot, right on a sunny terrace in St Julian’s Bay, you will find Crust Deli & Bakery. Funky interior, good music and delicious food had us coming back twice. In the evening the place was also packed so could be ideal for a cheeky cocktail or two!
- Dinner Recommendation: Raffael Restaurant right on the bay is one to add to the foodie list. The seafood literally melts in your mouth and the pasta has us reminiscing on our Italy food ventures from the year before. The building itself gives a full Mediterranean vibe as it overlooks the bay surrounded by lights. Absolute lush.
Valletta
How to get here: After a venture through St Julian’s Bay we headed of to Valletta, the smallest little capital city in Europe. It was only an hour walk from where we were staying so decided to make it a little walk about so we could look at the local surroundings on route.
As you walk through the giant city walls you soon discover one of the most well-preserved cities in Malta with the historical buildings and the wide cobblestone streets which were all only accessible by foot (love that!) The architecture of the ancient streets were stunning along with the views of the colourful doors and windows which we fell in love with. We parked up in one of the main squares to have a local Maltese beer in the sun before heading up to Upper Barrakka Gardens which provided panoramic views across the beach and cities from across the ocean.
Day 2
Old town of Mdina
How to get here: We decided to take a public bus here which was our first mistake – yes the price was cheap (1.50 per person) however it was so hot, overcrowded and the journey itself took over an hour and a half whereas by taxi it states approx 20 mins.
This town as as quaint and gorgeous as the gram photos we had seen. It all felt very medieval with horse and carriages trotting along the cobblestone streets, high stone walls on every corner and colourful windows and doors attached to each building – had we gone back in time?
On the right here we have one of the most photographed spots in Mdina – I ofcourse had to pose for this!
We looked through all the local shops – found a lot of hand crafter Maltese jewellery, mosaics and art work followed by some incredible look out views the town had on offer.
Lunch spot recommendation: This little town has quite a few restaurants and cafes however I am sure we found the best! We had lunch at Fontanella Tea Garden. The restaurant had seats with views overlooking the island. They have a variety of pizzas and salads on offer with some delicious homemade cakes.
Day 3
Marsaxlokk, Fishing Village
How to get here: From yesterdays public transport learnings we decided to take a taxi which was only about a 30 min drive.
Day 3, Marsaxlokk, Fishing Village
We picked the perfect day to visit the fishing village, the sun was beaming, the water was calm and we got to see what the locals really got up to on a sunny Sunday.
We fell in love with this village, the harbour was filled with colourful Maltese fishing boats and the fish market was in full force giving us a decent insight into the local life and traditions of those living in Malta. We parked up, had a breakfast platter on the waterfront before walking along the shoreline and checking out all the food and good stalls set up.
Along the harbour they have locals selling boat rides around island, with the sea nice and calm we made the most of the sunshine and went on a 20 minute boat ride around the harbour. Just something fun to add to the experience.
We finished our evening walked along the foreshore from St Julians to Silema Bay and back capturing a gorgeous sunset with another gelato in hand.
Our short time in Malta was a fantastic mix of culture, adventure and relaxation. We were able to cover the three main villages and will most definitely be back next summer to try out the comino and its famous blue lagoon!
Malta is truly marvellous,
