Maltese Islands > Reviews (7)

We travelled to malta in 1999 for my nephews wedding and what an experience!

My brother lives in a small "town" named San Gwann near Sliema and we were staying there for a week from Monday until the wedding on the Friday evening and then leaving on the Saturday.

I hadn't really tried to visualise Malta before I got there so everything was a pleasant surprise for me.
The landscape is not luscious and green - far from it! There is hardly any grass - just sand but every garden you see is rich with colour. They plant everything in pots and keep them well watered. Cacti are so large you have to see them to believe it. And they are everywhere in the main countryside

My brother decided that we would travel around Malta every day until Friday evening which meant 4 days of constant moving but we loved it. Many places was just a stop for an hour and others were for a few hours. You definitely need at least 2 weeks to see all of this beautiful island.

VALETTA: This is a beautiful coastal city - the capital - with fantastic buildings old and new. The fort in the centre was a delight to walk around. You could "feel" the history of the site by just walking and looking. From the bullet holes in the walls from the war to the cannons embedded in the rock. The many beautiful boats moored in the dock. Sailing into Valetta gives you a fantastic view. It helped that my father had been posted there during his National Service and could relate a lot of the history. You definitely need a guide on any of the tours unless you already know enough about malta.

BLUE GROTTO< ZURRIEQ What a fantastic place to visit. The name says it all. The water is so blue and clear you can see the stones and rocks at the bottom. The beach is small and stony but you can cope with that. It is a popular place to visit. A boat ride is essential here. The small rowing boats take you through the tunnel in the "mountain" facing the beach. The rocks shine brilliantly with the light from the boat. Then out into the open sea and back through a larger tunnel to the beach. The ride takes approximately 30 - 40 minutes but the sights are weel worth it. I won't give the prices as I know they will change each year. This is one of the parts of your trip not to be missed.

MDINA - the silent city. You actually feel as though you should whisper as you walk through this city with its beautiful dome and buildings. Everywhere is peaceful and so quiet. The architecture is unbelievable. Everywhere you look is something more fascinating than the last thing you looked at. The Greek Gate is beautiful. The streets are narrow and closed in and you will find shops hidden away with fantastic bargains.

SLIEMA is the place for main shopping and entertainment but a visit here is a must as well. With its many churches and walkways it shows both sides of Malta - modern and old

GOZO can be reached by ferry. As you travel across you can see the water is as clear as the sky. The views of the Comino are wonderful. Gozo is an island with fantastic scenery and wonderful people.

Everyone is so friendly. The best buy wehad here was the wine. Absolutely fantastic and a brilliant price. Well worth bringing a few bottles back with you. I only bought a bottle of white and a bottle of rose and I wished I had filed my case with them as the taste was exquisite. This is the way many of the people of Gozo make their money by selling the wine to tourists.

I am not going to go on about any more of the sights of Malta - you need to go there yourself to truly appreciate them. Seeing is believing for this beautiful set of islands. Once you go there you cannot help but go back again and again.

BEST BARGAINS are in the small markets you find dotted about but be prepared to haggle. Their table linen is excellent and lasts forever. I bought a large cotton oval table cloth about 6 feet across with 8 napkins, embroidered with flowers for less than £12 !! you cannot buy the same thing secondhand for that price. The pottery and glass is also worthwhile buying. Oh don't forget to visit the glass factory where you can see your item being made - fascinating! And don't forget the wine. You can actually have a taste before you buy - try that in Tescos or Asda's lol.

The only downfall is the driving. They are crazy and do not worry about which side of the road they need to be on. Even the experienced driver may find this a bit hair raising. Travel is best by bus which are the old models from the 50's and 60's. Horses and Landaus are a favourite as well.

But don't just read this and think "should I go? " - just go and see for yourself. A relaxing holiday will definitely be had if you go to malta.

Not especially entertaining for the younger groups but definitely a 10 out of 10 for the over 30's