Malta in 4 Days: A Mediterranean Getaway

Malta in 4 Days: A Mediterranean Getaway

Malta is beautiful and exceeded my expectations! To be honest, I didn’t even know this charming island existed until my husband pointed it out to me. We were literally sitting on the couch looking at a map of Europe researching nonstop flights from Vienna to somewhere in Europe, and that’s how I first learned about this beautiful Mediterranean island.

When in Malta make sure you visit Valletta, the capital of Malta, along with the Three Cities, Marsaxlokk, and the medieval city of Mdina. Mdina is known as the Silent City and it is where a few scenes from Game of Thrones Season 1 were filmed. If time permits, visit the island of Gozo and the Blue Lagoon. The people of this island are wonderful and warm. You’ll find many Italians and Sicilians living in Malta, hence you’ll find plenty of Italian food on the island. If there is one place in the world that still remains a mystery to many, it’s Malta. I highly recommend visiting this charming little island on your next European vacation. The best time to visit Malta are during the months of May, June, September, and October.

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Where to Stay in Malta

Flight/Transport
Vienna to Malta (nonstop on Air Malta)
Bolt (Uber) from Malta Airport to the hotel

My husband and I stayed in a Superior Room at the AX The Palace Hotel in Sliema. The hotel is centrally located in Sliema with access to lots of shops and restaurants. Sliema is about a 5 minute ferry ride to Valletta – the capital of Malta, and a 30 minute walk to St. Julian’s – the party capital of Malta. Although Malta is small, you can easily spend 5-7 nights exploring all the major sights. There is so much history and culture here.

I was debating staying in Valletta or Sliema, however based on the TripAdvisor forums, many suggested staying in Sliema since there is more nightlife. Having said that, when I was out and about in Valletta, the restaurants were open past 9 PM on a Thursday night, thus Valletta appeared to be a better choice for me. Additionally, I found Valletta to be culturally beautiful. If I had to redo my trip, I would most definitely stay in Valletta. Either way, you can’t go wrong with either destination since they are both excellent transportation hubs.

AX The Palace Hotel Sliema

I would stay here again if I was staying in Sliema.

Star: ****** (more like 4 star) 
Style: Classy, Not Luxury
Pros: Good Location | Great Customer Service | Free WiFi | Superior Rooms with Balcony & Sea View | Complimentary Treats provided by Room Service | Comfortable Beds | Housekeeping | Complimentary Tea/Coffee | Complimentary Water | Restaurants at Hotel
Cons: Not a 5 star, more along the lines of a 4 star – keep in mind hotels in Malta will not be your traditional 5 star even though some may have a 5 star rating | Bathroom needs Updating | Uncomfortable Beds | Spa not 5 star quality
Location: High Street, Sliema SLM 1542, Malta

Other Hotel Recommendations:

Rosselli – AX Privilege Valletta
AX The Saint John Valletta
The Phoenicia Malta

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What to Do in Malta

4 nights / 3.5 days  –>  you need a total of 5-6 nights to cover Malta.

• Walk around Valletta… you may need 2 days, it’s charming and beautiful.
• In Valletta, grab coffee & dessert at Caffe Cordina… sit outside and enjoy live music.
• Explore the Three Cities – beautiful views at sunset.
• Visit the Silent City of Mdina – this is where a few scenes of Game of Thrones Season 1 were filmed. Have lunch at Fontanella Tea Garden.
• An absolute must – visit the quaint fishing village of Marsaxlokk, and dine at Filippo Italian Restaurant – the best meal on our entire trip!
• Take a Cruise Day Trip to Gozo and Blue Lagoon in Comino.

Day 1 (more details on Instagram)

In Sliema, headed to Valletta by ferry which literally takes about 5 minutes.

Walking around the charming town of Valletta. This reminded me of the Cinque Terre region of Italy. So picturesque.

Valletta is a fashion blogger’s dream, not that I’m one or anything. 🙂

Valletta by night… even more beautiful and happening.

Day 2

We headed to Valletta again the next day, we just couldn’t get enough.

Strait Street which is the most famous street in Malta. It once used to the red light district.

This is the Siege Bell Memorial which honors the heroes who defended Malta during World War II.

Upper Barrakka Gardens.

We took a Gondola across the harbour to explore The Three Cities. We only explored Birju, one of the three cities which was very charming. Note how clean it is.

His biggest cheerleader! 🙂 The Three Cities took us back in time.

Day 3

We headed to the Silent City of Mdina by taxi. A few scenes of Game of Thrones Season 1 were filmed here. I felt as though I was stepping back in time.

Mdina is a maze and beautiful. There are less than 300 people living in Mdina. You’ll find the most quaint little restaurants within these narrow alleys.

Day 4

Since it was overcast we didn’t go to Gozo as planned, instead we headed to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, and I’m so glad we did.

Look at all the colorful boats. When in Marsaxlokk, eat seafood… it’s fresh and delicious.

This is where I had the best meal on the entire trip… good ol’ Sicilian food. I also had the pleasure of meeting a married couple, and the owners of Filippo Italian Restaurant. They offered me some great advice on life which you can read about on Instagram.

My husband loved Three Cities so much that we ended up going back there via Taxi. So quaint and charming.

Beautiful sunset in The Three Cities. A must-do when in Malta.

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Where to Eat in Malta

Rabbit is a Maltese specialty that you will find on almost every menu. Other traditional items include bragioli (beef), fish soup, ftira (tuna sandwich), and pastizzi (cheesy puff pastry). I enjoyed all of these items except rabbit and bragioli. Additionally, being that Malta is so close to Italy, you’ll want to indulge in lots of cappuccino and dessert here because it’s heavenly.

• In Valletta, grab coffee & dessert at Caffe Cordina… sit outside and enjoy live music.
• In Sliema, dine at TemptAsian Restaurant – I still dream about their food.
• In Mdina, have lunch at Fontanella Tea Garden.
• In Marsaxlokk, have lunch, cappuccino & dessert at Filippo Italian Restaurant.

1. Caffe Cordina (valletta)

Located in an old palazzo, Caffe Cordina is the oldest cafe in Malta and a must-do! Grab lunch here, or at the very least cappuccino and freshly baked desserts, you won’t be sorry.

Cost: $$ | Cuisine: Cafe/Coffee Shop | Location: 244 Republic, Il-Belt Valletta VLT 1114, Malta
Overall: 4.5 / 5
Favorites: Ftira Maltija (tuna sandwich) | Kannol Rikotta (cannoli) | Diplomatica (rum sponge cake) | Cappuccino

2. TemptAsian Restaurant & Lounge (sliema)

Located at The AX Palace Hotel in Sliema. Outstanding Pan Asian food with splendid views of Malta. The sea bream filet is an absolute must – easily the best thing I ate in 2019! The only negative is the painfully slow service, but still friendly.

Cost: $$$ | Cuisine: Pan Asian | Location: The AX Palace Hotel, Triq Il – Kbira, Tas-Sliema, Malta
Overall: 4.5 / 5
Favorites: Tom Yum Soup | Panang Chicken | Pepes Ikan (sea bream filet)

3. Filippo Italian Restaurant (marsaxlokk)

Best meal in Malta. We ended up at Filippo Italian Restaurant thanks to our taxi driver. Incredible Italian food! Make sure you order seafood, the lobster here was so tender and juicy. Their lemon cake is divine… I’m still dreaming about it. Lovely owners, Mr. Luigi was warm and welcoming.

Cost: $$-$$$ | Cuisine: Italian/Seafood | Location: 60 Xatt is-Sajjieda, Marsaxlokk MXK 1010, Malta
Overall: 5 / 5
Favorites: Fried Anchovy Fritters | Pesce del Giorno (fish of the day branzino) | Roasted Potatoes | Roasted Vegetables | Tagliolini al Cartoccio with Lobster | Lemon Cake | Cappuccino

4. Fontanella Tea Garden (mdina)

Best Ftira and Pastizzi with breathtaking views overlooking the island of Malta. The strawberry meringue which came highly recommended was average. Also, do not order pizza here, it looked very unappetizing, instead stick with the items recommended below.

Cost: $$ | Cuisine: Italian/Seafood | Location: 60 Xatt is-Sajjieda, Marsaxlokk MXK 1010, Malta
Overall: 4 / 5
Favorites: Cheese Pastizzi | Maltese Ftira

5. Palazzo Preca (valletta)

Charming restaurant with an extensive wine selection. The bread and garlic parsley butter was out of this world. Tried the Mushroom Risotto and Spaghetti Seafood, although it was good, both dishes fell short.

Cost: $$-$$$ | Cuisine: Seafood/Mediterranean | Location: 54, Strait Street, Valletta, Malta
Overall: 4 / 5
Favorites: Bread & Garlic Butter | Wine | Arancini Balls (spinach bacon) | Local Cheeselet

 

Disappointing Restaurants

Taro at the Villa (St. Julian’s) : 1 / 5
Forget the rave reviews on TripAdvisor, this restaurant is seriously lacking in the food department. It was empty when we arrived at 8 pm. Good service, but one of the worst meals of my life.

Sciantusi (Sliema) : 2.5 / 5
I had such high hopes for Sciantusi. After our disappointing meal at Taro at the Villa, we headed here for a quick bite. The Margherita Pizza was surprisingly disappointing, the crust was soggy and wet. I’m baffled.

ImPasta (Sliema) : 3 / 5
It’s a pasta bar and just okay for me. Good for a quick meal, but by no means is it authentic. This place is the Italian Chipotle if you will. When visiting Malta, eat real Italian food.

 

Other Recommended Restaurants

Il-Merill (Sliema)
Ta’ Kris (Sliema)