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I once met a couple returning from Malta at the airport and they raved about the country, which has been my top choice ever since. Every now and then I check flight prices and one day Malta suddenly became an affordable destination with an extra stopover in Istanbul so I booked early April to visit.
Malta is located in the middle of the Mediterranean, north of Libya and south of Sicily, so wherever you go you’ll be surrounded by a coastline of steep limestone cliffs, jagged with bays, inlets and coves. I arrived on a warm spring day as the rainy season had just ended so I experienced beautiful blue skies for four days.
Malta has a rich history, the Maltese are descendants of the Phonecians and the language is a mixture of Arabic and a Sicilian dialect of Italian. The British occupied Malta for 150 years until 1964, and Malta is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and therefore speaks English. All over the country you’ll see Roman, Greek, Arab, French and British influences.
I rented a great apartment on Airbnb with a view of the harbor and within walking distance of everything in the capital Valletta. Around Valletta, visitors and residents alike can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea.
My first day exploring the capital on foot, it’s small but very walkable. What fascinates me are the colorful doors and knockers on every street!
Like no other capital city in Europe, Valletta has impressive architecture and street cafés for eating and people-watching.
When you come to Europe, you must have an Aperol Spritz! For lunch, I had some of the lightest pasta I’ve ever had, and the ricotta ravioli was heaven savored with the bells of an old cathedral.
The next day I visited the sister island of Gozo. I booked a jeep tour of the island through Viator and a local guide showed us everything from the red and salt flats of Ramla Bay to the prehistoric Gigantija temple dating back to 3600 BC. We squeezed into a sea cave boat tour, visited two cathedrals, and took a slow boat tour of the famous Blue Lagoon. The stunning turquoise color of the water is no wonder people from all over the world come here to swim.
On the third day, I went to the Sunday market in the village of Marsaxlokk, famous for its colorful fishing boats. I found a cafe away from the touristy areas where the locals congregate, ordered fresh fish and white wine, and drank it while watching the people go by. For me, there is nothing better than watching people perform in a European cafe!
In the afternoon, I took a boat tour to the Blue Cave. The boatman took us out to sea and marveled at the sea cliffs on the coastline. It was so beautiful!
Malta played a strategic role for the Allies in World War II and as a result was heavily bombed by Germany and Italy. On my last day, I visited the Valletta Underground City recommended by my Airbnb host. The story of the resilience of the Maltese people, their refusal to give up their country, and their survival in their underground hideouts is so fascinating!
My Malta trip was a two-day stopover in Istanbul, and it was a solo trip, so I was able to explore the country on my own without any traveling companions. Besides traveling with family and friends, I also like to travel alone. I’m planning to do a post about women traveling solo internationally, so let me know if you have any questions!
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