Let me start by saying that I’m a chronic over-researcher when it comes to holidays. I usually TripAdvisor and Google the crap out of any place we are going to visit, and ask anyone I know who’s been there to give me recommendations. This is the first place I’ve been where I did barely any research at all, which actually ended up being great, because we came with no preconceptions or expecations! We travelled with another couple and stayed in the most beautiful farm house in Gozo, which is the island just off of mainland Malta. To get there, we flew into the Malta airport (there’s only one, the island is tiny), drove for about an hour across the entirety of the island, and took the 15 min ferry to Gozo! Et voila!
THE STATS:
Flight from London to Malta: 3 hours
£130 round trip per person from London Gatwick (EasyJet)
£30 pp/night accomodation in Gozo (AirBnB)
TO SEE:
Valletta: The capital of Malta, Valletta has also been named the European Capital of Culture 2018. It’s a gorgeous little city, with winding back streets, incredible views of the Grand Harbour, and an incredible amount of multi-colored gorgeous Maltese wooden balconies. The whole city is easily walkable, with various cathedrals and sights, including several filming locations from the Game of Thrones TV series and movies like Troy and Gladiator. The food is classically Mediterranean with loads of fresh and summery flavors, and the vino is cheap. All in all, my kind of city!
Comino: The island of Comino is situated between Malta and Gozo, and is home to the Blue Lagoon, which is arguably one of Malta’s more popular tourist destinations. It’s easy to get to from either Gozo or the main island, and set us back around 10 euros per person for a return trip. The day we went in late March was just before peak season, so being just a tad cold for swimming weather, the island wasn’t too packed. Though all of the water around Malta is an incredible aquamarine color and crystal-clear, the Blue Lagoon is something else. Equally as pretty is the hike around the island, as it gives you views of the surrounding waters and Saint Mary’s Tower, which is a standalone fortress on the otherwise quite empty island. I would recommend bringing a picnic lunch and spending the day wandering around Comino – though there are various food trucks there selling burgers and pizzas at reasonable prices, as well.
Gozo: The island of Gozo seems to move at a slower pace than the rest of the world. As we were there over Easter weekend, locals and shopkeepers seemed to keep whatever hours they pleased, meaning a lot of our time on the island was spent wandering around and learning the area. The small city of Victoria is charming, with cute cafes and bars in a large and open square, as well as cobbled alleys cute shops. Also key to check out is the Citadel, also called the Castello that looks over Victoria, and dates back to the Bronze Age. But the true wonder of Gozo is its natural beauty, with its red-sand beach of Wied San Blas, the rock caves, and the salt pans which strech on at the North side of the island. Even though the Azure Window has now fallen into the sea, it’s worth a visit to the site, just for the spectacular views.
TO EAT:
Kapunata: As a pescatarian, I’m always on the hunt for local dishes that include lots of veggies. Kapunata was certainly one I would try again – a mix of aubergine (eggplant for any Americans!), stewed tomatoes, capers, and olives was incredibly satisfying and rich while still feeling summery and fresh.
Pastizzi: These were everywhere! A flaky pastry shaped almost like a dumpling that contains either peas, ricotta cheese, or a mix of both! We were told that they were traditional fare at Easter as well, which obviously meant we needed to try several of them.
Rabbit: Though I don’t personally eat rabbit, those of us in our group who did were blown away by the dishes the Maltese had to offer. Rabbit seems to be on every menu – stuffed in raviolis, served with sides of fresh vegetables, and more. One of our friends had a rabbit stew that was supposedly life-changing.
LANGUAGE AND KEY PHRASES:
Malta was, until very recently, occupied by the British, so English is still an official language of the country, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a place here where they can’t communicate in English. However, the native Maltese language is incredibly interesting – a hybrid of Italian, Arabic, and English languages.
Hello: Merhba
Where is the toilet? Fejn hi t-tojlit?
Thank you: Grazzi
Would you ever go to Malta? I would love to hear about it! Please leave a comment below!