Where to go in Malta?

Would advise logging in to Silver Travel Advisor and look up Malta as there are many reviews about all aspects of visiting Malta.
The old type buses have been replaced now.

Many years ago I stayed at the Buggiba complex with the children. This is okay but I prefer somewhere not so 'crowded in' by buildings. In Malta you can go from one to another town 'seamlessly' as it is a highly populated island for its size.
Some years later, I went to the 4 star Mellieha Bay Hotel (north of St Paul's Bay), on the northern side of the island with my husband. This is close to Malta's largest sandy beach where you can explore Mellieha's restaurants, bars, shops and historical sites.
The hotel has 2 outdoor swimming pools and a heated indoor one as well as a fitness room and bowling green for sports enthusiasts.
You can walk from the hotel to Popeye's Village (film set) - lots of fun! (about 7 minutes in a car).
The bird sanctuary Ghadira Natural Reserve is only a 10-minute walk away also.
Really enjoyed the holiday and it was a pleasant temperature for February. I agree, a visit to Gozo is a good idea.
There is the 'Miracle Church at Mosta' one of the most famous stories here.
On April 9, 1942, two German bombs fell on the church, a city in central Malta. Mass was going on at the time, and there were over 250 parishioners in the church.
Alarms rang out ahead of time, and although some people left the church, others stayed inside and prayed.
The first bomb pierced the dome, ricocheted, and fell onto the church floor. The second cleared the left side of the triangle on top of the church’s facade.
Today, the church is celebrated for its miracle and you’ll find a replica of the bomb that fell through the dome.

Many places to see, just wished we had a car at the time to make it easier to travel around and not rely on buses!

I worked in Malta many years ago and it is indeed an interesting, historical island with many fine buildings in Valetta as mentioned in other posts. We lived near Sliema, which is a good base to stay in with good hotel choice,shopping and plenty of buses to visit places like Mdina, Mellieha and Paradise Bay for good sandy beaches Also the ferry for Gozo, a must, with its lovely villages, bays and historical capital, Victoria. Visited again a few years ago and not so much had changed except for all the new hotel builds and cars! Go in late Spring or Autumn. Summer is usually very hot and shops/work usually close for an afternoon siesta.

Stayed at the Corinthia Palace and Spa a few years ago, and it was really nice, with an excellent chinese restaurant!! Loved Mdina and Valetta. Don't hire a car, unless you have to - everyone drives like mad things! The maltese are lovely people, and I can't wait to go back there for another holiday

Coppernob
Yes !,! Fontanellas.
Thanks for remembering the name. It was such a special
place, I have such happy memories of my visits there with my parents.
Sadly my parents died in 1997 and 2000 and I could’nt face going back after that happened.

On the final day of our Malta holiday (my friend, myself and a disabled elderly lady) arranged with a local taxi driver to take a tour of the island to fill in the hours before we needed to be at the airport. He took us and our luggage on a lovely tour, was very helpfull and informative, we got to see things and places we would have missed, then he got us to the airport in good time. It wasn't expensive, less than the cost of keeping on a room for extra hours. Nice way to end the holiday. Just a suggestion others might consider.

Some years ago spent Christmas in Malta, the Phoenicia Hotel in Valetta, now out of our price range! It was a great holiday, mid night Mass followed by breakfast attended by local people as well as guests.
Have been back several times,staying in self catering properties in Valetta, always in the winter. The people are so welcoming. There are lots of concerts etc. Not somewhere to go if you want to sit on a beach.
Looking forward to our next visit.

How lovely to think ahead to sun and summer hols when it's so cold at home - thank you.

Hi all, I have an apartment i rent out to tourists in Qawra and I am on Airbnb ( abnb.me/cnmpzxgsZK) as well. I have compiled a spreadsheet of restraunts and places to visit with the bus numbers if you want to use public transport. Anyone can request it and i will be happy to send you an email with the attached spreadsheet, no obligations whatsoever. Just email to [email protected]

We went to Malta 20 years ago and loved it. It was June and the heat was beating down on us. Loved the silent city of Mdina, Valletta, and swimming in the sea at Golden Bay. The bright orange buses ...some looked hand painted....were an interesting experience but got us around the island quite easily. Listening to all the canaries singing/trilling to each other across people's balconies, the little street corner cafe/bars, were a cup of tea or glass of beer even a plate of egg and chips all rustled up by a friendly owner no trouble at all. A trip to Gozo was worth seeing as well. Would love to go again sometime.

We stayed at Sliema which proved to be a fantastic choice. Everywhere is within easy reach. Valetta is fantastic and the main depot of the buses for all over the island.

Gozo is wonderful!

Have just returned today from our third visit in the last 12 months. Temperature was 19 degrees in Qawra
yesterday-- our drive was 14 inches under snow today!! I can't add much more than has already been said. JUST GO!!!
Bellasnana I'll PM you before our next visit if I may. We could have a meet-up!

Hate to be a downer but Malta is one place I'd never visit www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/apr/28/chris-packham-malta-is-a-bird-hell

Sadly there are few places on the earth free of animal cruelty,including our own country.Chris Packham is a wonderful naturalist and could have chosen many, many others to highlight.

I am travelling to.Malta over the August Bank Holiday with DC and DGC . There are eight of us so a large appartment (or two small one) or villa probably best. The best and most affordable villas seem to be on Gozo. Is it easy to travel across as our flight arrives quite late? We like to cook some nice food on holiday and have a big family meal. I know there are supermarkets on Malta but is it the same on Gozo? I went about 35 years ago and it was very rural but I guess it has changed!

Mellieha Bay Hotel has some of the best views in Malta. Every room a sea view. A good hotel with nice staff and great food. There are bus stops nearby for regular buses for Valletta, Sliema and Bugibba. There is a bus stop nearby to go to the ferry for Gozo. Takes about 10 mins to get there. The Popeye attraction is a short bus ride away too. Mellieha is a nice town with bars and cafes.

The Popeye attraction - you've reminded me we went there too. Our girls went swimming and one got stung by a jellyfish .

I’m just wondering if all these people who refuse to go because of bird shooting ( which I do not condone, together with the majority of the Maltese), also boycott Spain due to the barbaric practice of bullfighting?

Will you be driving or? I had a lovely holiday in Malta and took the local buses - but another friend had been driving in Malta a few years ago and said the roads were "hairy!" And that's from driving on the same side of the road as us... so maybe beware...! There are great bus tours all round the island just check the times... we also went on the ferries ( www.visitmalta.com/en/ferries-and-water-taxis) went to Gozo... and those were great days out too! Look out for a great wee train as we visited the Roman remains while we were there
www.visitmalta.com/en/tourist-train

It is not just Malta that kills migrating birds, this is common throughout Mediterranean Europe.

www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/26/conservationists-appalled-at-illegal-killing-of-25m-birds-a-year-in-the-mediterranean
And
www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/04/birds-migrating-spain-killed-hunters

Thank you for the name of the house, Bellasnana.

I love Malta. My husband was a Royal Marine and we were stationed there in the late 70's.
We've visited several times since, firstly taking our children and now on our own. So much to see and lovely people.
We are sure to visit again this year.

Have spent many holidays in Malta. In addition to the places already mentioned, if the sea’s calm you can take a boat trip from Sliema round Valletta and the three cities. The smaller boats are better as they can get further into the harbours.
I love having fresh fish for lunch on the front in Marsaxlokk, not on Sundays when there is a large market.
In Valletta the Upper Barakka gardens are worth a visit for the views over the harbours.

Hey, Malta is a really nice place, people there are very friendly and loving.

I was going to point out it’s not just Malta where birds are killed. I don’t know why they do it, i wish they didn’t, but it’s done throughout the Mediterranean.