While progress and modern property development is all good and well, there have been some concerns that not enough attention is being paid to restoring and preserving Malta’s architectural heritage, especially when it refers to renovating and old townhouse in Malta.
Just browsing the archives and stumbled across this shot from Malta taken back in May. Thought the contrasts in scale was quite interesting. Hope you're all having good weekends!
This post contains affiliate links. This means when you use my link, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. DISCLAIMER: This list is in order of how we did everything on our trip to Malta, so please scroll all the way to see everything!! Only a few of the items we did not have time to do, but they are mostly in order of how we would have added them. We only had 2 days in Malta, and I don’t say this often, but I could have probably spent a week there. So many historical sites, fun restaurants, and outdoor/water adventures. Malta is pretty unique to other places I’ve visited. It is located in the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Africa, and it looks the part. It is such a unique mixture of cultures and history. Actually, almost everyone on the island speaks English, as it is one of their main languages. Also, Catholicism is its main religion, so there are churches galore. Malta is one of my new favorite countries, and I like that it flies under the radar pretty often. This being said, it is a great Mediterranean island destination and a cruise ship destination. It is a great road trip island (like the Azores or Iceland). I HIGHLY suggest renting a car here! The island is very budget-friendly, including accommodations, a rental car, and everything else. If you want to see everything, it’s just so much easier if you have a car. So, I’ll stop talking your ear off and just get to the list. This is a list of almost everything we did or would have done in Malta. And keep in mind, this is just a list of things you can add to your itinerary if it seems like something you would enjoy. Many people prefer tours, and I do a lot of the time too! We had time for one tour while we were there, and we booked through Viator. They have all kinds of tours, some that you might not even think of, and I always recommend using them to my friends and family. Have the best time in Malta!! 1. Coral Lagoon Keep in mind that I’m listing these as their Google Maps names. This is just easier, because I will always suggest flagging or starring things on Google Maps so you can easily plug in your next stop. So, add Coral Lagoon to your maps now! There is a small parking lot located next to this scenic spot. Park there, and you’re in a for a short hike to see it. Wear appropriate shoes! You will be walking on a lot of rocky ground and there is glass around. To your left, you will see somewhat of a swimming hole. Granted, when we were there it didn’t look like a great time to jump in. But, continue walking up the hill. After you come up to the top of the hill, you will walk down to the large hole in front of you. You can walk all around this. It’s just one of those natural holes created by the water, and it’s pretty fun to watch. The water comes in through one larger hole in the walls, as you can see in the pictures. I had to walk around to the edge closer to the left side to see that! If you’re scared of heights or just feel unsteady, you don’t have to get that close. But, it’s so fun to walk around there and see all the fishermen out on the rocks. You can really walk pretty close to the sea from here. When you go back to the parking lot, there is a little shop for food or drinks too! 2. Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal So, Malta is made up of 3 islands. Many people take day trips from the main island to these! I absolutely love taking a ferry. If you’re looking to get out on the water, you can definitely make this ferry trip! On the other islands, you’ll find more churches, hikes, and beautiful cliffs. In fact, we were wanting to hike some (just didn’t have time), and the hikes were going to be on these other islands! If you’re a diver or appreciate water activities, the other islands have tons of opportunities for that. At the Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal, you also have an underwater wreck and statue that you can dive to see. This is the port for the ferry and for other boat tours, so you might find yourself here. Right next to it, they also have the Paradise Bay Resort that looks so fun to stay at. You have views of all 3 islands and the beautiful cliff side with a pool. If you are staying in Valletta (the main town on the main island), this is definitely a different side of the island that is pretty fun to drive around. 4. Parcheggio Sant Andreas Now, I don’t speak Maltese, but parcheggio is Maltese for parking lot. Again, while Malta also is an English-speaking country, you will find a lot of the Maltese language around. So, why would I direct you to a parking lot? From here, you get a good view of the ferry port, the cliff side, and a “fault line” of sorts. We walked right up to the line, but as usual, just be careful. Never walk too close to the edge of anything. These cliffs can also be unstable, as the sign suggests, so only walk where you are comfortable. While up here, we also came across the unique vegetation. Since we stayed near the beach in Mellieha, we hadn’t seen much of it yet. A lot of the island can be almost desert-like when not near the water. This was definitely the most unique terrain I had ever seen, somewhat similar to the Greek islands. As you drive around the island, you just seem to find yourself looking at something different at every turn. So, if you want a good vantage point for views, head to Parcheggio Sant Andreas. 3. Underwater Shipwrecks & Statues As I mentioned above, Malta has tons of underwater shipwrecks and statues. This would be a diver’s dream. And if you don’t dive but want to, I’m sure they do lessons here as well! All around the cliffs on every island, they have underwater shipwrecks that you can go see. This also includes old statues and other things. Because Malta is so full of history and it was used by the British, the history is evident everywhere you go. This is even true in the ships that wrecked on the coast of Malta while going between Africa and Europe. Going to see these shipwrecks would transport you back in time even more. They have battleships and cargo vessels. As I’m not a diver, I did want to note that you should be an experienced diver, especially because some of the sites can be done on your own. Always make sure that you are prepared and that you have everything you need. Malta is home to some of the best dives and best shipwrecks to see, but don’t expect a ton of wildlife! 5. It-Torri L-Ahmar (Red Tower) The iconic Red Tower is also very high up on the mountain. You can walk all around it, but you can also go inside at certain times. Back in the day, it served as a watch tower, which is why it is so high up on the mountain. The road to get there can get narrow, so make sure to leave plenty of space for other cars coming and going. The Red Tower is also called Saint Agatha’s Tower. Saint Agatha was a martyr and is used to symbolize strength. From the Red Tower, you truly have 360 degrees of views of the entire island. This is what made it the perfect location to watch for invaders. On the side of the building, you will see a canon, and stairs that lead to a bridge that lead to inside. Make sure to check the time that they open if you’re wanting to take a look inside. The building has been preserved as a historical site, so there is a small fee to enter. This helps maintain the building and allow tourists to visit. We were there right when they opened, but we had fun just walking around and reading the plaques that explain the significance as well. For more information, click here: Red Tower. 6. Sunset Point & Radar Station If you’re going up to the Red Tower, I will say you definitely have to visit Sunset Point and the Radar Station! This was one of my favorite places we saw while in Malta. And yes, some might say it’s random, but it’s the most intriguing thing to find historical sites just sitting there frozen in time. When you’re there, you feel like you just stepped foot into a war zone. The buildings are decrepit and appear to be blown out in some parts. Like in most deserted places, the walls have graffiti and trash inside the buildings. Please do not add to this, and if you see trash, pick it up! Never go to someone else’s home and leave it worse than how you found it. Now, as you walk around, you will hear the sound of the turning radar. Look, I’m not a historian or know much about how all of this works, so my words are probably incorrect. I’m just saying that the whole thing is eerie. It is fittingly also by Sunset Point because you have unobstructed views of the sea and the cliffs from all angles again. A radar station has to be high up, right? So, as you visit Red Tower, definitely add this as a stop. Just follow the same road all the way to the end and you’ll find it. 7. Mellieha As I have mentioned a couple of times, we stayed in Mellieha. I went back and forth on where we wanted to stay, because it definitely put us outside of the main city of Valletta. If you have a car, I thought this was the perfect place to stay. Mellieha is a beach town, and it definitely has that feel. It is much less crowded and slower than in Valletta. We actually stayed at the perfect beachside penthouse. It had 3 bedrooms for only $400 for 2 nights! Again, this was a steal. We were close to everything we needed and we could walk to get dinner or to the market for waters. While we went in October, so it wasn’t a more typical tourist time, plenty of people were still going to the beach. The water is crystal clear and blue. This was also a place where tons of fishing boats were out on the water in the morning and at night. Even if you don’t stay here, it would be a great place to visit for the day. You can easily take the bus to here, spend the day at the beach and eat your meals beachside. They have different spas and resorts in this area too, so it can give you a more “vacation” feel rather than a “tourist” feel. 8. Blu Beach Club Blu Beach Club is a restaurant and bar located in Mellieha. I have it as its own place, because it is the perfect place to grab a nice meal and sit seaside. They have a large patio outside where you can sit and enjoy your meal next to the water. Their menu boasts a variety of different meals, very easily digestible for us tourists. It is a mixture of American food and Italian food, with some Maltese dishes mixed in. Again, we were there in the middle of the week and in October. I’m sure this place is a lot more lively in the summer months or on the weekend. But, even on a random Monday...
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While progress and modern property development is all good and well, there have been some concerns that not enough attention is being paid to restoring and preserving Malta’s architectural heritage, especially when it refers to renovating and old townhouse in Malta.
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