What to do on Malta

October 31, 2006 7:43 AM

We are going to be on Malta for the last 5 days of December and are looking for specific suggestions of unique things to do, explore, special places to eat, nightlife etc.
posted by frizelli to travel & transportation (3 comments total)

Definitely check out the ancient megalithic temples. I also found the Limestone Museum entertaining, but it might not be to everyone's taste. Regarding food, there is loads of fresh seafood most places, so I hope you like that. I was there in February and it wasn't very crowded at all, so the nightlife could be wanting at the time of your trip. Five days sounds like plenty of time to explore the island, and maybe also visit Gozo or one of the minor Maltese islands nearby.
posted by exogenous at 7:56 AM on October 31, 2006

Go to Mdina, the old Maltese capital - now a mediaeval ghost town.

Marsascala is a pretty little fishing village I stayed in once, although not sure how built up it's become now.

Visit the temple of Ħaġar Qim on the southern bit of the island.

There's some decent(ish) shopping to be had in Valletta, the capital, and lots of quite nice restaurants. The circular bus station with its multicoloured buses is always a photo op, too. Not sure what the nightlife's like, but if there is one, it's probably in Valletta.

I went there once when I was 7 (I'm 31 now) and for four days last year with a friend. Two things:

- Ask your hotel to put you in touch with a taxi company and do all your travelling by taxi. It's cheap, and it means you won't spend half your days trawling around by public transport, which is helpful if you're going for less than a week...

- If you're female, or one of you is, don't go anywhere alone. On the day I arrived last year, I walked from my hotel to the sea, took a few deep breaths, a few great photos... then got propositioned by a local who basically wanted to masturbate while I watched. So unless that's your kinda thing, be safe.

And have fun!

PS: Ooh, try the 'pea cakes' and let me know what they're like... I wasn't brave enough...
posted by unmusic at 8:31 AM on October 31, 2006

The public transport is pretty good, but not on Sundays. Second Ħaġar Qim and Mdina, also make sure to check out Fort St. Elmo (the main defence in the Siege of Malta), the Inquisitor's Palace in Vittoriosa, and the amazing floor of St John's Co-Cathedral (if you're into art, there's also a Carravagio in there). If you prefer the countryside, I particularly enjoyed a walk around Gozo, plus there are some more neolithic temples there to check out.
posted by Paragon at 12:54 PM on October 31, 2006