To ask you to tell me about Malta...

[Cinderellaspumpkin]

Am just about to book 7 nights in Malta end of April with DP and DD, ( six months).

Is it a nice place for family holiday? sightseeing? What do you do there ? All advice appreciated x

@DappledThings

I know, I'm amazed. For a history nut like me it was paradise and DH loved the walking.
Yes, politically there are issues, but that applies to a lot of places.

I always refer to Malta as Ireland in the sun nice enough if u are a certain age range

We went last year (second visit) and it was great. Loads to see on lots of levels. If you're interested in religious history/Christianity, St Paul's Bay is where the Apostle Paul was said to have been shipwrecked. Nice food, friendly locals and beautiful scenery. Would definitely go back.

I've been twice with now-DH before we had kids, once in 2010 and we stayed in Sliema for a week, once in 2017 when we stayed on Gozo for 5 nights and Valetta for 2 - we also got engaged on Gozo so I have very fond memories.

I'd recommend Gozo as a lovely and quiet, laid back kind of place. It has sandy beaches, which Malta does as well but I think they are in the very resort-y parts where I haven't been. Gorgeous snorkeling and diving. We stayed in an airbnb that was a converted 15th (?) century farmhouse and was very atmospheric.

If you are an archaeology nerd like I am the Ggantija temple complex on Gozo is incredible, and the Hypogeum on Malta is worth going to as well. Agree that Medina is amazing and atmospheric. Good restaurants and fairly relaxed, safe-feeling nightlife in Valetta.

You can get around both islands by bus quite easily, and Valetta is very walkable (though I live in Bristol so am used to hills!)

Sliema was fine, fairly relaxed, good base for exploring, but nothing incredibly special.

Not sure anything I have described is particularly child-friendly, though maybe if you have a very young baby you can just take her with you to do the grownup stuff. As a last hurrah before you enter the world of kids' clubs and activities, it might be really nice.

I went in April with a 4 year old. It was perfect. Not a beachy place only really 2 beaches and they are nothing special. Get a sea front hotel with nice pool.
Food and people are amazing and cheap. car hire is easy and reasonable. They drive on same side as us. Food very similar to italian and the Maltese love children and welcome you so much. Museums and shops in centre and lovely pastry/coffee shops. I had a lovely time and would go back. Resorts are built up and no beaches but still beautiful views over sea.

They don't call it the armpit of Europe for nothing.

"They" being who exactly? Honestly there are some people who are determined to see the worst in everything.

Timesawastin - I take it you never walked up into Valletta from the little harbour where the Sliema boat docks then ? 😱
It was horrendously steep and I don’t actually know how I made it up, even my DH thought it was bad, ditto coming back from the fort on the headland up into Valletta, ditto the walk from the harbour to the Malta at war museum at Birgu. Even the walk from the bus stop outside Mdina was a challenge for me.

It’s put me off going back.

We went during Covid as Malta was on the green list at the time. Loved Valletta and the Three Cities but didn't bother with the resorts as I'd heard mixed reviews. We went to Gozo instead and stayed in San Lawrenz at the far end of the island which was nice. It's not a destination we'd ever considered before but were pleasantly surprised with the two locations where we stayed.

We love Malta, but I'm not sure how great it would be with small children. A PP said road rules are minimal - they definitely aren't and hire cars have easily recognisable number plates so are possibly more easy to pull over. There are strict speed limits and you will be fined if caught speeding. I describe Maltese drivers as slow Italian boy racers. Nobody goes particularly fast but they don't hang around either, particularly at roundabouts. You will need to be prepared to zoom out as soon as you see a space. Roads are generally in poor repair, but those that have been done up are great. There really aren't many beaches, the north of the island is best for those. It really is worth hiring a car if you're planning on exploring. Buses are good and frequent, but the island is only 11 miles long (smaller than the Isle of Wight) so you can get everywhere in the island by car. You can also take the car on the ferry to Gozo. It is worth looking for car hire before you go - last time we went we were met at the airport and given our car keys, and we just dropped them off on our return. We used a cheap car hire company - not Hertz or one of the big ones. It can be very windy - it is a small island in a big sea! Just seen your DD is tiny, so you shouldn't have any problems keeping her entertained. Not sure about changing facilities... Public toilets usually have a fierce lady keeping guard over the toilet paper and she will need to be paid. Toilets in cafes, shops etc. are fine - just normal. You will be able to buy nappies etc. when you are there - but be aware that antihistamines have to be prescribed! I got some horrendous mosquito bites and they came up really badly - I was horrified when a very nice pharmacist told me they weren't allowed to sell them to me. She did let me have them in the end. Have a lovely time!

I would 100% say I've been to more armpitty places than Malta.... hello London and Paris

Hated it. Valetta was ok but our resort was dirty, the food was a bit naff, and I'm not a fussy eater, and just strip bars everywhere.

I’m half-Maltese - do the blue lagoon by boat! Day trip to Gozo is worth it. Valletta is lovely. The hypogeum is incredibly fascinating. The churches are beautiful, try and look up festival days for when you’re there as the parades and fireworks displays are a big part of life. The buses are free too!

The food is gorgeous - try swordfish and octopus, and the national dish of rabbit stew. Get the imqaret pastries (say “mm-ah-ret”), especially front the kiosks outside valletta. And you have to try Kinnie at least once (I’m a fiend for it).

The people are very religious but are mostly friendly and speak English. The phrase “grazi hafna” will win you points.

It is a very odd, interesting mix of West and Arab culture like nowhere else in the world, and they still have cultural behaviour like shooting and trapping birds which a lot of Brits don’t like. Avoid Paceville unless you like clubs. St Julian’s isn’t touristy anyway but it’s always busy even at night (have family there and you get used to tuning out the noise but still).

Travel round on the orange buses. Take a day trip to Gozo. Walk around Valletta (very hilly) and Mdina. Maltese food is not one of the world's great cuisines but seafood is good and plentiful.

Ever so slightly dramatic, it’s hardly Everest! There’s a free shuttle bus why didn’t you use that?

Loved it! We stayed in Melliha which does have a beach - nothing amazing but it's sand, and it's a very sweet village. Medina was beautiful, Valetta lovely, Gozo amazing. We didn't go anywhere near club/bar life so avoided that bit of it completely. St Julian's looked very pretty in the sun on the bus but never stopped!

It is a bit run down but the people are so friendly, it's easy to get around and the history and buildings are wonderful. We went as a young couple about 15 years ago though so not sure what it would be like with a baby.

Yes sadly

Wasn't that keen !!!!!!

I found it interesting but wouldn't go back. We went pre-kids and did all the ancient sites, snorkelling, ferry over to Gozo. We enjoyed it all. None of it particularly small child friendly. The history of the place is really interesting and there are lots of different influences as it is an island at a cross roads. But I've seen what I want to see of that and there are much nicer places for a beach holiday.

Hated it. A lot of litter, a lot of expats. Think a boring, dirty Benidorm without nice beaches. We went to Gozo in the end which was fine. But I absolutely would never return to Malta.
Any of the Canary Islands or even better the Greek islands, or Sardinia, would be a better alternative ime

I grew up there so am probably biased, but I love it. Valletta is my favourite part, just a beautiful historic city with so much to see and so many lovely cafes and restaurants to sit outside in the evening.

Mdina was used as a set in Game of Thrones, it is a medieval walled city and is so atmospheric in the evening as the sun sets.

Hal Saflieni, Mnajdra and Ggantija are UNESCO world heritage sites, again cannot believe people have visited them and not been impressed - much more extensive than Stonehenge.

There are sandy beaches, like Little Armier Bay. If you go to Mellieha/Golden Bay in high season then yes it will be pretty busy, just as Bournemouth beach is in summer. We pick a hotel with a good pool and private access to the sea (via steps from the rocks), and our kids are more than happy with that (all day every day).

Better beaches and quieter island life on Gozo - which is very similar to going to a quiet Greek Island.

St Julian’s is a shithole and always has been, I agree you should stay well clear of it. It’s been overdeveloped and is a cheap AI destination so you get a lot of drunks. Whoever upthread said Blackpool had it about right. But it is very easy to avoid.

Maltese people love children - DS had a massive fuss made of him everywhere we went, special teddy-shaped pizzas in one place (definitely not on the menu), free ice pop in another, huge fuss of him made by the horse cab drivers (got to feed a horse himself). Museum attendants bending down to ask him about his dinosaur toys. All completely unprompted and lovely.

I met my dh there, so I'm biased!
My Dad and Step Mum went out there every year for the whole summer so I have been many times.
Things I love:
The history, Valletta, M'dina, the amazing religious festivals (I'm not religious) with the utterly terrifying firework displays. Blue lagoon (take a boat but go EARLY or late else it's packed)

The sea is clear, and wonderful for snorkling or just paddling and spotting fish. Beaches are rocky except for a few places (Golden sands is nice ) We usually stay in Qawra which is quiet but the buses run everywhere.

They love children and are one of the few places left it feels, that still like the British!

Things I dislike:St Julian's... tacky tourist area.Driving there. Never again... they do drive in the shade !

I went as a student in the 90s and hated it. Valletta and Gozo were nice, but the rest awful. I was harassed by local men in the street and didn't feel safe. It was a long time ago, and I hope it's changed, but I would never go back.

Yeah Paris is the other armpit.

Boring. My mother stayed there for a while. I found it pretty boring with not much to do. Definitely not somewhere I'd go on holiday.

Yep, fair point