Malta - is it just me that didn't really like it?

[NCTDN]

I don't get the love for Malta. Each to their own and all that, but there's so many posts saying how beautiful it is as a country. We explored the whole island of so I thought. Did I miss somewhere ? (Loved Valletta btw)

I went quite a few years ago and was a bit "meh" about it.
The water was nice and clear in some areas and we went on a nice boat trip but I didn't love it. To be fair I did have some stuff going on in my life that probably affected how I felt too

Ive never been but i know quite a few people who have and they weren't particularly fond of it either.

I agree. Very underwhelming.

Malta is lovely in parts and is a nice winter spot. We went there in December 2022 and it was 19/20 degrees and sunny for the week.
It does have a kind of 'unfinished' feel to it though.

There are some lovely parts to it but there are some parts that are like an unfinished building site. There's also another island called gozo which has some beautiful parts too so I think everyone's experiences can be different when they go depending which parts of the island they go to

I agree. I think a lot of people like it is because it is more affordable and offers a sunny climate.

It’s the worst place I’ve been in Europe, hated it. 1 awful overcrowded beach, terrible food & everyone so pushy trying to sell you stuff. Not for me.

Went to Malta many years ago, extremely hot in September. Also, there were no sandy beaches. Not been back.

My dad lived there as a child for a number of years.

I once mentioned I was looking at it when looking at holidays.

He suggested I didn't bother

Ok this was in last 10 years and he lived there 60 odd years ago - but I'm guessing nothings much has changed to turn it into a WOW holiday?!

It's my bellwether for if someone can be trusted to recommend a holiday place. If they suggest Malta I tend to discount everything else they recommend, or at least treat with a large pinch of salt.

Admittedly it was a while ago I went but apart from Valetta it was half finished. Valetta is lovely but there's equally lovely cities elsewhere....that aren't on Malta.

A friend who goes regularly for work has said he's found it's got seedier and seedier and is really quite rough feeling now. He's had colleagues mugged quite violently.

I loved it there! So easy to get around on the buses and so much to see and do. We're not into beach holidays though and like mooching around historical sites.

I don't think lots of people do love it. It always comes out early on the threads where people ask for worst place they've ever been.

But I loved it. So easy to get round on the buses, tons of history from many different significant times. We spent 10 days there and were at a different fort/museum/prehistoric temple/park etc every day. Little boat trips across the harbour, Mdina is beautiful.

Lots of time sitting in nice squares eating local cake as well.

I've recommended it to loads of people. But not if you want a beach holiday. It isn't good for that.

The largest Great White Shark ever captured was in Malta

X post snap! Especially re the buses. That will make both of us look suspiciously like we are sponsored by Malta's public transport team 😂

Didn't like the island much but totally loved Valleta -

Yeah not a fan either. I didn't find the food it general ambiance very nice. Worth visiting once for sure - interesting history. But doesn't come close to other parts of Europe.

Blue lagoon was horrendous! It was heaving and was like lager louts on tour.

I loved it but I’m not into beach holidays and I love history. I agree with PP about the buses, they were so inexpensive too. Gozo is also well worth a visit.

The Blue Lagoon has been hijacked by the Insta crowd. I went on a boat trip years ago and it was nothing like it is today.

I like some of the northern parts, Valetta and Gozo, which is much quieter. It's also an excellent destination for scuba diving. I don't like the busy parts. The history is interesting - Mosta Dome, Mdina, ancient ruins and Valetta of course.

The buses go everywhere but are so slow and you nearly always have to go through Valetta. The time we did it all on public transport it took over an hour to get from the airport (we'd have got a taxi if we'd realised as it's only a few miles). We also went from Sliema to Mdina on the bus and it took even longer even though it's not even ten miles.

We were really impressed by the buses tbh. One of the positives about it!

When I went, I said if you could see in black and White it would look like an old war film😂. But the buses are 😃

Oh my god we absolutely loved it!!! We stayed in Marsaxloxx, Rabat, Valetta and Gozo over a period of 2 weeks. We got around by taxi (and obviously boat to and from Gozo) and it was so easy because it's such a tiny island. Apparently buses are easy too. Everywhere had so much culture and history and we just fell in love with the quaintness of it all.

I do know people who have been who stayed in Sliema, Mellieha, St Pauls and St Julians - all of which are meant to be very average and touristy so I would avoid these places like the plague. Also didn't go to the Blue Lagoon or the Popeye village.

I think with anywhere, if you pick the right spots then you'll have a completely different experience. I also find it funny when people go somewhere, stay in one spot and say they hated it (as in, the whole island) even though they didn't set foot outside their resort / hotel😂

Where did you stay?! We went for two weeks and didn't come across one busy beach?!

I'm going to assume you went to a busy beach resort made for tourists😂

I think Malta and Gozo are wonderful and utterly unique. The historical significance of the islands alone makes them worth a visit - they have been fought over for centuries due to their geographical position between Europe, Africa and the Middle East and they took an absolute pounding during WWII. The EU have pumped a lot of money into Malta and Gozo in the past decade or so, meaning that the roads and public transport networks are fantastic, and they have some of the best museums and historical sites I've been to in terms of innovative interpretations and use of spaces.

Aside from the history, the architecture in Valletta and Mdina are wonderful and so unique - a cross between Europe, Africa and the Middle East in its influence - and if you go to Gozo, there are some gorgeous little coves and beaches to enjoy with hardly anyone there. The water off Gozo is crystal clear and great for swimming. The food is fantastic - Maltese cuisine is heavily influenced by its connections with Sardinia, and the seafood is delicious. Plus, I've never eaten better gelato, and I've travelled all over Italy!

I was amazed at how much there was to see and do in such a small place. In a week, I barely scratched the surface. You can get around so easily on the fabulous bus service - which is cheap and all electric - and the ferry to Gozo is also cheap and frequent if you want a day trip - though I actually split my trip between the two and would recommend staying longer on Gozo if possible, as it does have the beaches. The weather is great year round - I went in April and it was consistently 25 degrees every day.

What Malta and Gozo don't have is beautiful views, rolling countryside or miles of uninhabited wilderness. You can't go expecting that. They are essentially rocks in the sea, and the landscape is scrubby and dry and quite built up outside of the main cities. Unfortunately due to mafia involvement there are a lot of unfinished buildings littering the landscape - it's a form of money laundering as unfinished buildings are untaxable. However, if you go knowing that you're going to somewhere unlike anywhere else in Europe, and are prepared to engage with its incredible and unique history, you'll have a fabulous time.

In fairness, I've never heard anyone rave about Malta? It's a place people go for a week because they get a very good price and just want an affordable holiday. It isn't a destination people choose by preference.