4 days in Malta with @gracegrangetravel

I have to admit that Malta wasn’t a place I’d really considered visiting until now. But after this trip, I’m kicking myself I haven’t been sooner! I LOVED it, especially as a girls’ trip destination. With almost 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s a pretty safe bet for a sunny holiday, particularly in the shoulder seasons – which is my favourite time to travel. Check out what I got up to on my four-day trip there…

Day 1 – Arrive at the hotel

We arrived at our hotel, Barcelo Fortina Malta, in Sliema early in the afternoon. It was perfect timing for an afternoon at Manta by the Sea, the hotel’s very own beach club. It’s right on the water, with views over to Valletta.

The hotel is in a perfect location – it’s modern, and many of the rooms have those iconic Valletta views. Sliema is great too, with lots of lovely cafés and restaurants. We took advantage of the short walk to dinner after an early flight, heading to Hammett’s Monastik. The cocktails here were delicious, and even better paired with a sunset view over Valletta!

Day 2 – Blue Lagoon

We were up early for our first full day on the island, ready for a boat trip to the iconic Blue Lagoon. I’d been looking forward to this activity the most out of everything we had planned – I was keen to see whether it lived up to its name!

The Blue Lagoon is arguably the most popular thing to do when visiting Malta, so to fully enjoy it, it needs to be done right. I’d suggest two options. Firstly, you can catch a ferry to Gozo and visit the Blue Lagoon on foot. This is a great-value option, as the ferries are cheap and you can combine it with a day exploring Gozo, too. If there’s a little more wiggle room in the budget, then I’d recommend hiring a boat for half a day. With this option, the skipper can schedule your trip at a time when the lagoon will be quieter, and you’ll stop at lots of beautiful bays for swimming and snorkelling. You can also bring your own food and drinks on board!

Whichever one you pick, you have to get one of the famous pineapple cocktails (or mocktails) to enjoy at the lagoon. And YES, the water really is that blue! Our boat day started the trip off well and ended up being my favourite day of the entire holiday.

Day 3 – Street food tour

We started the day by catching the shuttle ferry from Sliema to Valletta. It’s just a 10-minute walk to the ferry terminal from the hotel. I’d booked a Valletta street food tour with First Choice Experiences alongside our holiday because I knew nothing about Maltese food, and a walking tour is always a great way to see a new city! We started with a pastizzi – a traditional Maltese pastry usually eaten for breakfast or a snack. I tried a mushy pea one and it was delicious, but ricotta is another popular flavour. From there, we were guided through Valletta’s beautiful historic streets, learning about the city’s interesting history along the way. Other street food stops included a delicious sandwich on the famous Valletta steps, as well as coffee and sweet treats, before ending at a restaurant where we tried a Maltese mezze platter and the island’s most popular meat: rabbit.

After the tour, we continued to explore the city, including Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens, which are a must-visit! If you’re around at 4pm, you can watch the historic cannon firing at Saluting Battery. Dinner that evening was at Villa Bologna, about a 20-minute drive from Sliema. It’s a beautiful Italian courtyard restaurant with a homeware shop attached, where you can also take pottery classes during the day. Afterwards, we headed for a couple of drinks in the lively St Julian’s area. The great thing about Malta is that it really has something to offer for everyone – whether you prefer a more cultural and relaxed visit, or if you’re after an Ibiza-esque party trip (without the hefty price tag).

Day 4 – Our final day

Our final day in Malta was a busy one, and I’d recommend splitting this over a couple of days if you have more time. We headed out early to Marsaxlokk fishing village, renowned for its Sunday market. You can either take a Bolt taxi or use the local bus service, which is very well connected across the island. From there, we took a small traditional boat (there are plenty in the harbour) to St Peter’s Pool, where we swam and sunbathed for a few hours. There’s no beach here, but you can pop your towel down and jump into the beautiful clear water.

From Marsaxlokk, we made our way by taxi to Mdina, the UNESCO World Heritage city and Game of Thrones filming location. Despite being in the middle of a summer’s day, it felt really peaceful here as we wandered the streets, stopping for lunch and ice-cream along the way. Mdina is well known for producing handmade glassware, and you can even take part in a glass-blowing workshop, which would be a fun activity.

If we had more time and flexibility, I’d recommend coming in the late afternoon or early evening when it’s cooler and staying for dinner. We had a dinner reservation back in Valletta, recommended to us by the hotel manager. For €3 each, we opted to take a small traditional boat from Sliema to Valletta as the sun set over the city, rather than the ferry. It’s an experience I’ll remember for a long time! I’d booked a table at Rubino, a Maltese-Mediterranean restaurant located in an old Sicilian confectionary shop. Local recommendations really are the best, because this ended up being my favourite meal of the trip.

If @gracegrangetravel’s trip sounds like a bit of you, have a look at our Malta holidays and you can find all her picks on our Insiders Hub.       