What to do in Malta

[RemaL]

Taking the family there and staying in Sliema for a week in Aug.

Any tops what to look at or visit while there?

Never been before and would like to visit some interesting places so thought it was worth asking on here. The kids will be 12 and 15 so anything that they will enjoy. Normal girls for the age. They have enjoyed mayan Ruins in Mexico, The Keys in Florida in the past.

So what can you suggest.

[alfie2244]

Popeye village for the kids

[xjay1337]

Go to the Island of Gozo or whatever it's called.
Blue Lagoon is amazing!

I have been twice and want to go back

[Wacky Racer]

Plenty of info on the net and here:-

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[marcosgt]

xjay1337 said:

Go to the Island of Gozo or whatever it's called.
Blue Lagoon is amazing!

I have been twice and want to go back

Yeah, The Azure Window is stunning... oh... wait....

M.

[Nik Attard]

There are plenty of things to do in Malta and Gozo. Where in Sliema are you staying? In August there tends to be quite a large number of students learning English.

Actually, quite a few members of PH staff are heading out there and as I am Maltese I sent them a couple of tips:


Valletta -

Worth visiting the Upper Barrakka Gardens and lower Barrakka Gardens
St. John's Co-Cathedral has Caravaggio's beheading painting
Fort St Elmo has just been renovated
Palace armoury and then have a coffee at Caffe Cordina http://www.caffecordina.com/


Restaurant - Da Pippo https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Da%E2%80%99+Pi...

The waiter will tell you what is fresh, barely uses menus. Need to book!

Restaurant - Cockneys for Mussels in Wine
http://www.cockneysrestaurant.com/ You can park the car in Sliema and take the ferry to Valletta ( costs about €1.50)

Marsaxlokk Pronounced - Mar sa shlock
Tartarun http://www.tartarun.com/ for a good fish restaurant If you head there early enough on a Sunday, you can experience the fish market on the promenade

Wied Iz-Zurrieq
Blue Grotto for a boat trip around the caves http://www.bluegrottomalta.com.mt/

Popeye Village http://www.popeyemalta.com/

Beaches in Malta
Ghadira bay ( A dee ra) A long sandy beach
Ghajn Tuffieha ( Ayn Toof e ha) Sandy beach with quite a lot of steps
Armier/ Little Armier Bay
Paradise Bay - quite a small beach with a lot of steps

Gozo
Beaches

Ramla il-Hamra
San Blas Bay

Things to do in Gozo:
As the Azure Window is no more, Wied Mielah can get its time to shine - a smaller lesser known archway which is a little trickier to get to but will still provide exceptional views.

Mgarr ix-xini (Imjar ish shini) - This is the bay with the seafood shack ( it is a little pricey but enjoyable for an authentic freshly caught feeling)
Marsalforn/ Xlendi are both towns by the sea
Comino for the day - Park in Cirkewwa where you catch the Gozo ferry and take one of the boats from there http://www.visitmalta.com/en/ferries-and-water-tax...

Go to the Blue Lagoon - worth seeing and swimming in
But if you want a quieter spot you can walk over to San Niklaw or Santa Marija Bay near the hotel.


When you head to Mdina stop off at Crystal Palace and get some pastizzi and a Tazza te ( glass of tea) My grandad used to drive straight from the airport to get some pastizzi from here. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Crystal+Palace...


Ice Cream
Dolci Peccati ( Italian ice cream and great coffees)
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Dolci+Peccati/...

Things to try - Hobz Biz zejt (Maltese sandwich with tuna, olives, tomatoes,) / Pastizzi pastry filled with ricotta or peas) Cisk (ch isk) National beer and if you are feeling adventurous you can try sea urchin
In Gozo stop off for a traditional Gozitan Pizza at Maxokk bakery http://www.maxokkbakery.com/

Edited by Nik Attard on Wednesday 15th March 11:21

Edited by Nik Attard on Wednesday 15th March 11:44

[alfie2244]

I hope you don't mind me adding this. We found these far more interesting than Stonehenge..bit of a treck though.

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/malta/mnajdra-t...

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/malta/hagar-qim...

Edited by alfie2244 on Wednesday 15th March 11:03

[Nik Attard]

alfie2244 said:

I hope you don't mind me adding this. We found these far more interesting than Stonehenge..bit of a treck though.

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/malta/mnajdra-t...

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/malta/hagar-qim...

Edited by alfie2244 on Wednesday 15th March 11:03

I completely forgot about the Neolithic temples... amazing stone structures but it might be a little much in the August heat.

[marcosgt]

Neolithic ruins are pretty amazing, almost impossible to believe they predate Stonehenge.

Diving's a good thing to do if you fancy giving it a try - Most dive centres will offer 'try dives' for a modest cost.

We had some great Ravioli in a restaurant in Victoria, Gozo's capital. It's worth visiting as a town, too, really medieval in feel, but different to M'dina.

Another plug for seafood eating in Marsaxlokk. We just picked one of the harbourside places at random, but it was excellent.

M

[Lynchie999]

Nik Attard said:

alfie2244 said:

I hope you don't mind me adding this. We found these far more interesting than Stonehenge..bit of a treck though.

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/malta/mnajdra-t...

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/malta/hagar-qim...

Edited by alfie2244 on Wednesday 15th March 11:03

I completely forgot about the Neolithic temples... amazing stone structures but it might be a little much in the August heat.

i've done that before...

not sure I lasted an hour...

[RemaL]

alfie2244 said:

Popeye village for the kids

kids may be a tad old for this but worth asking if they want to go

cheers for all the feedback.

We are staying in the Fortina Spa and hotel. looked nice and close to a lot for things.

Main reason for asking on here is many like minded people on here and any extra info is always worth it

[Nik Attard]

RemaL said:

kids may be a tad old for this but worth asking if they want to go

cheers for all the feedback.

We are staying in the Fortina Spa and hotel. looked nice and close to a lot for things.

Main reason for asking on here is many like minded people on here and any extra info is always worth it

The Fortina is lovely - there are a few decent restaurants in the hotel but you can venture up to the Point shopping centre or down the promenade if shopping takes your fancy. On the same promenade is where you can catch the ferry to Valletta.

[alfie2244]

RemaL said:

alfie2244 said:

Popeye village for the kids

kids may be a tad old for this but worth asking if they want to go

cheers for all the feedback.

We are staying in the Fortina Spa and hotel. looked nice and close to a lot for things.

Main reason for asking on here is many like minded people on here and any extra info is always worth it

I did think that they might be a bit old for it.

Love the place & the people and have been there numerous times for winter sun but not high summer. Never taken kids but can't honestly say I've seen lots for teenagers to do - Karting, waterpark types of things but then that may be because we are old fogies.

[RemaL]

Nik Attard said:

RemaL said:

kids may be a tad old for this but worth asking if they want to go

cheers for all the feedback.

We are staying in the Fortina Spa and hotel. looked nice and close to a lot for things.

Main reason for asking on here is many like minded people on here and any extra info is always worth it

The Fortina is lovely - there are a few decent restaurants in the hotel but you can venture up to the Point shopping centre or down the promenade if shopping takes your fancy. On the same promenade is where you can catch the ferry to Valletta.

Great to hear positive things about our hotel. And the wife spotted the shopping mall close by so that will be hit by her and my girls

[GreatGranny]

I would echo all the above.

My best man lives there and we've been over a few times.

Just be careful if you hire a car and drive anywhere.
The driving over there is interesting.

Last time we spend 3 nights in Gozo.
Loved it, great pace of life there, practically stationary :-)

You'll have a great time.

[oldbanger]

Take a day trip on the ferry to Gozo, and, if you can, also a boat trip to Comino lagoon.

[tim0409]

oldbanger said:

Take a day trip on the ferry to Gozo, and, if you can, also a boat trip to Comino lagoon.

I second the Comino suggestion; we hired a small boat fand had a great time buzzing around the island before dropping anchor and having a swim/sunbathing/lunch on the boat. Lovely place, and the sea is so blue!

[RemaL]

GreatGranny said:

I would echo all the above.

My best man lives there and we've been over a few times.

Just be careful if you hire a car and drive anywhere.
The driving over there is interesting.

Last time we spend 3 nights in Gozo.
Loved it, great pace of life there, practically stationary :-)

You'll have a great time.

Like most countries then for driving. But i will take your advice. I want to hire a car even if for a few days to get about and visit areas. Can you drive to Gozo or is it ferry only. i've not looked yet

[GreatGranny]

RemaL said:

Like most countries then for driving. But i will take your advice. I want to hire a car even if for a few days to get about and visit areas. Can you drive to Gozo or is it ferry only. i've not looked yet

Car ferry to Gozo.

Just turn up, pay as you enter the port.

Can't remember the cost but pretty reasonable.

You'll be able to see a lot of the island in a day with a car.

[CraigyMc]

RemaL said:

Taking the family there and staying in Sliema for a week in Aug.

So what can you suggest.

I did a quadbiking tour of Gozo, which was awesome. You get to see some bits of the place you can't get to by car (and wouldn't walk to), as well as it being quite fun (rwd quadbike+practically slick tyres+ water from the sea at a couple of fords = very fun)

edited to add, these guys: http://www.gozoquadhire.com/