Best Malta Trip Itinerary

Where is Malta? Is Malta a country? What is the best Malta trip itinerary? Until recently I would have stared at you blankly if you asked me these questions. It wasn’t until I saw this amazing picture on Instagram, that I got curious. After some quick research, I decided to visit and share my experience. I want all the ladies to know how solo women can safely explore Valletta & Gozo, Malta.

Having gone down the rabbit hole on Pinterest, I found lots of great posts on Malta! An island not too far from Sicily gained its independence in 1975. I was intrigued by the beauty of this tiny country and wondered how it would be to travel here as a solo female.

Always most concerned about safety when traveling alone as a woman, I was extra vigilant in this foreign land. After 4 nights of a lovely visit exploring the old town after dark and walking around solo, I am happy to report, I felt safe! I experienced no problems getting around or communicating with the locals, for this reason, I believe women can safely explore Malta alone.

Visiting The Popular Sites of Malta

Malta has a few different hot spots that you could check out for the best itinerary. I stayed on the main island and the capital city of Valletta. This is also where I spent most of my time during my 4-night stay.

Valletta is fairly small and easy to navigate. I got around on foot the whole time while in the old town. It is very touristic, but there is an element of being lived in by the locals that I enjoyed. As I mentioned before, previously British owned, English is widely spoken all around Valletta. This made communication very easy.

Malta uses the Euro as its currency. In general, I found it to be an affordable place to visit, prices seemed to be average for a European city. Though a lot of English is spoken, the native language is Maltese. You will find that there is a large Italian speaking population here as well.

Transportation From Valletta Airport

My best advice to save money when traveling is to take public transit…. But not all public transit is created equal. When traveling to the old town of Valetta from the airport here are a few tips:

Bus Transportation to Valletta

A recap of my experience on the bus:

• It’s cheap, at around 3 euros.

• It’s crowded…and wasn’t smelling as fresh as I would like.

• It’s a bouncy ride. If you get motion sickness, you might want to consider a different mode of transportation.

My overall advice would be if you have more than a backpack, spring for the taxi ride that costs around 17 euro. Sometimes you just can’t put a price on your comfort… Especially traveling as a solo female.

7 Ideas The Best Malta Trip Itinerary

Go Insta-Crazy Photo Taking

#1. Go nuts taking pictures of the Upper Barrakka Gardens! Some of the best views and most Instagramable pictures can be taken here. From this viewpoint, you can see the “three cities” as well as Grand Harbor.

Strolling the Streets

#2. Stroll around the streets of Valletta. The architecture in Valletta is interesting and unique to any other place I’ve ever visited. I spent hours taking photos of all the beautiful buildings.

Famous Film Location

#3. For the best Malta itinerary visit the old fortified city of Mdina. Here you will find St. Paul’s Cathedral, the 18th-century Vilhena Palace, and Palazzo Falson. A crowd-pleasing attraction is the Mdina Gate, a film location for Game of Thrones.

Best Full-Day Itinerary Tour From Valletta to Gozo

#4. Exploring the Cittadella of Gozo. A great day trip is visiting the island of Gozo and fortified Cittadella of Gozo. There are several ways to reach this island, approx 2 hours from Valletta. I recommend this organized day tour company.

This tour starts at 10 am and ends at approx at 6:30 pm. You will be taken by bus to the Cittadella after arriving at the harbor of Gozo. The bus ride includes a brief history of the island. After free time to exploring the Cittadella, you are taken back to the ship and brought to the Blue Lagoon. There is approx 1 hour 20 mins to spend relaxing at the blue lagoon before heading back to Valletta. This is the perfect day trip for solo women safely exploring Malta.

(Disclaimer: Some links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning if you click on the link and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. This is at no extra cost to you and you may even receive a small discount. See disclosure for more information.)

Bask in the Maltessean Sun

#5. Visiting the Blue Lagoon. If you are a beach bunny and want to soak up the sun all day, no better place than the Blue Lagoon. A visit to the Blue Lagoon is possible on many of the day tours that usually include other stops. If you want to exclusively go there, you can go by Ferry – Ebsons Comino Ferries or Comino Ferries Co-Op Ltd. Round trip tickets are about 10 Euros, and the journey from Valletta is approx 1 hour 30 mins. There is also an option by bus, but I would highly recommend the ferry. The bus journeys are long and less predictable due to heavy traffic. They are cheap at around 1.50-2 euro each way depending on the time of year. Keep in mind that from November till March, there will be less frequent routes.

Visit A Movie Set

#6. Popeye’s Village! This is a fully functioning movie set from the Popeye film. A nice a day trip for solo women safely exploring Malta. I will warn you, this is a big attraction for families, but still, fun on your own. You will want to get tickets and can purchase them online with the link above. Take into consideration the time of year you will be visiting, the opening times are less in the winter.

Eat Like You’re on Vacation

#7. Eat your face off! If I am being honest, I travel to eat…and I was not disappointed in Malta! Valletta is small but packed with some GREAT restaurants. As a bit of a food snob, I only recommend places that I deem incredible and have eaten at. I also rely on fellow bloggers and trip advisor to find these places. For the best Malta trip itinerary look below for my recommended choices of places to dine!

A Single Woman Traveling Tip: I am usually all about doing a Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour. It can be the best way to get an overview of the city. The reviews on this service in Malta are horrible, so I didn’t try it myself. I urge you to research this on your own if you are considering it.

Best Boutique Hotel Valletta, Malta

If you read my city guides then you know I am a sucker for a boutique hotel! My preference for a boutique hotel is mainly because of the service level. I find in the smaller hotels, the service is more attentive. For your best Malta trip itinerary book the perfect accommodation.

I had a wonderful stay at The Cumberland Hotel Valletta. The service staff was fantastic! I owe the day tour recommendation to the hotel front desk attendant, for had he not suggested it, I may have missed it.

This hotel has an on-site restaurant, a rooftop deck with views, and wonderfully comfortable rooms! I especially appreciated the aesthetic in the hotel, it’s a fancy modern that I just love. As for the price, I found it to be reasonable for its incredible location. This neighborhood felt extremely safe in exploring Malta as a solo woman.

Other Boutique Hotels of Valletta

Safely Explore Malta Staying in These Locations

Though I can not personally recommend, here are a few of the highly reviewed hotels in the area.

• The Saint John
• The Phoenicia Hotel
• Domus Zamittello

A Single Woman Traveling Tip: Alright ladies, so one of the things I often do when traveling solo is sought out a hotel with a pool. If my hotel doesn’t have one, then I find the nicest hotel in the city, in this case, it’s The Phoenicia Hotel.

Hotel pools are usually for guests only, but hell, I’m one person, and I am willing to pay for drinks… so I show up as if I belong there, and just lay down on a lounge chair. Now, this is a risk, and might not always work, but if you love pool time as I do…then it’s worth a shot.

Best Bistro Restaurants Valletta

Time to eat everything in Malta!! Personally, I think the best Malta trip itinerary includes the best restaurants! Below is a list of restaurants I can highly recommend trying while visiting Valletta.

Trabuxu

I was extremely happy with my dining experience here at Trabuxu! The food, service, and wine were all top-notch. If I had more time, I would have returned for another meal. I came in for dinner and enjoyed an appetizer of fish and incredible pasta for my main dish. The wine list was fantastic. This place will get very busy, so make reservations in advance.

Zero Sei Trattoria Romana

This is where you go to get the best Italian food in Malta! The penne arrabbiata was of the best I’ve ever had! I washed it down with an Aperol Spritz and finished it off with the panna cotta! Highly recommend getting reservations or you will likely miss out! When I return to Malta, I will return here!

Rampila

This place was so fantastic I ate here twice! I’m always in search of a great fish dish, and Rampila sure did deliver. I ended up eating here for lunch and dinner, both times getting the salmon. Yes, it was that good. It was cooked to perfection and had an amazing caper sauce that paired wonderfully! The ambiance of the restaurant is great, especially if you sit outside.

Guze Bistro

This place is FANTASTIC!! I originally tried to come for lunch on a Monday, but if you don’t book in advance, it might be closed. Since this place is small and not in a super high traffic area, you may need to book ahead so they will open for lunch. I had the most lovely experience dining for lunch and then again for dinner. It may have been my favorite meal in Malta!

Naan Bar

I had a wonderful time at Naan Bar, twice! The Indian food here is inventive and memorable! If I lived in Malta, I would be a regular for sure. I tried several of the dishes here, all very flavourful and delicious.

Must-Try Cocktails & Coffee Bars

Yard 32 – This tasty little tapas and gin bar is the perfect place to start your night! I visited several times in my 4-night stay in Malta! Friendly owners/staff that care about a good cocktail and great service!

Alchemy – Inventive crafted cocktails! If you are into mixology, this is the place for you!

Cafe Society – Live Jazz and cocktails! This place has a great ambiance and wonderful cocktails! Be sure to check the opening times.

Lot Sixty One Coffee Roasters – A good cup of coffee is worth writing about! Here you will find a delicious selection of coffee and tea. Of the best in Valletta!

Summary of Malta For Solo Females

Traveling alone as a woman can always be a bit nerve-racking. I hope this guide helps you create the best Malta trip itinerary. Personally, I find that as long as the locals seem happy to have you, the experience is always a good one. Valletta & Gozo was a welcoming and friendly place that I would recommend as a solo woman to explore.

Pack smart when traveling solo! For a list of my favorite and must-have travel essentials click here.

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