I spent a week on Malta in April with my mother and it was lovely.
“Lovely” – that’s kind of all I could think to say about the trip when people asked me about it.
I mean, Malta is a beautiful country with a remarkable history, incredible architecture, beautiful water, and oh so friendly locals. That’s a recipe for a pretty amazing holiday right?
Mdina, Malta
It should have been, yet somehow neither my mom nor I was able to muster much excitement for Malta. I’m still a little puzzled over why because it really is beautiful, but I kept feeling like Malta was an easy, comfortable place to be, but also just a tiny bit bland.
I always feel weird writing about places that I didn’t love, because the problem is pretty much always with me, not the places. I definitely could have tried harder to find spots on Malta that I could fall in love with, but I also just didn’t feel as inspired to explore Malta as I usually do other places.
In fact I only took about ten photos during my entire time on Malta, so something was definitely off with me.
Ferry to the Three Cities
I think part of the problem must have been that for some reason it seems like every travel blogger ever visits Malta. Like, I don’t actually know many people in real life who have been (well, besides all the Norwegians I know – Malta is super popular with Norwegians) but I think I’ve probably seen over a hundred blog posts about Malta pop up in my Bloglovin’ feed over the years.
And that meant that nothing about Malta surprised me. It was just as nice as I had read, but not really anything more than that, if you know what I mean.
Valletta, Malta
Another problem may have been visiting Malta in April. It was super crowded (though locals told us that Malta is always crowded with tourists now – there is no low season there anymore) but it wasn’t warm enough for the beach, so everyone was wandering the towns and cities instead. So we explored all the main spots with everyone else, and it was relaxing and lovely and… yeah.
I will say that my favorite thing to do on Malta was to ride around on the public buses. The locals in Malta were absurdly nice – especially the bus drivers who were so patient with all the tourists – and it was fun to ride around through the less touristy spots and catch glimpses of everyday life on Malta.
Birgu, Malta
Plus the bus system on Malta is really easy to navigate (and you can just buy your tickets on board, which is so much easier than places where you have to track down a ticket machine) so it wasn’t at all stressful, just fun.
Not that anything about a holiday on Malta is stressful. From all the accommodation and food options to the many things to see and do on Malta, it’s definitely easy to be a tourist there.
Lower Barrakka Gardens in Valletta, Malta
I’ll also add that while I didn’t fall in love with Malta, I know a lot of people who have. A girl on Instagram saw that I was heading to Malta and sent me over a detailed itinerary for everything I should see and do while there, and her enthusiasm for Malta nearly was contagious. So if you’re thinking of heading to Malta and want to hear from someone more excited about it than I was, Tosh has totally got you covered!
Usually when I write about places I didn’t love, I end by saying that I definitely need to return to give it a second chance. But honestly? I think next time I’d rather spend my money on a holiday in Albania. Ugh, is that bad?
Where to stay on Malta
We stayed at several different places around the island, but my favorite accommodation was the Ursulino Valletta. It’s a small guest house right in the center of Valletta, but also on a very quiet street a bit away from all the noise. And the views from its terrace are amazing – like, it would probably be worth staying here for those views alone. Check current rates and availability here
kami says
that’s exactly how I felt about Malta! It was nice but that’s the maximum I can say about it.
Silvia says
haha somehow I’m not surprised that we felt the same way about Malta.
Annemarie says
Hi Silvia,
It was so nice meeting you at traverse. Don’t forget, you ARE cool! Hehe.
Anyway, it was interesting reading your post. I am actually one of those travel bloggers who have NOT (yet) been to Malta. I am now really curious if I would feel the same. Maybe you need an entirely different country and culture to get you excited again? After all, it must be very European. At least that’s what I feel like at the moment. I need a little bit of a culture shock, I guess.^^
But thanks for being so honest about your experience. Not every trip is “life changing” and super glamorous as many social feeds suggest.
Silvia says
Yeah, I think maybe the fact that my previous two trips were to Lofoten and Morocco might have made it harder for Malta to excite me, haha. But it was still a lovely trip – just, like you said, not exactly life-changing.
Esther says
Eek! Husband and me have just decided on spending our holiday in September on Malta. Having said that, I haven’t read or looked up too much about Malta, and we want to go there as we’re desperately in need of re-energizing. We want something easy, yet beautiful (I love countries that require hard work, just not now). Still, I love your photos (quite encouraging) and do like the fact that the busses run well.
Silvia says
I think Malta will be the perfect place for re-energizing. And in September it will be really warm as well, which should be extra lovely!
Ashley says
Interesting! I always thought that Malta would be fascinating because of all the influences through time. However, I know that for certain if you go somewhere and it’s crowded with tourists, it turns you off no matter how magnificent. I felt like that at some places in Iceland.
Silvia says
That’s what I expected as well! In theory I am fascinated by Malta, but I think you’re right – all the tourists kind of dampened my enthusiasm for the place.
Caryy says
Are you all not tourists as well, perhaps the other people were thinking the same , but looking at you
Silvia says
Haha that’s true, but also my point – I don’t travel to just meet other tourists. But some people do, and that’s fine too!
Milou says
Malta was an interesting place for me. I thought it was gorgeous with its beautiful architecture, the weather (March) was lovely, and the food amazing. But I don’t think I will go back. As a solo female traveler I felt unsafe (it’s the only place I have ever been sexually assaulted during my travels – many other female travellers I talked to there had also felt threatened), and there’s something about the size that made it feel very claustrophobic to me. It’s odd… it struck me as a place with a picture perfect exterior and perhaps a darker identity under the surface.
But again… that is just my experience. Maybe I just had bad luck. I know many people who have gone (not solo) and enjoyed it. Enjoyed it. Not loved it.
Silvia says
That’s really interesting because one of the things that struck me about Malta was that there was zero hassling. I guess maybe I should have considered that I was traveling with my mother… But yeah, considering all the crazy things happening now in Malta politically, I think you might be right about that perfect exterior and darker underbelly! So sorry you had to go through that though – I’m such a fan of solo travel on the one had, but then on the other hand I’ve had some pretty scary experiences while traveling on my own.
Sandy says
As a Maltese female Who was there over 20 years ago I can honestly say it was never like this. There are far too many visitors and refugees which are ruining the reputation of what Malta should be. I am disappointed to hear how it’s turning out and am sorry to hear your bad experiences.
Kristin says
Thanks for being honest about your feelings about Malta! It’s a good reminder that not every trip has to be a win. Not every trip can be the Best Trip Ever, and I usually stop reading the people who say every trip is, because they’re pushing it too hard.
My husband and I have traveled a few places that friends and other travel bloggers insist that we’ll love, but we’ve just been kind of meh about, not because the places are bad but because they’re just not us. I think we’re always glad we saw them and learned from them, but they don’t go on the Must Do Again list!
Silvia says
That’s so true. I think I often feel a pressure to like places, especially if I’m going to write about them, because usually if I don’t enjoy a place it’s more my fault than the destination’s. But then like you said, it’s natural not to LOVE every single place you visit!
Laura Cawley says
I spent two days in Malta. The first day I did the usual stuff and could only describe it as ‘meh’ – I’ve definitely been to cooler places. The second day was way better. I hiked in Comino and then walked across the countryside of the mainland (got very lost) and finally found Popeye Village, the abandoned film set turned themepark. If you ever find yourself back in Malta I’d recommend Comino and Popeye Village. I visited in January too, which helped because I hate the heat.
Silvia says
Oooh that’s encouraging, and thanks for the tips! I had read about the Popeye Village, but since I was already overwhelmed by tourists I decided against it, haha. Next time!
LaMesha says
I spent a night in Malta because I was taking an (American) academic test there. It isn’t offered where I live in Sicily, Italy. I thought Malta was “nice” too but I was also catcalled/propositioned more than anywhere else I’ve ever been in Europe. I was so ready to leave after 24 hours. Maybe I should go again and look at more of the sights, especially since it’s very close to Sicily. But again, like you said, it really is just “nice” and if I never went back I wouldn’t be sad at all.
Silvia says
Ugh, being constantly catcalled is such a quick way to make me dislike a place. If I had unlimited time and money I would definitely go back to Malta, but now I’m not sure if I’ll visit again either.
Victoria @The British Berliner says
Interesting post Silvia. I appreciate your honesty.
I’ve only been to Malta once and I liked it very much. It was in February. Our son was just 11 months old, and it rained every bloody day. But. I still loved it!
I didn’t have any preconceptions as it was a where-shall-I-go-that-isn’t-far-away-and-with-baby type of last minute decision! We went on a daytrip to Gozo and Comino, and spent most of the time walking in Malta. Very long walks. All over the island. In the rain!
p.s. I’ve been to Singapore and everybody raves about it, but I didn’t like it at all!
p.p.s. I’m British. Go figure!
Silvia says
Haha!
Dominique | dominiquetravels.com says
I’ve definitely heard this a couple of times before. I will still visit Malta one day, but I think I’ll schedule more time in for Gozo. As apparently that’s where the beauty and fun is nowadays, but don’t tell anyone 😉
Silvia says
Haha imagine if I had secretly visited Gozo but pretended I hadn’t so as not to spoil the secret? 😀
Nick says
We spent a week on Gozo as part of our honeymoon, looking to recharge, and didn’t love it. I think part of the stress was driving amongst the craziest drivers we’ve ever shared the road with (crazier than the Balkans), and the volume of tourists.
There were certainly charming spots (Xlendi and Wied il-Ghasri, for sure), but we kind of wish we’d spent that extra time in the Baltics, where we had road tripped the week before…
Silvia says
It’s been interesting reading these comments and seeing who had a similar experience to me – I feel like there is a group of us that have a very similar taste in travel!
Steph says
I can understand this because when I first arrived in Malta I didn’t love it, despite arriving by sea (Valletta is surely the most stunning port to sail into). It was September and raining, and it felt weirdly British. In fact in the gloomy drizzle it reminded me of Glasgow city centre.
But after a week of exploring it started to grow on me. I think my mistake was expecting it to feel like Italy (it doesn’t). Getting out into the quiet areas definitely helped. And we happened to be there for the White Night festival which was great – an arts/culture festival where a lot of the museums, galleries, etc. are open to the public and there was music and dancing late into the night.
Indulgence Divine says
I’m glad you’ve been honest about what Malta gave you (or didn’t). Travelling is however a very personal experience and is as much about you and what you’re going through in life at the moment as it is about the place you’re discovering. With such a small island with tourism as its main industry, you do need to do your homework before visiting so as not to fall for the standard tourist traps.
As a holiday home owner in Malta, I do try and give as much information as possible to our guests, with tips on where to go and a background of the island’s fascinating and rich history. The island’s beauty is in its multicultural influences (Malta’s once strategic geographic position was always a trophy for some power or other). Its language, with its semitic roots and European influences, is a reflection of this.
It is important to acknowledge its recent dark underbelly, politically speaking. The most interesting places I have visited in the last few years also have a dark side to them (Russia, Turkey, Italy, the USA). It is important to be aware of this. It helps to understand as much as is possible in a short stay about a country’s people. One of the places I would recommend visiting if you go there now is the improvised shrine to the investigative journalist murdered recently.
I couldn’t possibly mention the places to avoid when going because I always try and understand what one is looking for before I mention anything. But suffice to say that the cities to stay usually recommended by the guide books will be those where you’ll meet plenty of tourists. If you want to avoid that you need to work harder on your research before visiting.
Well, perhaps the next time you decide to visit, do get in touch. I’m always willing to share my local knowledge of the islands of Malta.
Arbaaz Torgal says
Hey there,Hello from India. I am planning to go to Malta this coming April end for My aviation studies, The institute overall looks good, Can you tell me is it good country for stay of 6 months?? And i will be travelling other European countries at end week of each month, So i have got two options, Lelystad Netherlands and Malta, So according to your experience which is better for a 17 yo boy from India?? I hope you reply, Thanks.
Hazel Joy says
Really interesting post, Silvia, and refreshing to read something where the travel blogger isn’t afraid to be honest. I think you hit the nail on the head when you hint at the timing of the trip. Malta is traditionally a beach/water-sports holiday destination so I guess at that time of the year a key ingredient to getting the most from the country is missing.
Christine Butler says
My son and I have been to Malta before, in January 2003, but I’m going alone in April 2020. Are there any places to avoid as a single traveler? Sadly, I didn’t get to see many of the spots I wanted to see last time I went (weather wasn’t great). I loved traveling on the buses to Valetta and having a good look around there.
Charmaine says
Hi..
Dear Cristine Butler,
Places to visit in Malta –
Mdina ( The Silent City)
Marsaxlokk (The fishing Village)
One of The three Cities in the south (Birgu Waterfront)
The capital city with its St.John’s Cathedral and more.
There s even a market at Marsaxlokk on Sundays and In Valletta during the week.
You can go to Blue Grotto on a Boat trip,even on a boat trip to Comino
If you love History and Temples there are plenty to see.
Dont forget Hagqr Qim Temples and Ghar Dalam
San Anton Gardens where the President’s Palace is.
Bugibba Promenade
Mosta Dome is worth a visit if you love history
Sliema Promenade(good for shopping too)
You can go with the ferry to Gozo
There are many traditional Farm Houses were one can sleep.
There’s the Toy Museum in Gozo
Ggantija Temples
Ta ‘Pinu Church .
Gozo is much less busy than Malta.
If the weather is warm enough you might want to dip your toes at Golden Bay Sandy Beach..or Mellieha Bay (Ghadira)
There ‘ s popeye village there as well.Its interesting.
These are some ideas.Hope you find them helpful .
Re: Safety- Malta used to be more safe when it was just Locals and some foreigners with integrity living here. In my entire life 42yrs 🙂 I only heard once of a rape by a malteser…These six years Malta is welcoming many people to live here..They re coming from other eu and non eu countries..some for genuine need of shelter but others for economic reason(no work in their countries),many abide to our laws,but there are those few with mal intent that sadly are ruining what we stand for ..Malta till know is one of the countries with low criminal records.Still.consoder it very safe.
Just be careful if you are.in the Partying Place Paceville Dear..
Yes..there..Have your eyes open.
I’m a local.Till a few.years ago we used to leave the key in our doors and go to the neighbour..knowing its safe.Sadly due to certain foreigners always from the same two European countries we cannot..because we might.be robbed.So yes Malta is still very safe compared to many other countries I visited..but as safe as it used to be.
Many locals are genuine..family men and women..and very helpful too..but obviously one can never know exactly.
Re: April..At the moment there’s a political.issue re the slained Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.The country and its people are stillin shock…but by April..I do believe things will be fine.
Re transport -Its easy to get aroind by many means.
Traffic jem can be terrible in tourists’areas..but in April it shouldn t be as busy.
Pls do check Re:Easter time (processions .Religious Holidays etc.
Hope you’ll enjoy your stay on the islamd.
To those who didnt find it as appealing..I.understand that..I do have my own preferences too re other countries….but am sure in each country I will.fimd something to hate and another to fall in love with ..xxx .
Good Day To all!
Charmaine Chircop.
Sandra says
I also did not like Malta, I just came back. 3 days Valletta was too much, in 1 day I have seen it all. I was glad I went with the bus to Marsaklokk, although that was also overrated, just a small boulevard enough for 1 hour, nothing else to offer, happy at least saw the luzzo boats there. I also found the landscape of Malta very ugly.
Moniks says
I also did not like Malta, I just came back. 3 days Valletta was too much, in 1 day I have seen it all.
Maria Rita Opauszki says
I am Maltese and love nature, in fact we are planning on visiting Lofoten next July so this is how I found your page 🙂
I think you need to see the true Malta with a local. Touristy places are never that nice.. Gozo is amazing for example and Comino is even better (without the tourists). I am a scuba diver and can guarantee amazing visibility (even if you just snorkel) and amazing wrecks and marine life 😉 we do have a lot of buildings and it is difficult to find countryside but when you do, it is heavenly to hike here. Plus the weather is amazing especially in spring.
Thank you for your info about Lofoten, I will definitely use your advice!
Gerda says
I thought there was something very wrong with me, because Malta didn’t inspire me at all.
Of course, it was very nice and beautiful, but nothing moved me. I can’t deny that I was happy to read your opinion, because the whole Internet says that Malta is amazing!
The strangest thing about it is that everything I read was the opposite. The bus drivers were rude and didn’t communicate at all. The store clerks were complaining loudly about how much they disliked tourists and were not helpful at all. And it’s not that it’s my fault, because in all other countries, even those famous for being gruff, I always experience great hospitality.
Gozo was beautiful, but well… something was missing everywhere.
But probably the worst of it all was that everywhere there is Starbucks, chain stores, Italian food, because there is no authentic everyday Maltese food, and it’s all so… bland.
Anyway, thank you for having the courage to write honestly about your experience and I could feel not entirely like a crazy person 🙂