Malta for 24 hours

I have arrived in Malta late on a Friday night. I flew in from Luton, and my sister and cousin arrived from Turin. Thankfully, we landed just a few hours apart, so I waited for them at the airport. Although the airport is small, it has spacious and comfortable waiting areas.

Our First Mistake: Renting a Car

We made a big mistake by renting a car, it costed us about 100 euros for two days and we haven't use it at all. We booked a spacious apartment in Valletta for around 300 euros. It was the best decision because everything was within walking distance. Just a heads-up: walking around Malta is like walking in Lisbon, with lots of hills. Driving is challenging too, as the streets are complex and they drive on the left. We found Bolt to be affordable and convenient for getting around.

Quiet Valletta

When we arrived in Valletta, it was very late and the streets were almost empty. We had breakfast every day at the same small café near our apartment. The place, called Granelli Caffee & Pasticceria, had great pastries and croissants filled with a generous amount of chocolate and great cappuccinos.

Day 1: Beach and Exploring Valletta

On our only full day, we took a Bolt to Ghadira Bay, a beach 25 minutes from Valletta. The ride cost around 20 euros. We rented sunbeds for about 10 euros each. The beach was sandy, and the water was clear. We enjoyed delicious food and cocktails at a nearby restaurant.

In the afternoon, we explored Valletta. The city is small and beautiful, so we just wandered around. A tip: don’t rely too much on Google Maps; you’ll naturally find your way back to the main spots. There’s a daily cannon firing event at Boom Defence at 12 pm, which I heard is worth watching, though we missed it.

For dinner, we went to L'Osteria Paceville in St. Julian's, known for its delicious oysters. Afterward, we explored the nightlife in St. Julian's, full of places to eat, drink, and party. We went to the Toy Room Club, a popular spot, and then took a Bolt back to our apartment, stopping for more drinks on the way.

A Short Visit

Unfortunately, my flight was early the next morning, so I didn’t get to experience more of Malta. However, if you have more time, here are some recommendations from others:

• Blue Lagoon Boat Trip: Costs around 50 euros per person for a day trip, or 70 euros for a private boat. Trips run from 9 am or 11 am to 5 pm or 6 pm.
• Visit Gozo: The nearby island of Gozo is small but worth visiting. You can reach it by car or by boat.
• Popeye Village: Mainly for kids, but it looks nice in photos.
• Cafe del Mar: A popular beachside disco. It was booked for a private party when we tried to go, and the tickets were very expensive. However, the girls went for brunch and said it was good.

You can pay with cash or card in Malta, and the prices are similar to other European countries.

This was my brief but enjoyable trip to Malta!