Malta, a small Mediterranean island with lots to see
Malta is a small island, but it has many tourist attractions. However, since it only takes 2-3 hours to go from north to south, I stayed there for a week and took a local bus to see every corner at my leisure. If you rent a car, I think you can get around in 3-4 days!
1st and 2nd photos: The seaside from St. Julians to Sliema
I had heard that there were a lot of cats around the area with the cat statue, but unfortunately I didn't see many of them, even though there were many houses for cats. Malta's beaches are mostly rocky rather than sandy, but the locals were sunbathing on the rocks.
3rd and 4th photos: Mdina
The old town of Mdina was used as the setting for Game of Thrones and has a very atmospheric feel. There are horse-drawn carriages running around, and it feels like you've traveled back in time 🐎 Because it's not a very large tourist destination, all the restaurants are extremely crowded at lunchtime and you're bound to have to wait. It might be better to avoid meal times, especially on weekends?
5-9th photo: Valletta
The capital city of Valletta has many attractions, including shopping for souvenirs, dining, cathedrals, palaces, and the Upper Barrakka Gardens with cannons. At noon and 4pm, cannons are actually fired, so it's highly recommended to visit at those times! Valletta has many cobblestone streets and slopes, so it's quite difficult to move around with a suitcase. There are some very steep slopes, so you'll need comfortable shoes!
10-13th photo: Marsaxlokk
A port town in the south. It takes about 40 minutes by bus from Valletta. There is a morning fish market on Sundays, and even if you can't actually buy anything, it's fun just to look at it. There are many shops where you can buy souvenirs such as Maltese lace and local specialties, and they are relatively affordable, so I recommend it! There are also many restaurants where the seafood is delicious! The langoustine and mussels were delicious!
14th and 15th photos: Comino Island
Comino Island, with its crystal clear blue sea, is a remote island that can be reached by boat in about 20 minutes from the northernmost tip of Malta (about an hour by bus from Valletta)! It is famous for its high transparency, so that you can see the boat floating when there are no waves.
If you want to go swimming, I think Comino Island is the best place to go! This was around the beginning of October, but it was about 28°C, so it wasn't cold at all and we were able to swim in the sea. It's a pretty small island, so it gets like potato washing around noon, so I recommend going in the morning!
16th-18th photos: Gozo Island
Gozo Island, located to the north of Malta Island, can be reached by ferry from the northernmost tip of Malta Island or by high-speed boat from Valletta. You can do marine sports, and there are attractions such as citadels, cathedrals, and salt fields. We were supposed to go on a tour, but it was canceled at the last minute, so we were late and went on our own, so we didn't get to see much at all. If you have time, you can get around by tourist bus, but it takes a long time and there are not many buses, so it is more efficient to go on a tour.
19th and 20th photos: The Westin Dragonara Resort Malta
I highly recommend this hotel!!! Not only the rooms, but also the scenery, the large pool, and two beaches, and the restaurant on the premises has a great atmosphere. There are many types of breakfast, so you won't get bored even if you stay for several nights. They also had sparkling wine in the morning🍾The staff are also very friendly and will greet you.
Unlike hotels in Southeast Asia, the pool was empty and I was able to relax. The beach is not sandy but rocky and deep.
💰Price per person: About 20,000 yen per night with breakfast
#Malta