If you dock at the Pinto Wharf you
can walk around Valletta which can
be done on your own. There is a
media presentation, I beleive the
Malta Experience that is quite interesting. With only 7 hrs best
not to venture out of town.

Just returned from a Mediterranean cruise with a stop in Malta. We took a tour to maximize what we could see, Even at that there were long lines at the Grand Palace and St. John's Cathedral. The tour allowed us to see Valletta, the prehistoric sites, and Mdina as well as have lunch. You'd be hard pressed to see it all on your own in a day otherwise.

You can certainly do Valletta on your own. There is also a central bus area just outside the city wall that will offer transportation to Mdina and other parts of the island. If you don't need to see it all or want to travel at a more leisurely pace, it can be done.

I spent 2 weeks in Malta about 3 yrs ago and loved every minute of it. However, since you're arriving on a cruise, I would suggest you take the tour option offered by the cruise.

Certainly you can wander Valleta on your own, but to get a good overview of Malta you really need a tour. No trains, but the bus is easy out of Valleta but you'd probably be confined to one particular area of Malta. Go for the tour.

Just back from Malta, and I noticed a "hop on, hop off" tour of the island, running from the bus terminal at Valletta city gate. We ddin't try it, but we picked up their brochure - it has 2 routes, north or south, offering an extensive whistle stop tour of large chunks of the island - check it out

7 Hours? You were lucky! I assume your cruise is over by now.

We only have (wait for it) 4 1/2 hours from docking to sailing. Some of my friends on the cruise are just going to stay on the ship. But I just can't.

I have read so much history about Malta and I want to see all I can.

Any suggestions about the best way to go about making my time count?

Our trip is January 2009.