3 days in Malta early October. Need help with itinerary
 

Hello!
Will be in South France for a work conference end of September and myself + a few work friends are interested in hopping over to Malta for a quick post-work trip because I found that RyanAir has a direct flight from Marseilles that works really well. How does this sound? Too rushed?

Friday Sept. 30 - Arrive 11am in Malta. Check into the Le Meridien in Sliema. Explore Valletta.
Saturday October 1 - Take a trip to Mdina. How long here? Anything else in the vicinity?
Sunday October 2 - very flexible. Gozo? or somewhere else? More Valletta?
Monday October 3 - shop/explore Valletta in the AM and then 2:30pm fly out.

I realize its not a lot of time but want to make the best of it.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

For starters I wouldn't stay in Sliema - especially for a short trip. By the time you check into the hotel in Sliema and get over to Valletta you've wasted a good part of the half day you have. Why not stay in Valletta itself.

I spent 2 or 3 hours in Mdina - but it takes time to get there even though it's a short distance. Roads are very congested in Malta.

Gozo doesn't really work as a day trip (unless you have your own car, then perhaps).

Here's my trip report - might give you some ideas of things to do and how long they take.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ta-in-july.cfm

These were my favorites:

Casa Rocca Piccola, Valletta:
http://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/malt...-rocca-piccola

Strolling in Valletta:
http://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/gall...y-of-balconies

A stay in Marsaxlokk:
http://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/gumb...day-marsaxlokk

And Mdina/Rabat where I stayed for several nights and seem not to have written about. I stayed here and liked it: http://pointdevue-mdina.com/
There's also the posh Zara Palace inside the Mdina wall, a very nice place for lunch. http://www.xarapalace.com.mt/

I agree with isabel, stay in Valletta. This is a nice place in a good location:
http://www.excelsior.com.mt/

Ummm with only 3 days, why not see more of the South of France?

Malta is fine but not spectacular enough to warrant a trip there. It won't knock your socks off like the French Riviera or Provence.

I visited Malta twice (my ex was half Maltese) and to be honest I wouldn't recommend a trip there unless it's free.

I loved Malta in October, and agree that staying in Valletta is a good idea. This list is very old (although the latest entry is from last year) but it may give you some ideas. Unfortunately, the Hypogeum, one of my favorite sites, is closed temporarily, but there is still a lot to see and do.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-100-best.cfm