Italy trip--how much time for Malta?
 

Hello everyone. We are planning a trip to Italy in late September/early October and we want to spend a few days in Malta. We will have 15 days for this trip, not counting flying time back and forth. The original plan was to spend 5 nights in Rome, 5 nights in Malta, 4 nights in Florence, then the last night we will stay near the Rome airport. After doing some research I am wondering if 5 nights will be enough time in Malta, and maybe we should divide our time in half between Rome and Malta. I have been to Rome and Florence a few times but never to Malta. DH has never been to Italy or Malta. I would love to hear your opinions. Thanks.

I think we were in a Malta for 4 or 5 nights on a several month trip. I liked it but frankly there's not a lot to do. Enjoyed taking the colorful old buses around the island, toured the old fort (the prison in Midnight Express) and did a nice snorkeling and sailing cruise. Loved the food -- especially rabbit. Three or four nights seem fine to me.

Areas of Sicily or Lipari were far more interesting. And Southern Italy was also nicer. Have you done those?

Thanks for your reply Patrick. I've been to the Amalfi Coast a few times, most recently in 2014. I haven't been to Sicily yet and I can't seem to sell DH on that. Lipari is a place I don't know anything about but I will read up on that.

I spent a week+ in Malta last spring on a family / genealogy with my wife's family who hail from Malta and we never ran out of things to do over 8 full days on the ground, but you don't need that long to see all the main sights.

You can do a day tour and see the entire main island in a day. Add in another day for seeing the sights in Valletta, and a 3rd for a day trip to Gozo and you'd see most everything of interest.

I went to Malta twice: 1997 and 2007 (with different partner). I thought there was a lot to see: the Hypogeum was amazing, ruins of 3500 year old temples, fishing villages like Marsaxlokk (sp?). I believe the wonderfully colorful old buses have been replaced, but the routes radiated out from Valletta in all directions, so you could base in Sliema, take the ferry across the harbor (a fun little trip for maybe a dollar) and hop on a bus each day in a different direction. Most of the people spoke English as first or second language and were uniformly pleasant, polite, and helpful (had people stop and ask us if we needed help when they saw us standing on a street corner with a map). Food Italian-oriented. Demented highly-caffeinated drivers (watch out crossing streets, they drive British style and you look for cars in the wrong direction). First trip was 10 days, second was maybe 8. You can factor in a daytrip to Gozo, many packages available which include picking you up at hotel, driving you to port on west coast of Malta, ferry ride to Gozo, tour of the island, and return. Do a search on this site for Malta for some trip reports.

Sorry, but I'd have to disagree with the above post - I don't think you'd see "everything of interest in a day" pretty much anywhere.

I spent 7 nights in Malta and could have done more. I will go back.

If you have already been to Italy and would like to see Malta then I'd split the time. Maybe just Rome with a couple day trips to experience other places (like Orvieto). Actually with the fast trains you could even do a day trip up to Florence.

Here's my trip report with link to the photos

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

We were in Malta last October on a cruise. I'm not home now, but I'll check my travel dairy when I get home in a couple days and let you now what we saw. I do remember my husband really liked it.

I appreciate all replies, thanks.

I really enjoyed Malta. I was there for about 8 days and felt like I saw a fair amount in that time by staying in Valletta and using the bus system. The Hypogeum was my absolute favorite spot, but altogether it's just soaked with history and that golden sunshine. This is quite old, but gives a little taste: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-100-best.cfm

I was here twice; once only for a day and the other for a
week. We found it quite interesting, the people friendly and stayed in Valletta & then taxied to Gozo. BTW, the National dish is rabbit.

It is a pretty area and if it is on your bucket list do go!

j62 said: "You can do a day tour and see the entire main island in a day. Add in another day for seeing the sights in Valletta, and a 3rd for a day trip to Gozo and you'd see most everything of interest."

Nephaline, you might want to read that again. It did NOT say "you can see everything of interest in one day". In fact it specified three days to see "MOST everything of interest". And I certainly don't know why you put your misquote in quotes.