Logistics in Malta
Hi,I am hoping to visit Malta in April. I appreciate your time in responding to these questions I could not find answers to via online searches.
1. Do most countries fly directly into Malta (Valletta) these days? Is airfare relatively affordable in April?
2. On Malta island itself, I plan to visit (A) Valletta, (B) Birgu (a.k.a. Vittoriosa), (C)
Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni (a subterranean archeological structure), (D) Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra Temples, (E) Mdina, (F) Mellieha Bay and (G) Birzebbugia. Am I better off renting a car to get around (like they do on the Greek Islands and Mallorca, Spain) or should I rely on public transportation?
3. In total, how long would it take me to get from Valletta to Victoria, Gozo? I only wish to make the daytrip if convenient. Could I do a daytrip or am I way off in understanding the transportation involved (a bus ride to the Malta coast, then a ferry and finally a bus again)?
4. On which islands are the Alabaster Caves? Calypso Cave? Blue Grotto?
Thank you guys for your help. Charlie
1
I notice that you have also made same post on other travel forums ..Some of your questions do not make sense to me.
1. Do most countries fly directly into Malta (Valletta) these days? Is airfare relatively affordable in April?
Why are you interested in most countries? If you want to visit Malta, check flight possibilities from your home country/national airport. That's all that matters. Once you find the flight, you will see the price. You can decide then if you can afford it.2. On Malta island ... Am I better off renting a car to get around (like they do on the Greek Islands and Mallorca, Spain) or should I rely on public transportation?
It is possible to visit the places you mention with publiuc transport. I never renta car, not even on Greek islands. That is up to the person. Some people rent cars, and other people use public transportation.3. In total, how long would it take me to get from Valletta to Victoria, Gozo? I only wish to make the daytrip if convenient.
There are two different questions here. Is it possible to get there and back in a day? Yes.
Will you have time left over to do and see what you want on Gozo? It depends on what you want to see and do. Just Victoria, probably. Anything else I think it would be rushed, considering the things to see and do on Gozo. I like to take my time.
Probably a day trip to Gozo would be easier and quicker with rented car, or take a tour.
3
One place we didn't rent a car was on Malta the busses are so easy to use, there used to be express busses which got you from one end of the island to the other pretty quick, don't know if that changed.For the Hypogaeum book in advance, we tried to book the day we arrived in Malta and it was booked out 7 days after the date we had to leave, the blue grotto is on Malta itself I think we combined it with Hagar Qim.
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Hi,Thanks for the responses and most of my questions were answered, but a couple remain:
1. In total, how long would it take me to get from Valletta to Victoria, Gozo? I only wish to make the daytrip if convenient. Could I do a daytrip or am I way off in understanding the transportation involved (a bus ride to the Malta coast, then a ferry and finally a bus again)?
The responses I got help me understand durations when dividing up the different parts. As a whole, from Valletta to Victoria, how long should everything take from start to finish?
2. Is the public transportation good enough on all THREE islands or must the main one?
3. This last one I got no responses on whatsoever...On which islands are the Alabaster Caves? Calypso Cave? Blue Grotto?
5
1. Valetta - Cirkewwa (to ferry) by bus takes 1:20The ferry takes 25 minutes (no need to reserve)
Mgarr (ferry) to Victoria/Rabat takes 20 minutes
The buses usually await a ferry arrival.
Ferry schedules http://www.gozochannel.com/timetable.asp?w=2
Bus schedules http://www.arriva.com.mt/bus-timetable-library
It's up to you to decide whether this is worth a day trip or not. I personally would recommend you to spend more time in Gozo which myself i found more enjoyable compared to Malta island in many ways.
2. Comino is a tiny island and is as good as car free. There are nu buses.
3. I could easily respond but i'll leave that to your guidebook and/or Google. There is a minimum of information you should be able to find yourself ;-)
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So, from Valetta to Victoria it takes approximately 2 hours in total including everything. Right? Otherwise, do I now have all the important things the islands offer?A. Malta island
a. Valletta (capital)
b. Birgu (a.k.a. Vittoriosa) (village)
c. Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni (a subterranean archeological structure)
d. Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra (temples)
e. Mdina (village)
f. Mellieha Bay
g. Birzebbugia: This village is perhaps best known for its important archaeological sites, especially Għar Dalam and ‘Borg in-Nadur’ and a sandy beach commonly known as ‘Pretty Bay’.
B. Comino island
a. Walk around and explore the nature.
C. Gozo island
a. Alabaster Caves
b. Blue Grotto
c. Calypso Cave
d. Ġgantija temple complex
e. Victoria (village)
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I think it would be more realistic to count on 2,5 hours from Valetta to Victoria/Rabat, depending on when the ferry will leave.Important things to offer? It depends on what it is you want to see.
A Malta
e Mdina, add Rabat to that
f Mellieha Bay is just a stupid beach (the most easily accessible one) with big hotels. If you want to see more beautiful beaches go to the more remote Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha, both are next to each other.
g Birzebugga is not in too beautiful surroundings, which can also be said of tiny 'Pretty Bay'. I think many will consider Marsaxlokk to be more interesting.
C Gozo
b Blue Grotto is on Malta island
You might want to see the Azure Window in Dwejra
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I agree with everything Artemis says. The Calypso and Alabaster caves are on Gozo.9
I agree with everything Artemis says. The Calypso and Alabaster caves are on Gozo.Malta is not Malta without its churches. You should at least see Mosta, the Caravaggios in St Johns co-cathedral, Mdina and Gozo cathedrals are just some that are worth a visit.
To me, all travel is about experience, and people. Not about a list os sitesnto tick off. But we are all,different.
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i am maltese but didnt move back until i was 18 - when i arrived my cousins took me to see everything including all the above and more over 3 days in their car.later friends of mine came from australia - we attempted to do it by bus in 3 days we saw a fraction of what i did when in a car
hire a car!!
HYPOGEUM
needs to be booked over a month in advance for summer holidays (starting from april through to end sept) you can get tickets on the day but you have to go the naitional museum in valetta ridicuously early and try to beat the other last minute ticket buyers.
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Marsalforn:"You should at least see Mosta, the Caravaggios in St Johns co-cathedral, Mdina and Gozo cathedrals are just some that are worth a visit."
Where exactly are these located?
artemis2,
1. What makes Rabat interesting?
2, Are Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha beaches on Malta island or Gozo or Comino?
3. How much time do I need to see all the important sites in Valetta, Mdina, Victoria, etc.?
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1. Is Rabat also a 'must see' or is Rabat simply the outer sprawl that surrounds a much more interesting historic center?2. Are Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha beaches on Malta island or Gozo or Comino?
3. As for Mosta, the Caravaggios in St Johns co-cathedral, Mdina and Gozo cathedrals are just some that are worth a visit." Where exactly are these located? Are these attractions in the towns I already wish to visit or they located elsewhere?
13
Your questions keep amazing me greekness, and i keep wondering if you actually have touched a guidebook so far, it's such a quick read. I doubt you have.I'll just stick to my last phrase in #5.
http://www.visitmalta.com/en
