Jetting off to somewhere in Europe during the winter, you can’t expect too much when it comes to what type of weather you’ll get.
Recently, I rolled the weather dice and took a trip to Malta. Not only did I land a six in climatological terms, but the Mediterranean archipelago turned out to be an absolute gem.
From wandering around the streets of the silent city of Mdina to soaking up the hustle and bustle of the capital city, Valletta, there really is something for everyone, including incredible nightlife in St Julian’s, the crystal clear waters of the Blue Lagoon, and enough churches on the island for every day of the year.
The holiday began with a flight from Manchester Airport at 7am. By 12pm, I was strolling around the stunning Balluta Bay. Flights are also readily available from John Lennon Airport and several other airports across the UK.
There are three islands which make up the Republic of Malta: Malta, Gozo and Comino. While Malta has the biggest population out of the three at around 574,000, Gozo has just 39,287 inhabitants, with only two residents on the island of Comino.
I took part in a climbing and abseiling session with Gozo Adventures
Before I knew it, I was heading off on a ferry to the island of Gozo, which is working on a new £2million airport that’ll make trips from Malta much swifter. For now, the ferry is direct and costs around 5 Euros for a return ticket. Within just 20 minutes, I was on the beautiful, lesser-visited island.
The 26-square-mile patch of land is known for its rugged landscape and stunning scenery, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. It offers everything from fantastic seafood, breathtaking views, and bright blue waters perfect for swimming.
Gozo is a dream spot for the outdoorsy type with its steep cliffs and deep valleys. Another perk to the island is that it offers 300 days of sunshine- that was me sold!
Many visitors spend a night or two on the island, but I knew I was only going to be there for a day, so there was no time to dawdle. My transport of choice was a tuk-tuk, hosted by Yippee Malta, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I was chauffeured around by driver Joe, who has lived on the island all his life. As I sat in the back of the tuk-tuk, I admired the beautiful hills, which reminded me of the stunning landscapes of the UK. The only real difference was the blue sky and bright yellow thing poking through the clouds, something I hadn’t seen for a good few months in England.
First up, a bay called Mgarr ix Xini for a climbing and abseiling session, led by Gozo Adventures. It offered the perfect opportunity to experience a more adventurous side while taking in the breathtaking valley views.
The seafood was incredible
Having never climbed before, it’s fair to say my legs were feeling a little shaky as I looked up to the top of the valley where I was supposedly climbing. But after watching the detailed demonstration of Cornil from Gozo Adventures, I gave it a good go and felt unbelievable afterwards.
After working up an appetite, it was time for my favourite part of any trip: the food. I hopped in a car and headed to a restaurant on the marina called Il-Kartell. The seafood restaurant was the perfect spot for lunch, located on the edge of the marina, which offered views of the crystal waters of the Mediterranean.
The restaurant describes itself as “casual dining by the sea”, so I chose the Linguini Al Kartell and I wasn’t disappointed. It will go down as one of the most memorable pasta dishes I’ve ever had.
I visited the beautiful island of Gozo and I wasn’t disappointed
It’s clear from just a few short hours on the island that life there is not rushed. Back home, it’s easy to find yourself picking up a sandwich on the way to work, or sometimes forgetting to grab anything at all.
In Malta and Gozo, both locals and visitors spend at least an hour or two having lunch. Starting off with bread and olive oil before tucking into a pasta dish and finishing off with a double espresso, it was nice to find time to slow down and appreciate the world a little more.
However, there was no time for a mid-afternoon slump as there was so much to see before the ferry back to Malta. Next on the itinerary were the Qbajjar Salt Pans.
The Qbajjar Salt Pans stretch around 3km across the coastline
The north coastline is characterised by a chequerboard of rock-cut saltpans, which are 350 years old. They are incredible to admire and are also rich in history, part of the centuries-old Gozitan tradition of sea-salt production that has been passed down for many generations.
On the east side of the island is Ghar tal-Mixta. Situated high above Ramla Bay, the cave offered the most beautiful panoramic views of the bay and the coastline.
The cave can be reached by a short 15-minute hike from Ramla Bay beach, and it’s definitely a must-visit on a trip to Gozo if you can make it. I entered the cave through a small gap in the rocks, then took a couple of steps down to one of the best views I’ve ever seen.
It was quite busy with other tourists, even for this time of year, so I patiently awaited my turn to get a photo overlooking the bay.
I spent a day on the island of Gozo and it left me wanting more
It wouldn’t be a trip to Gozo without visiting the iconic Citadel. Perched on a steep hill, the Citadel is a fortified city visible from everywhere on the island, looming high in the Gozian skyline.
It is located in Victoria, also known as Rabat, the capital of Gozo, and is one of the island’s most iconic landmarks. Citadel was previously a thriving city before it was transformed into a castle in medieval times. Most of the old houses and palaces here have been restored into museums and shops, making it a popular tourist spot.
The Cathedral of the Assumption
It’s free to enter, and you could spend hours learning about the fascinating history and visiting its key attractions. We admired the Cathedral of the Assumption, built entirely of local limestone.
Just wandering around the Citadel offers 360-degree views of the entire island of Gozo. You can also buy a 5 Euro ticket to visit the museums and historical sites on offer. Unfortunately, it was time to take the ferry back to Malta, otherwise I’d have spent hours more here.
Had I stayed the night, heading to the Citadel to watch the sunset or going for an early-morning swim in the crystal clear waters below would’ve rounded out a perfect trip.
Book it
Go to visitmalta.com/en for more information.
Holly stayed at the Malta Marriot Resort & Spa, with rooms from £147.
Ryanair flies from Manchester Airport to Malta from £42, and from Liverpool John Lennon from £32.
KM Malta Airlines offers flights from Heathrow to Malta from £111 and from Gatwick from £86.