There are so many amazing things to do on both Malta and Gozo. They are both fascinating islands with unreal beauty and so much to offer. I have attempted to break this down into what I consider some of the “can’t miss” things to do between the Malta and Gozo.
Gozo Picnic
When I say “Gozo Picnic”, I don’t mean go shopping and create your own. I am talking about a FULL experience. I was absolutely thrilled when I found Ana from “Gozo Picnic” and was able to arrange an amazing picnic with her. We had our picnic at the Salt Flats on Gozo, which was an absolutely incredible spot to watch the sunset. This was surely one of the best experiences we had on Malta and Gozo.
Ana truly thought of every single detail, there was a beautiful set up with a blanket, cushioned seats, fairy-lights, music, bug spray, and a FULL meal from appetizers through desert. There were different menus you could choose from, we chose to have a traditional Mediterranean dinner and it was delightful. The food was so good and was PLENTY for the four of us. It also included water and wine! At the end of the picnic all we had to do was walk away! Everything was taken care of from start to finish and it was one of the most enjoyable experiences we’ve had while traveling!
I actually loved this experience so much that it got it’s own blog post, you can find it here —-> A Curated Picnic Experience on Gozo Island
Maldonado Bistro in Victoria, Gozo
Another amazing “experience” on Gozo that we loved. On the website you would book the “Gastro Gozo Wine Tasting Experience”. You are taken upstairs to a special area above the restaurant. You get to watch as the chef prepares a four course dinner while tasting and learning about wines of Malta and Gozo. The food we had during this experience was fantastic and we enjoyed trying and learning about all of the different wines. It was fun to meet and socialize with other travelers as well and to learn so much more about the Islands of Malta and Gozo. I couldn’t recommend this more highly if you’re staying in Gozo (which I think you should).
Do the tasting menu at Legligin in Valetta, Malta
Ok, I promise all of my “things to do” aren’t going to involve food. Although, isn’t that one of the best parts of travel? But I would be remiss not to mention Legligin as one of my favorite things we did during our time on both Malta and Gozo. Legligin is located in Valetta and is a traditional Maltese spot. I recommend going for dinner because if you go for lunch you may just fall asleep afterward due to a food coma! The dinner tasting menu is $45 per person and it is truly an insane value. We ate SO MUCH FOOD here and EVERYTHING was delicious! We really felt like we were being welcomed into such a local experience and it felt like your grandmas Maltese cooking.
It looks as though they have received Michelin recognition since we have been there, but I assure you it was fantastic even before that. I definitely advise you make a reservation (although I always advise that). I am not sure what other spots on Malta and Gozo have received Michelin recognition, but it’s always worth a look.
Do a boat day on Malta and Gozo (or choose one)
Malta and Gozo are truly stunning to see from the water. Especially the area around Valetta and the surrounding cities. There are countless options for how to experience a boat day, and you should choose what works for you.
You can check out a number of options by clicking here.
We were traveling with friends and wanted a more personalized experience so we took a private sail boat tour. Seeing Malta from the water is really unique because there are so many fortifications, citadels, walls, and buildings that you can see from the water. It is a very cool perspective and something you should absolutely check out.
Quad around to beaches on Gozo
One of our favorite things to do, whenever it is possible, is rent a quad. It is always such a fun adventure, and on Gozo it was no exception. We rented quads for 2 days and had so much fun riding all over the island exploring different beaches. Some of our favorites included Dwerja Beach, Wied il-Ghasri, and Mgarr Ix-Xini Beach.
Gozo’s beaches all have something special and unique about them. This makes it worth venturing around and trying a new spot every few hours. We also loved grabbing lunch at “Il kantralido”, which we found by accident when we were cruising around. Overall the quads make for such a fun experience. You could also rent a car on both Malta and Gozo and it would make getting around very easy.
If you want more information about these beaches and spots we visited check out my post —> 48 Hours on Gozo Island
Visit St Peters Pool & Marsaxlokk on Malta
This is another super fun adventure on Malta. The pool and village don’t actually need to be done together, but they are so nearby to one another that they make for the perfect combo. Marsalokk is a vibrant fishing village with an amazing and lively fish market. The market is grand on Sundays and if you are able to visit, it is a site to see. However, this little village has some wonderful seafood and would be lovely to visit any day of the week.
After visiting the village we walked to St Peters pool, which was just enough of a walk to get us all heated up to be ready to go swimming after. St Peters Pool is essentially a giant swimming hole carved into the unique rocky landscape. It is really neat to see and even more fun to watch everyone jump in! Locals and tourists alike build up the courage to jump into the sea in the big open pool type area. If you’re afraid of making the big jump, there are also smaller and more calm areas to cool off. This area is not for the faint of heart and it is not exactly what you’d call a comfortable spot to relax. It is more entertaining, and fun and spending a few hours here being a part of the scene.
Take the taxi boat to visit Birgu from Valetta
You can take a “water taxi” boat from Valetta below the Barrakka Gardens to Birgu across the harbor. It only costs about 2 euro per person for the ride across. It is a unique experience as the water taxis are traditional Maltese boats. It kind of reminded us of a gondola, but with a motor. They can take you to any of the “3 cities” as well as around Valetta. We loved visiting Birgu and walking around this area during the “pre” sunset hours. The streets here were so incredibly beautiful and it was SO much more calm and quiet than Valetta. We sat on the little port area and grabbed a drink and enjoyed the beautiful scene before heading back to Valetta for dinner.
Wander the streets of Valetta, Malta
The streets of Valetta, Malta are some of the most beautiful we’ve ever wandered in our travels. The brightly colored and unique design of the homes and buildings here could be admired for hours on end. The Maltese balconies are truly something to be seen and you really should take the time to walk as many streets as you can. The streets of Valetta can be steep, but you can stop for drinks & snacks along the way and spend the day enjoying all the beauty Malta has to offer.
We also did a street food tour while in Valetta that we found to be a very enjoyable way to get to know the food scene and the city all at the same time.
You can check out food tour options by clicking here.
Where to Stay on Malta and Gozo
If you’re looking for a place to stay on Malta and Gozo we have some suggestions.
We loved Hotel Osbourne in Valetta, it was truly a beautiful hotel. The bar and lobby area were so well decorated and lovely to spend time in. Breakfast was good and there was a rooftop pool and lounge are that we loved hanging out on during the midday heat.
In Gozo we enjoyed our hotel in Xlendi Bay at Hotel San Andrea. It had such a beautiful view and was a short quad or bolt taxi ride away from the main area of Victoria. We loved waking up to the view from our balcony every morning and having breakfast down by the water.
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