Malta

Being an Avid traveler, I have so many memories of all the places that I visit but some places leave you with wonderful memories and Malta is one of them. I visited Malta with my family in March this year. Malta is located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea and is the southernmost European country.  It is a small independent nation-state and is the EU’s smallest member state. TBH, I hadn’t heard of a country called Malta until last year.

We stayed at Hilton Malta. The hotel is in the center of town, close to the sea, and offers stunning views. The hotel is so big that it never feels too crowded.  Breakfast was amazing as always with Hilton. The customer service throughout our stay was outstanding.

The above was my morning walk view. I still can’t forget those beautiful mornings walks with my favorite music and wonderful view. It made me fall deeply and insanely in love with Malta. Walking and spending my days on small streets made my heart happy.

Malta has white cliffs to desert landscapes and endless vineyards. There’s beauty in everything in Malta. Following are few of the places which I recommend to anyone visiting Malta.

The Azure Window was a limestone natural arch on the island of Gozo in Malta and was one of Malta’s major tourist attractions. You might remember seeing it in Clash of the Titans and Game of Thrones. It is pity that a week after we visited this place in March, the landmark limestone arch collapsed into the sea due to heavy Strome. We were fortunate to have seen The Azure Window before it collapsed.

This bright and colorful village is where the 1980’s movie ‘Popeye‘ was filmed. Entry entitles you to a free boat ride around the cave, a cup of sangria and postcard of your choice. The historical set is very interesting to explore, especially if you have seen the film. There are lots of activities for children and adults, so everyone can enjoy.

Popeye village has grown from a movie set into a bright and bustling piece of Maltese tourism industry. There are few animation shows throughout the village along with making of the movie which plays on a loop in Olive’s house.

 

Tip: Better take your food with you as we didn’t enjoy or found anything that we could eat.

The Blue Grotto is located on the southern coast of Malta. The site is extremely popular and was also featured in the film Troy (2004) starring Brad Pitt. The location of this fascinating natural grotto combines with sunlight and the surrounding chain of caves to reflect the phosphorescent colors of the submerged flora and the deep dark shade of blue of the sea. A visit to the Blue Grotto is a must preferably early in the morning when the sun is lower in the sky and the sea is calmer.

I love visiting Cathedral and we visited a few Cathedrals while we were in Malta. Saint John’s Co-Cathedral is one of the most beautiful church I have ever visited in my life. It is the crown jewel of Valletta, Malta’s capital city. The church has been beautifully architected and preserved. It is listed as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site and is beautiful to behold.

Blue Elephant Restaurant in Hilton Malta is a must visit. I loved the ambiance, decoration and last but not the least, the delicious Thai food. I was really impressed with all the attention to detail they have put from decor to crockery, especially those cute elephant shape teapot. I enjoyed my evening with family there.

We enjoyed our stay at Malta and I can write a lot more about Malta but I would suggest you should visit Malta once to actually know how beautiful it is. If you have any questions regarding Malta or how to travel around places, feel free to ask me in comments below.