Malta:The Mediteranian's Hidden Gem

 As the cold winter of Czechia settled in, the need for warm weather hit hard. I got bitten by the travel bug bad and started looking for cheap flights to sandy beaches in mid-January. Soon, I was torn between the Canary Islands and a small island country, Malta, right below Sicily. The Canary Islands were the warmer bet but about $100 more expensive than Malta. I quickly settled on Malta, curious about this small Mediterranean cluster of islands and excited for a break from freezing temperatures.

I decided to fly out of Vienna, taking a four-hour bus ride to the airport instead of leaving from Prague. It saved me about $80—money that could go far here. So I started my journey at 7:45 AM, arriving in Vienna around noon. I then waited around for my 6:00 PM flight, finally arriving in Malta at 8:30 PM. It was already warmer, and I enjoyed a 30-minute ride across the island to my hostel in the main city, Valletta. I chose a party hostel, Marco Polo Hostel, hoping to meet some like-minded people.

Drink from the rooftop bar

Day 1 

I enjoyed sleeping in after a long day of travel but couldn’t stay in bed too long—I had booked a scuba tour for 12:30 PM. The last time I dived was in Puget Sound in Washington State about eight years ago. During my research, I found that scuba diving was quite popular in Malta, and who knew when I’d get another chance? So I left my hostel and walked to Dive Shack, where I met my diving instructor, Alex, who was happy to give me a refresher before heading out. We drove about 30 minutes to the top of the island, next to the ferry for Gozo—another inhabited island in Malta.

I was lucky (or unlucky?) to have signed up on the windiest and coldest day of my trip, which meant I had Alex all to myself. This was perfect since I had signed up for a dive meant to certify people, but I got to skip all the lectures and just enjoy the experience. I spotted an eel while Alex saw an octopus. Of course, there were plenty of fish, both colorful and not. This dive rekindled my enjoyment of the sport, making me want to prioritize diving in future travels.

After a hot shower, we headed back to the dive shack, and I enjoyed a second road trip across the island. It was the wet season in Malta, so all the flowers were blooming, and the cacti were heavy with prickly pears. I even saw a hedgehog crossing sign!

After washing off my gear, Alex suggested getting a beer. I took him up on it—after all, my alternative was to hang out at the rooftop hostel bar, which didn’t sound nearly as fun. Besides, Alex had lived in Malta for the last 20 years. Originally from Liverpool, he seemed like a local to me. We went to a couple of different bars—I beat him at Battleship, he schooled me at pool, and we ended the night watching the stars over Golden Bay. I didn’t expect to get along so well with my dive instructor, but the stories flowed, and the time was fun. Happy days. He suggested we go diving on Wednesday, which sounded good to me. Plus, he had a scooter, and I do like to go fast. He dropped me off at my hostel for a good night's rest before my plans on Tuesday.

Different pictures in the various bays along the coast. 

Showing the changing weather of winter

Lots of rocks over here, not so many teachers

Enjoying the sun while I can.

Some fun areas

Look at at that water!

Where we entered for our dive. 

Our little yellow diver truck

Suited up! 

Hedgehog crossing! 

So pretty at night too.

Few clouds in golden bay. 

Day 2 

For day two, my plans were pretty simple. I took a bus to Mellieha Bay. The transit system isn’t too bad, but definitely trust the app to get you places. From Mellieha Bay, I walked to Popeye’s Village, a theme park from the set of the 1980 movie with Robin Williams. The pictures I had seen were amazing, and the viewpoint was really nice. I spent about 20 minutes walking through farmland across the island and was met with a beautiful lagoon. I decided not to go through the theme park—I didn’t want all the extras that the terrace gave. Instead, I got a piña colada in a pineapple, sat in the sun, and enjoyed the view.

Around 3:00 PM, I started to head back. I had signed up for a wine and chocolate tasting in Saint Paul’s that I needed to catch. There, I met Anna from Kentucky, who had married a German man. She was nice enough, and we enjoyed talking—a little about wine—while savoring delicious chocolates. The tasting was very informative, but I am still far from a wine snob.

After my tasting, I met up with Alex again. We had a few drinks and made some friends with a group of Irish guys. Lots of shooting the shit and shooting pool. After a few hours, he took me back to my accommodation, but not before stopping at a tower near the rocky beach for more stargazing and good conversation. Sitting by the ocean was peaceful and just what I needed.

View during breakfast

Poached eggs and waffles

Melleiha Bay

Farm land

So many stone walls

On my walk

Goats! and chickens

Popeyes village! 

I can't get over that water!

Drink, and a meal

In Saint Pauls

Yummy, and great pairings. 

Day 3 

The plan for today was very loose, but Alex didn’t have any dives, so he picked me up, and we headed for Gozo. He had told me so much about it—how peaceful it was and how it was better than the main island. We arrived at the ferry next to the first dive site and headed across the waters. I felt an immediate difference—far fewer resorts and a much less touristy feel, more local charm.

We zipped around the island to the diving center but found ourselves too late for a dive. The owners had already left, and we couldn’t grab any supplies. So, we grabbed some lunch before Alex took me to the top of some cliffs. The view was incredible, and the fresh greenery added to the atmosphere. It would be interesting to come back in the summer and experience the island as a dry, rocky desert without all the vegetation.

After soaking up the sun and snapping some photos, we made our way back to Saint Paul’s for trivia night with a group of divers. I got to meet some of Alex’s friends and coworkers. He works freelance, so it seemed like Alex knew everyone. Our team won the puzzle quiz—but not thanks to me. The night ended with a few rounds of bingo played with a deck of cards instead of a traditional sheet. It was a game I might just bring back to Prague.

After bingo, most people headed out, but we decided to keep the night going. Over another pint, Alex asked, “What do you want to do next?” My options? More viewpoints, more bars, or—his personal suggestion—checking out an abandoned hospital. He described it as something straight out of a Stephen King novel, and my curiosity was immediately piqued. So, after a quick stop at his place to grab some supplies, we set off.

When we arrived, he hadn’t exaggerated—it was seriously creepy. Despite being in the city, it felt eerily isolated, and I wasn’t sure anyone would hear me scream if something went wrong. We scoped out the perimeter, and Alex admitted it had been a few years since he last explored it. Warning signs were everywhere, along with a few security cameras. As he continued telling me about the place, an uneasy feeling settled in. We exchanged a glance and, without saying much, mutually decided this was an adventure best saved for daylight—if at all.

On our way back to the scooter, we stumbled upon a small pasture with six horses that looked far too thin. They had little to no water, and there wasn’t a single pile of hay in sight. After some coaxing, one of them wandered over, and we fed it hay that was just out of their reach. It was clear they weren’t in great shape. Alex promised to reach out to a friend to see if anything could be done to help them, which made me feel a little better about leaving them behind.

With no other grand plans, we made our way to another bar in old town Valletta. Malta has layers of history, from its ancient roots to its role as a British military base during World War II. The English influence is still strong, making it the perfect setting for a late-night drink. Alex ended the night with an impromptu history tour, pointing out spots where battles had taken place and where the local commanders had once lived. Another long, unexpected night with my personal tour guide.

Veiws from the Ferry

Bye Malta

Coming up on Gozo

Bay near lunch. 

Wow! Wonderful day. 

Lots of plants and bumpy rocks

Pretty wild flowers

Day 4 

Thursday was my final day, and I headed to Comino—a small, deserted island between Gozo and Malta, famous for its Blue Lagoon. Tour boats only stopped for a max of two hours, so I opted for a 16-euro ferry, allowing me to spend as much time as I wanted.

Upon arrival, I got a bite to eat and people-watched from a cliff overlooking the blue waters. The wind had died down, and sitting in the sun felt like a warm 75 degrees. After lunch, I hiked across the island to an abandoned resort where Alex had worked years ago. There, I found fewer tourists and a larger beach. The waves were peaceful. I took a quick dip but didn’t stay long—it was still a bit too cold. I continued my hike in search of a cave, navigating rocky terrain that made me feel like I was on the moon. Finding the cave was easy, but considering I was alone, unsure of the emergency number, and fully aware of how clumsy I am, I admired it from the entrance.

By late afternoon, I made my way back to the ferry, grabbed another pineapple piña colada, and people-watched until it was time to leave.

The ride back was much quicker, and I was sad to leave the sandy beaches and beautiful day behind. I hopped on a bus and soon was back in the bar with Alex in Saint Paul's enjoying more drinks and visiting with tourists. The night continured like this and with one more final scooter ride around the siland I was soon back in my hostel. Not too soon through. It was a late night and I spend most of the next morning sleeping until checkout. 

Chariot awaits!

The ferry took us past lots of caves

Made it! 

Again, that color!

lunch!

Peaceful island

a great day for a hike. 

More flowers

A perfect island get away for a quick dip. 

rocky terrane ahead

From the cave looking out

Looking in, the water flowed in under me. 

Looks good enough to swim in, if those waves could be trusted. 

Round two on the pineapple

By Comino!

Dragging my feet onto the plane, I was sad to leave this island. I had a long journey ahead, and returning to snowy Prague wasn’t something to look forward to. This trip was exactly what I needed, and finding a friend to show me around was an unexpected perk. I think Alex and I will stay in touch, and I might be visiting Malta again. I don’t think I can pass up the diving connection, and it would be interesting to see Malta in the summer.

I lifted off at 3:00 PM and arrived in a freezing Vienna at 5:00 PM. I waited for my bus back to Prague, arriving at 2 AM on Saturday—just in time to catch some rest before celebrating Masopust, the Czech version of Carnival/Mardi Gras. No rest for the weary!

I’m not sure if this trip satisfied my travel itch or made it worse, but I do know I’ll be counting down the days until my next beach trip and looking for more diving opportunities in the near future. But for now…