Malta’s Hidden Gems: A Mediterranean Island Most Travellers Get Wrong

Episode 10: Malta's Hidden Treasures - A Mediterranean GemIn this episode, I'm sharing my recent adventure to Malta, Europe's best-kept secret that completely stole my heart. From ancient temples older than Stonehenge to crystal-clear lagoons that rival the Caribbean, Malta packs an incredible amount of history and beauty into just 316 square kilometres.What I DiscussExploring Valletta's Baroque splendour as Europe's smallest capitalStepping back in time in the Silent City of MdinaExploring the historic Three Cities - Vittoriosa, Senglea, and CospicuaPractical Bits:Ferry from Sicily:Virtu Ferries operates the main route from Pozzallo to VallettaUp to 4 daily crossings in summer, 3 in winter, with crossing time of 1 hour 45 minutesBook in advance for best prices, especially during summer monthsBest Time to Visit:May through October for warmest weather (25-30°C)Shoulder months (April-May, September-October) for fewer crowdsMalta enjoys over 300 days of sunshine annuallyLocal Insights:Language & Culture:Both Maltese and English are official languages - super accessible for English speakersPredominantly Catholic with conservative values - dress modestly in churchesSunday mornings see many attractions closed for church servicesFood & Drink:Cheese pastizziMaltese RavioliTry local specialties and enjoy generous portions at reasonable pricesKey TakeawaysMalta exceeds expectations - incredible history and beauty packed into a tiny areaBook prehistoric sites in advance - Hypogeum allows only 80 visitors dailyThree UNESCO World Heritage Sites in just 316 square kilometresPerfect for island hopping - Malta, Gozo, and Comino each offer unique experiencesExcellent value destination compared to other Mediterranean hotspotsFerry from Sicily is easy - great way to combine both destinationsUseful Apps/Websites:Truly Expat Travel - 10 of Malta's Hidden GemsFerryscanner - Sicily to Malta ferry bookingsGetYourGuide - tours and skip-the-line ticketsAiralo - for an automatic 15% discount for all new usersNext WeekI'll be chatting with Patsy about our "girls" trip to Sri Lanka, why she fell in love with the destination and why this trip was different to anything she's been on before? Are you an expat with a favourite holiday destination you're passionate about? Drop me a line at [email protected] - I'd love to hear your story!Subscribe & Review: If you're enjoying these chats, please leave a review - it helps others discover the show.Send us Fan MailVisas Made Simple Skip the embassy lines. iVisa handles it all online—fast, easy, and stress-free.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Find me on:Website: Truly Expat Travel Facebook: Truly ExpatInstagram: Truly Expat Travel TikTok: Truly Expat Travel Running this podcast takes a lot of coffee (and countless hours exploring every destination!). If you found this helpful and want to support more honest, detailed travel guides and itineraries, you can buy me a coffee. No pressure though – I'm just happy you're here and hope you have an incredible adventure! 🙂