FAQs
Question
What is a Malta?
Answer
Malta is a small island nation (about 5x the size of Manhattan) located in the central Mediterranean, south of Sicily and north of Africa. It's an archipelago, consisting of three main islands—Malta, Gozo, and Comino—with Malta being the largest and most populous. The official languages of Malta are Maltese and English and nearly everyone on the island speaks good english. Malta is a member of the European Union and the currency is the Euro. Malta's strategic location has made it a crossroads of civilizations for thousands of years, with a history shaped by a series of conquerors and settlers, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and most famously, the Knights of St. John.
Question
What is a Gozo?
Answer
Gozo, locally known as Ghawdex, is the 2nd largest island in the Maltese archipelago and happens to be the historical home of the groom. Gozo offers a more laid-back atmosphere compared to the busier main island of Malta. The main town in Gozo is Victoria (Rabat in Maltese) but it is widely accepted as fact that Nadur is the best town on the island (also where Matt is from by coincidence). Other large towns (for Gozo) are Qala, Xargha, Xewkija, and Ghajnsielem, all of which are located from the center of Gozo and spanning to the east of the island. The main beach towns are Xlendi and Marsalforn but you are never too far from the beach.
Question
What to do in Malta and Gozo
Answer
Malta has something for anyone that wants to explore history and culture or just enjoy the beaches. Beaches are easy to discover so I'll just mention mostly non-beach to dos, but see the "To Do's" section for some beach options. Here are some top things to do in Malta: 1. Visit the cities of Valetta and Mdina, 2. visit the Hypogeum, 3. Visit the ruins of the ancient temples of Mnajdra and Hagar Qim, 4. Visit the cliffs of Dingli, 5. Go to the Blue Grotto, 6. Check out Peter's Pool. In Gozo, 1. Visit the Citadel, 2. Go take a dip at the inland sea or blue hole at Dwejra, 3. see the Wied il-Mielah Widow (and stop by the salt pans in Xwejni), 4. See the views from tal-Mixta cave or Sopu Tower, 5. Get some snorkels and go to Wied il-Gharsi.
Question
How to spend 2 days on the main island of Malta
Answer
The top two places everyone should go to on the main island are Valetta and Mdina. After that I would suggest the Blue Grotto. Hence for a 2 day itinerary, I'd suggest a day in the stop stopping at Peter's Pool (weather depending), going on to Marsaxlokk for a coffee or lunch (time permitting), then Blue Grotto (for a swim and a boat ride) and then spend the evening exploring Valetta (go to St Johns Cathedral before 4:00pm to get in). On day two, go to Mdina in morning, then onto the Dingli cliffs for the view. Spend the afternoon at a beach in the north which includes Paradise Bay, Riviera Bay and Għadira Bay. Or take a ride over to Popeye's Village (which is the original set of the Popeye movie from the 1980s.
