Category: Southern Europe

Vatican City is the smallest country in the world both by area and population, covering an area of 49 hectares (121 acres). This place (religious superpower) have guided millions of people across the globe.

Home of the Roman Catholic Church and its spiritual leader – the Pope, Vatican City was granted a country status to enable the pope to exercise his universal authority.

The euro is the official currency of the Vatican City, although Vatican City is not a member of the Eurozone or the European Union. The euro has been the official currency of Vatican City since 2002.

This country have a population of around 764 (as of 2023) residents, and has its own flag. For many travellers, visiting this religious hub is a bucket list item. Visiting the Vatican is an unforgettable experience not only for lovers of art but also of history, culture, and architecture. 

There are multiple ways to reach here:

• Metro –> Line A (There are two metro stops located near the Vatican Museums entrance: Ottaviano and Cipro)
• Bus –>  Numbers 492, 990 (Via Degli scipioni); 32, 81, 982 (Risorgimento stop)
• 49 (Viale Vaticano / Musei Vaticani stop)
• Tram –> Number 19 (Risorgimento / San Pietro stop)
• Taxi –> Taxi Station Viale Vaticano (in front of the Museum)
• Car –> Payment Parks in Viale Vaticano

Vatican city Trip planning:

Entry to the Vatican City and St. Peter’s Square is free, but to enter the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel you need to take tickets, except on certain occasions.

Vatican Museum:

Keep in mind, that the best time to visit the Vatican Museums is in the morning, as queues begin to form as early as 07:30 am despite the museums opening at 09:00 am. Do not leave this for later in the day as museums close at 6:30 pm hrs and visitors are obligated to leave the premises thirty minutes before closing time.

Book your tours and tickets for Vatican Museum, well in advance as the lines get very very long and it can take hours to get in. Without a skip-the-entrance-line ticket expect the line to be up to 1 to 2 km long (even starting well before 8:30 am)

We did the following to book our tickets:
1) Link : https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html#lnav_shop
2) Once you click the link, you will have to book the tour (We had selected ‘Museums and Vatican collections’).
3) Select the date of your choice and click confirm (you will have to give number of Visitors).
4) The next screen will show all the available ticket types. We had selected
‘Guided Tours for Individuals – Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel’.
5) Select the ticket type of your choice and click ‘Book’.
6) The next screen will show you the price distribution (like Full Ticket, Reduced Ticket (6-18 years including 18 years and students). You also have a option to select ‘Visit Language’ (This is for the earphones, as we had selected Guided Tours).
7) In the same screen, you will get to see the different timings and the corresponding availability. Select your convinient time.
8) If you are happy with all the provided details, click to proceed.
NOTE: In the tour that we seleted, the Guide fees is also included when you see the final ticket price.
9) In the next screen, you can provide your personal details (like name and so on) and proceed to Buy for Payments.
10) You will get the confirmation ticket / voucher in your email. You will have to show that ticket (better to keep a hard copy handy in case if somebody says softcopy is not allowed), when you reach the entrance. NOTE: Good to scroll through the Q&A : https://tickets.museivaticani.va/support

Steps to follow on the day of your visit:

There is a line reserved for the visitors with the booking. Visitors are asked to present themselves 15 minutes before the tour start time. The voucher is Non Transfereble and is valid only for the date / time that is reserved. Online booking allows you to skip the museum entrance line. Simply proceed to the entrance gate to scan your ticket. (NOTE: We somehow reached the entrance gate 15 minutes late, but still they allowed us to join the group tour that we booked online, but try to reach early). There are multiple security checks before entering the Museum.

This Museum is the home to some of the most priceless art collections (around 70,000+) accumulated by the Pope over the centuries.

The Vatican Museums are made up of 26 museums (about 5 miles of wall space) in all and display some dazzling exhibits.

The one thing that can’t be avoided is the crowds. You will be moving as one large mass, from museum to museum spread over two floors to get to the Sistine Chapel.

NOTE: Please note that Museum is not open on all Sundays. Please check the below link for the timings: https://www.thevaticantickets.com/timings/

Sistine Chapel:

This is one of the most famous and beautiful chapels in the world. The most famous part of the Sistine Chapel is, of course, the ceiling, which was painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512. One of the most interesting things about the Sistine Chapel is that it’s still in use today. The chapel is used for important religious ceremonies and events, including the election of new popes.

Don’t forget that it’s forbidden to film and/or photograph inside the Sistine Chapel (with or without flash)!  I managed a sneaky one (no flash) on my iPhone (OK, am not such a bad guy who breaks rules and regluations all the time, but somehow I couldn’t resist taking a picture)

The Sistine Chapel is located right on the other end of the Vatican Museums and you will have to walk through all the museums and exhibitions before you get to see the masterpiece.

Spiral Staircase:

Every photographer will want to capture the famous and most beautiful spiral staircase. You can find this famous staircase at the very end of the visit as you exit the Vatican Museums. It’s one of the most photographed staircases in the world.

St. Peters Square:

The square is also known as Piazza San Pietro and is located right in front of the basilica.

The square has hundreds of statues. One of the first things you’ll notice about St. Peter’s Square is its size. It’s one of the largest public squares in the world, spanning over 5 hectares (12.5 acres) and capable of holding over 300,000 people.

There are 2 fountains in the square. Located in front of St Peter’s Basilica and the charming Bernini colonnade, the Vatican Obelisk is one of the 13 antique obelisks of Rome.

It is free to visit but the lines might be veeeeery verrrrrrry long, so a skip-the-line ticket is worth getting (there are few different options like guided tours, small group tours and so on).

When the Pope is at home in Vatican City, he gives an audience each Wednesday morning in St. Peter’s Square that is open to anyone who would like to join.

More details here: https://www.vatican.va/various/prefettura/index_en.html

St. Peter’s Basilica:

St Peter’s Basilica is one of the largest amd most famous churches in the world.  It is not a part of the Vatican Museums.  Entry is free but you will have to get through the security, which can take hours. You’ll pass through a metal detector and will have your bags checked when you reach the front.

NOTE: There are some skip the line tickets available in ‘Get Your Guide’, ‘Viator’ and  other websites.

One of the most striking features of St. Paul’s Basilica is the massive 80-metre-long nave, which is one of the largest in the world. The nave is lined with marble columns and features beautiful mosaics and frescoes on the ceiling.

St. Peter’s Basilica was completed after 120+ years of construction.

St. Peters Dome is the tallest in the world and the entrance to the dome is on the right side of the basilica, above the visitor center. Climb the steps for a view of Vatican City (as it was very crowded, we did not do that and hence I don’t have a photo of how it will look like). Please note that you need to take a ticket to get to the top of Basilica. However, it is highly recommended to visit the Dome.

Dressed in their iconic yellow, red and blue uniforms (outside the Basilica), the Vatican’s Swiss Guard might remind you of jesters from Renaissance times.

Other places to see:

• Vatican Gardens
• Castel Sant’Angelo
• Pont Sant’Angelo
• Send a postcard from Vatican City:
• If you want a memento of your travels, sending a postcard from the Vatican post office is not only fun but a cost-effective activity to enjoy. This unique opportunity of mailing a postcard from an independent country to yourself or even friends and families is a novel way to send greetings. The Vatican Post office lies at the exit gate of St Peter’s Basilica to the right.

Important point to note:

• The Vatican has an open-border policy with Italy, so if you have a visa or the right to enter Italy, you can enter the Vatican City too. We had used our Schengen visa to get into Vatican city. Even though it is a country, there’s no need to carry your passport when visiting the Vatican.
• When in Rome make sure to add Vatican City to your itinerary.
• Always budget an extra 20 to 30 minutes if you have a scheduled event like a Guided Tour. This way you don’t have to rush and it’ll give you time.
• The Vatican Museum is immense and full of so many incredible things that booking a tour guide or using an audio guide is strongly recommended. With just a day in Vatican City, you must budget the available time in such a manner to see the best attractions. A typical guided Vatican tour lasts only two to three hours which barely scratches the surface. 
• The Vatican has a strict dress code that requires shoulders and knees to be covered. Avoid shorts, skirts above the knee, and sleeveless tops.
• Like all great Italian museums, you can get coffee and food inside the Vatican Museums.
• Wear comfortable shoes. If you have any issues with walking for a sustained period of time, rent a wheelchair (for free). The Vatican Museums have very few benches where you can rest.
• Pack light, you will not be allowed to take bigger bags with you and have to go through security. The less you carry with you, the better. Food and metal tools (scissors and knives) are not allowed.
• With breaks, some stamina, and the right strategy, a one day visit to Vatican City can certainly be done and enjoyed. Don’t forget to schedule enough free time between sightseeing so you can get a bit of rest and have some food.
• If you know in advance that you are going to travel to both Rome & Vatican City, you should consider getting the Omnia Rome & Vatican Card. It will pay for itself in no time!                      More Details here  –> https://www.omniavaticanrome.org/en

Interesting facts about Vatican city:

• Smallest country in the world.
• One of the countries that is surrounded by a city (in this case, its Rome).
• You can just walk into Vatican City from Rome and you won’t even notice a major difference between when you’re in Rome or Vatican City.
• Latin and Italian are widely spoken.
• Vatican city has its own flag.
• One of the most visited tourist attractions in the world.
• Mondays, Wednesdays and weekends tends to be the busiest.
• Vatican Museums are the second oldest museum in the world.
• Vatican City doesn’t offer passport stamps.
• The Sistine Chapel is one of the final stops when touring the Vatican Museums and can’t be seen without visiting the museums.
• Vatican City ATM’s give you a choice of instructions in Latin.
• The Vatican city is NOT part of the European Union.
• Make sure to pack some snacks and water, especially when visiting with kids. You can easil spend the whole day here and it’s best to be prepared.

We had travelled to Toledo, Madrid (Spain) in April 2019.

Toledo is one of the oldest and most unique cities in Spain. This city has made an important contribution to Spain’s history and heritage.

Toledo is a cute Medieval Spanish city. Before Madrid became the capital of Spain in 1561, the Spanish kings and queens ruled from Toledo. It is surrounded on three sides by water(Tagus River) and the fourth side by walls. Due to its position, it was very easy to defend and hence was the capital of Spain for a long time.

Coaches travelling from Madrid to Toledo (approx. 70 Kms) depart from the Plaza Elíptica transport hub (level -1).

We had bought the ticket from the point of sale in the Eliptica terminal Ground Floor. The travel duration was 1.5 hours (Check for Direct Bus availability). The price of the ticket was around 6 Euros/adult (1 way).

You can also book the return trip from the same ticket counter. You can book the coach in the ALSA website –> https://www.alsa.com/en/web/bus/coach/madrid-toledo

There are trains also running from Madrid (Puerto de Atocha station) to Toledo, which takes only 33 minutes in a high speed train. I think there are trains running every hour. The price is around 12 Euros/adult (one side)

More Details Here –> http://www.renfe.com/

The bus station in Toledo is on the bottom of the city. Once you reach the bus stand, you must come outside the station and walk in the right direction. At the extreme end, you will find an escalator. This is infact a series of elevators which will take you till the top of the hills. This is very convenient for the travellers.

Toledo is known as “the city of three cultures” (Christians, Arabs and Jews lived there together for many years) and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was declared so in 1986 for its extensive monumental and cultural heritage. It boasts 2,000 years of history, and is filled with small hidden squares, winding side streets and historic buildings and monuments at every turn.

Toledo is famous for traditional metal work and the production of blade weapon. That’s still a big industry today and they supply many film sets, including Lord of the Rings with stage weaponry and sell replicas as souvenirs. Toledo is famous for making the best swords in Europe.

You can easily cover the entire place in a single day. However, if you still want to stay and relax in Toledo, hotels are available.

In the interest of time, we decided to take an ‘Hop on Hop off’ bus. The price of the ticket was around 15 Euros/adult. The duration is around 50 minutes and the frequency is around 30 min.

Best time to visit:

Toledo is centrally positioned in a plateau on the Iberian Peninsula and it sits about 500 meters above sea level. It enjoys a continental climate which is mostly dry and sunny throughout the year. With the crazy network of old streets aside, the city is compact enough to be explored on foot. 

Some places of interest:

1) Cathedral

One of Toledo’s standout historical landmarks is The Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo (or simply, Toledo Cathedral)

2) Alcazar

3) Synagogue

4) Museums

5) Walls

6) Plaza Zocodover

7) Jewish Quarter

8) Cristo de la Luz Mosque

9) Monastery of San Juan de los Reyes

10) San Martin’s Bridge

The only challenge is that people are less likely to be able to speak English.

Note: Apart from Toledo, Segovia is another popular day trip from Madrid

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”

Anonymous

We visited Lisbon in April 2019.

Lisbon is one of the fastest growing cities in Europe and there is plenty to do and see here in this beautiful city.

If you’ve never visited Lisbon, or Portugal for that matter, you’re in for a treat.

Budget airlines fly there from all over Europe, and you can even find very affordable flights from the US. We traveled via TAP Air Portugal.

Some Facts about Lisbon:

Lisbon is home to more than 500,000 (as of 2016) people and is the capital of Portugal.

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe.

Lisbon was built on seven hills ,so be prepared for lots of uphill walking!

Lisbon sits at the mouth of the Tagus River.

The city is one of the sunniest in all of Europe.

Day 1—Sintra

Day 1, we went for a day trip to Sintra from Lisbon.

This place is gorgeous. Around 30 minutes from the city, it’s an incredible area to see the historic palaces and castles that sit elegantly on the hills.

If you take the rail from Rossio Railway Station, you can easily reach to Sintra.

Day 2 – Hop on Hop Off

Day 2, we took a Hop on Hop Off city tour to cover the places.

https://www.hop-on-hop-off-bus.com/lisbon-bus-tours

Following places were covered in that trip

1) Torre de Belem / Belem Tower

This tower was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

The Belém Tower is situated on the northern bank of the Tagus River.

It was built to protect the port and was the point where lots of explorers started their journey to the new world. It would have been the last part of Portugal which many sailors and navigators saw, as they set out on their voyages of discovery.

NOTE: You will always see a lot of queue in from of the Belem tower, waiting for their entry to the tower. There is nothing much to see inside the tower. Personal recommendation would be to see it from outside.

2) Monument to the Discoveries, with Henry the Navigator at the front

Make sure to plan your trip early (and if you’re not keen on crowds, maybe avoid weekends), it’s a very popular site and can be a good place to visit first thing in the morning (just to avoid crowds)

The Portuguese were excellent navigators and ship builders (Christopher Columbus came to study navigation here in Lisbon), and reached many parts of the world first.

This stunning monument was designed to commemorate the Age of Discoveries in Portugal and was inaugurated in 1960.

Monument to the Discoveries and Belem tower are very close to each other.

3) Hieronymites Monastery

Its also known as Jeronimos Monastery.

It’s a symbol of wealth and power during the Age of Discovery.

This is near to the Monument to the Discoveries and the Belem tower.

This tower was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 (along with Belem tower)

4) Santa Justa Elevator

This is one of my favourite places to see in Lisbon. Although not iconic as, say, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it really is integral to the identity of Lisbon and a truly beautiful lift.

We normally attribute the word ‘Beautiful’ to passenger lifts, but this can be an exception.

It was inaugurated as one of the city’s public transport systems on 10 July 1902 and was called Elevador do Carmo (Carmo Lift). Lisbon’s inhabitants were so excited to try this novelty that on the first day, 3,000 tickets were sold.

The Lift has a stunning observation deck at the top and offers magnificent views over Baixa. This is one of the popular spots and entry queues starts to pile up very early in the morning and will continue almost throughout the day.

There is an access bridge, behind the elevator, that you can use to skip the line completely. Just buy a ticket for €1.50(Don’t recollect fully) so that you can climb to the top, and snag a spectacular panoramic view without waiting in line for more than two minutes.

Ticket Pricing and operation hours here : https://www.lisbon.net/santa-justa-lift

5) Local Street Art:

You will see the local street arts in almost all places in this city. If you want to explore more art works, it will be better to do a walking tour so that you can quickly and easily see as much Lisbon street art as possible.

Details here : https://www.getyourguide.com/lisbon-l42/private-lisbon-street-art-tour-t79244/

6) Rossio Square and Praça do Comércio, or Commerce Square.

This square is always lively and you can see various street performers, shop from local vendors, or grab a bite from a local restaurant.

7) Elevador do Gloria (Funicular)

Lisbon is known for its hills and steep streets – meaning that its historic funiculars are not only highly-photographed, but also regularly used for getting from Point A to Point B. You can easily visit two of the most famous funiculars in the city this afternoon.

Head back up past Rossio Square (either walk, or hop on the metro to Restauradores station), where you’ll find the lower station of the Ascensor da Glória at the corner of the Avenida da Liberdade and Calçada da Glória.

This funicular (also sometimes called Elevador do Gloria) connects Restauradores Square with the Bairro Alto, another of Lisbon’s oldest neighborhoods. It dates back to 1885 and is used by both tourists and locals.

8) Jardin Botanico:

This is one of the best public gardens in Lisbon. In the heart of the city (but hidden away from the surrounding streets) this 10-acre garden is a heaven from the hustle and bustle. Do a picnic or simply wander through and enjoy the exotic plants. It’s open everyday from 9am until 6pm (in the winter) or 8pm (in the summer).

The starting point of Hop on Hop off bus is near to this garden/park.

9) Pink Street:

Pink Street is mostly a regular nightlife area. Many bars and clubs along Pink Street stay open until early morning.

I have seen many people talking about pink street in their vlogs /blogs and we were expecting some thing more than what we saw there, it was just a very small area on road painted in pink and is said to have a great nightlife 

10) Park of Nations (Area created for the Lisbon World Expo 1998):

Constructed for the 1998 Lisbon World Exposition (Expo), this is a space dedicated to leisure, and located in the northeastern part of the city. This modern part of Lisbon has numerous restaurants, bars, theatres, parks, pedestrian areas and a large shopping mall.

One of the most surprising sights in this district is the Oriente train station, designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. This modernist station has a bright glass and steel structure in the form of a tree. This ambitious project includes a metro station, a national and international bus terminal and a high-speed and regional train hub.

You can also take a cable car that travels past the Water Gardens, above the river..

11) National Pantheon

Originally a church, in the 20th century it was converted into the National Pantheon, in which important Portuguese personalities are buried.

If you have time, It would be good to have 3 days (including Sintra) for the Lisbon Itinerary.

Please find below some of the places that you can include in your list:

1) Alfama district

This is the oldest part of Lisbon, where tiled buildings are perched along steep cobbled streets that stretch from the Sao Jorge castle to the Tagus River.

2) Ride Tram 28:

The most famous of all Lisbon Portugal trams is number 28. People will wait hours just to board this tram. I suggest riding the tram either early in the morning or late at night when most people are asleep. This way, you’ll avoid the long wait that is associated with huge crowds.

You can also try to board the tram at a less popular stop (like the one near Lisbon Cathedral).

(Note: Be careful of pickpockets on this tram!)

Try purchasing your tickets before boarding the tram since tickets are much more expensive on board.

There are other Tram tour options available in Lisbon aswell.

3) Explore the Monastery of St Jerome

4) Cascais:

Cascais is about 30 minutes by train (or you can drive over) from the city itself and is a great place to chill out and relax in the town or on the sandy beaches.

A fishing town turned beautiful resort in the summer, Cascais is a dream destination for families and young people.

5) Peniche:

Another coastal town, Peniche is a known destination for Wave Surfing.

6) Pasteis de Belem:

Pastéis de Belém is a bakery that is another beloved staple of Lisbon. Famed for their pastel de nata, this bakery’s delicious custard tarts topped with cinnamon powder have captured the hearts of thousands of tourists.

7) Porto:

If you’re a wine lover, you’d be doing yourself a serious disservice if you skip out on a trip to Porto and the Douro Valley – the most important wine region in Portugal

8) Time Out Market:

Time Out Market is one of the most famous places to go to eat in Lisbon and for good reason. There are tons of different options, so if you’re looking for famous Portuguese bacalhau (cod fish), nuts, or a pizza.

This food hall is packed with a variety of restaurants serving fresh local cuisine. Try taking your friends as well, so that you can try a few different dishes. Also, don’t forget to grab some freshly baked Pastel de Nata pastries on your way out!

9) Lisbon Oceanarium:

It is worth visiting the Oceanarium, one of the largest in Europe, where you can appreciate the flora and fauna of the various oceans of our planet.

10) National Coach museum / Tile Museum:

These two museums are unequalled anywhere in the world. One tells the story of the tile in Portugal from its first uses on 16th century walls to the present day; the other has an unrivalled collection of carriages, with fine examples from the 18th century, exuberantly decorated with paintings and gild work.

11) Beaches:

There are some beaches around. I have not personally visited any of them and hence don’t have much clue about these beaches. If you have time, certainly try exploring them.

Portinho Da Arrabida

Praia da Adgara

Praia da mata

Praia do Meco

Praia da comporta

Best time to visit:

Lisbon is a popular tourist destination between Easter holidays (March/April) and late September. Fall and winter (from October to mid-March) are not very cold, so it’s the perfect season for tourists who don’t mind a little rain and the temperature drop (hardly ever below 10°C/50°F).

June is the most crowded month, especially around the St. Anthony festivities (June 12 and 13). January is the quieter month with far fewer special events than any other time of year.

Other Travel Options:

1) Take a Cruise in the Tagus River

The Tagus River is the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula, and a cruise is the best way to see Lisbon from a different perspective.

Details here: https://www.getyourguide.com/lisbon-l42/sailing-boat-sunset-tour-in-lisbon-for-2-hours-t45788/?

2) Tuk Tuk’s:

The best way to see Lisbon is to walk.

You will see a lot of Tuk Tuk’s around. Mostly targeting the tourists and are expensive.

3) Taxi Bus/Trains/Metro:

Most of our travel were in Buses, but trains/metros are some other available options

Ensure that you always have a valid travel ticket while travelling in public transport. In most of my trips, I have seen officials checking tickets either in the platform or within the bus or train.

Summary:

If you want to include Sintra or Alfama in your Lisbon trip, my personal recommendation will be to keep a minimum of 3 days in the itinerary.

Also don’t forget to taste the Portuguese Egg Tarts. its crisp, flaky crust holding a creamy custard center, blistered on top from the high heat of an oven.

We visited Malta in March 2019. Malta International Airport (MIA) is the official airport of the Maltese Islands. It’s the only airport in Malta and is indeed a small and clean airport constructed with proper planning. There is only one terminal in this airport.

You can also find the Bus routes and the time schedule in the display board kept inside the office.

There are options to buy some tourist friendly cards like Valletta card here.

When in Airport, Following are the main Five Bus routes that you should be aware of:

1) X1 (Cirkewwa, from where you get Ferry to Gozo and boats to Comino)

2) X2 (San Giljan)

3) X3 (Bugibba)

4) X4 (Birzebbugia)

5) TD3 (Bugibba, This is a limited stop bus and the ticket price is high)

You will find all the above bus near the exit gate (take right from the arrival gate and walk straight).

Bus Number plate starts with ‘BUS’, here in Malta.

Bus Ticket Price:

Winter –> 1.5 Euros

Summer –> 2 Euros

Night –> 3 Euros

Tickets can be purchased from the Bus Driver on all the Buses. These Cash Tickets are Single Journey tickets that can be used to get to any destination within two hours, including interchanging. Rates vary between Summer and Winter months. Summer rates apply between mid-June and mid-October.

More details here –> https://www.publictransport.com.mt/

Malta Transfer:

Malta Transfer is MIA’s official hotel shuttle service. It offers convenient trips to and from your hotel in Malta or Gozo.

You can manage your transfers with fixed prices through the booking options provided in their website. Alternatively, you can also visit their booking desk in the baggage reclaim area and make your transfer arrangements upon your arrival in Malta.

Most of the hotels are listed in their booking website.

More details here –> https://www.maltatransfer.com/

Taxi Service:

Taxi services between MIA and any destination in Malta are available 24 hours a day.

Pre-paid tickets can be purchased in the airport near the arrival gate.

More details about the rate can be found here –> https://www.maltairport.com/passenger/getting-here/taxi-service/

Taxi Number plate starts with ‘TAXI’, here in Malta.

You also have an information centre (take right from the arrival gate and walk straight) in the airport, where the staff would help you on the queries. There is a luggage Deposit room where you can store your baggage. They charge around 5 Euros/Bag/day. The receipt can be taken from the information centre. Please note that your baggage will undergo a security scanning, before being stored in the luggage deposit room.

There is a nice food court inside the airport (take right from the arrival gate and walk straight). Many chains like KFC are available in the food court (located in the -1 Floor)

3) Pastizzeria:

This is one amazing thing in Malta. You will find similar shops across Malta. You can find a lot of snacks (decent price) in such stores. Good Enough that you can have a low budget lunch or dinner from such stores.

Don’t forget to taste Pastizz (traditional savoury pastry from Malta- Its like a National snack). It costs around 50 Cents.

Heard that Rabbit Stew (Or garlic fried Rabbit) is another tasty item that you get in many restaurants in Malta (not in Pastizzeria though).

4) Another interesting thing that I noticed is the old classic cars that are running in the Maltese roads. Citizens here have an amazing collection of such cars and you will be really surprised to see some very old classic models still on the road.

5) In some major tourist attractions, you will also find some small shops which sell traditional snacks. I personally did not like the taste, but you can try your luck.

6) Old traditional telephone booth:

You will also find such traditional telephone booth in many places in Malta. May be some remains of the old British rule in this island. Not sure if all of these are still functional.

7) Additional tax in hotel:

All the Hotels take an additional 1-2 Euros as some Government tax from you.

So don’t get surprised if the person in the reception demands for this money. Anyway, they will give you a proper receipt for the same.

I had spend around 6 days along with my family in this beautiful country and have covered a lot of places. In my perspective, Malta is a very safe country. The Public transport is also nice (but the waiting time might be more). People are very friendly and welcoming.

You can very well include this small county in one of your future trips.

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”

– Anonymous.

The country of Malta is an archipelago of three islands in Europe, located in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily – Italy, and north of the African countries of Libya and Tunisia.

This nation of islands is one gorgeous place you should visit, especially for its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Stunning fishing villages and natural beauty.

The best part of Malta is the diversity of things that you get to see here.

Malta is one of the smallest countries in the European Union. Currency used is Euro. You can visit Malta with your Schengen visa. Good to see that a large majority of people in Malta speak English, which is very helpful for the tourists.

Malta is made up of 3 main islands; Malta, Gozo and Comino. Gozo, a smaller version of the mainland Malta can be reached in 20 minutes by ferry and Comino which is largely visited for its famous Blue Lagoon, is virtually uninhabited with only one hotel.

Before we proceed, let me inform you that this is a full packed itinerary with limited time to relax.

If you are looking for something like a relaxed vacation in Malta, this itinerary might not be the right fit for you.

Day 1: Take a Hop on Hop Off City Tour (I personally would suggest Blue Line)

Day 2: Plan a day trip to Gozo and Comino

Day 3: Harbour Cruise (3 Cities) in the Morning and Plan a Walking tour in Valletta old Town (Post Lunch)

Day 4: A full day tip to Sicily Islands, Italy

Day 5: Popeye Village in the First Half of the day and Marsaxlokk Village and Blue Grotto during the next half.

Day 1:

On Day 1, we took the Hop on Hop Off Blue Line (North Route). The ticket price was 20 Euros / Adult (for one day trip)

Basically, there are 2 Hop on Hop Off Sightseeing routes in Malta:

Blue Line

Red Line

The 2 routes together have around 37 Stops. You can travel in both the routes with the same ticket.

You can also choose between two options – 1day ticket (which is valid only for that day) and a 2 day ticket (valid for 2 days)

More details can be found here –> https://www.hop-on-hop-off-bus.com/malta/malta-hop-on-hop-off-tour_23364

North Route

8:00am to 2:30pm, every 30 minutes

South Route

9:45am to 3:45pm, every 45 minutes

I have seen a lot of people booking ‘Topaz Hotel’ as the preferred hotel as the North Route Starts in front of this hotel. I also booked this hotel because of the very same reason.

After experiencing the stay, I personally suggest you take some other accommodation option. This hotel is highly overrated in many of the travel websites. I was completely disappointed with my stay over there. Please look for some better options nearby (if you really want to stay in Bugibba) or else look for some other places.

In the North Route Blue Line tour, we only got down at the ‘National Aquarium’. We had taken a Family ticket (2 Adults and 1 child) worth 32 Euros. There is a discount of 10% if you book online, which would make the ticket price as 28.80 Euros.

More Details Here –> https://www.aquarium.com.mt/buy-tickets/

If you don’t have any kids in your trip, I would personally suggest you skip this destination.

Day 2: Gozo and Comino needs a special mention. So I will try to add those details in a separate blog.

Day 3: In the Morning, we booked the Captain Morgan Harbour cruise. It’s a 1.5 hours cruise journey which provides you a fantastic view of Malta from the sea (especially the 3 cities).

You can get the ticket for Captain Morgan cruise from Sliema Terminal. There are many 3^rd party counters that sells the tickets. There is a high level of bargaining possible in these counters.

The online price for adults was 16 Euros / Person and I managed to get the ticket for 10 Euros/Person. So, don’t miss a chance here. You could save some bucks here.

This is the trip that you should never miss when you are in Malta. Its worth the money that is paid for.

After coming back from the Harbour cruise, we took the Sliema – Valletta ferry service to reach Valletta. The adult ticket price is around 1.5 Euros /person (One side)

Valletta:

Such a beautiful city, I’d certainly love to go back one day!

Valletta is the Limestone capital of Malta and was built by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is an interesting place to walk around with countless architectural sight seeing’s. To see and experience the Maltese Charm, this is the place that you need to visit. Valletta was selected as “European Capital of Culture” in 2018.

Some Important Places here:

1) John’s Co-Cathedral:

I was told that there are around 365 churches in Malta, which means that you can easily visit different churches each day throughout the year.

More than a church, this is a Magnificent piece of art and is without a doubt, one of the most ornate churches in the world. Built in the 16th century for the Knights of St. John, every inch of St. John’s Co-Cathedral is covered in marble, gold, paint, or relief. Even the multi-coloured floors take the attention.

a) Multi coloured balconies of Malta:

There are so many stories about the colours and landscape of Malta and one such things is the coloured Balconies. The enclosed balconies are painted in different colours.

I was told that Government doesn’t allow the house owners to change the external structures especially the Balconies and Government even pays some fixed amount every year for the maintenance of the same.

There is a Tuk-Tuk service that is available to see the sightseeing in Valletta. The asking price was 8 Euros/person. I managed to get a discounted rate of 5 euros/person. If there is someone in your group who is having difficulties in walking, then this Tuk-Tuk service will be a good option.

Else, I would strongly suggest doing a walking tour of Valletta. There is a bus stand within Valletta old town, from where you can take a bus back to your hotel after exploring the beautiful historical capital city.

Day 4:

We had booked a day trip package to Sicily islands (Italy) on Day 4. We were picked up from the hotel in a Cab at around 5:30AM in the morning and dropped at the Malta Terminal. The departure time of Virtu ferries was at 6:30 AM, which took around 1.5 Hours one side to reach Sicily (Pozzallo Terminal).

Further, the plan was to do a bus trip to Mt Etna & Modica and return back to Pozzallo and further back to Hotel in Malta by night.

For Booking the Virtu express ferry and to know more details –> http://www.virtuferries.com/

(Note: Please note that this a fully packed day trip starting at 5:30 AM in the Morning from the hotel and return back to hotel by around 11PM. I have read a lot of reviews mentioning that the trip is too tiring)

Just before reaching Pozzallo terminal, we got the unfortunate information that the excursion was cancelled due to extreme bad weather that was predicted for the rest of the day.

In the interest of the tourist’s security, Virtu ferry management decided to return to Malta after offloading the trucks and so on. This was quite unfortunate, as we missed a golden opportunity to view the Sicily islands (slip between cup and the lip).

After reaching Malta, Virtu management had arranged a luxury sedan to take us back to the hotel.

I would certainly take this opportunity to thank Virtu ferries for their professional service commitment. The entire amount of 300 + euros was transferred to my bank account within 3-4 days. They did not charge anything, even for the cabs or the cruise.

Hopefully we would be able to visit Sicily islands sometime in future.

Day 5:

Morning Half to Popeye Village:

The area itself is picturesque and the water colour of the sea is beautiful!

Now, you’ll need to pay an entry fee to gain access to the town (film set) but if that’s not your thing, just drive up to the top of the bay and take in the gorgeous view of Popeye Village itself (free of cost)

Afternoon session, I had booked a tour package.

I had booked a half day tour to Blue Grotto and Marsaxlokk through Trip advisor. For 2 Adults and 1 child, it costs me around 71 Euros. (Tour Operator: S Mifsud & Sons Ltd.).

Even though the service was good, I personally would suggest you not to take this tour package as it is not worth the money.

They simply take you from the hotel to the destination which you could anyway do using a Public Transport (with little more research and effort)

Marsaxklokk (pronounced marsa-schlock) is a fishing village with lots of charm. The blue waters of this cute fishing village are filled with traditional Maltese boats called luzzus.

This is a place for the Photographers. You won’t be disappointed for sure.

On Sundays (9:00am – 2:00pm), Marsaxlokk is one of the best places to visit in Malta. Check out the open-air fish market selling the morning’s catch, including swordfish, tuna and so on. To get there, take bus #83 or #82 from Valletta.

Blue Grotto:

The Blue lagoon in Comino and Blue Grotto in Malta are 2 different destinations. So please don’t get confused between these names.

Blue Grotto is a stunning mix of sea caves that have naturally formed in this part of Malta.

This complex comprises of a massive (and very impressive) main arch, which is approximately 30m in height, as well as a system of 6 other caves, in which you will find the Honeymoon Cave, the Cat’s Cave and the beautiful Reflection Cave.

If you are going to visit the Blue Grotto, a boat trip to the caves is the best way to experience the true beauty of the area. Boat trips are usually available daily (weather permitting) with the duration of each trip being around 20 minutes.

During our visit, the Boat service was not operational due to bad weather.

We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”

– Anonymous.

We visited Gozo and Comino islands in March 2019.

We were on a 5 days trip to the beautiful county of Malta and managed to cover these 2 islands on the 2^nd day.

Following is a 5 days itinerary that we had followed:

Day 1: Red line Hop on Hop off.

Day 2: Gozo and Comino (My recommendation would be to cover both these places in a single day)

Day 3: Harbour cruise in the Morning half and explore the Historic city of Valetta in the second half of the day,

Day 4: Full day trip to Sicily islands, Italy

Day 5: Morning half day trip to Blue Grotto and Marsaxslokk market

The entire trip details are covered in another blog. Here I would like to discuss exclusively about my experience with Gozo and Comino (Day 2 in my itinerary)

Gozo:

Gozo is really like a sister of Malta, infact a less developed version of Malta.

Since this was our first trip to Malta, we thought to prebook a day tour package.

I had taken the tour package from ‘Get your Guide’

Link Below –> https://www.getyourguide.com/malta-l90/discovering-gozo-malta-s-sister-island-t26106/ (English Commentary was available)

For adult (16+), ticket price was around 55 Euros and for Children (5-15 years), it was around 35 Euros.

The package included:

1) Pickup and drop from Hotel

2) To and Fro ferry Charges from Cirkewwa to Gozo (in Gozo Channel ferry).

Note: You can expect a big Queue, to enter the Ferry.

There is also a small shop available within the Ferry, where you can buy snacks and other items.

3) Bus to visit the attractions in Gozo.

4) First visit was to Ta Pinu Basilica:

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu is a Roman Catholic minor basilica and national shrine located some 700 metres (2,300 ft) from the village of Għarb on the island of Gozo.

This is one of the most visited places on the island of Gozo – Malta, not only by Maltese people but also by many tourist.

The entry is free. Seems like the visitors are not supposed to wear Shorts inside the church.

5) Next visit was to Dwejra.

Dwejra Boat ride is something you should never miss, in case if you are in this part of the world (Ticket price for Adults and Kids were around 4 Euros/person. This Ticket price was not included in the tour package) .

Dwejra Bay is truly a gem in Gozo. If you don’t have much time to explore Gozo, this boat ride should be your first priority.

Please note that ‘Azure Window’ formation is no more as it has collapsed into the sea in 2017.

6) Then they took us to an Art gallery (I personally did not like this place).

7) After Art gallery, they took us for a Non-vegetarian Buffet @ Down Town Restaurant, Rabat (Included in the package)

This was a very decent buffet. Seems the tour operators have a good rapport with the restaurant management. 15-20 chairs were already reserved for us, when we reached there.

8) Further they took us for a Train Ride to Cittadela.

This is an interesting Train trip which takes you through the city centre before reaching the entrance of Citadel.

The Historic fortified city of The Citadella is in the heart of Victoria (Entry Ticket price was not covered in the package)

This was the last part of the tour, where you will be left in front of the Citadella and you can spend more than an hour or more at your own pace.

After the specified time, they will take us back to the Gozo ferry terminal in the bus and from there to Cirkewwa in the Ferry and further to the hotels in bus.

If you are a person who doesn’t want to book your travel plans all by yourself, this tour will be a good option.

But the problem is if you are taking this tour package, you will not be able to cover Comino on the same day.

We wanted to cover Comino on the same day. So, we cut short our time in the Citadella in Victoria (last portion of the above mentioned guided tour) and took a Malta Transport Bus to the Cirkewwa port. From the port, we took a small boat to Comino and spend an hour there. The boat charge included the journey from Gozo to Comino and further Comino to Cirkewwa port and it was around 10 Euros/ person (15 euros if you wish to see the caves). We didn’t have any snorkelling or Swimming plans in Comino. So around 1 hour was fine enough for us, to explore the place and take some beautiful snaps.

My Suggestion:

Getting from Malta to Gozo is very easy. The ferry terminal located on Malta can be found at the most northern tip of Malta in Cirkewwa and in the southern part of Gozo in Mgarr. The ferries run back and forth every 45 minutes and you can find the timetable here. You can buy the ferry/ boat tickets in the port.

https://www.gozochannel.com/

Take the Gozo channel ferry to reach Gozo from Cirkewwa. Don’t buy a Round Trip. Get down at the Gozo port and take a Hop on Hop off bus or else rent a bike or car. This is a small island and you can reach from one end to another in around 30 minutes. The public transport is also efficient, but the waiting time is more.

Comino:

This is indeed a heaven for people, who love diving and snorkeling.

The most beautiful part of this place is the world-famous Blue Lagoon.

Gozo, Comino and Cirkewwa ports are around 30 minutes far from each other.

Comino is between Malta and Gozo and is the smallest of the 3 islands.

The best time to visit Comino is during the months of July and August.

Don’t stop at the place where you boat drops you. Take a walk and explore the beautiful scenery from all sides.

I believe this is a car free island and the only option for you to reach here is a boat. There is only one hotel (Comino Hotel) in Comino. There are no restaurants here, but you will find 5-6 Food Trucks selling some basic stuffs like juice, Burgers and so on. There is a public toilet available.

Keep your camera handy with you as this is quite a picturesque place.

In case if you are a person who wants to spend a lot of time here for diving and snorkelling, I would suggest you to spend atleast half day here and try reaching here a little early around 9-10 AM, as the rush increases as the day progress. In such a case, the above plan of covering Gozo and Comino on a single day won’t be practical.

Take your towel, sunscreen and sunglasses. Like most touristy spots, it is pricey to buy the basics there.

You also have the option to take a short boat trip to explore some caves in this region.