Malta is a small Mediterranean island that’s popular for its pristine beaches and guaranteed sunny weather between Easter and October. You might not be aware though that in December, Malta transforms into a wonderland full of festive events, dazzling Christmas lights, and plenty of seasonal cheer.
Getting there:
Ryanair, EasyJet and Air Malta all offer regular flights to Malta and with flight times from the U.K. averaging three hours, it’s a great place for a weekend break. We travelled Ryanair from Manchester on an early Friday morning flight, touching down into Malta International Airport at 1.00 p.m. local time.
Getting into Valletta was quick and easy as the X4 bus operates a frequent service from outside the arrivals hall, journey time 20 minutes. There’s a flat rate bus fare of €2 (ticket valid two hours to include a transfer if needed). Please note only VISA cards or cash are accepted.
Stay:
Our accommodation for the weekend was at the luxurious Gomerino Hotel, located in one of the first noble palaces in the heart of the historic old town.
With sumptuous decor, comfortable rooms, an indoor pool, a spa and sauna it was perfect for our pre-Christmas getaway. The hotel also boasts a rooftop pool (open all year) and bar with panoramic views of Valletta’s grand harbour.
Weather in December:
I recommend packing for all seasons as during our weekend stay the weather was very variable. On the first two days we enjoyed clear blue skies and temperatures of around 18 degrees meaning that we could sit out on cafe terraces soaking up the winter sunshine without our coats.
However, on our final day it was quite stormy. As Malta is only 17 miles long and 9 miles wide bad weather generally moves out quickly so if you are unfortunate enough to catch a storm, it will hopefully not last too long.
Christmas in Valletta
The capital really knows how to put on the glitz, with the city glimmering with a multitude of festive lights and decorations. As darkness falls, the streets come alive with festive music and people milling around shopping, celebrating and soaking up the festive cheer.
Fairyland is an annual city highlight taking over Piazza Tritoni just outside the city gate. The festivities run from 8th December 2023 to 7th January 2024 and it’s free to attend. Enjoy a ride on the giant Ferris wheel or a spin on the traditional hobby horse carousel.
Serenaded by classic Christmas songs, a wander around the market tucking into sausages and local Maltese treats felt just as magical as visiting more well known Christmas markets in northern Europe. Leading from the square through the Floriana Gardens we browsed the stalls of the craft market on the lookout for last minute gifts to take back home with us. At Santa’s City, there was a live entertainment stage with singing and dancing to enjoy whilst sipping on a warm drink and indulging in good food.
See and Do:
Valletta, famed as much for its golden-hued baroque buildings as for its stunning setting on a peninsula between two natural harbours, makes for the perfect city break at any time of year. Compact enough to explore on foot, it’s described by UNESCO as one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.
Elegant buildings constructed by the Knights of St John rub shoulders with ambitious works of modern architecture including the cutting edge design of the National Parliament.
Wander the steep, narrow streets with their enclosed balconies and head to the Upper Barrakka Gardens for stunning views of the grand harbour. The gardens date back to 1661 when they were used as private gardens and exercise grounds of the Knights of the League of Italy.
Time your visit for noon to witness the battery of cannons sounding their daily salute before admiring the sculptures within the gardens.
Take the bus to Sliema
This popular seaside resort developed as a town during British rule in the second half of the 19th century. It’s now a popular tourist destination and one of the liveliest towns with its many hotels, apartments, bars, restaurants and shops along the seafront.
The seaside promenade stretches for almost 5 kilometres around the peninsula that the town was built on, connecting with St. Julian’s to the west. Despite stormy weather we followed the path along to St. Julian’s watching the huge waves in both Balluta and Spinola Bays as we passed by. From St. Julian’s, it’s then easy to take a bus back into Valletta.
Dine:
Malta is a food lover’s paradise with its mix of flavours originating from all over the Mediterranean from Arabic to Sicilian. Local specialities include lampuki fish pie, rabbit stew and delectable pastries filled with ricotta or mushy peas. A great place to dine is in the beautiful surroundings of the Valletta Food Market. The Is-Suq Tal-Belt is a Maltese heritage site that’s now been renovated to showcase its original ornate internal iron structure. Here you can find street food counters to suit every taste, three restaurants plus a high quality food store in the basement.
For light snacks, delicious cakes and a selection of cocktails head to the elegant surroundings of Caffe Cordina, along the main street facing the National Library.
So there you have it, a winter weekend spent in beautiful Valletta. Short but sweet and definitely worth the effort of making plans to visit. Our trip was all about getting into the festive spirit and having fun. Valletta definitely worked the trick.
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