Christmas in Malta

On arrival in Malta, we meet with our local guide before transferring to our hotel in St Paul's Bay.

Today we set off for a full day excursion to the fortified city of Mdina. On our way we stop to take in the beauty of Mosta, home to one of Europe’s largest and most impressive domes.  

We then continue to the cliffs at Dingli where we enjoy panoramic views. Next we stop at the Christian catacombs of St Paul in Rabat where we explore this archaeological site with its extensive system of underground galleries and tombs.

Lunch is included today at a local restaurant.

Following lunch we visit the city of Mdina, in the central part of Malta. Known as the Silent City, due to its massive medieval walls and shady streets, it is rich in architecture and atmosphere. Here we will have some free time to explore the streets and gardens of Mdina.

After a fascinating day of sightseeing, we transfer back to our hotel for a restful evening.

We set off with our expert local guide to discover some of the highlights of Malta’s vibrant capital city, Valletta. Our half day guided tour begins at the Upper Barracca Gardens, where we experience our first breath-taking view of the Grand Harbour.  Next, we visit St John’s Co-Cathedral and uncover incomparable treasures, including its beautiful marble inlaid floor, Flemish tapestries and, not least, the Caravaggio masterpieces which can be viewed in the Oratory.

Our guided tour continues as we walk past the famous Grand Masters’ Palace and St. George’s Square, before stopping at the Malta Experience where we enjoy the audiovisual show that depicts Malta throughout the ages.

Enjoy free time for lunch (not included).

After lunch there will be free time in the bustling seaside town of Sliema, to explore its seafront promenade, cafes and shops, before transferring back to our hotel in the afternoon.

Our evening is at leisure, to relax and take in the Mediterranean atmosphere.

We have a full free day to explore our surroundings and relax at our hotel on Christmas Eve. Our local representative will be pleased to offer recommendations for sightseeing, shopping, and entertainment options in the area.

Today is a day of leisure to relax and explore our surroundings. Christmas day, time to relax or go for a walk and take in the last day of leisure before returning home. * Please note shops are closed due to Christmas day.

Let’s see more, on a full day guided tour to the island of Gozo. After a short ferry crossing, we fall in love with Mgarr harbour as we take some photos of the colourful boats resting on its blue waters.  We continue to the Megalithic temples of Ggantija, the oldest free-standing monuments in the world. Next, we uncover Gozo’s medieval capital Victoria, followed by the fjord-like bay at Xlendi and the inland sea at Dwejra.  

We enjoy lunch (included) at a local restaurant, followed by free time to shop for local crafts, including handmade lace and knitted garments, or sit at a pavement café and soak up Gozo’s serene atmosphere.

Later in the afternoon we transfer back to our hotel, where the rest of our evening is at leisure and to further explore our surroundings.

Let’s discover more of Malta, as we set off for the Grand Harbour area where we’ll get our first glance at Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea, known as the Three Cities.

Comfortable walking shoes are recommended for our walking tour of Vittoriosa. Our expert guide will take us through the narrow, perfectly preserved streets, along the Fort St Angelo and out to the Vittoriosa waterfront.

We experience a traditional harbour boat cruise on a “Dghajsa”.  With cameras ready, we can create everlasting memories from wonderful sights as we cruise past the colourful harbour creeks.

After our boat tour, we visit Senglea Garden, situated at the tip of the peninsula. From this point we enjoy picturesque views of the Grand Harbour, an unmissable experience.

For the rest of the afternoon, we are free to explore independently or do a spot of last minute shopping.

Let’s enjoy a final evening in the company of new friends, and reflect on our memorable holiday in Malta and Gozo.

Today, we bid a fond farewell to Malta as we transfer to the airport for our homeward flight.