Last weekend, my husband and I finally made our way to Malta. It had been on our travel bucket list for a long time. We were so excited to explore this new destination and decided to book a room at the beautiful Marina Hotel in St Julian’s. We were only going to be on the island for a short while, so we wanted to make the most of our time.
Since we were new to Malta, we decided to go on a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tour. It was the perfect choice, as we could easily visit popular destinations without worrying about transportation or route planning. Plus, we could do it all at our own pace!
Our morning started off with a delicious breakfast spread at the hotel, giving us the energy we needed for our day. Luckily, we didn’t have to travel far to reach one of the tour’s meeting points, located just a short amble away from where we were staying. As we approached the roundabout, we spotted a big red bus heading our way. It looked just like an English red bus. It was a charming surprise to see a familiar sight.
Unlike the buses in England, however, these ones have an open top, which was perfect because the weather was amazing. We both decided to take the seats on the top to fully immerse ourselves in the sights and views. Just a tip, make sure to apply sun lotion, because it can get pretty hot up there! Our bus was taking us on the North route, which included stops like Valletta, Mdina, and Golden Bay, giving us a glimpse of both the inland and the coast.
As we rode along, my husband and I decided to hop off at Mdina first. This place is truly magical. As we strolled through the ancient walls, we couldn’t help but feel transported back in time by the medieval and baroque architecture. It’s no wonder they filmed some scenes from Games of Thrones here. We even spotted some fans wandering around, excited to visit the filming locations. After a couple of hours of exploring, we were back on the bus to travel to our next destination—Golden Bay.
Mdina
Golden Bay was definitely one of the highlights of our entire trip. This Blue Flag beach is simply stunning and it’s no wonder it’s so popular. As we strolled along the soft sandy shore, we were mesmerised by the glistening sea views. We couldn’t resist taking a break and sitting down for a while. Luckily, there were a few kiosks where we could grab some refreshing drinks and snacks. If you’re in the mood for a more decent meal, there are also a few nearby restaurants where you can indulge in some delicious food while taking in the amazing views.
Golden Bay
Once we were done soaking up the sun at Golden Bay, we hopped back on the bus to continue the tour. We didn’t get off at any other stops, but we enjoyed taking in the natural beauty of Malta during the remainder of the journey. My husband and I couldn’t resist taking countless pictures on our cameras. We just had to capture all of the stunning views! We arrived back at our hotel with plenty of time to freshen up before heading down to the hotel restaurant for a delicious dinner.
If you’re planning a trip to Malta, I highly recommend the Hop-On, Hop-Off tour to explore the island’s hotspots. It’s a great way to see the highlights and orient yourself to the island, especially if you have limited time. While my husband and I only ended up stopping at two points, we enjoyed the experience and found it very convenient. The tour provides a planned route, so you don’t need to worry about creating an itinerary yourself. Plus, it offers the flexibility to hop off at any point and explore the area before getting back on the next bus travelling the route. If we have the chance to visit Malta again, I would love to take the tour again and visit different destinations. Overall, it was a fantastic way to immerse ourselves in Malta’s culture and beauty with ease.
