Slow travel in Malta is vogue; if you heard it here first, you’re behind the times. Travellers across the UK have broadly rejected the stress of the conventional package holiday; the endless queuing for landmarks, transport and poolside deckchair spots; the stress of it all. A better, calmer, more mindful and ultimately quieter form of travel is possible, in slow travel. Slow travel is, put simply, the permission you give yourself to take a more sedate pace on your travels.
It’s an acknowledgement that the tourist-trap attractions are not what holidays are made of or made for. It’s an understanding that a truly three-dimensional travel experience is possible – one that puts you more in touch with the culture of the region, and which gives you the space and time to genuinely benefit from taking a break from it all. And Malta is one of the world’s best-kept secrets for slow travel. But how? And how can you enjoy Malta on a slow-travel schedule?
Explore Valletta at a Gentle Pace
Your first instinct for a slow-travel tour of Malta might not be to gun straight for the capital – but Valletta’s a haven for slow-travel secrets. In fact, the city of Valletta is officially a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, due to the sheer volume of historically-importantmonuments and landmarks within its fortified walls.
The capital, in its entirety, is a monument to the Renaissance. If you’re of an artistic mind, St. John’s Co-Cathedral holds Caravaggio’s The Beheading of St. John; but if you want to swerve the crowds, Valletta’s narrow streets tell centuries-old stories too; not to mention the quietly quintessential stopping points they contain, from local cafés to hidden courtyards and beyond.
Take the Ferry to Gozo
Malta comprises two main islands – the smaller of which should not fall beneath your notice as you slow-travel your way around. Indeed, Gozo is a picture-perfect destination for slow travellers, being a much calmer fishing-island experience than the more popular main island(that is, both figuratively and literally). Gozo is only a 25-minute ferry from Malta’s ‘mainland’, and only 40-ish square miles in size; it’s a quiet collection of traditional villagesand coastal walking trails, ideal for the light itinerary.
Focus on Local Experiences
With the acknowledgement that Malta holidays can be so much more than simply ticking off attractions, any Maltese travel itinerary should be built more around the potential for connection than box-ticking. This is to say you shouldn’t be packing it at all, let alone with tourist landmarks and must-visits. Give yourself permission to stay longer in Mdina or Żebbuġ, not just to look at the architecture but also to experience the slower pace of living possible within.
Enjoy Long Coastal Walks and Seaside Evenings
This extends, of course, to Malta’s stunning coastline – likely the reason for which you considered Malta as a destination in the first place. Visit smaller fishing villages; traipse the walking routes around Dingli Cliffs, Marsaxlokk and Golden Bay; shop locally; dare yourself to live a more authentic daily life, and reap the rewards!
