Tag Archives: valletta
7 best events in Malta – Autumn 2017
At Maltalingua we love to go to all the great events happening in September and October in Malta. We’ve used our insider knowledge to create the following list of the best events in Malta in Autumn 2017.
While most of Europe is becoming chilly in Autumn, Malta gets lovely average temperatures of around 26 degrees in the daytime. The sea temperate also stays warm enough for most people to swim right into November. These comfortable temperatures make Autumn a great time for events in Malta, and people here make the most of it!
Top events in Malta in Autumn 2017
Maltese Independence Day – Various Locations – 21 September
Malta was a British Colony for 164 years until 21 September 1964 when the country gained its political independence. People here are very proud of their country and they love to celebrate the nation’s achievements. Independence Day is one of the most special, as such there are celebrations all over their islands. Some of the best celebrations can be found in the capital city, Valletta.
Malta International Airshow – Malta International Airport – 23 & 24 September
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Malta International Airshow. The show has grown in one of Malta’s most popular, and most photographed events. Spectators can be amazed by the incredible acrobatic skills of top stunt pilots from around the globe. You’ll also get a close look at these incredible aircraft.
Rockestra – MFCC, Ta’ Qali – 30 September
At Rockestra music fans can see very different genres of music collide. It’s a dazzling show of rock and pop covers played by the orchestra with special guest singers and rock musicians bringing something a little different to proceedings.
The Malta Classic – Mdina – 5 to 8 October
The Malta Classic is the perfect event for fans of classic cars and motor racing. Set in the stunning city of Mdina, classic car enthusiasts show off their beloved machines then take to the roads to compete in the races. The main event is the Mdina Grand Prix held on the 7 and 8th of October.
Notte Bianca – Valletta – 7 October
During the “white night” the cultural centers of Valletta light and open to the public late into the evening. Museums, galleries and even the parliament building welcome visitors for free. There are also many lively attractions happening on the streets of this beautiful city.
Birgu Fest – Birgu – 14 October
On an island famous for its lavish village feasts, it takes something really special to gain the reputation of being the most beautiful of all. For one night of the year, the city of Birgu is covered in candles and transformed. The effect is spectacular and walking through the narrow historic back streets bathed in candlelight is a truly memorable and romantic experience.
Rolex Middlesea Race – Valletta Grand Harbour – 21 October
Now coming into its 38th year, Malta’s number one sailing race has become one of the top events of the yearly calendar. Visitors can take a stroll along the Birgu waterfront to see the great vessels close-up or just watch them departing from the any of the bastion walls overlooking the Grand Harbour. It’s a sight to remember!
Want information about all the best events in Malta in 2017? Then check out our Malta Events 2017 page.
Which events would you most like to go to? Are there any you think we’ve missed? Leave a comment to let us know!
What to do this November in Malta
November in Malta is all about discovering the outdoors. The weather at this time of the year is generally sunny with clouds, and some rainy periods on different occasions. With temperatures usually in the low 20s it is definitely warm enough for a walk or picnic in the Maltese country side. Here is what you could get up to this month on the island of Malta.
Country side walks/trekking 
The islands of Malta date back for thousands of years, which makes walking in the country side a unique and yet historical experience. Walking or trekking in Malta could be done all along the northern-western coast as the land here is still barren and uninhabited. Places like Dingli, Rabat and Bahrija will offer the more adventurous and outdoorsy person a real insight into what Malta has to offer. This is our unique land structure, soil and rock formation, littered with historical artefacts such as old cart trucks, hundred year old fossils and even bomb fragments.
Sightseeing
If you wish to discover the islands further you could also make use of the sightseeing busses that various bus companies offer. These hop on hop off busses give you the opportunity to stop at different intervals and discover the particular area in your own time. There are different tours which are on offer usually the northern tour, southern tour and also a Gozo tour.
One could also discover the island of Gozo by jeep safari tours or even the more adventurous quad tours, which will give you a sense of freedom driving around the small Gozitan roads and valleys.
Night life
Of course in Malta, nightlife and parties are never far away. This November we have the very well-known Electro-Swing Malta producing another incredible party with the name Around the World in 80 Days. This will be held on the 7th of November.
We also have Don Ross; the legendary Canadian guitarist will be coming back to Malta for another night of acoustic guitar excellence! He will be performing at the City Theatre in Valletta also on the 7th of November.
Malta International Organ Festival
Both music aficionados and culture vultures won’t want to miss the Malta International Organ Festival 2015. Some of the greatest organ players in the world (including the Vatican’s own Gianluca Libertucci) will be enthralling crowds across Malta this November and December.
The schedule includes 16 concerts starting with the opening concert in Valletta on the 19th of November and ending with the grand finale on the 7th December , also in Valletta.
See the Queen of England
The Queen of England will be visiting Malta at the end of November for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. She and her husband, Prince Philip the Duke of Edinburgh, will be given a ceremonial welcome at St George’s Square by the President of Malta on Thursday the 26th of November.
Both visitors to Malta and locals will no doubt be out in huge numbers to welcome the iconic monarch, likely the most famous lady in the world.
You can read more about the English Royal Family’s visit to Malta here.
Events in Malta this month – October 2015
October in Malta is a time of change, regarding the weather of course. With autumn in its first few weeks, you will notice that the temperature will drop to the mid 20’s and there might be a little more rain. Don’t be fooled, however, the sea temperature will still be warm so there will be plenty of opportunities for water sports and days out at the beach. Here’s our pick of the best events in Malta this October.
This weekend Valletta will come alive on Notte Bianca (White Night), it will be a memorable night with something for everyone.
Palaces and museums are open till late with special discounts on entry, some are also free such as the President’s Palace. The streets are full of life with visual art exhibitions and theatre performances. Music echoes in the streets as local and foreign bands are also on show for your entertainment. Of course, cafes and restaurants will be open until late with food stalls and tables for your satisfaction.
Paqpaqli 04.10.15
Paqpaqli is the biggest annual motoring event in Malta. This event is one of the largest organizations run by a team of volunteers in collaboration with The Office of The President. The main aim here is to raise money for the Malta Community Chest Fund.
This year is a list like non-other, on offer for you to see and drive will be Ferrari, McLaren P1, Porsche 918 Spider, and for the first time in Malta, a Koenigsegg! There will also be other attractions, such as a motor cross event and a large collection of classic and modern Ferraris.
Mdina Grand Prix 08-11.10.15
The Mdina Grand Prix Classic Car Event will be held this year between the 8th and the 11th of October. The Mdina street circuit is set in the idyllic countryside beneath the imposing bastions of the Old Capital City.
This will be the fourth consecutive year of the Mdina Grand Prix. It promises to be a magical weekend of classic car racing.
Birgu Fest 11.10.15
This event taking place in Birgu (also known as Vittoriosa), which is one of Malta’s oldest and most historic cities, has now become an annual national event.
Birgu fest, which was once known as Birgu by night, has grown in popularity over the past years. Mainly because of the immense beauty that is interpreted throughout this fortified small city. This historical city is completely lit by thousands of candles sprinkled on every step and every balcony. You’ll be able to find a wide variety of food stalls, restaurants, and bands to liven up the night.
Halloween 31.10.15
Halloween in Malta has become a time to look forward to. With the weather still holding up nicely, it gives the opportunity to really be creative and daring with your Halloween costumes. On this night theme parties are organised and of course, the traditional trick or treat is done by younger ones.
Clubs and bars go all-out to decorate their premises to attract as many one-eyed zombies and killer clowns as possible. It’s a good night out and definitely something you should not miss out on.
Which events would you like to go to? Have you been to any of these events before? Leave a comment to let us know. We love comments 🙂
School Activity feedback by Alex
During my four weeks in April/May 2015 at Maltalingua I joined a lot of school activities organized by Julian, the coordinator. The activities I liked most where the English guided tours with Mariella a school teacher and licensed guide. We were small groups and every week we went with a private bus to different places of interest. We visited the old town Mdina, with its small narrow streets and the fabulous view across the whole island. The stop at Fontanella Tea Garden, with the famous chocolate cake was an obligation!
The Lascaris War Rooms Trip in Valletta was one of the most surprising tours I took part. The way the tourist guide from the museum talked about “the part of Malta during the second world war” was very interesting and he was extremely enthusiastic. After the museum we walked with Mariella around the city and to the Upper Barrakka Garden with its panoramic view. Later we made a stop at one of the best ice-cream parlour in Valletta.
I was there again and again…. 🙂
The three city tour and the megalithic Temples tour were also very interesting and informative. Only the 4D film at the temples museum was not very informative and meaningful. Whatever, on the other hand the museum and the temples were great to visit! For me it is a must! Mariella knew a lot of history and she also told stories from the present age of Malta. Her English was clear and easy to understand….also for me, perfect.
There were other not English guided tours also organized by Julian I liked too. We were always a nice group of students with Julian and we had a lot of fun. Sometimes it was a little chaotic, the bus rides needed a long time for every distance because of the incredible traffic on this island. But at the end everything worked! 😀
The Beach trip to a sandy beach called Ghajn Tuffieha was lovely for relaxing, swimming and playing beach ball. The Boat trip to the Blue Grotto was one of the worse tours I made. Eight euro for that short boating was really expensive but anyway to see blue grotto was nice and I would do it again. The wine tasting was truly really interesting, to see a wine cellar in another country and to taste a wine directly from a winemaker it’s always a nice experience. The canoeing tour in the lovely Gnejna bay I also enjoyed a lot. We were around 20 canoes paddling around. Some of us good other better!
The evening tours with the school were …… what should I say? Now I know that Malta has good wines and excellent cocktails.
At the weekend I made with other students together (sometimes organized by Julian and sometimes only recommended by him) a trip to Gozo and the sightseeing highlights like the Azure Window or a Boat trip around Comino with it’s lovely caves and the beautiful Blue Lagoon or a trip to Marsaxlokk to see the famous fish market. To travel around Malta is easy. With the public transport you can go to nearly every point on the island for little money but you need really a lot of time and even more patience. As I told you before, the traffic on Malta is a mess.
I ´ll recommend every school activity! I loved it. It was an easy way to see and hear a lot of this beautiful island and to stay together with other students and to practice my English.
Like the school motto: Learn English under the sun!
By the way, I enjoyed your lessons and I want to say thanks for this time, I attended a course B1+.
Greetings from cold Vienna
Alexandra Neurauter
What goes on in Malta in June.
June, the beginning of summer time here in Malta : ). Malta is very well re-known for its scorching summer sun with temperatures reaching in the mid 30s and above and it also hardly ever rains during the summer months.
For these reasons Malta turns into a Mediterranean paradise, attracting visitors from all four corners, with its main attractions being the sun, sea, sand and naturally learning English : )
Malta is littered with various blue flag beaches and bays all having different characteristics and landscapes. Popular beaches such as Mellieha Bay and Golden Bay can be found in the north of Malta, whilst rock pools and bays can be found in the south and all over the islands. Most beaches in Malta offer the opportunity to partake in a wide variety of watersports, such as jet skiing, diving, windsurfing, sailing, canoeing, paddle boating, and much more. Beach BBQ’s are also organized on various beaches for private events or even beach parties.
Speaking of parties, Malta is not far off when it comes to offering some 
of the best summer parties. Boat parties that take you out into the open water until the sun sets over the red sky and some of the best pool parties in some of the best venues Malta has to offer. Pool parties are increasing in popularity over recent years with private events and parties taking place in such venues.
The night life here in Malta is something not to miss, with St.Julians (Paceville) being the star attraction and Valletta increasing in popularity over the past few years, bringing back the life it (Valletta) once had many years ago.
One of the most popular upcoming events this June will be the Earth Garden festival held from the 5th till the 6th of June.
This three day event takes place in central Malta, in a remote village called Ta’ Qali, where hundreds of people visit to see what its all about.
Earth Garden is all about up-and-coming artists, some of the best local productions and a good vibe. A variety of activities are also organised such as exhibited art installations, sculptures, and photographic works and also street drama performances. Various genres of music are played, including tribal music, bands, reggae and also electro swing. This is start to the summer life here in Malta : )
Another key event taking place that same weekend is Rockastra, being held in Victoria, Gozo. This will be the third edition of Rockastra, a spectacular concert of rock music featuring some of the leading local singers and bands. The location of this event attracts many locals and foreigners to visit the little island of Gozo.
What to do in Malta: Events in December
Introduction:
December has finally arrived, the month of Christmas trees, snow, thick jackets and warm scarves! Hmm no, maybe in the
rest of Europe but not in Malta. Yes! Believe it or not, Malta can still be quite warm in this time of the year. One could even expect temperatures n the 20’s, and unfortunately for us, it has never snowed in Malta. So how does Christmas in the sun by the sea-side sound?
During this time of the year (similar to the month of November), the weather could be somewhat differ from day to day. We experience colder days that with rain, thunder and cold air, totally different from the previous sunny weeks, however this never seems to last long on these islands.
Christmas Spirit
Despite our good weather, the month of December is all about Christmas. Streets and roundabouts are decorated with Christmas lights and different festive decorations, whilst some houses are decorated from top to bottom with lights around every window and every door.
Shopping booms as in other countries, with Valletta and Sliema being the most popular for Christmas shopping. The main street of Valletta, Republic Street, is beautifully decorated with lights and tinsel all along the street attracting thousands of people every day for Christmas shopping.
The Point shopping mall in Sliema is Malta’s largest shopping complex, where hundreds of people shop there every day. During the month of December this complex is transformed into a Christmas wonderland (picture left).
Theatre:
In December one can see different Christmas plays, some in English others in Maltese. A very popular event is the Christmas pantomime which is a very puular tradtion in Malta especialy for young families. It’s incredible how they take a classic children’s story and transform it into a Christmas fairy tale! This year is Merry Poppins and Pinocchio.
Traditional Christmas Food:
Christmas time is a time for spoiling oneself with food and drink. Here in Malta during the festive season you can very easily indulge yourself with different Christmas desserts such as minced pies, Christmas log, Treacle rings or ‘Qaghaq tal-Ghasel’,
Maltese Christmas pudding and of course the traditional ‘Pannettone’. Any will do after a lavish meal 😉
Nevertheless during the month of December spirits are high, families come together and people exchange gifts in the time for giving. After all, it’s the season to be jolly… trah lah lah lah lah – lah lah lah lah! 🙂
What to do in Malta: Events in November
November is the month of change. On some days you can witness some amazing thunder storms and on others you can be at the beach in mid-20’s degrees. Either-way this creates the best opportunity to go outdoors and enjoy the Maltese country side. If you are thinking of visiting Malta this coming November, here is what you could be getting up to.
Activity:
As the temperature drops and the rain starts to fall more often, the Maltese country side blossoms into life. The autumn sun in Malta can still be pretty strong creating the perfect weather conditions for walking in the countryside or even cycling. The west side of Malta has breath taking landscapes which are ideal for mountain biking.
Museums/National Aquarium: Many of the finest museums in Malta could be found in Valletta, some of which are the National Museum of Archaeology and the National Museum of Fine Arts. The National Aquarium, located in the north of the island is also an ideal place to visit at this time of the year.
Active Leisure:
For those who fancy a little active leisure we also have this covered for you. If you ever find yourself in Malta during this time of the year you could sign yourself up for some horse riding, wine tasting, paint balling and also badger karting. All ideal for solo or group activities.
Day trips:
Throughout the autumn-winter months it could also be a good idea to book yourself on one of the Hop on Hop off buses, a perfect way of discovering the islands. You can choose from four different tours; the north tour, south tour, night tour and also the Gozo tour, which is ideal for a weekend break.
Historical Tours:
Malta and its islands are full of history. If you are given the chance, you can very easily join a guided tour with one of our teachers on a historical trip to Valletta, the three cities situated just opposite Valletta, Mdina and also the Temples which are older than the pyramids or even Stonehenge.
A trip to Malta 5D and Valletta.
Giuseppe 15.15 pm Tuesday 7th is our meeting point today. We will visit the capital of Malta, Valletta. We began our walk of 10 minutes to get to Sliema where we took the ferry to go to Valletta, very short but very funny our little trip. We got off and walked to Malta 5D, a very cute movie with special effects telling the story as Malta was attacked on many occasions and also some images of the beautiful islands. We then walked through the streets of Valletta where we saw the theatre which was destroyed in the war, which is now an open air theatre. Every corner has a little history with beautiful buildings like the Grand Master’s Palace & Armory, where we took a group photo. Inside we visited the garden with a beautiful aroma of flowers, a very big sundial and a music box which plays the Maltese national anthem. We went through the market where in the past you could buy all the fresh produce like fruits, vegetables, fish etc and also buy sweets in a typical Maltese pastry shop.
We reached St.James Cavalier where the Prime Minister’s office is located, then walked to the Upper Barrakka gardens with a beautiful view of the Grand harbour and the three cities. After we returned by different streets to the ferry to return to Sliema.
What I liked the most is how proud Maltese people are of their country. 😀
Jorgelina Cirulli, 38, Spain.
Here’s what went on in Maltalingua this week.
This week in Maltalingua on Tuesday the 16th we took the students out to the capital of Malta, Valletta. The weather this week was very humid and cloudy so we took this opportunity to walk from our school to the Sliema ferries where we would catch a small ferry that would take us from Sliema to the Marsamxett harbour in Valletta. With the shade given by the clouds the walk was pleasant and relaxing and arrived at the ferry well before our 4 o clock trip.
The ferry only takes around 8 minutes and as we disembarked we made our way to the Malts 5D. A 20 minute show in 5D entertainment that goes through the history of Malta, all the way from the time of our temples to the time of the Second World War. This is definitely a must do for any tourist who visits our islands. After this we took a very relaxed walk through Valletta stopping at the President’s Palace, the upper gardens which reveal the beautiful view of the grand harbour and also snapping a few pictures along the way. We then had some spare time for shopping where shortly after we made our way back to Marsamxett and caught the ferry back.
With the weather still very humid and very hot we organised a beach trip to Gnejna Beach in the north west of Malta on the following Thursday. A very small isolated beach tucked away by the surrounding valleys and cliffs. The group was a very close and bubbly group and on our way there everyone was laughing for one reason or another, brining smiles all around. As we arrived the students took a glimpse around them, then made their way down to the beach. Some simply laid down their beach towel and relaxed, others jumped straight into the sea whilst me and some guys inevitably Italian kicked around the ball for a couple of minutes. After being covered in sand, we then joined the others who had found a shallow reef where we laid down or pushed each other off 😀
In all another really good week here at Maltalingua, with great students from all over Europe and also Africa, it’s simply just great to spend all this time together and capture these memorable moments with Maltalingua.
The Three Cities Tour Malta – Birgu, Bormla and Isla
Now that September has begun the temperature has finally dropped slightly, with cool breezy winds sweeping over the islands. We took this opportunity to visit the three cities situated opposite Valletta as in the summer months it is too hot.
With a good turnout of 48 students we all met up at our usual meeting point and with our bus already waiting for us we jumped in and hit the road. Mariella, our licensed tour guide, started off by introducing herself for those students who didn’t know her yet and gave some information about where we were going. She also got the students involved by asking simple questions about Malta and its history.
The three cities being Birgu, Bormla and Isla are situated just across the harbour of Valletta, so 20 minutes later we arrived at our destination. We stopped just outside the entrance of the Birgu waterfront situated next to the Freedom monument just outside the church. Mariella explained that this monument was made for the memorial of when the last of the British troops and Royal Navy left Malta in 1979.
We walked through the narrow streets whilst Mariella continuously talked about different subjects, such as churches, boulders and even signs in the walls made during the second world war. We walked from city to city, as each are touching each other so makes it fairly easy getting across. Stopping for a quick ice-cream and a dink, we then walked over the new bridge which we used to get across from one side of Bormla to another.
With just a few minutes to spare we walked across to Isla where we finished our walk with a spectacular view of the grand harbour in Valletta and also the enormous yachts that stop over in Malta on their voyages, such as the Maltese Falcon. (see the picture below 😉 )
