Valetta is a popular cruise port in the Mediterranean Sea. It’s also the capital of the Republic of Malta. Cruise ships dock within walking distance of the walled city of Valetta and booking an excursion isn’t necessary unless you want to explore further afield.
If you choose to stay in Valetta, be prepared to walk up the hill and navigate a series of staircases to get to the city center. Highlights include the 16th century St. John’s Co-Cathedral, the Grand Master’s Palace and Fort St. Elmo.
Of course, if, like us, you want to see more of Malta, going on an island tour is a good idea. To keep things simple, we opted to go on an excursion with the cruise ship.
Following a scenic drive, we visited the archeological sites of Tarxien, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These ancient megalithic temples date back to 3150 BC and are some of the oldest religious sites in the world and well worth visiting. We also visited the 5000-year-old Hagar Qim Temple. There are also other archeological sites scattered throughout the Republic of Malta.
Other places of interest around Malta include the walled city of Mdina, fishing villages and long sandy beaches. We hear that scuba diving in Malta is also good. Perhaps one day we will get to go back to see more of what Malta has to offer above and below the waves.