Malta Experts--help please

[jalynn]

We were fortunate enough to get tickets to the Hypogeum for our upcoming visit. This was a last minute decision after reading the information and I was surprised to be able to get tickets. They are for 1PM. We dock at 10AM. Would someone advise me as to the best use of our time before the 1PM visit? We hope to end the day near the port (because I have this irrational fear of missing the boat, literally.) I've researched, but at this point I'm on info overload and all confused and just need someone to advise me.

 

thanks in advance!!

[CintiPam]

It's only a 10-minute taxi ride from Valletta to the Hypogeum, so you have plenty of time to visit the number one site IMO in Malta, the Co-Cathedral of St. John in the old walled city. They have a great audio tour that comes with your admission.

 

Our Hypogeum appointment was later in the day, so we also visited the Archaelogical Museum just up the street from the Cathedral to see some of the finds from the neolithic sites, but the intro to your Hypogeum tour will provide all the context you need unless you are a huge ruins fan like I am.

 

After our tour, we walked five minutes over to the Tarxien Temples (not worth a special trip but convenient if already in the area) from the Hypogeum, then caught a bus back to town and did some shopping, then visited the Upper Barracca Gardens before strolling back down the hill to the dock.

 

Have a great day!

[hat776]

To get to Paola (where the Hypogeum is) by bus from Valletta would take about 20 min and then it's just a short walk to the Hypogeum.

I would walk from the cruise terminal (partly uphill) or get a bus to the Valletta bus terminal which is just outside Valletta city. Find out where the bus to Paola - the no. 15 but make sure - leaves from and check the times. I think they leave every 30 min eg 11.00, 11.30. 12.00.

maltabybus.com atp.com.mt

Then go into Valletta. I would go to the Barakka Gardens as you won't really have much time to go round St Johns Cathedral. You could go there after your Hypogeum visit.

Just as you enter , on your right is the Tourist Office.

You can easily walk down to your ship from Valletta so it will be easy to calculate the time.

[jalynn]

Thank you both for your input. I feel much better. Any other suggestions welcome.

[jalynn]

do you think we'll have time to see Mdina? We are in port from 11AM till 6PM and have 1PM Hypogeum tickets. I'm thinking that may be pushing it...

 

thanks-

Jo Ann

[hat776]

Well I don't remember how long the tour takes but I presume you'll be free by 2.00.

The trouble is that there aren't direct buses from Paola to Mdina. So you'll have to take a bus to Valletta and then one to Mdina. The trip from Valletta to Mdina is about 40/45 min and Paola to Valletta about 15 min.

There are taxi's outside Mdina so if it's getting late and you're panicing that shouldn't be a problem. Always, at whatever Port you're in, keep some taxi telephone numbers handy.

You could also arrange for a taxi to pick you up at the Hypogeum.

Remember that 4.30 to 6.00 is the rush hour so take that into consideration.

You could go to Trip Advisor the Malta Forum. There are Top Questions which you'll find useful.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g190311-Malta.html

[tiyana4]

We will be visiting Malta in December and are trying to buy our Hypogeum tickets now. The HeritageMalta website lists the ticket prices at 20 EUR per adult and 15 EUR per student (DD is 15), but when I try to book the tix, only seniors and children 6-11 are discounted.

 

I realize it is only about $7 USD difference, but we could use that as a tip to the tour guide. Just wondering if I am doing something wrong, or if the pricing for 12-17 year-olds is obselete.

[treasure4two]

Is Malta a small enough place that people can do without a tour? We heard it was small and some things/ most things sounded like you could do them on your own. Your thoughts please. Thank you!:D

[hat776]

Yes Malta is small enough to make it eas y for DIY tours. Plus Valletta is very near to the Port . It's only a 15 min walk but part of it is uphill. There are taxi's and public transport just outside the Port Terminal. The bus terminus is just outside the entrance to Valletta. Read the above posts and links.

Also have a look at www.visitmalta.com www.maltabybus.com www.atp.com.mt

You could also put 'Malta' in the search box on top.

[CintiPam]

We spent our port day in Valletta in June all DIY. Old Town Valletta is small, easy to tour by yourself. The best attraction, the Co-Cathedral of St. John, has a wonderful audioguide included in the ticket price, and the Archaelogical Museum is well-labelled. The Hypogeum is only a 10-minute ride away, by taxi or a little longer by bus. All the buses leave from right outside the city gate, and the taxi stand is there as well.

 

Enjoy your visit!

[KirkNC]

We will be visiting Malta in December and are trying to buy our Hypogeum tickets now. The HeritageMalta website lists the ticket prices at 20 EUR per adult and 15 EUR per student (DD is 15), but when I try to book the tix, only seniors and children 6-11 are discounted.

 

I realize it is only about $7 USD difference, but we could use that as a tip to the tour guide. Just wondering if I am doing something wrong, or if the pricing for 12-17 year-olds is obselete.

 

I was able to buy a student ticket for my daughter when we booked ours. We booked it several months ago so maybe something changed.

 

Kirk

[tiyana4]

I was able to buy a student ticket for my daughter when we booked ours. We booked it several months ago so maybe something changed.

 

Kirk

 

Thanks, Kirk. Did you happen to use the Heritage Malta website or another site? I emailed them about a week ago, but they have not responded.

[tiyana4]

I wanted to report back that I received an email response today from Heritage Malta. Apparently, my mistake was looking for something that specifed a particular age group vs. simply student. I was instructed to do the following:

Thank you for your interest in our sites.

Kindly retry booking as follows:

 

Go to

www.heritagemalta.org

and click on ‘buy tickets’ then ‘site tickets’. After that it is easy to follow. Please click on one of the discounted boxes for your daughter’s ticket.

If tours are already fully booked, the only possibility to visit would be to take the extra tours at noon or at 4pm. These are usually reserved for VIPs, though tickets could still be available. Booking is not possible and tickets are available

from the National Museum of Fine Arts in South Street Valletta on the same day or one day ahead

at €25 per person. No discounts apply on these last minute tickets.

 

Enjoy your stay in Malta.

 

Regards

We were able to finally book with no problems. Perhaps this info can help someone else.

[Sauer-kraut]

do you think we'll have time to see Mdina? We are in port from 11AM till 6PM and have 1PM Hypogeum tickets. I'm thinking that may be pushing it...

 

thanks-

Jo Ann

 

We did Malta in October 2009 and loved Mdina. We did everything on our own and since we weren't on a ship we had the luxury of time. If you do get to Mdina (a great old town with great opportunities for pictures) don' miss the Roman Villa Museum. It is just outside the city gate of Mdina where near the little sightseeing train stop. It is actually an archeology dig and you can walk above the excavations and see the "rooms". The mosaics on the floors are incredible. It was worth the entrance fee and won't take a lot of time to go through.