Malta is one of those cruise ports where you can step off the ship and immediately feel surrounded by history. On our return visit from P&O Azura, we set out to use more of the attraction pass we had bought, explore beneath the city and see whether Malta still ranked among our favourite Mediterranean stops.
A slightly sleepy start
The ship had been extremely rocky overnight, leaving Jordan awake around four in the morning and Lottie up by six. We therefore began with a slice of pizza before attempting any serious history. This is an important travel principle: ancient fortifications are much easier to appreciate when nobody is hungry.
We had also used the sea day for Epicurean afternoon tea and dinner at the Glass House. The afternoon tea cost roughly £40 for us and was beautifully made, although the amount of cake became extremely sickly. It was a nice one-off experience rather than something we would rush to repeat. The Glass House food was good, but the sea-day demand meant a wait for a table and another long wait for food.
Using the Malta attraction pass
Our aim was to make better use of the pass by visiting historic locations rather than paying for each stop separately. Malta’s fortifications and underground spaces contain layers from different periods, including military rooms and shelters. Some areas were atmospheric, echoing and extremely dusty. Anyone sensitive to enclosed spaces or poor air should take that into account.
Guided sections meant we could not always talk to the camera, but they gave structure to places that would otherwise be difficult to understand. Malta has so much visible military and maritime history that a little explanation makes a big difference.
Malta as a cruise port
Valletta’s great advantage is how much begins close to the harbour. The city rises dramatically above the water, and the view from the ship is an attraction before you have even disembarked. Once ashore, lifts, taxis and walking routes connect the waterfront with the upper city.
The stone streets can become hot and tiring, so we would not attempt every attraction in one visit. Choose a historic focus, allow time for food and enjoy the architecture between stops. Malta rewards looking up, down and through every doorway.
The harbour fireworks
The day ended with the ship remaining in port late enough for a huge firework display. From our position we had an extraordinary view across the harbour. The reflections, surrounding fortifications and scale of the display made it unlike anything we had seen before. It was one of those occasions when being on the ship created a better viewpoint than trying to stand in the busiest part of the city.
Is Malta the best Mediterranean cruise port?
“Best” depends on what you want, but Malta is exceptionally strong for history, scenery and convenience. You can have a worthwhile day without booking a long coach excursion, and repeat visits still reveal new places. The harbour arrival alone is more memorable than many ports.
Our honest answer is that Malta remains near the top of our list. It can be hot, steep and dusty, and a pass only saves money if you genuinely use it. Plan a realistic number of attractions, wear comfortable shoes and leave space for the unexpected. In our case, that unexpected ending was a harbour full of fireworks—and it was absolutely a vibe.