Mdina and Highlights of Malta Full Day Guided Tour Incl. Lunch and Transfers
Description
This tour is ideal for those guests who want to visit and experience some of Malta’s most interesting highlights in just one day. Carefully designed to make your day truly memorable, you start by visiting the ancient Medieval city of Mdina. Other attractions visited during this tour include a visit to the nearby village of Rabat, the Catacombs dedicated to St. Cataldus (a site which represents some of the earliest archaeological evidence of Christianity In Malta), The Rotunda of Mosta (which houses the third largest unsupported dome in the world), Dingli Cliffs (at around 253 metres above sea-level, these cliffs represent the highest point of the Maltese islands), the gorgeous Botanical Gardens of San Anton and the Ta’ Qali Artisan Village, where you will be able to admire the local craftsmen and learn about the ancient technique of glassblowing.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You start by visiting the ancient Medieval city of Mdina, renowned for its opulent palaces & fortifications, medieval & baroque architecture, and ancient heritage, this majestic city; also known as Città Vecchia (The Old City) or Città Notabile (The Noble City) is unquestionably one of the island's most evocative destinations. Serving as the island's capital city from antiquity till the medieval period, Mdina is truly an enchanting city! a stroll through its narrow streets, which have not changed much in the last 1000 years, is a must for anyone visiting the Maltese islands. It is undoubtedly one of Europe’s finest examples of an ancient walled/fortified city, explore this historic city with an experienced local guide and delve into the rich past of the city as you explore its medieval streets. Take a journey back in time admiring the magnificent palazzos & churches in the city’s unique mix of medieval & baroque styles, as well as the spectacular panoramas from the high bastion walls.
Leaving Mdina through the ‘Greeks Gate’ you will proceed on foot towards the neighbouring town of Rabat, here, we will wind our way through the old quarter and enjoy the Maltese vernacular architecture.
At Rabat you will visit the Catacombs dedicated to St. Cataldus, located in Rabat, on the outskirts of Mdina, these catacombs hold one of the best examples of an agape table, a circular platform hewn out of the rock used for early Christian funerary rituals. Dating from the late 2nd to the 3rd centuries, these small catacombs were originally a Punic burial shaft. The graves in the catacombs are beautiful examples of canopied tombs, while many other graves are hewn in the rocks. This site represents some of the earliest archaeological evidence of Christianity in Malta.
You will then proceed to Dingli Cliffs, located off the village of Dingli on Malta’s western coast, at around 253 metres above sea-level, these cliffs represent the highest point of the Maltese islands. The cliffs propose a majestic sight; the views overlooking the terraced fields underneath and the panorama of the vast open seas with the uninhabited small island of Filfla on its backdrop, are truly breath-taking! Given their impressive height the cliffs can be considered as natural forts, since no attacker can approach the island from the west. Perched on the edge, marking the highest point on the Maltese islands is a gorgeous tiny chapel built in 1646, dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene.
During our next stop you will visit the San Anton Botanical Gardens, located in the village of Attard these beautiful gardens were built in the early 17th century by Grand Master Antoine de Paule to complement his summer residence; San Anton Palace, which is located at the perimeter of the gardens, and which today serves as the residence of the Maltese President. Open to the public since 1882 the gardens have several pathways surrounded by fountains and ponds which are inhabited by families of ducks, swans, peacocks, peahens, and turtles and encompass a large variety of trees and flowers from around the world, including a variety of palm trees, cypress, jacarandas, araucarias, and other exotic plants, some of them over three centuries old.
Your next stop is in the town of Ta’ Qali, where you will visit the Ta’ Qali Artisan Village. Located in a former British Royal Air Forces wartime airfield and restored as a local artisan’s hub, here you can admire the local craftsmen forming elaborate glass art pieces using the ancient glassblowing technique, intricately assembling original silver and filigree jewellery and much more. With a vast selection of genuine goods made by local artisans and craftsmen such as paintings, traditional Maltese lace, gold, silver and filigree jewellery, leather goods, furniture, ceramics, and ornamental glass, this is the perfect place to pick up some truly genuine locally made mementos that will remind you of your visit to Malta (no obligation to buy).
You will end your tour with a visit to the Sanctuary Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady commonly known as the Rotunda of Mosta or the Mosta Dome, a Roman Catholic parish church and Minor Basilica located in the city of Mosta. It was built between 1833 and the 1860's to neoclassical designs, the design of the present church is based on the Pantheon in Rome, the church is renowned for having the third largest unsupported dome in the world and is also Malta's largest church. The church narrowly avoided destruction during World War II when on the 9th of April 1942 the German Luftwaffe dropped a bomb on the church, the bomb pierced the dome and entered the church but failed to explode, thus sparing the lives of more than 300 people who were attending the early evening mass. This event was interpreted by the locals as a miracle.
A lunch (fixed menu) with a glass of wine is included during one of our stops.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
9:45 AM is the approximate start time of the activity and not the time when you will be picked up from your hotel (or closest meeting point). At least a few days before the date of your activity, you need to make sure to contact the tour operator to confirm your pick-up location and pick-up time. Your pick-up time can be any time between 8:30 AM and 9:15 AM, depending on where you are staying. If your pick-up location is a hotel, please wait outside near the main entrance. Do not wait in the lobby or inside the hotel. When the guide or driver arrives, they will have a list of names and will ask those waiting outside for identification. They will not enter the hotel to look for guests. Transportation will not wait for late arrivals. If you miss your morning pick-up, you will not be able to join the tour later. Once the tour has started, it cannot be interrupted to accommodate latecomers.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The time shown on the website or on your ticket is the approximate start time of the activity and not the time when you will be picked up from your hotel (or closest meeting point). At least a few days before the date of your activity, you need to make sure to contact the tour operator to confirm your pick-up location and pick-up time. Your pick-up time can be anytime between 8:30 AM and 9:15 AM, depending on where you are staying.
- The tour will be guided in the language you have booked, however please note that at times, depending on operational circumstances, the commentary might be provided by a multilingual guide (limited to a maximum of 2 languages).
- The tour in Polish will be conducted by either a Polish-speaking guide (subject to availability) or an English-speaking guide together with a native Polish host serving as a translator.
- The tour in Spanish will be conducted by either a Spanish-speaking guide (subject to availability) or an English-speaking guide together with a Spanish-speaking host serving as a translator.
- The provider reserves the right to change the order of the visits without any prior notice.
- Pets, luggage, and large suitcases are not allowed during the tour.
- Any personal belongings, including backpacks or rucksacks, must be carried with you at all times and may not be left unattended on the coach or bus.
- Infant and child seats are not provided; however, all passengers, including infants and children, will have a seat on the bus or coach.
- Not recommended for travellers with mobility impairments
Reviews(345)
Picked up on time for this trip, guide was very knowledgeable and told us lots of infirmation whilst travelling to different locations. We started at Mosta Rotunda, then to St Cataldus catacombs, then we went for lunch. The restaurant staff were very rude and abrupt, not a please or thank you from one of them! Unable to sit where we wanted told by the guide we had to sit where he picked!!! We had paid for this not him!! No water on the table, but cheap €2 a bottle red wine, beween 6 guests, yet they charged €3 for a small water (cash only) I would not recommend this restaurant or return. We went to Rabat, Dingli cliffs- then to ta Qali craft village, this was a waste of time nothing worth buying. Then finished off at a clised down zoo with plenty of pigeons (san anton botanical gardens ( the maze was shut) another pointless stop.
An excursion rich in experiences that makes you see major sites of interest on the island. Only problem the heat while walking under the sun at noon. The meal was dissent and the guide knowledgeable.
Fabulous day and the tour guide was very informative and personable. Great way to get introduced to the island!
Great tour with a nice guide! Elizabeth did a fantastic job! Seen a lot and learned a lot.
An excellent all day tour. Easy pick up instructions and great drop off at 17:00. A very informative talk throughout the day given by Petra our English speaking Dutch Guide. Every stop was really different. From the new local workshop area to the Mdina stops. Great cliff viewpoint photos as well. The lunch was also very tasty. We would highly recommend this tour. Plenty of stops for water as it was 30c today.
Firstly I have to commend the skill in which the company organized this activity given the numbers involved. I find it difficult to be too critical of the tour given the fact that it is obviously well thought of. Sadly on this occasion they may well have been a victim of their own success. Our group was over 40 in number with one guide which made everything from finding shade, hearing information and the pure mechanics of getting people on and off the coach problematic. If there are normally this number in a group then an audio receiver system with headphones should be considered, as now commonly available with other companies. It felt given transfers, lunch and obligatory jewelry and glass blowing demonstrations a 5 hour day crammed into 9 hours! Not the best of experiences and to be fair it might just be one off.
We missed the bus from pick up point and when we called the tour company, the Customer Service representatibe named Marva was very rude and nasty with us over the phone, persistently saying that its our fault and insisting No refund and not even giving Any alternative until we become persistent
Guide was knowledgeable and good but there were too many people on the tour for it to be enjoyable. Some great sights. Lunch was mediocre at best.
Well covered as stated.at good pace. Lunch was excellent There was long wait for picking up with lack of communications.
Really enjoyed this trip that visited a number of interesting sites. Tour guide was very informative and friendly. Lunch was delicious and catered well for vegetarians.
