Malta & Gozo Self-Launched Island Hopper – 8 Days
8 days · Malta
Soleto Travel charges £2,360
No-markup version: ~£450 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, solo-friendly version of Soleto Travel's 8-day Malta & Gozo small group tour. You cover the same ground — Valletta's Caravaggio cathedral, Mdina's silent lanes, the Blue Grotto and Dingli Cliffs, the megalithic temples of Hagar Qim and Ggantija, two nights on Gozo and the artisan village of Ta'Qali — but you book your own guesthouses and hostels, use Malta's excellent (and cheap) public buses plus the Gozo Channel ferry, and join self-bookable walking tours and boat trips instead of a private guide and driver. Expect similar sights at roughly a third of the tour price.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Valletta
Valletta
Fly into Malta International Airport (MLA) and take the X4 express bus to Valletta's bus terminus (about €2, or €2.50 in summer, roughly 30–40 mins). Check into a guesthouse or hostel in or just outside the city walls — Valletta itself is pricey, so consider Floriana or Hamrun on the bus network if you want to save. Spend the evening walking the floodlit streets around Republic Street and Strait Street, grab a pastizz (Maltese pastry, ~€1) and a cheap plate of rabbit stew or ftira. Book your Valletta walking tour and Blue Grotto boat online this evening for the days ahead.
🚌Airport bus X4 to Valletta (~€2)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel private room / dorm in Valletta or Floriana (~£22–35/night)
- →Evening stroll along Republic Street and Strait Street
- →Try pastizzi and local Maltese dinner
- →Book tickets for Valletta walking tour and Blue Grotto boat
Valletta and Mdina
Valletta / Mdina
Join a self-bookable Valletta walking tour (GetYourGuide/Freetour, ~£10–18 or tip-based) to see St John's Co-Cathedral with its Caravaggio masterpieces (entry ~€15), the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens over the Grand Harbour, and the exterior of the Grand Master's Palace. After lunch take bus 51/52/53 from Valletta to Mdina (~30–40 mins, €2 with a day/explore card). Wander the silent walled city, pop into St Paul's Church, and get the panorama from Mdina's Belvedere across the island. Return to Valletta by bus in the evening.
🚌Local buses Valletta–Mdina (bus 51/52/53), ~€2 each way
🛏Same Valletta/Floriana guesthouse (~£22–35/night)
- →Valletta guided walking tour (self-booked)
- →St John's Co-Cathedral and Caravaggio paintings (€15)
- →Barrakka Gardens harbour views
- →Grand Master's Palace exterior
- →Mdina walled city, St Paul's Church and Belvedere
Three Cities, Marsaxlokk, Blue Grotto and Dingli Cliffs
Cottonera / Marsaxlokk / Wied iz-Zurrieq / Dingli
A big day on the public bus network — buy an Explore Card (12 single journeys for €21) or use contactless taps. Start early with bus 1/2/3 to Cottonera for a wander through Senglea, Vittoriosa and Cospicua and the Gardjola Gardens views. Then bus 81/82/85 to Marsaxlokk fishing village for the luzzu boats and a cheap seafood lunch off the market stalls. Bus 85 to Wied iz-Zurrieq for the Blue Grotto boat trip (pay the boatman locally, ~€10). Finish with bus 201 to Dingli Cliffs for sunset over the sea, then bus back to Valletta.
🚌Public buses throughout (Explore Card ~€21 for 12 journeys)
🛏Same Valletta/Floriana guesthouse (~£22–35/night)
- →Three Cities walk: Senglea, Vittoriosa, Cospicua
- →Marsaxlokk fishing village and luzzu boats
- →Seafood lunch at Marsaxlokk market
- →Blue Grotto boat trip from Wied iz-Zurrieq (~€10)
- →Dingli Cliffs sunset
Ferry to Gozo and explore the island
Gozo (Mgarr / Xlendi / Victoria)
Take bus 41/42 from Valletta to Cirkewwa ferry terminal (~1hr), then the Gozo Channel ferry to Mgarr (~25 mins, foot passenger return ~€4.65 — you only pay on the return leg). From Mgarr, bus 301/303/311 gets you around the island. Visit Ta' Pinu Basilica, the Dwejra coastline (Inland Sea, Fungus Rock), swim or lunch at Xlendi Bay, and join a self-booked tour or bus to Ggantija megalithic temples (~€10 entry). Overnight in Victoria so you can explore the Citadella at golden hour and eat around St George's Square.
🚌Bus Valletta–Cirkewwa, Gozo Channel ferry (foot passenger ~€4.65 return), local Gozo buses
🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Victoria, Gozo (~£25–38/night)
- →Gozo Channel ferry crossing (passing Comino)
- →Ta' Pinu Basilica
- →Dwejra coastline and Inland Sea
- →Xlendi Bay swim
- →Ggantija megalithic temples (~€10)
- →Victoria Citadella at sunset
Free day on Gozo
Gozo
A slow day to do Gozo your way. Walk cliff paths from Xlendi to Mgarr ix-Xini, rent a bike or e-bike in Victoria (~£15–20/day) to reach Ramla Bay's red sand beach, or hop the bus to Marsalforn for a swim and a pastizz. Browse the traditional market in Victoria's It-Tokk square and check out St George's Square cafés. In the evening, try Gozitan ftira and local wine at a family-run restaurant off the main square.
🚌Local buses or rented bike/e-bike (~£15–20)
🛏Same Victoria guesthouse, Gozo (~£25–38/night)
- →Cliff walk or bike ride (Mgarr ix-Xini, Ramla Bay)
- →Swim at Ramla Bay or Marsalforn
- →Victoria market and St George's Square
- →Local Gozitan dinner and wine
Back to Malta with a farmhouse lunch
Gozo → Malta (Valletta area)
Take a last morning swim in Gozo, then ferry back from Mgarr to Cirkewwa and bus down to the Valletta area. En route or in the afternoon, book a table at a traditional Maltese farmhouse tavern (Xara Palace area, Mgarr or the Rabat countryside are good bets — many are reachable by bus) for a long lunch of organic local produce, baked rice and rabbit. Check into a boutique-style budget guesthouse near Valletta or Rabat for the last two nights.
🚌Gozo Channel ferry (~€4.65) and local buses back to Malta
🛏Guesthouse in Valletta/Rabat area (~£30–45/night)
- →Morning swim in Gozo
- →Farmhouse tavern lunch with local specialities
- →Evening wander in Valletta or Rabat
Rabat, Mosta, Ta'Qali and San Anton Gardens
Rabat / Mosta / Ta'Qali / Attard
Bus to Rabat for St Paul's Church, the St Paul's Catacombs (~€6) and Casa Bernard, a 16th-century noble palace (small entry fee, check opening hours). Continue to Mosta to see the Rotunda's enormous unsupported dome (free), then bus to Ta'Qali handicraft village to watch glassblowers and artisans at work — a good place for a cheap lunch. Finish at San Anton Gardens in Attard (free entry), a lovely place for a slow afternoon. Return to Valletta for a final evening and farewell dinner.
🚌Local buses Rabat–Mosta–Ta'Qali–Attard (~€2 per journey)
🛏Same Valletta/Rabat guesthouse (~£30–45/night)
- →St Paul's Church and Catacombs, Rabat (~€6)
- →Casa Bernard noble palace
- →Mosta Rotunda dome
- →Ta'Qali crafts village and glassblowing
- →San Anton Gardens, Attard
Departure
Valletta
Breakfast, last wander and pastizzi run, then take the X4 bus or a shared taxi back to Malta International Airport. If your flight is late, the Malta at War Museum or Fort St Elmo are cheap ways to fill a few hours near Valletta.
🚌Airport bus X4 (~€2)
🛏—
- →Final Valletta wander
- →Optional Fort St Elmo or Malta at War Museum
Self-launched vs. Soleto Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Soleto Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£450 | £2,360 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,910 per person (81%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Soleto Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£450
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Malta & Gozo Self-Launched Island Hopper – 8 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £450 per person for 8 days in Malta. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Soleto Travel?+
Yes — Soleto Travel charges around £2,360 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £450 — a saving of roughly £1,910 (81%) per person.
How long is the Malta trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Malta.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, beaches, slow-travel trip through Malta, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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