Bradt Malta and Gozo

by Juliet Rix

With some 300 days of sunshine a year, Malta has long been known for package holidays. But anyone going to Malta merely to lie in the sun is seriously missing out. Packed into this island nation are 7,000 years of fascinating – and visible – history, and the Bradt guide delves into Malta’s temples and archaeology more comprehensively than any other guidebook. Also covering birdwatching, summer festas, the less commercialized islands of Gozo and Comino, and highlighting accommodation and restaurants of interest and character rather than just looking at convenience and budget, this guidebook discovers the Malta beyond the tourist resorts.

Genres: Travel

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the 3rd edition published in 2015.
It is an informative guide and has good structure with general information about Malta, and some history and what to do and where to sleep/eat in each section.
Lots of information about flora and fauna.
I would have preferred to have some more itineraries and the photos placed where they belonged.
A bit more about ‘modern Malta’ and where to find informations on podcasts, books and movies about Malta would have been useful as well.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought two books about Malta - a Lonely Planet, and this.

The Lonely Planet book was not bad, but not much more than an executive summary. In comparison, this book was rich in detail, filled with maps, pictures, and even mentioned various Maltese people by name (as in "Mr So-and-So provides a fantastic tour at this museum"). It contained much more information, and even included noteworthy sights that are not tourist attractions, alongside information about how to get to them. (For instance, a former hospital that is now a conference centre is described in detail, with information about the different rooms, and tips for how to get to walk around it. Or disused tunnels that can be viewed by appointment only - alongside the contact details that such appointments can be arranged with).

I will return home with my copy - and it has been worn, spent a day in the rain with me, the pages have weathered, as I have taken it everywhere. The Lonely Planet book, meanwhile, has ended up spending most of my trip stuck in my suitcase.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the guide is a 2013 edition, there was enough information on history, maps, and cities (what to do what to see) and that commentary was excellent. One of the best guide books I have ever had. I read it on my mini-ipad and so I was able to have the book with me throughout all of our week long expeditions in Gozo and Valetta.