Christmas In Malta

Itinerary

Day 1

Fly to Malta, meet your tour manager and transfer to your chosen hotel in Qawra.

Day 2

Free day at leisure

Day 3

The first of your included excursions explores island capital Valletta. Take in the award-winning Malta Experience, as well as major sights like Auberge de Castille – the former home to the Knights of St John – and the Upper Barrakka Gardens, from where the Grand Harbour can be viewed and the cannons of the 16th-century Saluting Battery fire daily at midday and 4pm.

Day 4

On today’s optional full-day excursion you’ll travel inland to Mdina. Malta's ancient, fortified former capital stands atop a rocky bluff, its beautiful ‘silent city’ of narrow streets lined with stone-built houses. The tour will also include the town of Rabat, famous for its subterranean catacombs and where Bellini’s statue of St Paul depicts the Apostle’s shipwreck on the island. You'll also visit Mosta’s famous church, the vast unsupported dome of which survived a direct hit during World War Two, and the spectacular Dingli Cliffs.

Day 5

Our second included excursion, on Christmas Eve, explores the area across from Valletta's Grand Harbour, where three medieval 'cities' reflect the island's rich history. See one of the earliest Maltese Crosses in Vittoriosa, explore one of the Mediterranean's oldest dockyards at Cospicua, and pause for lunch at Birgu’s lovely marina. After lunch you’ll transfer to Marsaxlokk, known for its picturesque seafront promenade and colourful fishing boats bobbing up and down in the bay. This evening, begin your festivities with a Gala Christmas Eve Celebration dinner and live entertainment at your hotel.

Day 6

Enjoy a perfect Christmas Day of rest, relaxation and celebration in the hotel and its surroundings, perhaps heading out for a traditional Christmas lunch. This evening, dinner will be served as usual at your hotel.

Day 7

Enjoy a restful day today, or perhaps join the optional excursion to delightful Gozo. Board the ferry for a crossing to the quaint port of Mgarr, and visit the island's fortified capital, Victoria, picturesque Marsalforn, famous Calypso's Cave overlooking sandy Ramla Bay and the fascinating inland sea at Dwerja.

Day 8

Return to the airport to check in for your flight home. Back to top

Further Information

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 30 minutes.

European closing times

Shops in Europe will generally close from early afternoon on Christmas Eve until 27th December. Included tours and excursions have been chosen for their scenic or historic value.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Foreign Office travel advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Travelling to Europe

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. Note that these new rules do NOT apply when travelling within the United Kingdom or to the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland. You do require government issued ID when travelling by air though. Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names. Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you return home (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date"). These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland where you can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay. Visa - If you’re a tourist, you do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period. Different rules will apply to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania; if you visit these countries, visits to other EU countries will not count towards the 90-day total. Travel to Ireland will not change and stays there will not count towards the 90-day total. European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Commencing in 2023, all citizens of the United Kingdom will require a ETIAS electronic form completed prior to their arrival into the EU and Schengen member countries. The cost for this travel authorisation will be €7.00 per person with exceptions for under 18’s and over 70’s. The latest information and further details can be found at www.etias.com. Border Control - At border control, you may need to show proof of your return journey - your travel documentation issued by us will be sufficient for this. You will also need to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens if manual checks are required. Healthcare Cover - You should always get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before you go abroad which covers pre-existing conditions. You should understand the terms and conditions of your travel insurance and be happy with its cover for healthcare and travel disruption. Newmarket sell a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Ask our travel consultants for more information. You should also apply for a UK Global Heath Insurance Card (GHIC) which lets you get urgent state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Note GHIC is only valid in EU countries and not in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Back to top