Awake to your first full day in Malta, as breakfast beckons from Contessa’s sunlit, glass-roofed terrace. Prepare for a deep dive into the history and culture of this spectacular capital with a walking tour of many of its greatest sites.
To combine unbeaten Mediterranean views with Malta’s fascinating war history, head to the Upper Barrakka Gardens and the Saluting Battery, which sits above the Lascaris War Rooms with preserved military artefacts and World War II-era tunnels. Stroll along Republic Street and Merchant Street, offering retail therapy and excellent people-watching, while the striking 17th-century Tritons’ Fountain is a must-see Valletta landmark.
Signature Experience: Lunch at Grain Street
Today the group takes a reservation at Grain Street, a modern Bib Gourmand-awarded bistro on lively Merchant. Grain Street offers exceptional modern Mediterranean dishes, showcasing the finest Maltese ingredients in a laidback yet sophisticated setting – the perfect atmosphere to allow this morning’s adventures to sink in.
Later in the afternoon, cross the harbour to Birgu (Vittoriosa), the most storied of Malta’s coveted Three Cities, where fortified walls and narrow alleyways hold the naval history of the Knights of St. John’s. You’ll also have the chance to hop aboard a traditional dgħajsa, the colourful local ‘Maltese gondolas’, for a private ride.
Signature Highlight: Dinner at Teronne with Shane Delia
Today’s lesson in Maltese history and culture will help you further appreciate a dinner in the shadow of Fort St Angelo’s sandstone arched walls at Terrone. It’s here that you will meet Shane Delia, who shares the flavours that shaped his cooking and his understanding of this part of the world, showcasing Malta in a whole new light. Meals here are prepared by celebrated Australian-Maltese chef Adrian Hili, whose resume includes Melbourne’s Rockpool and the iconic River Café in London before he returned to his ancestral homeland in 2014 to found Terrone.
Hili’s produce-led philosophy and passion for Mediterranean flavours have earned the restaurant countless years of prestigious awards. Today, Terrone reflects Hili’s signature approach to cooking; celebrating the finest seasonal ingredients with simplicity, authenticity and a deep respect for Malta’s rich culinary traditions. This atmospheric waterfront location of Terrone ties directly to Caravaggio’s time on the island, when he was briefly imprisoned in the fort in 1608 before succeeding in a legendary escape, scaling the towering walls before sailing to Sicily.
Signature Highlight: Dinner at Terrone with Shane Delia
After breakfast, the fishing village of Marsaxlokk calls from its famous Sunday market. You’ll be immediately struck by the beauty of a harbour full of luzzu – the traditional wooden fishing boats painted in vivid yellows, reds and blues that have defined this village for generations.
Signature Highlight: Marsaxlokk walking market tour with Shane Delia
Work your way through the market with a true local as your guide; smelling, tasting and savouring warm pastizzi (flaky, ricotta-filled pastries which have proudly become a near-enough national symbol), strong coffee and an abundance of fresh finds straight from the sea. Shane’s recommendations turn this market wander into a proper education, revealing how this kind of cooking is built on fresh ingredients and honest technique.
Back in Valletta, the afternoon belongs to you. Pick your way through the city’s landmarks at your own pace.
Signature Highlight: Marsaxlokk walking market tour with Shane Delia
Rise early this morning to hit the streets ahead of Malta’s meandering crowds.
Signature Highlight: Private early access to St John’s Co-Cathedral with Shane Delia
This morning, prepare for a history lesson as your group enters St John’s Co-Cathedral before it opens to the public with Shane’s friend Liam Gauci, one of the island’s foremost historians. Gauci has spent his career piecing together the extraordinary layers of Malta’s past – from the Knights of St John to the island’s strategic role at the crossroads of the Mediterranean – and his knowledge brings the cathedral to life in a way no guidebook can.
Before 9am, it’s just your small group and Caravaggio’s masterpieces in the calm of an empty church. The difference in this private experience is profound as morning lights shifts through the windows into gilded chapels and onto marble tombstones. Take in the cavernous room of gilded architecture and breathtaking tapestries, culminating in Caravaggio’s largest-ever canvas painting, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist.
Afterwards, head inland from Valletta to Malta’s peaceful, ancient walled capital of Mdina, perched on a hilltop at the island’s centre and known as the ‘Silent City’ for good reason. A guided walking tour introduces some of the city’s key landmarks: St Paul’s Cathedral and the imposing Mdina Gate.
After the tour, the city is yours. The alleyways reward slow walks past boutique workshops and small cafes. In this quieter corner of the island, you’ll truly gain a sense of having stepped off the tourist trail and out of the modern world. Shane’s recommendations will stop you from feeling lost and guide you towards a handful of places that locals rate highly.
To elevate your Mdina experiences to new heights, you can book an Optional Experience to savour an unforgettable exclusive lunch with Shane at the Michelin-starred de Mondion. Alternatively, return to Valletta for a relaxed afternoon with time to unwind before the evening.
Signature Highlight: Fisherman’s feast in Marsaxlokk with Shane Delia
With the colours of yesterday morning’s market fresh in your memory, tonight comes time to return to Marsaxlokk for a fisherman’s feast with Shane set right on the harbourfront, framed by those same luzzu boats now bobbing in the dark.
Here at the magnificent Harbour Lights – operated by the same family that runs acclaimed adjacent Maltese restaurant Tartarun – you’ll discover locally sourced seafood straight from the sea, warm hospitality and an atmosphere that captures the way Maltese coastal villages have been eating and celebrating for centuries. A long-time family haunt, it lies in front of its contemporary sibling restaurant and promises sensational authentic Meditteranean flavours with sparkling views to match.
Travel Time: Driving – approx. 30 minutes
Signature Highlight: Private early access to St John’s Co-Cathedral with Shane Delia
Signature Highlight: Fisherman’s feast in Marsaxlokk with Shane Delia
After breakfast, transfer to the ferry terminal and board a quick crossing to Gozo, Malta’s quieter sister island. The trip takes approximately 45 minutes and delivers you to a place that moves at a noticeably different pace with fewer tourists and more farmland, but the same tasty food.
Your luggage transfers directly to your room at the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz allowing you to arrive on Gozo unencumbered and ready to eat.
Signature Highlight: Gozo gourmet trail guided tour with Shane Delia
Shane’s connections run deep on this island, and today he puts them to work. Following a local guide together, take to the Gozo Gourmet Trail, winding through the island’s villages and countryside. Stop at artisan producers who are making some of Malta’s finest food: freshly baked breads, traditional preserves and local cheeses, including Ġbejna, the small rounds of sheep’s milk cheese that Gozo is famous for. This is not your typical polished food tour; it’s an introduction to the people who grow, make and preserve Gozitan food culture, just as Shane has intended you to experience it.
By late afternoon, you’ll make your way to your home for the next two nights.
Signature Accommodation: Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz
Gozo operates at a slower frequency than Malta, and the Kempinski is built on such foundations. Set in the quiet village of San Lawrenz amid sprawling semi-tropical gardens, all rooms look out over the pools or the Gozitan countryside. The hotel includes the Mediterranean’s largest Ayurveda centre alongside a traditional hammam and a full treatment menu, all of which earned the title of Malta’s Best Hotel Spa in 2024 and 2025 by the World Spa Awards.
Elsewhere, you’ll have five onsite restaurants and bars to choose from in addition to Gozo’s menu of nearby venues.
As the sun drops, head into Victoria, Gozo’s small and atmospheric capital, for a rooftop drink with sweeping views across the island. Shane will provide his favourite local spots for dinner as tonight is yours to explore independently, discovering local trattorias in Victoria or relaxing by one of several Kempinski pools.
Travel time: Ferry – approx. 30 minutes; Driving – 20 minutes
Signature Highlight: Gozo gourmet trail guided tour with Shane Delia
A slow morning at the Kempinski offers time to explore the pool, gardens and resort spa.
Signature Highlight: Blue Lagoon boat trip with Shane Delia
The afternoon is spent on the water with Shane. Board an exclusively chartered half-day cruise around Comino, the tiny island between Malta and Gozo, home to the Blue Lagoon, where conditions turn the water from pale turquoise to deep cobalt. Swim off the back of the boat, take in the dramatic coastal cliffs and appreciate the warm Mediterranean waters, with opportunities to explore secluded coves and sea caves along the way.
Then, it’s back to the Kempinski to freshen up, before heading out just steps from your door at the hotel’s magnificent fine-dining restaurant, L-Istorja. L-Istorja is renowned for its sophisticated interpretation of Gozitan cuisine, drawing inspiration from the many cultures that shaped Malta over the centuries. This refined establishment is where locally sourced ingredients and generations of culinary tradition come together in an unforgettable dining experience.
Signature Highlight: Blue Lagoon boat trip with Shane Delia
After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed start to the day and take a last look at the Gozitan countryside before transferring to the ferry terminal for a return trip to Valletta, where you’ll check back into The Phoenicia Malta and savour an afternoon at leisure ahead of your final dinner together.
Signature Highlight: Farewell farm feast at Ta’ Ċiċivetta with Shane Delia
Your final night is exactly what this tour deserves. The group heads to intimate countryside farmhouse Ta’ Ċiċivetta where candlelit tables, fairy lights strung overhead and an atmosphere of familial celebration set an unmistakably Maltese scene. “Everything we do is rooted in fresh ingredients, honest cooking and a passion for what we share,” the farm declares, and it’s a message you’ll understand and savour firsthand over dinner. Indulge in Maltese comfort food at its finest, paired with local wines and the kind of warmth that comes from a week spent eating, exploring and genuinely connecting with a place.
Bid farewell to Shane as you reflect on your Maltese experience together and the food, history, people and islands that made it all possible. Head back to the hotel with a full heart and stomach, content to head home in the morning.
Travel time: Ferry – approx. 30 minutes
Signature Highlight: Farewell farm feast at Ta’ Ċiċivetta with Shane Delia
Say goodbye to your fellow travellers as your journey comes to an end. After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be transferred back to Malta International Airport (MLA) for your onward journey.