Our Wandering Chapter

Tips and practical details in the NOTES section at the end of this post.

On our second day in Malta, we traded the bustle of Valletta for the quiet elegance of Mdina, often called the Silent City. Aware of Malta’s reputation of traffic jams,we set out early. Even so, we found ourselves stalled on the way to Valletta and missed our connection to Mdina. Thankfully, Bombi bus stop proved to be a blessing, a busy transit stop where almost all routes pass through, giving us a chance to catch another bus going towards Mdina.

Soon, the cityscape faded away and the route wound its way past villages and fields until the medieval city walls of the Silent City rose ahead of us. As we stepped through Mdina gate it felt like slipping into another century.

Within the fortress walls, we wandered through silent, narrow streets with sun-washed stone and vibrant bougainvillea vines. Plaza del Bastión, Pjazza Mesquita, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Carmelite Priory, Santa Sofia Street, every corner carried a sense of history.

Horse-drawn carriages clattered by, and it was easy to see why this place had become a backdrop for films and series. The medieval setting is almost too perfect to be real. We also learned that some of these streets had doubled as backdrops for the Game of Thrones.

Tucked into one of Mdina’s narrow cobbled lanes, we chanced upon Coogi’s Restaurant. A hearty lunch and cool drinks on its terrace were a welcome respite to the sweltering heat and a pause seamlessly woven into the city’s timeless rhythm.

After lunch, we left the stillness of Mdina and wandered towards its neighbour, Rabat. The streets were quiet, as most of the shops were closed in the afternoon. On the street leading to Pjazza San Pawl, we paused to take pictures of the quintessential Maltese balconies, their colours bright against the soft limestone.

We had considered pairing Mdina with a hike along the Dingli Cliffs, but the extreme heat and humidity convinced us otherwise. Instead, we went back to Senglea for a short rest at our BnB, before heading out again. We chose to spend the evening by the coast, which led us to St. Julian’s Bay. Read about it here: An Evening in St. Julian’s Bay