Experience some of Malta's most interesting highlights in just one day on a guided group tour. Discover the medieval city of Mdina, St. Cataldus Catacombs, and Mosta Rotunda. Stroll through the San Anton Botanical Gardens, take in sea views from Dingli Cliffs, and buy glass from local craftspeople. After hotel pickup, start your tour with the ancient city of Mdina, renowned for its opulent palaces, fortifications, architecture, and ancient heritage. Stroll through the narrow streets of the island's old capital, taking in one of Europe's finest examples of an ancient walled/fortified city. Take a journey back in time, as the streets have not changed much in the last 1,000 years. Admire the magnificent palazzos and churches in the city's unique mix of medieval and Baroque styles, as well as the spectacular panoramas from the high bastion walls. Leave Mdina through the Greeks Gate. Head to St. Cataldus Catacombs, in Rabat, on the outskirts of Mdina. Discover the catacombs, which were originally a Punic burial shaft, and some of the earliest archaeological evidence of Christianity in Malta. See graves that are beautiful examples of canopied tombs and others hewn in the rocks. Continue to Dingli Cliffs, off the village of Dingli on Malta's western coast, the highest point of the Maltese island at around 253m above sea level. Enjoy breathtaking views over the terraced fields underneath and the panorama of the vast open seas with the small uninhabited island of Filfla. After lunch, visit the San Anton Botanical Gardens, built in the early 17th century by Grand Master Antoine de Paule to complement his summer residence: San Anton Palace, located at the perimeter of the gardens, now serving as the residence of the Maltese President. Next, stop at the Ta' Qali Craft Village, a former British Royal Air Forces wartime airfield restored into a local artisan hub. Watch local craftsmen form elaborate glass art using ancient glassblowing techniques. Get some genuine locally made mementos to remind you of your visit to Malta. End your tour with Malta's largest church, the Sanctuary Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady, commonly known as the Mosta Rotunda or Mosta Dome. Built between 1833 and the 1860s to Neoclassical designs, the present church is based on the Pantheon in Rome. Discover its dome, the third largest unsupported dome in the world. Finally, return to your hotel.

Book this 5-day excursion package to experience all of the culture, charm, and history of Malta and Gozo Islands. Visit the archipelago's main highlights with two full-day tours and three half-day tours over 5 days. Get picked up and dropped off at your hotel every day of your experience. Browse through the many available itineraries and select the option that best fits your plans. See the day-by-day itinerary when selecting your preferred option. Drive to the city of Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for a half-day tour. Explore imposing fortifications, bastions, and palaces. Watch an immersive audiovisual show on Malta's history and tour St John's Co-Cathedral, the Upper Barraka Gardens, and Grand Harbour. Take a day trip to Mdina, the country's old capital city. Admire the fortified walls and its spectacular panoramas. Visit the village of Rabat, the Catacombs of St Cataldus, Dingli Cliffs, San Anton Gardens, Ta' Qali Artisan Village, and the Rotunda of Mosta with its dome. Enjoy lunch and a glass of wine. Embark on another half-day excursion to the famous Three Cities: Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Copiscua. Appreciate these historic fortified cities and discover their magnificent churches, piazzas, fortifications, and architectural treasures. Take a boat trip of the creeks aboard a Maltese 'frejgatina'. Immerse yourself in the landscape of Gozo on a scenic day trip. Take the ferry from Malta and visit the city of Victoria, the Ggantija temples, and the Citadel, a majestic medieval fortress. Gaze at Xlendi Bay, Dwejra Bay, and Inland Sea, with an optional boat trip. Eat lunch with a glass of wine. Head over to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk on a half-day adventure. See the largest fishing harbor in Malta, lined with traditional “luzzus”, brightly colored boats. Wander around the open-air market, visit the town of Qrendi, and marvel at the Blue Grotto, with an optional boat trip.

You can start your tour at any time between 10:30 hrs. and 15:30 hrs., giving you complete freedom to organize your day. You will be welcomed by our receptionist as soon as you arrive at the reception desk within the Sanctuary Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady (Rotunda of Mosta), who will provide you with all the necessary information and suggestions to make the most out of your visit. At the reception desk, you will be guided on how to download our mobile phone app. which you will be using during your tour. You will start your tour by visiting the Sanctuary Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady, often called the Mosta Dome or the Rotunda of Mosta, a Roman Catholic parish church and minor Basilica situated in the centre of the hamlet. The current church, which was built between 1833 and 1860 to neoclassical designs and is modelled after the Pantheon in Rome, is Malta's largest church and is renowned for having the third-largest unsupported dome in the world! Then proceed to explore an underground World War II air-raid shelter and relive the hardships that the Maltese people had to endure during the relentless bombing of the islands throughout World War II. The complex also boasts an exhibition of tools and implements related to old trades and a photo exhibition about Malta during World War II. The first part of the tour (the visit to the Rotunda of Mosta and the World War II air-raid shelter) is at leisure and therefore not assisted by a live guide. You will be provided with a mobile phone app. and printed material in several languages (English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish), which will help enhance your experience. Assisted by one of our team members, you will then stroll through Mosta's historic streets admiring the architecture, splendour and beauty of this charming village while also visiting some places of interest with exclusive access available only during this tour. You will visit the Markiz Mallia Tabone Farmhouse, a Mosta farm that was converted into a cultural hub housing a variety of permanent exhibits about the Maltese heritage, folklore, and contemporary arts, as well as various other seasonal or temporary exhibitions that are displayed throughout the year. You will also visit the Speranza Chapel, a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Hope, located in the beautiful “Wied il-Għasel” (also known as Mosta Valley), a gorgeous chapel which was built in the year 1761 and home to a very interesting legend. During your walk, we will provide you with a booklet in different languages explaining the significance of each point of interest, and through the mobile phone app. you can also listen to the information in several languages. Enjoy a delightful buffet lunch at "Dar Mustija" a typical townhouse in the heart of Mosta, here you will sample various Maltese specialties in its charming garden, surrounded by orange trees and a relaxed and welcoming setting.

During this tour, you will travel onboard a traditional Maltese Bus known by the locals as ‘Xarabank’. These buses were built by Maltese Bus Builders during the 1950s to the 1970s and came in all kinds of colours, to overcome illiteracy - red, purple, blue...all depending on the locality they served. This tradition persisted until eventually bus numbers came into place. Traditional Maltese bus decoration consisted of different designs and typography. This included designs in paint; passenger messages on the interior and exterior of the bus, names of patron saints, song lyrics, slogans and many more. There were also plenty of chrome and accessories, such as flags and good luck symbols. Nowadays, these colourful buses are rarely seen, used only on special occasions such as weddings & tourist events. During this tour you will first visit The Aviation Museum, an aircraft museum situated on the site of the former Royal Air Force airfield in the village of Ta'Qali. The museum, based in three hangars, covers the history of aviation on the island with exhibits, particularly from the Second World War and post-war periods. The museum is involved in the preservation and restoration of aircraft, some of which are in airworthy condition. You will then visit the Mosta Rotunda, a Roman Catholic Church dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady. The design is based on the Pantheon in Rome, has the third largest unsupported dome in the world and is Malta's largest and most famous church. The church narrowly avoided destruction during World War II when on 9 April 1942 a German aerial bomb pierced the dome and fell into the church during Mass, but failed to explode. This event was interpreted by the Maltese as a miracle, although many bombs failed to explode. During your visit you will admire the sacristies, the various objects of prestige, a large-scale model of the church and a replica of the bomb. You will also go up to the portico, to the bell tower & enter in the inner gallery of the the church. Your last stop will be the World War II Shelter that skirts the Mosta Church parvis. The Shelter which was opened recently, was dug by hand in 1940 by 15 highly-skilled workmen. Families used this shelter during World War II to protect themselves from the many and continuous air raids. The complex also boasts an exhibition of tools and implements related to old trades. At the end of the tour, you will also enjoy some local savouries.