Malta is small enough that almost any point on the island is reachable from Valletta in under an hour by bus. The most rewarding day trips are Mdina, the old walled capital in the island's centre, and the prehistoric temples at Tarxien and Ħaġar Qim. Marsaxlokk, a fishing village in the south, has a good Sunday fish market. Gozo, the second island, requires a ferry from Ċirkewwa in the northwest and makes for a full-day or multi-day excursion.
The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum at Paola — a prehistoric underground burial complex dating to 4000 BC and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world and just 15 minutes from Valletta by bus. It requires advance booking; slots fill weeks ahead in peak season.
