Open Top Bus South Tour (RED)
AVAILABLE: DAILY
VISITING:
- Departs from Sliema Ferries
- and pass through Ta'Xbiex and Msida Yacht Marinas,
- Valletta Bus Terminus,
- Valletta Upper Barrakka Gardens, Auberge de Castille,
- Valletta Harbour, Valletta War Museum,
- Fort St Elmo, Mediterranean Conference Centre,
- Fort St. Angelo, Valletta Waterfront,
- Hypogeum and Tarxien Temples, Senglea Point,
- Vittoriosa Waterfront, Bieb is-Sultan, Zejtun
- Marsaxlokk Fishing Village, San Lucjan Tower,
- Ghar Dalam Cave and Museum, Blue Grotto,
- Hagar Qim & Mnajdra, Malta Falconry Centre,
- Limestone Heritage and back to Sliema.
- Buses leave Sliema Ferries daily every
- half an hour from 0900hrs to 1500hrs
BUT on Sundays - last trip leaves Sliema at 1400hrs.
- NO SERVICE on Christams Day
INCLUDED IN PRICE:
- Pick-up and drop-off from any hotel in Malta
- Hop On Hop Off South Tour
Operates every half an hour from 0900 to 1500 on weekdays and from 0900 to 1400 on Sundays.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOADTHE SOUTH TOUR TIMETABLE
The following are the places where you can hop off or pass by during the tour:
Departure from Sliema Ferries
1. Sliema – Sliema is Malta’s main coastal resort. It is a centre for shopping, restaurants and café life. Sliema is also a major commercial and residential area and houses several of Malta’s most recent hotels. The coastline promenade, which runs for several kilometres from St. Julian’s to Gzira & Ta’ Xbiex, is ideal for walkers and joggers.
2. Manoel Island (passing) – A small island fortified by Grandmaster Manoel de Vilhena, who also built the theatre in Valletta. The architect of this project was Frenchman Françoise de Mondion, who was also the architect of Louis XIV. The island is now being conserved and converted into an exclusive residential area.
3. Ta’ Xbiex Harbour (passing) – The area is studded with beautiful villas many of which have now been transformed into embassies.
4. Msida Yacht Marina (passing) – A magnificent yacht marina with first class berthing facilities.
5. Valletta Bus Terminus - The point of entry to Malta’s capital city built by the knights of the Order of St. John in 1568 and transformed over the years into the finest example of baroque. The city is studded with historical palaces, museums, churches, garden cafés, restaurants and commercial outlets.
6. Auberge de Castille & Upper Barrakka – The Auberge de Castille is located within the City of Valletta and houses the office of the Prime Minister of Malta. Near the Prime Minister’s office we also find the Upper Barrakka Garden which is situated over Valletta’s bastions. Valletta with magnificent views of the Grand Harbour and the Three Cities, the hub of naval activities of the order of St. John.
7. Valletta Harbour - A drive round Valletta’s harbour and the magnificent bastions. Valletta is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites and is one of the few surviving inhabited walled cities.
8. Valletta War Museum - Malta suffered greatly during the wars and this museum is a testimony to the hardship of those years. Exhibits include equipment, uniforms and photos.
9. Fort St. Elmo - The fort is at the tip of the Valletta peninsula. Historians are of the opinion that the site was fortified since the punic era (c. 200 S. C). The fort is only partially opened to the public.
10. Mediterranean Conference Centre - The building serves as a state-of-the-art conference centre. It was built by the Order of St. John as the main hospital of the Knights. Of great importance is the long hall which served as the hospital’s medical ward and is hailed to be the longest roofed hall in Europe. The summit between Bush and Gorbachov in 1989 which marked the end of the Cold War was hosted in this centre.
11. Fort St. Angelo - (photo opportunity) The bus will stop for a few moments. Across the water Fort St. Angelo which for centuries guarded the Grand Harbour. The site and Fort witnessed and withstood two Great Sieges, in 1565 by the Ottoman Empire and the other in 1944 by the Axis command.
12. Valletta Waterfront - Serves as a cruise liner terminal. Every year this magnificent view greets tourists who arrive in Malta by sea. Within this wharf there are a large number of commercial outlets, restaurants and cafes.
13. Hypogeum - A site not to be missed. An underground Neolithic temple complex from 2500 B.C. completes with niches, oracles altars and wall paintings. Another UNESCO world heritage site. Entrance is restricted to those who have pre-booked. Tarxien Temples - Another megalithic temple and a UNESCO world heritage site. Built in about 2000 B.C. the site continued to be used until the early Bronze Age (1500 B.C.).
14. Senglea Point (photo opportunity) - A unique chance to see Valletta and its bastions from the other side of the harbour.
15. Vittoriosa Waterfront - The area has recently been conserved and transformed into one of the finest marinas in the Mediterranean with berthing facilities for super-yacht. The area also houses Malta’s Maritime Museum.
16. Bieb Is-Sultan (passing) - A magnificent triumphal gate built by Grand Master Nicholas Cotoner in 1675.
17. Żejtun Parish Church - A medium sized town in the south of Malta. Żejtun holds the title of Città Beland, which was bestowed by Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim, Grandmaster of Knights of Malta in 1797, Beland being his mother's surname. Żejtun takes its name from the Sicilian Arabic for “olive”, which was one of the main productive industries in Malta. It is also known as Ħal-Bisbut, or Casal Bisbut.
18. Żejtun St. Gregory’s Church - Before the building of the present parish church of Zejtun, now at the centre of the town, this used to be the church of the village as it was then. It was definitely the largest and one of the most interesting in the islands during the 16th Century. Its architecture attests to its antiquity, because there is an indication that some parts were actually constructed in the 15th Century while others were built during the 16th Century.
19. Marsaxlokk Fishing Village - A typical Mediterranean fishing village with colourful boats, market and fish restaurants. Mix with the locals and enjoy the fresh and relaxed atmosphere.
20. St. Lucian Tower (passing) - A fine example of fortification, the watch tower was by the Order of St. John. Today it is a national aquaculture centre and visiting is restricted.
21. Ghar Dalam Cave and Museum - One of the oldest caves on the island dating back 500,000 years. Skeletons of animals long extinct from the island have been found in this cave. The area is also ideal for rambling.
22. Blue Grotto - A natural cave with crystal blue waters. A small fishing village from where you can take a short boat trip round this natural wonder.
23. Hagar Qim & Mnajdra - Another two pre-historical temples which are situated in the same area with a short distance from each other.
24. Malta Falconry Centre – Watch falconers fly several different species of well-trained birds of prey and see these majestic birds in free flight.
25. Limestone Heritage - A museum which explains the importance stone always had with the island. Exhibits include tools used in bygone eras to quarry and work stone.
Return to Sliema.
Some sites, cathedrals and museums are closed on Sundays and Public Holidays. Please check before your visit. FREE transport from Sliema Terminus to Various Hotels (Monday to Saturday at 1500, 1600 & 1800/ Sunday at 1500 & 1700)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOADTHE SOUTH TOUR TIMETABLE
Kindly note that it is important to keep the HOP ON HOP OFF TICKET since you need it to show it to the bus driver or to our inspector to hop off and hop on the bus.