Spain, Italy, or Malta?

Hi Everyone!

My Friends and I (4 of us) are planning a little getaway. We've narrowed it down to Alicante (Spain), Malta, or Naples (Italy). We're looking to go for around a week in May. We won't be renting a car so will be looking to travel by bus and foot (also open to renting bikes).

Was wondering if anyone had advice on which to choose? We're mostly looking for some nice beaches, good ocean / country scenery walks (hopefully not to far from the city as like i said, no car) a little sight seeing in the cities probably (we're not the biggest fans of wandering round staring at old cathedrals) and some other fun day out activities/ places to go.

Any input would be great, Thank You!

1. Beaches:

Naples itself doesn't really have any beaches. You'll need to travel (by bus, Metro, Circumvesuviana + foot). Not a good idea to rent bikes imo..driving in the Neopolitan area is...erm...'interesting'!

Malta's beaches are mostly rocky. The only natural sandy ones are Golden Bay and Mellieha Bay, in the NE of the island (which has a decent bus service) but there are very small man-made ones in e.g. Bugibba, Marsascala. Malta is decent for biking (drive on the left)

Alicante has beaches at the city's edge.

2. Country/ocean walks:

Off the top of my head:

Circumvesuviana train + foot from Naples to e.g. Castellamare di Stabia, Sorrento (or + bus to Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi).

Malta is a tiny island, quite built up with much of the remainder farmland, limestone quarries etc. There are some opportunities for walking (e.g. near Golden Bay & Mellieha, Dingli Cliffs) but not really for long distances. Goxo (bus + ferry from Malta) is less 'busy' and more open.

Can't speak for Alicante: haven't walked around there.

3. Days out/places to go:

Naples: Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento, Pompeii, Ercolno (herculaneum). Bus from Sorrento along the Amalfi Coast road to e.g. Positano, Amalfi.

Ferry or hydrofoil to Capri (some good walking on Capri)

Malta:

By bus to: Valletta, the 'Three Cities, Medina and Rabat, Marsaxlokk, Mellieha etc and to the Goxo ferry port (or get an organised daytrip which will take you round Gozo).

Alicante:

Metro train (or maybe Alsa bus) to e.g. Benidorm (!), Campella, Denia. 'Proper' train (or maybe Alsa bus) to e.g. Murcia.

The three places are so very different that imo the choice has to be based on your own personal preferences & budget.

Well you are the only ones who know what you really looking for.

Budget could be a factor. Do NOT travel with a single debit or credit card. (You could lose or damage a single card.)

If you are flying long distance compare cost of flights and convenient arrival - departure times.

Search for flights from your departure country to major airports in the three locations. Which one is the best deal for price with good arrival and departures?

Four young people, one of you probably is better at research, task that person with the Google type searches and details.

I have been to all three, even lived in Italy when in the military. But this was a long time ago. Today I would probably choose Spain because I think it is a little cheaper. Your research will tell you which country will have the best weather for what you intend to do?

Your choice.

The only place of those three I have been is Naples. And it isn't a place I would pick for the beach. I wonder if you couldn't stay someplace like Sorento near Naples and have more of what you want.

Quoting greatgrandmaR

The only place of those three I have been is Naples. And it isn't a place I would pick for the beach. I wonder if you couldn't stay someplace like Sorento near Naples and have more of what you want.

Agreed about Naples. I was there a few weeks ago, it's very tired, more grafitti than I have ever seen.

Sorrento doesn't really have beaches. There's a bit on the other side of the peninsula at Positano. It's all cliffs plunging into the sea.

Sorrento only has a few rocks near the ferry dock and a very tiny sandy beach at Marina Grande.

Positano has a large-ish sandy-ish beach though parts of it are private. Amalfi has the same. Going towards Naples, Vico Equense has a couple of small beaches.

There's a great deal of poverty & (imo) even more corruption in Naples and I'm afraid it shows. The traffic in and around the city is dreadful. There are some fantastic historical sights & sites but it really is a place where being aware of potential pickpocketing and petty theft at all times is essential.

[ Edit: Edited on 27 Feb 2025, 15:37 GMT by leics2 ]

Of the three, I've only been to Malta. Pro: it's small, so you should be able to reach most places by bike. Con: in my opinion there's little to see. I don't remember taking any photos along the way as I drove across the islands (Malta and Gozo). Of course that could be considered a plus if you don't want to be "wandering round staring at old cathedrals". I remember taking a full day for Valletta, and only needing about half a day in the end. Other places took me even less time. I can't help with the beaches though, as I'm not a beach person.

I would have said Venice which does have a beach and a lot of places to walk to - probably not so much biking- but it would probably be expensive and maybe cold in May. I wonder about someplace in Portugal or southern Spain like Malaga or Valencia.

One of you can do some research on Malaga. Maybe it will do. (You can ignore the culture aspects if you want.)

https://www.travellerspoint.com/guide/M%C3%A1laga/?redirectedFrom=Malaga/