Last Updated on January 31, 2024 by
Malta is definitely known as a summer destination but it has so many sites of archaeological interest that can leave you breathless. One of them is Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples.
These temples are located on the west side of the island, at Qrendi. It is not very far from Valetta, around 30minutes by bys and if you have many days in Malta it is an excellent choice. You get to spend some hours learning something new, visiting a Unesco World Heritage Site and enjoying an amazing view.
WHY VISIT HAGAR QIM AND MNAJDRA TEMPLES?
For all the reasons that I stated above. When is not a good idea of visiting this place of interest in Mata and therefore I don’t recommend to go?
- When you have just a couple of days in Malta and you aren’t planning to rent a car. Even though it is only 30 minutes from Valetta keep in mind that the bus connection is not frequent (1 bus every hour).
- When the weather is really bad, it is cold and windy and you just want to stay warm and cozy.
- When the weather is really hot. In this case please go early in the morning or early in the afternoon with some suncream and a hat.
HOW TO GET TO HAGAR QIM and MNAJDRA TEMPLES
The best option is to rent a car, see first Blue Grotto, then the Temples and after the Dingli cliffs. They are all very close and you get to see so many sites without the inconvenience of public transport. The best way to reach this attraction is to hop-on on one of the tourist buses that go around Malta. You can buy the tickets for the hop-on hop-off buses from here.
Anyway, I understand that renting a car is not an option for many. How to get to Hagar Qim Temples? You have to go to Valetta and take bus 74. The same to Mnajdra, you have to take the bus 74. If you stay in Sliema, it’s still the same, find a way to get to Valetta and then take this not-very-convenient bus.
If you stay close to the airport or at Rabat you can take the 201 bus to arrive at the temples. Trust me there is no other way to get there by public transport, I learned my lesson the hard way.
DISCOVERING MALTA’S STONEHENGE FOR FREE
The tickets to the temples are not very expensive, just 10€ and they totally worth it. On 2018 and 2019 they held “an open day” and the entrance was free.
The stones are really old: older than Stonehenge, older than the Pyramids.
The archeologists suggest that they were made somewhere around 3600-2500BC.
If you don’t get the free entrance, with the 10€ that you will pay for the ticket you get a 4D video that explains the process, how we think our ancestors made them and what they suggest that they were these neolithic temples. The truth is that is a really long time ago and will never know for sure why the Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples were made for.
After you finish wandering around the first complex of Hagar Qim, you can continue to the second one, to Mnajdra enjoying this incredible view. IN-CRE-DI-BLE
EXTRA TIP: If you love mystery know that the Temples are made in a way that they mark the position of sunrise on the first day of each season. During the Spring Equinox sunrise, you can even go there and notice the sun that passes through the door of the temple. Were they some kind of ritual center? We will never know.
I got to spot an amazing place to rest a bit but unfortunately was taken..! It looks like this:
GETTING OUT OF THERE
On my way back I realized that I had to take again bus 74. Me and 50 other people. Ooops. The bus came – 1 bus every 1 hour – and it was full. The bus driver let only 5(!) people in and the rest of us stayed to wait for the next bus or take a taxi. Good to know that the hop-on-hop-off bus passes from there. You can purchase the tickets for these buses from here.
Good to know too – Opening hours
June to October
Monday to Sunday: 09.00-18.00hrs
November to May
Monday to Sunday: 09.00 – 17.00hrs
Closed on 24, 25 & 31 December, 1 January & Good Friday
The best way to reach the temples is to rent a car and drive to Qrendi, where the temples are located 3. Alternatively, you can take bus 74 from Valletta to reach the temples 3.
The best time to visit the temples is during the spring or autumn, when the weather is mild and the crowds are smaller . It’s also a good idea to visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the heat of the day .
What is the architecture of the Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples?
The Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Temples are made of limestone blocks and are built in a trilithon style, which means that they consist of two vertical stones supporting a horizontal stone . The temples are also aligned with the solstices, which suggests that they were used for astronomical observations .
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