Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum — Attraction in Paola

I’ve never been somewhere that is so so amazing but led and presented in a way which was so boring and disinterested. When we got there they said “buy things, the shop will be closed by the time you get out”. They gave us no instructions and then got upset when my partner went to put things in the locker before being told to which he was then told to do 1 minute later. Weird? Everyone seemed like they just wanted to go home. Our guide, if you can even call her that, was smoking a cigarette out the front before our tour and then was so disinterested the whole tour just saying “watch your heads, watch your heads”. The most interesting part was the initial introduction video which I could’ve watched on YouTube. During the tour You have to hold an audio thing next to your head the whole time and half the time it’s just playing weird music and noises which if you have any sensory sensitivities was quite off putting and really took away from the beauty which would’ve been amazing to have been experienced in silence (at some point this would’ve been nice in the whole tour). The audio echoed loudly through the chamber and was really disjointed as different translations finished at different times. Be mindful that if you don’t like being squashed next to other people with low ceilings that you might have issues here. I am normally fine but the closed space with the weird music had me nearly passing out. All of the artifacts found have been taken out and put in museums except for a few items in the first video room which are in glass cases. I just see this as quite disrespectful as I’m sure those who created this would have wanted these things plus their own bones kept where they were intended to be.. The audio tour summed up is basically “we don’t know, dead bodies were found here but we don’t know”. Afterwards the audiobook said “head out and you’ll have a chance to ask questions” when we got to the top no one offered this, there was just people with their arms crossed looking like they wanted to go home and within 1 minute of leaving the security and the guide were outside smoking fags again. Unfortunately for the price just not worth it, which is disappointing as this place just has insane potential. Would’ve been great to have an expert explain things and a chance to ask questions. The amount of money they are making for a 35-40 minute experience, half of which is above ground, surely they could provide a better tour. The two stars is for the Neolithic people who created the space. Would’ve been 5 if it was honoured in...

So Google just asked me to write down how I liked the hipogeum... Monolithical structures, ancient carvings of stone and unexpectedly huge statues from a time unimmaginable for the human mind. Sounds nice. Must be nice. Probably I would have loved it, if I actually got in to the place. As a traveler arriving from Hungary, I had previously searched the things I thought worth visiting, thus the hipogeum as well. Now I am human, sometimes I miss pieces of minor information, but it is not usually the case when I re-read tourist books and travel blogs, even their own website in search of crucial intel on how I actually can get in to somewhere and for how much money. Here's what happened today: So we, my parents, my brother and I, travel to the place by bus, from St. Julien. We enter the hipogeum, where the lady shares with us the fact: there are only ten people allowed in to the sight every hour due to some UNESCO regulation, therefore the places have to be pre-booked online, usually months before you actually can get in (in our case the next available date would've been June 30). The only option you have to visit the hipogeum, is if you buy the so called "last minute" tickets in St. Elmo's Fort (War museum) in Valetta for €40 per capita, regardless of being a child, student, pensioner or anything. They apparently have 20 tickets on them for two tours on the next day. If they're out, you're notgetting in. I do believe in social sharing and helping out fellow travelers, so I write this. Be aware, that this information is true, despite of being very poorly advertised by the Hal Saflieni personel (I think it's due to some kind of agreement for the tremendous "last minute" offer). We were not the only ones, who traveled more than an hour to find the staff lady with a very wide smile behind a counter, selling no tickets, turning very angry, when asked to explain, why on earth doesn't she. Pre-book your tickets, Fellas, maybe if I knew about this, now I'd be writing a...

First of all,you have to buy tickets months in advance (we got them almoust 3 months ahead,and still we had to in 2 groups) Second of all,you need to have a good attitude and apreciation of what you are about to see,always keeping in mind that you are almoust steping into another world. Third of all,you must be lucky to have a good guide.

Now,for the visit itself: there are 3 areas that you can see inside,some smaller than others. There are places that not all people inside can fit,and if you are thinking "it's ok,i'll just wait my turn" like me and my husband did,you will not actually see it,because while the story unfolds on the "telephone guide",diferent lights turn on and off.

Now,for the guides: our 3 kids (ages 20-23) got inside in the group just before us,and they got a young girl as a guide who was more bored than death itself,and it showed. It showed that she didn't give a s* about what was happening,what was everything about,and our kids and others in the group picked out on that and lost almoust imediate interest,to the point of "yeah,cool...rocks. why 1h when we could be out in less than 5 min?". She even stoped in one place that i mentioned before that not everybody fits in,thus having multiple persons not being able to see into that specific area. And she was completelly mute.

Me and my husband as i mentioned,were in the group just after,we had a lovelly time,and like i said with the apreciation of being in a 7.000 years old place,and underground for other thoundsands of years. Our guide was a lovelly old man,who we could see had apreciation for the underground temple,told us a few short stories and explained some things when we didn't understand or asked questions 🙂.

All in all me and my husband loved it,and the kids didn't,so maybe it's also a matter of age. For younger people i would totally recomend going to St. Paul's Catacombs. It is only 5€/pers and you don't need advance tickets. We spend 3 hours there,it was amazing and...