The Malta Experience — Attraction in Valletta

Interesting...but not worth it (32 Euro for 2 - Dec 19). Basically a 45 min or so movie and a 'bolted on' 20 min tour. The details: Movie basically spans Malta's History from ancient to modern. It is what it is and nothing you probably couldn't get on YouTube or certainly the wider web. It is shown via a ticket purchase and gift area in a cinema room with headphones by each seat with a dial to select language. Within a min or two of commencing...my headphones started cutting in and out. Eventually one ear piece gave up the ghost altogether. While this rather did for my experience.. to be fair...my wife's worked ok. I tried other earphones around me but not working at all..so concluded that if not selected from start... might be disabled? Anyway...no joy...and after 25 mins of fiddling around...ended up with one rather quiet earpiece that I 'strained' to follow story on. Then...off the back of vague instructions to proceed upstairs for tour... joined a group that eventually started milling around at the entrance. We were given sticker's to put on...which I dutifully did...but many just didn't bother...untill the rather stern tour guide turned up. She spent around 15 mins or so 'corralling' us and ensuring tickets were collected and ripped in half and stickers worn. She would not proceed unless the exact number of tickets collected match the group (presumably to ensure no random tourist 'infiltrated' her tour). We then proceeded across the road into the completely empty halls that were the site of the old Hospitaler Infirmary. To be fair.. the guide was interesting...clear diction in English...and she did her best to describe what would have been...but basically there's nothing there. After this ...once again led through the gift / ticket area where I guess they hope you'll buy some 'tat'. I sauntered over to the ticket area and told them about the headphones and showed them the seat. After a rather 'tepid' 'they should have worked' was offered to go in again or come back another time. Stated we were scheduled elsewhere (which we were) and departing island later. After a phone call 10 euros returned). Fine...but I'd rather the tech had worked In summary...regardless of tech fault... They could learn from other Cities interactive experience attractions. Have visited a few e.g....

My husband's parents are both Maltese but he has not been to Malta since he was 2 years old (almost 50 years ago) and since this was my first time visiting Malta, we decided to check out The Maltese Experience based on a recommendation from a friend.

We are glad we did because we both really enjoyed it. We were a little concerned at first because my husband is 6'6" and once you go downstairs, you have to walk through a long tunnel that is not very tall and at times, his head would brush against the ceiling. But all was good once we entered the shop.

We were delighted to find that the shop and the theatre were very well air-conditioned because we were there in August and it was truly hot outside.

We were provided headsets that offered commentary in your choice of language. We both found the documentary to be enjoyable and informative. My husband even learned some things he did not know.

After the documentary, we took a guided tour of the La Sacra Infermeria. Our guide was delightful and we found it to be truly interesting.

The Malta Experience was an overall enjoyable experience and it was nice to learn about the country at the start of our visit to Malta.

We would definitely recommend it to those visiting Malta for the first time.

*Note: The seats in the theatre are fairly small and the rows are a bit tight. Given my husband's height, we had to sit in the very front row because he was too tall to fit in...

As the advertising states, this is really a great introduction to Malta and it's rich and very interesting history. The presentation is shown on a big cinema screen with support for all languages via the private headphones that you find in each seat.

The video lasts 30+ minutes but the time doesn't drag. We were truly fascinated by the history and everything that helped shape Malta to the Island that we Knie today.

The Experience itself is located on the side of the old walled fortress of the capital of Malta - Valetta. You can buy tickets in advance online or from the small tickets booth at the venue itself. The film offers hourly showings all week and you access the cinema and the small shop down some old stairs into the halls cut into the rock below.

When you buy the tickets, you can also add the extra "Tour der Sacra Infermeria" for a few Euros. This gives you a very interesting view of the rooms behind and below the Malta Experience and includes a guided Tour with an unbelievable history including the huge Hospital wards operated first by the Knights of St.John and then led the way in patient treatment under Napoleon and then the Britisch until 1920.

The "Tour der Sacra Infermeria" is definitely worth the extra expense as it also shows you the new conference rooms and theatre which have played host to many political events on the European and...