George Farrugia, Sunday 10 May 2026
The Camino Maltés starts from in front of St Paul’s Catacombs, Rabat. I commenced my pilgrimage by cycling from home, 9 km away from Rabat, and by 7 a.m., I began the official Camino route ride.
The route from Rabat to Birgu (Fort St Angelo) is not continuously downhill and involves about 270 m of elevation gain. It took me 3:15 hours to arrive at St Angelo, and I stopped several times for photos and stamps, using a regular (analog) MTB. Incidentally, there are about 200 meters of rough terrain, but nothing a road bike cannot handle.
I undertook this endeavour on Sunday to take advantage of less traffic on the road. The downside of this is that most establishments would still be closed, and finding someone to stamp your pass may prove difficult. The best option I found was Police Stations (usually in the main squares or nearby). The Rabat, Siggiewi, Zurrieq, and Zejtun stations are generally open. On other days, Malta Post offices or sub-post offices may also provide a stamp as would local councils within office hours.
From my cycling experience in Malta, Saturday afternoons (after 13:00) may also be a good time for the bike-camino, as traffic in Malta tends to subside for a few hours in the early afternoon. This being said, there will always be some vehicles on the road.
Needless to say, as a cyclist, I strongly recommend wearing helmets, gloves, and hi-viz clothing and gear even during the day. It is also important to make clear signs of your intentions before turning. Most motorists respect cyclists, but there are always those few who feel more entitled and would not give way. Take care and never assume that drivers saw you. Unless they clearly give way, you must stop.
The route takes us through old Maltese villages such as Zebbug, Siggiewi, Qrendi, Zurrieq, Gudja, Ghaxaq, Zejtun and Zabbar before reaching Cottonera and finishing in Birgu.
