Expect to pay a little more for your purchases, but be happy in the knowledge that you are buying a genuine piece of Maltese treasure. For those not purchasing anything, there’s the chance to watch skilled craftsmen at work in their stores. The village is one of the most popular stops on local tours, and going with a guide will help give you a deeper understanding of local craft traditions.
The crafts village is situated near the National Stadium and Malta Aviation Museum on the outskirts of Attard. There are several direct buses from Valletta bus station, including the #52 and #53. The journey time usually takes around half an hour. It’s also on the local hop-on, hop-off bus route.
Ta’Quali Crafts Village is open all day Monday-Friday and on Saturday mornings. It closes on Sundays. If you want to beat crowds, visit first thing in the morning in the middle of the week. Like the rest of Malta, this popular attraction can get crowded during the summer peak season, particularly in July and August.
Two of the village's standout stores are Phoenician Glassblowers and Mdina Glass; both produce colorful, high-quality glassworks. Another of Malta’s best buys is gold and silver work, and the making of intricate filigree jewelry is a national specialty. All Maltese silver and gold products should be hallmarked. A design found across the island is the delicate interlaced Maltese cross, symbol of the Knights of St. John who occupied Malta between 1530 and 1792.
