Things To Know About Malta

Essential Travel Tips for Malta

Knowing a few key facts before arriving in Malta makes the difference between a trip full of small frustrations and one that runs smoothly from day one. Every country has its own practical rhythms — its approach to money, transport, greetings, tipping, and the unwritten rules that guidebooks sometimes skip. The tips below address what actually matters on the ground, fact-checked for accuracy.

Some of these tips are practical (entry requirements, currency, transport); some are cultural (greetings, dining times, hospitality customs); some are safety-related. All of them apply regardless of where you are travelling from. None of them are difficult once you know them — but they are easy to get wrong if you arrive with assumptions drawn from home.

Entry requirements and political situations can change. Always verify visa rules through your own government's official travel advisory before departure. Travel insurance is non-negotiable for any international trip — ensure yours covers your planned activities. With the basics in hand, you are free to direct your attention towards what makes Malta genuinely worth visiting.

Key Takeaways:

• Always verify current entry requirements through your government's official travel advisory
• Understand the local currency and whether cards or cash are expected before you arrive
• Even a single word in the local language changes how you are received
• Cultural norms around dining, tipping, and social behaviour are worth knowing in advance
• Safety-specific tips for Malta are included — read them before you go

10 Things to Know Before Visiting Malta

1. Visa and Entry

Malta is a Schengen member and uses the Euro. EU citizens enter freely. US, UK, Canadian, and Australian citizens can enter visa-free for up to 90 days within the Schengen 180-day period. Malta's entry points are Malta International Airport (Luqa) and the ferry from Sicily. Ferry from Sicily takes about 90 minutes — a good option from southern Italy.

2. Left-Hand Driving

Malta drives on the LEFT — a legacy of British colonial rule until 1964. This is one of the most important practical facts for visitors from continental Europe. Maltese drivers are assertive and the roads in the centre of the island can be narrow and confusing. Left-hand drive — the most critical thing to know before getting in a car in Malta.

3. English is Everywhere

English is co-official in Malta and universally spoken — Malta was a British colony and English education has been central since independence. All signage, menus, and tourist information are in English and Maltese. Communication is entirely straightforward. English is genuinely co-official and universally spoken — no Maltese is required.

4. Hypogeum Booking

The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum — a 5,000-year-old underground temple complex — limits visitors to 80 per day maximum to protect the site. Same-week booking is essentially impossible during tourist season. Book months in advance through Heritage Malta. It is one of the most extraordinary prehistoric sites in the world. Book the Hypogeum months in advance — 80 visitors per day is not negotiable.

5. Summer Heat

Malta has one of the hottest and driest summers in the EU. July and August temperatures regularly reach 35–38°C. Plan outdoor visits for before 10am or after 4pm. Indoor sites (Valletta's Baroque palaces, the Hypogeum) are air-conditioned or naturally cool. Outdoor sites before 10am or after 4pm in July/August — the midday heat is intense.

6. Pastizzi Culture

Pastizzi — flaky pastry parcels filled with ricotta or mushy peas — are the essential Maltese street food, sold from pastizzerijas for under €1 each. They are far better from a local pastizzeria than from a tourist restaurant. Ask locally for the nearest one. Pastizzi from a local pastizzeria costs under €1 and is one of the best things you will eat in Malta.

7. Feast Season

Malta's village feast (festa) season runs from May to September. Every village celebrates its patron saint with brass band processions, elaborate street decorations, and spectacular fireworks produced by local pyrotechnicians who compete fiercely for the finest display. Attending a festa adds a remarkable dimension to any stay. Village fireworks at a Maltese festa are among the finest in Europe — check the festa calendar.

8. Tap Water

Maltese tap water is desalinated and safe to drink but has an unusual taste that many find unpleasant. Bottled water is cheap and widely used. Rocky entry points with metal ladders are common on Malta's coastline — water shoes are useful. Tap water is safe but unusual-tasting; water shoes are useful for rocky coastal entry points.

9. Size and Getting Around

Malta is tiny — 316 km², the smallest EU member state. The entire island can be driven across in under an hour. The bus network (Malta Public Transport) covers all main areas. Gozo ferry from Cirkewwa in the northwest takes 25 minutes. Gozo ferry from Cirkewwa is 25 minutes and runs frequently throughout the day.

10. Tipping

10% in restaurants is appreciated but not always expected. Service charges are sometimes included — check the bill. The Maltese hospitality culture is genuinely warm. 10% appreciated; check whether service charge is already on the bill.

Final Thoughts on Travelling in Malta

The most important thing you can bring to Malta is genuine curiosity and a willingness to engage with the country on its own terms. The practical tips above handle the logistics — entry, money, transport, customs. The quality of the experience beyond that depends on the attitude you bring: openness to the differences, patience with the unfamiliar, and respect for a culture that has its own valid way of doing things.

Where something seems inconvenient — later meal times, different tipping conventions, shops closed on certain days — it is worth remembering that these are features of a living culture, not failures to meet external expectations. Adapting to them, rather than working around them, consistently produces a richer experience.

Go with a flexible itinerary, the right practical foundation, and an appetite for what makes Malta genuinely itself. That combination serves well in any country and particularly well here.