Travel guide to Malta

Repubblika ta Malta

Valletta

320 square km

Maltese and English

Catholicism

381.603 (1999)

Republic

There are six Maltese islands, situated in the middle of the Mediterranean, 93 Km south of Sicily and 500 Km north of Libya. Malta is the biggest of the six islands. Bays and harbours along its coastline dominate it. Gozo, the second largest island, is situated northwest of Malta, and is more hilly and fertile than Malta.

If you visit Malta from February to June you will avoid the very hot summer. The rainy season is between October and February. The peak season is from July to September, when tourists account for twice as many people than the inhabitants themselves.

Lonely Planet Malta
Essential Malta and Gozo

Distance: yard/mile
Weight: pound/stone
Volume: pint/gallon

It is not permitted to take pictures in some churches and in some museums. If you wish to take a picture of a native person, you should ask for permission.

The water from the tap can be used, although it is recommended that you drink bottled water.

The following voltage is used on Malta:
220 V, 50 Hz

You should not wear a bathing suit anywhere but on the beach. Many churches and sights demand that you cover arms, legs and shoulders

Shops are open from 9 AM to 9 PM (Monday to Friday). In the weekends they also open at 9 AM, but close earlier.
Banks are open from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM (Monday to Friday) and from 8:30 AM to 12 PM on Saturdays. Most banks are also open in the afternoons once per week; usually on Fridays.
Offices are open from 9 AM to 7 PM (Monday to Friday).

On Malta there are a wide selection of restaurants and cafés. In the more than 680 restaurants you can get everything from junk food to exquisite delights. The local dishes are Fenek (rabbit-flesh in wine) and Brungiel (aubergines with tomato- and flesh stuffing). The local beer, Farsons, is an excellent alternative to the many foreign brands of beer available.

Generally, Malta does not have many facilities for the disabled, although many hotels have started taking it into account. A list of the hotels with good facilities for the disabled can be retrieved at:
National Commission for the Handicapped
St. Joseph's High Road
Santa Venera

New Years Day, January 1st
Paulus' shipwreck, February 10th
St. Joseph's Day, March 19th
Maltas Freedom Day, March 31st
Worker's Day, May 1st
Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul, June 29th
Mary's Ascension Day, August 15th
Feast of our Lady of the Victories, September 8th
Independence Day, September 21st
Mary's Conception, December 8th
Christmas Day, December 25th

Variable Holidays
Long Friday, April
Memorial Day for the rebellion in 1919, June
Day of the Republic, December

There are a wide selection of hotels, guesthouses, hostels and apartments. During the high season the price is usually 40 percent higher.
Book your Hotel in Malta here

There are currently no official camping grounds on Malta, although the government has prepared many sites on the island for this purpose. In practical terms, it is not permitted to camp on Malta, and you should specially stay away from places where you might bother someone. Therefore, it is recommended that you camp outside the cities or on the Northern parts of Malta.

Malta has hotels in all price ranges and of different quality. The state's tourist office has rated all hotels.

If you make use of Maltese guesthouses you will experience a friendly and warm atmosphere. Most of the guesthouses in either Gozo or Malta are well situated, with easy access to banks, buses, shops and nightlife.

There are five excellent hostels in Malta. One of these is on Gozo.

Other
Apartments
There are many furnished flats for rent all over the country. Many of these offer great views, terraces and swimming pools.

Farmhouses
If you plan to stay in Malta for a long time it is recommended that you try the so-called farmhouses - offering luxurious and relaxed conditions. Many of these have swimming pools and barbecues. Compared to other destinations in the Mediterranean the price of Maltese 'farmhouses' is reasonable.

It is very easy to get around in Malta. You can rent everything from bikes to cars, and the public transport system works well, in spite of most of the buses being from the 1950's.

Malta International Airport is situated in Luga, 5 Km from Valletta, although Malta is so small that planes don't fly domestic routes. As an alternative, you may take a helicopter from Malta to Gozo, getting a fantastic ride.

The old buses are the most common means of transport on Malta.

There are no trains in Malta.

Taxis are cheap in Malta. There are white and black cabs. The white ones can be hired on the street, although the driver's seldom use taxi-meters. It is therefore recommended that you agree on a price before the ride starts. The black cars are not allowed to stop on the street, so you should phone for one.
Wembley's 24-hours taxiservice: 332074/345454.

It is rather cheap to rent a car on Malta. Most international car rental firms have offices in Malta, although the local firms are up to 15 percent cheaper.

There are many boats sailing between Malta, Gozo and other destinations in Malta. It is also possible to hire taxi-boats in Valletta.

The Maltese invented the so-called 'karrozins' in 1856. They are elegant horse carts with room for four passengers. Today they are mostly used for tourists and weddings, and they are both a good and a fun way of discovering Malta - although they are more expensive than other means of transport.

In many places in Malta public displays of affection are not permitted. This is particularly the case in churches and museums. When you are walking on the street you should keep an eye on the traffic - there is no concept of criminal drunk driving in Malta!

 • Comino Island
 • Gozo Island

 • Mdina
 • Valletta