Malta is generally pleasant year-round. Accommodations often fill up during peak season, which runs May through September. Summers are hot and sunny, and beaches are usually crowded between the end of June and mid-September. July and August are particularly dry, with temperatures hovering around 30°C (86°F). Winters are mild and rainfall is relatively low. Those wishing to hike or bike should avoid the summer heat and travel to Malta in the fall or spring.
Embassies And Consulates. Foreign embassies to Malta are in Valletta . Maltese embassies and consulates abroad include: Australia, 38 Culgoa Circuit, O’Malley, ACT 2606 (☎02 62 90 17 24); Canada, 3300 Bloor St., W. Ste. 300, Etobicoke, ON M8X 2X2 (☎416-207-0922; maltaconsulate.toronto@gov.mt); Ireland, 17 Earlsfort Terr., Dublin 2 (☎1 676 2340; maltaembassy.dublin@gov.mt); New Zealand, 20 Tanera Cres., Brooklyn, Wellington (☎4 463 5168; maltaconsul.wellington@gov.mt); UK, Malta House, 36-38 Piccadilly, London, W1U 0LE (☎20 72 92 48 00; maltahighcommission.london@gov.mt); US, 2017 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20008 (☎202-462-3611; maltaembassy.washington@gov.mt). Check the Maltese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (www.foreign.gov.mt) for more embassy info.
Visa And Entry Information. Citizens of the EU do not need visas to travel to Malta. Citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Tourist Offices. Major cities and towns in Malta, including Valletta, Luqa, and Victoria, have official tourist information centers run by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA). Visit www.visitmalta.com for more information.
Money. The euro (€) replaced the Maltese lira (Lm) as Malta’s unit of currency in January 2008. The lira is fixed to the euro at a permanent exchange rate of 0.4293 to 1. Banks include APS, Bank of Valletta, HSBC, and Lombard. When exchanging foreign currency, keep in mind that banks usually have better rates than hotels and shops. Major credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are common. Adding a 10% tip is customary at restaurants and cafes.
By Plane. Many international airlines fly to Malta, including Alitalia, Air France, British Airways, Finnair, and Lufthansa. Air Malta, the Maltese national airline, flies to major cities in Europe, including Frankfurt, London, Rome, and Stockholm (☎2166 2211; www.airmalta.com). Budget airlines easyJet (☎0871 244 2366; www.easyjet.com), Germanwings (☎870 252 12 50; www.germanwings.com), and Ryanair (☎353 12 49 77 91; www.ryanair.com) offer inexpensive fares from a limited number of cities. Flights land at Malta International Airport in Luqa ( MLA; ☎2124 9600; www.maltaairport.com).
By Bus And By Ferry. The Malta Public Transportation Association (☎2125 0007; www.atp.com.mt.) runs buses throughout Malta and Gozo. A one-day bus travel ticket (€3.49) allows you to travel on all routes around Malta from 5:30am to 11pm. The main terminals are in Valletta and Victoria. The Gozo Channel Company (☎2158 0435; www.gozochannel.com) runs ferries between Malta and Gozo. Virtu Ferries operates high-speed vessels that travel from Sicily to Malta (☎2123 2522; www.virtuferries.com.)
By Car And By Taxi. Rental cars are available in most tourist areas. Traffic signage is generally good, and has improved a great deal over the last few years. Taxis are either white (no booking required) or black (booking required). Before getting into a taxi, make sure that the meter is running. Hitchhiking is rare in Malta. Let’s Go does not recommend hitchhiking.
Email And Internet. Internet access is widely available in Malta. Most Internet cafes charge around €2.50 per hr.
Telephone. The most reliable public phones are card-operated. Phone cards may be purchased at souvenir shops and post offices. Easyline phone cards come in denominations of €5, 10, and 20. International access numbers include: AT&T Direct (☎800 901 10); Canada Direct (☎0 800 90 150); MCI (☎800 90120).
Mail. Letters and postcards sent by airmail to Europe cost €0.37, to Canada and the US €0.51, and to Australia €0.63. To receive mail in Malta, have it delivered Poste Restante. Envelopes should be addressed as follows: First name, LAST NAME, POSTE RESTANTE, PO Boxes Department, Maltapost, Old Bakery Street, Valletta, MALTA. Mail can also be sent to Maltapost Head Office, Marsa, Malta. Be ready to present an ID or passport when picking up mail. For more info on postal service in Malta visit www.maltaposte.com.
Language. The official languages of Malta are Maltese and English. Maltese, the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet, is closely related to Arabic and Italian (particularly Sicilian).
Malta is a small place, but there are a fair number of budget accommodations available. Unfortunately, most hostels and guesthouses do not have online booking options, so be sure to call ahead. Malta has only one designated campground, located on the northern tip of the main island (☎2152 1105; www.maltacampsite.com). Camping in other areas is allowed only if you obtain a permit from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA).
Maltese cuisine reflects a mixture of Mediterranean influences. Malta is particularly known for fenkati, traditional rabbit in red wine. Pastizzi, pastries filled with ricotta cheese or peas, are extremely popular. Fish dishes are also common. Menus are generally in English. For more information on restaurants in Malta, visit www.restaurantsmalta.com.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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