Malta Travel Tips: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Malta Travel Tips at a Glance

• Best time to visit: April through September
• Length of stay: ideally seven to ten days
• Documents: ID card; a passport is not required for EU citizens
• Currency: Euro (paying by debit card is no problem)
• Getting around: Uber (our top pick), rental car, or bus
• Costs: flights from 50 euros, hotels from 50–150 euros per night, plus another 30–50 euros per day depending on your budget and preferences
• Safety: very safe destination, including for solo female travelers
• Clothing: regular clothing; cover your shoulders when visiting churches
• Highlights: Mdina, Valletta, Malta’s lagoons, Marsaxlokk, Blue Grotto, Blue Hole, Dingli Cliffs, Golden Bay Beach, Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra, Popeye Village, and much more

Here you’ll find more information on the most beautiful places and must-sees in Malta:

Best Time to Visit Malta

The best time to visit Malta is from April through September. During this period, the chances of good weather are nearly 100%, you can swim in the sea, and enjoy all the activities Malta has to offer.

We especially love Malta as a destination in August — the water is at its warmest at around 25°C (77°F), which is just perfect.

And you don’t need to worry about sky-high hotel prices during peak season either. Malta is a genuinely affordable vacation destination and even makes for a great New Year’s Eve getaway. More on accommodation costs further down.

Here’s more information on the best time to visit:

Getting to Malta and Entry Requirements

Unless you’re arriving by cruise ship and docking in Valletta, you’ll be flying into Malta.

Malta International Airport (MLA) is located in the southern part of the island, near Luqa, and is the island’s only airport.

Nonstop flights to Malta are available from around 40–50 euros.

EU citizens traveling to Malta don’t need a passport — your valid national ID card is all you need.

If you’re bringing a pet to Malta, the Pet Travel Scheme applies, which means your pet can enter without prior quarantine.

Once you’ve landed, getting to your hotel in Malta is quick and easy. The island is small, so distances and travel times are really short.

We’d recommend taking an Uber from the airport to your hotel. Uber is super affordable, convenient, and totally reliable in Malta — more on that in the getting around section below.

Accommodations in Malta

As we mentioned, Malta is a genuinely affordable place to visit. Most hotels are concentrated in popular vacation areas like Sliema, Mellieħa, and San Ġiljan.

In the quieter parts of Malta — including the smaller neighboring island of Gozo — you’ll mainly find B&Bs and vacation rentals.

Our hotel recommendations for Malta:

The best areas to stay in Malta with hotel recommendations

Beautiful beachfront hotels in Malta

Unique boutique hotels in Malta

The best hotels in Malta’s capital city, Valletta

Getting Around Malta

Important: Malta drives on the left!

Compared to other beautiful European islands, Malta is relatively small. From the southern to the northern tip, you’re looking at only about 30 minutes by car.

Of course, Malta has buses and taxis. But our top recommendation is the Uber ride service.

If you’ve never used Uber before: it’s a ride-hailing app available in almost every corner of the world. You book a ride at a fixed price — it’s basically like a taxi, only cheaper, safer, and much more convenient.

Uber for Android
Uber for iOS

In Malta, the Uber service is affordable and reliable. We used it every single day — for example, we paid just 14 euros for the roughly 20-minute ride from Sliema to Mdina.

Once you arrive at any of the beautiful spots in Malta, you can easily explore on foot.

Please note: The prices we mention are based on our own experiences and are intended as rough guidelines only. Many Uber drivers in Malta use dynamic pricing — so actual costs may vary depending on the time of day, demand, or season.

Is renting a car in Malta worth it?

A rental car in Malta costs around 10 to 60 euros per day, depending on the car and provider. There are some great deals out there — for example, from addCar, where a full week can come in at around 120 euros.

Compare rental car deals on Discovercars

With a rental car, you get maximum flexibility and can reach more remote spots at your own pace — that’s a real plus.

The downside? It’s obviously not great for the environment when every tourist drives their own car around the island. You’ll also need to get used to driving on the left and deal with a fair amount of traffic, especially in and around Sliema.

Important: Between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., honking in residential areas is prohibited in Malta.

So even with the affordable rental car prices, we still think Uber is the smarter choice.

Parking in Malta

Parking in Malta can be a little confusing at first. The color of the road markings tells you what the rules are for that spot:

• White: Parking is permitted
• Yellow: Parking is restricted or prohibited
• Green: Reserved for residents
• Blue: Parking is allowed for all drivers from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Outside those hours, only residents may park

Parking fees vary from lot to lot. Some are free, while others cost around 2 euros per hour. You may also encounter a parking attendant you can leave a tip for — but you’re not obligated to.

Watch out! Scammers use this as a scheme to get money from tourists. That’s why you should absolutely avoid the parking lot in front of Mdina’s city gate. If you don’t pay the supposed attendant, they’ll box your car in.

Water taxis and ferries in Malta and Gozo

While a car gets you around Malta perfectly well, there are a few routes where a boat is the only option — specifically between:

• Valletta – Sliema
• Valletta – The Three Cities (La Cottonera)
• Malta – Comino/Gozo

Because Valletta is a peninsula surrounded by water, passenger ferries and water taxis run almost continuously between Sliema’s waterfront and the La Cottonera coast to Valletta’s harbor.

A one-way ticket costs about 3 euros and is purchased on the spot. The crossing takes around ten minutes.

We tried both options multiple times and enjoyed them both. The small water taxi is definitely the more authentic experience — and honestly a lot more fun.

You’ll also need a ferry to reach the neighboring islands of Gozo or Comino. Both are part of Malta but aren’t connected to the main island by road.

Passenger and car ferries depart from the port of Ċirkewwa in the north of Malta. The crossing takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and tickets are purchased on-site.

Horse-drawn carriages in Malta

Rides in small horse-drawn carriages are still popular with tourists in Malta, especially in towns like Mdina and Rabat. We personally advise against them.

The reason is animal welfare. Animal rights organizations have been pushing for years to get these rides banned and have managed to enforce a rule prohibiting the carriages from operating during the midday heat between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

And besides, Malta’s charming towns are perfectly suited for exploring on foot. A carriage simply isn’t necessary.

Cost of Your Malta Trip

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Malta is seriously affordable. Much more so than, say, Italy or Spain.

Your main expenses will typically look like this:

• Flights: 50–100 euros per flight
• Hotel accommodation: 50–150 euros per night
• Paid activities: 100–150 euros per week
• Daily spending money for food, drinks, transportation, and shopping: 30–50 euros per day

The biggest expense on your Malta trip will likely be activities like boat tours, parasailing, or excursions to other parts of the island.

What currency does Malta use?

Malta uses the euro, and debit and credit cards are widely accepted — so you really don’t need to worry about exchanging cash before you go.

How much money should you bring for one week in Malta?

The easiest approach is to pay by debit card or a travel credit card. That way you don’t need to carry cash, and it’s much easier to keep track of your spending. You can also leave a tip in Malta when paying by card.

If you’d still prefer to have some cash on hand, budget around 30 to 50 euros per day — that works out to 210 to 350 euros for one week.

How much does a restaurant meal cost in Malta?

Eating out in Malta is pleasantly affordable. A great dinner here will cost you roughly half of what you’d pay at a comparable restaurant in most Western European cities.

For dinner with a drink at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay around 20 euros per person.

Safety in Malta

Malta is a very safe country — including for solo female travelers.

The two of us visited the island (two women) and never once felt uncomfortable or unsafe. Quite the opposite — at one point we actually said, “Nobody hassles you here at all. It doesn’t feel sketchy in the least.” It almost feels like everyone looks out for one another.

The crime rate in Malta is extremely low.

The most common issue is pickpocketing. This happens most frequently on Malta’s buses — yet another reason to use Uber — but also in busy spots like the fish market in Marsaxlokk or in Valletta.

The domestic political situation is equally stable and calm.

The island also has no dangerous animals. Great white sharks do live in the waters off Filfla, south of Malta, but they almost never come near the Maltese coastline.

Communication in Malta

Malta officially has two languages: Maltese and English. You may also encounter locals who speak Italian or French. Either way, English is the language to use in Malta — it’s also what most tours and excursions are conducted in.

How to Behave Properly in Malta

Malta is a relaxed country. That said, there are a few things worth keeping in mind:

• Tipping is not required in Malta, but it’s always appreciated.
• When visiting cathedrals, cover bare shoulders.
• Do not go barefoot into shops — even if you’re coming straight from the beach.
• Smoking in Malta is — with few exceptions — only permitted outdoors.
• If vendors approach you on the beach or along promenades with goods you’re not interested in, a polite smile and “No, thank you” does the trick.

Food and Drink in Malta

Malta is known for seriously excellent fresh fish, plenty of vegetables, sweet pastries, and delicious wines.

Two popular specialties are Aljotta, a fish soup with rice, garlic, tomatoes, and marjoram, and Ftira, a type of flatbread with a hole in the middle, drizzled with oil and topped with tomatoes, garlic, and onions.

For authentic Maltese pastries, head to Parruccan Confectionery in Rabat — one of our favorite under-the-radar picks in Malta.

Can you drink tap water in Malta?

No. Don’t drink the tap water in Malta. It’s desalinated, chlorinated seawater — totally fine for washing, showering, brushing your teeth, and cooking, but not for drinking.

Our tip: Bring a reusable water bottle and pick up a large jug of water at the supermarket on your first day. That way you can refill your bottle worry-free whenever you need to.

More food and drink tips here:

Internet and Power Outlets in Malta

Internet connectivity in Malta is excellent — including mobile data. Since Malta is part of the EU, there are no roaming charges for EU visitors. Most hotels also offer free Wi-Fi for guests.

The power outlet situation is a bit different, though. Because Malta was once a British colony, it still uses British-style outlets — Type G with 230 volts and 50 hertz. Make sure to pack a power adapter.