Anyone who’s ever been to Malta will also know that her sister island, Comino, is home to possibly the most picturesque bay in the Mediterranean – the Blue Lagoon – and that not to swimming in this stretch of turquoise water would be a serious crime against travel.
Rugged inlets and idyllic bays are a large part of Malta’s appeal and rightly so, the coastal aesthetics are not only pleasing to the eye from a sun lounger or seafront restaurant but they engulf your peripherals if you are lucky enough to tour the islands by yacht.
This Malta travel guide will help you plan your next vacation.
Table of contents
Table of Contents
Fast Facts about Malta
- Malta power voltage is 240 V 50Hz; Plug G
- The Maltese currency is the Euro and is around 1 Euro to 1.10 USD.
- The official language of Malta is maltese, but almost everyone speaks English.
- If you plan on driving in Malta, remember to drive on the left side of the road!
- The best and freshest fruits and vegetables are sold by street vendors at the side of the road so make sure to stop and pick some up.
- Eat some pastizz, a savoury pastry from Malta which usually has a filling of either ricotta or mushy peas.
Things to See and Do in Malta
- Snorkeling: The water in Malta is perfect for snorkeling, as it’s clear and warm.
- Ziplining: There aren’t many more scenic places to zipline than Malta as you have views of the water.
- Visit the former capital: Mdina is the former capital and found in the center of the island on a hill overlooking the land and fortifications.
- Lascaris War Rooms: If you love history, don’t miss the chance to go underground to explore the ancient war rooms that were used in World War II.
- Mosta Dome: This beautiful church is a stunning sight you won’t want to miss when you’re in Malta.
- Ggantija Temples: These temples are found on Gozo and were built before the Pyramids of Egypt.
Malta Travel Guides
Budgeting
Accommodation
Budget – You can stay budget hotels for around $30 US per night in Malta. These often include private rooms, a continental breakfast, and a TV.
Mid Range – Mid-range hotels start at $50 a night in Malta and may include a restaurant, a view from the room, and a private safe.
High End – High-end hotels start at around $130 per night and may include a pool, private balcony, and lounge.
Check out our favorite booking platforms Booking.com, Tripadvisor and Air B&B for the best deals on accommodation in Malta.
Food
- Maltese bread – This specialty bread is crunchy on the outside while being soft on the inside.
- Fish – You can’t beat the fresh fish found on this island including Lampuka, swordfish, and grouper.
- Cisk – On a hot day, nothing is better than a bottle or two of this light beer.
The Best Ways to Get Around Malta
Getting to Malta:
Flights: There are many direct flights available from various countries in Europe to Malta. The Malta International Airport is the only airport on the island.
You can check for the best flights to Spain on Skyscanner.
Transportation:
Buses: There are busses around the island that you can purchase a single fare for, but Malta also offers a tourist card for multiple trips.
Taxis/Uber: Fares for taxis are around 20 euros. Uber is not available.
Car Rental: Car rentals start at 15 euros per day.
You can also compare prices here.
When to go To Malta
- The best time to go to Malta is from April to June. There won’t be as many tourists as in the summer, but you’ll still get to enjoy warm weather for swimming and water activities. You’ll also be there during the drier season so you shouldn’t experience much rain.
Where to Stay in Malta
- Corinthia St George’s Bay – This modern hotel has rooms with balconies, providing for a beautiful place to stay and have ocean views. There’s also a private lounge available, indoor pool, and sauna.
- The Phoenicia Malta – This neoclassical hotel has views of the Grand Harbor and is close to the waterfront. There’s also a cocktail bar, restaurant, and free parking available.
- Preluna – This hotel is great for families or large groups, as family suites are available. They also have a beach club with a saltwater pool, children’s pool, and a spa.
Check out our favorite booking platforms Booking.com, Tripadvisor and Air B&B for the best deals on accommodation in Malta.
What to Pack for Malta
Malta has a subtropical-Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. During summer it can be very hot indeed, and unless you are used to high temperatures, spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit.
- Classic Basic items – You do not need to be a fashionista to blend in. The key is in embracing neutral toned items that can be mixed and matched easily. Avoid logos, baseball caps, shorts, hoodies, flip-flops and running shoes as these items scream tourist!
- A tropical wardrobe. This should include—for both men and women—shorts, T-shirts, breathable rain gear, a warm jacket or fleece, sturdy footwear, and a wrap.
- Swimming suits (plural!) – Malta is all about frolicking under the sun, lazing at the beach or diving head first in its turquoise waters. Make sure to bring more than one bathing suit as no one likes putting on a damp suit!
- Snorkel, mask, and underwater camera. Malta is a tropical paradise with uncounted underwater wonders. Avoid the fees and the possibility of not being able to rent snorkel gear by bringing your own well-fitted gear.
See our packing tips: packing tips
Malta Travel Guide: Best Booking Resources
Whenever we travel to we make sure to start with these companies. We have tried a lot of different ones over the years and all of these have consistently proven to be the best when it comes to offering great prices.
We have used every one of these personally and continue to do so.
- Booking.com: This is our go site to when comparing prices for accommodation. It usually has the cheapest prices, especially in Europe and we love their interface. Not to mention you get free cancellation and you are guaranteed the best price.
- Trip Advisor: What we like about Trip Advisor is that we can look at all the reviews and then book our accommodation. TripAdvisor is where we go when we want to compare prices with multiple accommodation providers.
- VRBO: is the main search engine we use when we are looking for a home or apartment rental. It can sometimes be cheaper than hotels and it is the best way to stay in areas that offer a more local feel.
- Hostelworld: With one of the largest databases of hostels in the world, Hostelworld is the go-to site when you are looking for budget accommodation.
- Skyscanner: This is the first place we check for flights. It consistently comes back with the cheapest and best options. It allows us to compare a lot of airlines to get the best price.
- Rome 2 Rio: If you want to see how to get somewhere by plane, train, bus, ferry or car Rome2Rio lays it all out for you as well as related costs.I love how they show it all to you on a Google Map and it works offline.
- Get Your Guide: For all your day trip and city guide needs, we use Get Your Guide. It has the world’s largest collection of things to do with more than 30,000 activities in 7500 destinations.
- World Nomads Insurance: When traveling to Italy you should always have travel insurance. We have found the best bang for your buck is by far World Nomads.
