Malta: Discover the best of the Mediterranean island

Malta! An island full of history and buildings that precede even the pyramids of Giza. The island of knights will keep your interest undiminished throughout your visit. Picturesque neighbourhoods, colourful houses, medieval towns, and beautiful beaches are some of the elements you will see on this small but unique island. In our guide below, you will find all the information you need before your first visit to the island.

Read 7 Reasons to visit the Mediterranean diamond of Europe

Where to Stay in Malta — Accommodation Costs

To start with, avoid staying in Valletta or Sliema if on a budget; neighbouring towns (Gzira, St Julian’s for nightlife, St Paul’s Bay for beaches) offer much better value.

Low-cost hostels in Malta can be found on HostelWorld

Prices:

• Hostel dorm: €17–35/night (Sliema, St Julian’s)
• Budget hotel/guesthouse: €50–90/night
• Mid-range hotel: €75–110/night
• Luxury: €150–250+/night
• Tourist tax: €0.50/night (all accommodation)

Best base: Sliema or Gzira have an easy ferry to Valletta, close to St Julian’s nightlife, and excellent transport links.

Best hotel deals can be found on Booking.com

Malta Food & Drink — What to try

The food in Malta is a mixture of Mediterranean, Italian, and Arabic cuisine, as well as a hint of other cultures. Every conqueror that passed through the island at times left their own mark of flavour in the Maltese cuisine. Below, we mention certain dishes and drinks that you really have to try.

Stuffat tal-fenek: Rabbit stew is considered the national dish of Malta. The rabbit must simmer slowly to the point where the flesh is easily separated from the bones. Next, it is mixed with tomato sauce, various other spices, and wine. This dish can also be combined with various types of pasta, like spaghetti or noodles. 

Torta tal–lampuki: Lampuki is a type of fish that swims in the waters of Malta. You can find this fish in various restaurants. The Maltese prefer it in a pie. They add onions, olives, tomatoes, and even spinach or walnuts.

Pastizzi: As their food is heavily influenced by Italian cuisine, we obviously can’t omit pasta. Pasta and pizza can be found everywhere in Malta. The most famous recipe is Pastizzi. The name is similar to the Greek “pastitsio”, but this is where the similarity ends. These are small pies filled with peas, chicken, or ricotta cheese. They are sold throughout the island and are a very popular street food sold at many stores.

Timpana: One of the most traditional recipes in Malta. This dish is essentially a baked pasta pie with “pennes”. This dish is also made with minced meat, cheese, bolognese sauce, and vegetables.  It is known as the ultimate pasta dish.

Aljotta: A quick and light dish for those who want to avoid heavy, spicy foods. This Maltese soup is a perfect choice. It is a fish soup that also gets its flavour from various herbs that simmer with the fish. Garlic and esperoids are also added. The fresh fish in the soup is cut into big chunks so that you can get the full flavour.

Qaghaq tal–ghasel: This is one of the most classical desserts of Malta. It is available all year round, but is eaten more often during Christmas and Carnival time. It is made of dough in the shape of a bun, and the filling is with orange or lemon jam and is served with syrup. It is also known as a honey ring.

Hobz biz-zejt: Small and fast. One of the most popular snacks. Bread on which they put grated tomatoes, cheese, tuna, onions, and plenty of olive oil. It is very similar to the Cretan Rusk.

Cisk (Malta’s national beer): The iconic Maltese lager, light, crisp, and omnipresent. Every bar, restaurant, and supermarket stocks it. A cold Cisk overlooking the Grand Harbour is a quintessential Malta experience.

Maltese wine: Malta produces its own wines, predominantly from the indigenous Ġellewża (red) and Girgentina (white) grape varieties. Look for wines from Marsovin and Meridiana, the island’s main producers.

Transportation

Malta is a small country without trams, trains, or a metro. The travel network is much simpler and contains an extensive network of trains and buses.

Bus: The weekly multi-route bus is a good way of getting around if you are going to stay a while in Malta. The price of the card is 25€, and you simply scan it every time you enter the bus. The simple ticket costs 2€ from July until September and 1.5€ from October until June. Night tickets cost 3€ throughout the year. You can buy these tickets from the driver upon entering the bus.

At each bus stop, you can see the time schedules and when the buses arrive.  Their transportation in general is reliable, and the bus routes are frequent during the tourist season. We had visited Malta in June, and the only disadvantage of the bus system was that in the heavy traffic of the peak season, our trip took quite a long time. Thus, in the event that you have booked a tour or another activity, you had better catch an early bus.

Upon arrival at the airport, you can follow the signs to the main bus terminal and from there take the corresponding bus to your accommodation. Τhe X4 is for Valletta, whereas the X2 is for the St Julian area.

Taxi: Taxis are quite costly in Malta. Transportation from the airport in Valletta costs around 15€. Beware of taxis without taxi meters, which might outsmart you and charge you much more than the right price. It would be better to catch your ride from a taxi station to be sure. In every case, always agree upon the price prior to setting off. Although the Uber app is not used in Malta, there is an alternative app called Bolt. You can call a driver to come pick you up at the desired time and with a fixed price.

Car or Motorbike: If you want to get around the island on your own terms, without depending on a bus schedule or taxis, the best solution is to rent your own vehicle. As far as traffic jams go, you will encounter the same issues with a car as you will with the bus. The swiftest, most economical solution is to hire a motorbike, even though many don’t recommend this option due to a lack of road safety, as the local drivers can drive rather carelessly and aggressively.

For car or motorbike rental, look at Discovercars.com.

Ferry: Ferries are used quite frequently for transportation within the country. Some of the most frequented routes are from Sliema to Valletta and vice versa. They are also used to get to neighbouring islands like Comino and Gozo.

Best things to do in Malta

Sliema

A town in the northeast of Malta. It is full of life, shops, restaurants, and cafes. You can also go diving, as it has diving centers. It is directly opposite Valletta, and you can go from one town to the other by ferry. It was the town we chose to stay in as it had low accommodation prices and was in proximity to everything we wanted.

Valletta

The capital of Malta and the city that attracts the most tourist interest in the country. Upon arrival in the city, you can see the impressive fountain of Triton. Only a breath away is the gate, the passing of which marks your entrance to the old town of Valletta. There, you will also see the comparatively more modern building of the Parliament of Malta. You can wander around the old streets, gaze at the distinguished architecture of the old buildings, have something to eat, and buy a souvenir. You can even take a tour of the Braka Gardens.

From there, you have a panoramic view of the harbour and the three towns opposite it. These gardens used to belong to Italian Knights. You can take photos near the gardens or the canons and enjoy an ice cream. Finally, you can visit the large and imposing palace of the Grand Master. Originally founded in 1574, it has since been renovated and refurbished quite a few times. It is open to the public from 9 am to 5 pm.

Gozo

This island is second in size and population in the Maltese archipelago. It is even known from Homer’s Odyssey that Calypso, who had superhuman powers and was besotted with Odysseus, kept him captive for many years on her island until she finally agreed to let him continue his journey towards Ithaca. One can only visit the island by ferry from Malta. You can go to one of the beaches by bus and enjoy a swim there. The buses are right next to the area where you disembark from the ferry. The souvenirs from Gozo are cheaper than the rest of Malta, so it would be a good idea to get them from there.

Read our Gozo guide

Comino

Another small island you can visit by ferry from Malta. There are no cars on the island except those belonging to a few locals. This island does not have any distinguishable buildings. However, it is very well known for the beach Blue Lagoon. A very beautiful place to spend your entire day. The scenery is peaceful, the waters are crystal clear, and you can do various water sports. Avoid going there late as it gets very crowded. The morning hours are quieter. There is a canteen from which you can buy anything you need at pretty low prices.

Gondola Tour

You can take a tour on a Maltese Gondola. Its starting point is from the city of Valletta, and you can visit the three towns directly opposite ( Birgu, Senglea, and Bormia). We recommend going in the afternoon and taking photos with the sunset as a background, during the golden hour.

Scuba diving

As on every island, there is always the opportunity to go diving. You can discover the secrets of the sea depth if you are already a certified diver, or you can go through one of the diving training seminars. Two of the diving centers in Malta are considered the best in Europe. More specifically, the Blue Hole in Gozzo and Cirkewwa in Malta. There are also various shipwrecks around the island that you can visit.

Check our scuba diving article

Mdina

Or else «Silent City» and the former capital of Malta. It has maintained its medieval character even up till today, something that you can confirm by taking a walk inside the inner walls of the castle. It is one of the most beautiful towns on the island and is situated right in the center. St Paul is said to have lived here. You can visit the catacombs of the island, the Roman Villa, the church of St.Paul, wander around the picturesque alleys, and taste the local delicacies.

Popey’s village

The village was originally made for filming purposes and in the end, became one of Malta’s main tourist attractions. The village is an open-air museum, which everyone can visit and do various activities. It is especially fun for families so that young children can meet Popeye close up with his wife, Olive. You can also visit the comics museum, where you can lounge around with tea or coffee and take photos of the colourful buildings. During the summer months, you can also enjoy the sea and various water games. More information on public opening hours, prices, and the location may be found on Popeyemalta.com.

Marsaxlokk

A traditional fishing village in southeast Malta, which is a favourite weekend escapade for the locals. It is known for its outdoor fish markets. Another thing that makes this fishing village stand out is its small fishing boats. They call them luzzu, and they are boats painted in intense colours with eyes.

These eyes are a modern revival of an ancient Phoenician custom (also practised by the ancient Egyptians and the ancient Greeks), and they are referred to as the Eye of Horus or Osiris. It is said that they protect the fishermen whilst they are out fishing in the open seas during tempests. Finally, one of the best beaches on the island is St Peter’s Pool, a sea pool of crystalline water. As we mentioned before, this is a favourite with the locals on the weekends, so it would be best to visit it on weekdays in order to avoid the crowds.

St Julians

A place full of people, shops, and intensity. It is famous for its nightlife, and at night the shops are crammed with dancing, drinking people. The prices of the drinks are pretty logical, another reason why they are so packed. Beyond the bars, in the wider area, there are also a lot of cafes, burger shops, and restaurants with local, traditional cuisine. It is definitely worth visiting in the morning in order to avoid the chaos on the streets in the evening hours. Enjoy your walk along the picturesque pier.

Megalithic Temples

In Gozo and Malta, there are some enormous Temples which very few people know about. However, they are really worth visiting. The temples which constitute the complex called Megalithic Temples are: Ġgantija, Haġar Qim, Mnajdra, Ta’ Hagrat, Ta’ Skorba, and Tarxien. These temples were built over a span of many years, and the most ancient temple of all was built in 3600 BC! They belong to the world heritage site of UNESCO.

Finds say that various rituals and sacrifices took place in these temples. However, the creation of these temples has undergone a lot of speculation, as in those times, they did not have metal tools at their disposal. Some of the stones weigh as much as 50 tons!! Legends have it that these temples were created by giants, as one’s mind cannot fathom how else it was possible to create these impressive buildings. The complex Ġgantija is on Gozo island and consists of two temples, which are even older than the pyramids of Giza. They are estimated to be around 5500 years old!! The word Ġgantija means giant tower. The complex of Megalithic Monuments, Hagar Qim, and the complex Mnajdra are situated on top of a hill on the southernmost point of the island of Malta. 

Packing Tips & When to Go

Here are some basic items to keep in mind:

Summer clothes: Both men and women should bring plenty of T-shirts and shorts along. Pack clothes and open shoes that let you breathe and avoid the unpleasant effects of sweat.

Bathing suits: An integral part of summer vacations, especially when visiting an island. Take quite a few as one won’t be enough. Many tourists even walk around the center of the town during the day in their bathing suits.

Hats and sunscreen: Whatever can protect you from the glaring summer rays of the sun. Most of the time, you will find yourself being exposed to the sun. Whether this involves lying on a beach or walking around the central parts of the island. You had better lather the sunscreen on to avoid undesirable burns, which might ruin your holiday plans.

A mask and snorkel, and an underwater camera: Bring whatever might be necessary for the exploration of the sea depths. Malta is ideal for various sports, so it would be good to bring along whatever light equipment you will need in order to avoid buying it here.

The climate in Malta is Mediterranean and is characterised by mild winters and pretty hot summers. 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 will still get to enjoy the hot weather for swimming and other water activities. In May, there is also a fireworks festival, and in July, a jazz festival. For more favourable prices in tickets and accommodation, the best time to go is in winter, although few prefer to visit then as they can’t enjoy the beaches and many other activities which are available only in the summer.

Useful Words

Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English. Maltese is a unique Semitic language with Arabic roots and significant Italian and English influences, the only Semitic language written in a Latin script. English has been the official language since British rule ended in 1964, meaning virtually everyone in Malta speaks English fluently. You will have absolutely no communication problems as a visitor. Signs, menus, museums, and official documents are all in English. Below are some basic Maltese words.

Useful Sites & Apps

In the last few years, we have been travelling we have singled out some applications, which we use on every trip or during it. We have chosen them over others for their validity, ease of use, and variety in the options they have to offer. We describe below in detail what these are, together with their characteristics.

Booking.com

Booking.com is a popular online booking platform for accommodations worldwide. With a vast selection of hotels, apartments, villas, and more, Booking.com offers travellers the convenience of finding and booking their ideal stay in just a few clicks. The site’s user-friendly interface and extensive filtering options make it easy to narrow down search results based on specific preferences such as price, location, amenities, and more. As a result, Booking.com has become a go-to destination for travellers looking for hassle-free booking options. With competitive pricing and a loyalty program that rewards repeat bookings, Booking.com is a top choice for travellers seeking great deals and a seamless booking experience. Find available rooms for Malta on Booking.com.

Air Bnb

With over one million properties all around the world, and always increasing, ideal for a low budget stay even in expensive areas. Furthermore, because you stay in people’s villas, houses, or flats, you are made to feel more at home by the host of each destination and the homely surroundings.

Hotels.com

Hotels.com is a leading provider of hotel accommodation worldwide, offering booking services through its own network of localised websites. Once you reach 10 nights, you’ll have a free night, which you can apply at checkout. You can earn multiple free nights by continuing to book with Hotels.com, though. The platform gives travellers one of the widest selections of accommodation on the net, including both independent and major chain hotels as well as self-catering in over hundreds of thousands of properties worldwide. The company offers a one-stop shopping source for hotel pricing, amenities, and availability. Find the best deals on Hotels.com.

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor helps hundreds of millions of people each month become better travellers, from planning to booking to taking a trip. Travellers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do, and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travellers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants, and discover great places nearby.

Omio.com

Omio is a leading travel platform that helps you easily plan and book your trips. With a comprehensive network of trains, buses, and flights across Europe and beyond, Omio allows you to compare and choose the best travel options for your needs. Whether you’re looking for a quick day trip or an extended vacation, Omio’s user-friendly interface and competitive prices make it easy to create unforgettable travel experiences. Check available routes on Omio.com.

Skyscanner

Skyscanner is a leading global travel search engine, helping millions of travellers find the best flights, hotels, and car rentals. With a user-friendly interface and powerful search technology, Skyscanner makes it easy to compare prices and options across hundreds of travel providers, giving you the best deals for your trip. From budget to luxury, domestic to international, Skyscanner has everything you need to plan your next adventure. So whether you’re travelling for business or leisure, start your journey with Skyscanner and discover the world like never before. Available flights and prices can be found on Skyscanner.

GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide is an online marketplace for booking travel activities and experiences. With a wide variety of tours, activities, and attractions available in destinations around the world, GetYourGuide makes it easy to find and book unique experiences for your next trip. From city sightseeing tours and food and wine tastings to outdoor adventures and cultural experiences, GetYourGuide has something for every type of traveller. With a user-friendly website and mobile app, and a commitment to customer satisfaction, GetYourGuide is a top choice for travellers seeking memorable and authentic experiences.

Discover Cars

DiscoverCars.com offers a hassle-free car rental booking experience, with a wide range of rental car options available worldwide. Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, DiscoverCars.com offers competitive rates, 24/7 customer support, and flexible cancellation policies. With no hidden fees and a user-friendly interface, booking your rental car has never been easier. Choose from a variety of car rental options, including economy, luxury, and family-friendly vehicles, and enjoy the freedom of the open road on your next adventure. Book with DiscoverCars.com today and start exploring the world on your own terms!

Hotel Tonight

Here you will find last-minute discounts on vacancies from hotels. This is an amazingly simple app, and it doesn’t take long to book a room. You may search in each town for sights and maps. Furthermore, you can check the reviews and photos of other travellers in order to be sure about the reliability of each hotel. It also has a 24/7 customer service. If you’re stuck somewhere and you need a room desperately, this is the perfect app for you.

City Maps 2Go

Maps for travelling, hiking, mountain cycling, and many other activities. A necessary app for every adventure, activity, or touring abroad. You may only download one map per country, whereas it was possible to download two in the past. For an additional map, you need to pay. Alternatively, as soon as you have looked at the information on a map, you can delete it and then download a new one. 

You can mark all the places of interest on the map you have downloaded. Whether they are sights, shops, or restaurants, you can use the directions guide to get there. The great advantage of this app is that you don’t need to have an internet connection, although it might get stuck a few times. Nevertheless, it is quite a reliable and useful app.

iVisa.com

iVisa.com is an online platform that helps travellers obtain electronic visas, eVisas, and other travel documents quickly and easily. With an extensive database of travel requirements for over 200 countries and a user-friendly application process, iVisa.com makes it simple for travellers to apply for and obtain the necessary documents for their trips. Whether you’re planning a vacation, business trip, or other travel experience, iVisa.com can help you navigate the complexities of travel documentation with ease. More information for the necessary travel documents, depending on your nationality and destination, can be found on iVisa.com.

Malta Travel Guide FAQ — Everything you need to know