About Malta

Location

The Maltese Islands namely Malta, Gozo and Comino are situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, 93 kilometres south of Sicily and 288 kilometres north of Africa. Malta is well indented, providing numerous harbours, bays, creeks, sandy beaches and rocky coves. The population in Malta is around 425,000. Malta is just a few hours flying time away from most European cities. Malta is serviced by direct flights operated by the major international airlines and various low cost airlines.

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Cost of living

Malta has a very low cost of living when compared to other countries in Europe. Living in Malta is fairly cheap. Normal utility services like water, electricity, gas and telephone and are also very reasonable.

There are no rates or council taxes in Malta.

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Currency

The Euro currency is presently Malta’s legal currency which became legal tender in Malta on the 1 January 2008 and consequently Malta became part of the Eurozone. The majority of hotels, shops and restaurants also accept payment in the main international currencies and international major credit cards. Banks, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and exchange bureaus can be found all over the Maltese Islands. Banks are normally open until early afternoon from Monday to Friday, and until mid day on Saturdays.

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Transport

Driving & Licenses

Driving in Malta is on the left. The speed limit on open roads is 80 km per hour and in built- up areas 50 km per hour. All national and international driving licenses are recognized. Comprehensive insurance is advisable.

Public Transport

The public transport service in Malta and Gozo is efficient, very reasonably priced and a very good way to get around and see the Islands. The main bus terminus in Malta is in Valletta whereas the one in Gozo is in the capital, Victoria. The bus terminus in most towns and villages, is generally found near the main square. Malta’s bus routes leave from and go to Valletta. A few operate circular routes. An express bus service links the principal resorts with Sliema, Marsaxlokk, the Three Cities, Mdina and the main sandy beaches as well as the airport.

The average length of a bus trip in Malta is around 20 to 30 minutes, the longest trip takes around 50 minutes. If you are planning to cross over to Gozo, a regular ferry service is available for your convenience carrying passengers and cars between Malta and Gozo. The trip takes around 25 minutes.

Should you require any further information please contact Transport Malta.

Communications

Telephone & Telecommunications

The telecommunication infrastructure is among the very best in the EU with various products and services available at very favorable rates. This together with the proposed Smart City would make Malta a telecommunication hub in the Mediterranean.

Cable TV and Satellite

Cable Television is very popular in Malta. There is a varied choice of around 50 channels including BBC, CNN, NBC, the major Italian channels, Spanish, French, and German channels. There is also a selection of movie and entertainment channels.

Satellite reception is also very popular in Malta and the choice there is even greater. They are also very reasonably priced.

Should you require any further information please contact the Malta Communication Authority.

Healthcare

Malta has an excellent health service. There is one major general hospital in Malta and a smaller hospital in Gozo. They are also supported by a regional network of health centres which are open day and night. Hospitals are equipped with very modern facilities. Private medical care is also available, both in private hospitals and in a number of small private clinics where minor surgery may also be carried out.

Travellers do not normally require certificates of vaccination or immunisation to enter the Maltese Islands.

EU member states citizens, resident in Malta, having a European Health Insurance Card are entitled to FREE Public Health care.

It is advisable that all visitors, irrespective of their nationality, take out a personal medical insurance policy.

Visitors receiving special medical treatment should bring a medical prescription or a letter of introduction from their family doctor, in case they need to purchase particular medicines. Pharmacies are found throughout the Islands and are open during normal shopping hours. On Sundays, chemists open on a roster from 09.00 until 12.30 in Malta and from 07.30 until 11.00 in Gozo.

Should you require any further information please contact the Health Authorities.

Education

Schools

Malta has a free state school system with an optional private education where fees are very reasonable.

The standard of education in Malta is very high. English is the language of instruction for most subjects at all levels of the education system. In Malta, English is the official language together with Maltese. Italian is also very widely spoken. Furthermore at secondary level students may take up French, German or another foreign language.

Malta has a University which provides education for more than 9,000 students in all the major disciplines. There is also a technical education system offering courses in applied electronics, IT, design etc.

Language Schools

English language teaching is well established on the Maltese Islands. There are over 40 language schools in Malta and Gozo offering a wide selection of courses and leisure programs.

Should you require any further information please contact the Ministry of Education.

Culture

Religion

There are over 350 churches around the Maltese Islands. The majority of the Maltese are Roman Catholic, but other religious denominations are also represented. Most services during the week are either first thing in the morning or in the evening and all day on Sundays. Please remember that churches are places of worship when visiting please show respect to others and dress accordingly. Shoulders must be covered. It is said that there is one church/chapel for every day of the year on the Maltese islands.

Churches: St John’s Cathedral (Valletta), Mdina Cathedral (Mdina), Mosta Church (Mosta)

History

The Maltese islands date back 7,000 years. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Archaeological Temples, the Fortifications and Towers, Museums, Palaces, Cathedrals and much more.

For further information please contact info@visitmalta.com.

Food & Drink

The traditional Maltese dishes are Aljotta (fish soup), Minestra, (thick vegetable soup), Ross fil-forn, (baked rice), Imqarrun il-Forn (baked macaroni) or Timpana (baked macaroni in a pastry case), Bigilla, (broad beans and garlic pate’), Zalzett (maltese flavoured sausage), Hobz biz-Zejt (slice of crusty Maltese bread dipped in olive oil, rubbed with tomatoes and filled with a mix of tuna, tomatoes, onion, olives, capers and garlic), Pastizzi (mashed peas or ricotta filled pastries), Lampuki (locally caught fish), also served as lampuki pie, Rabbit Stew, Bragioli (beef olives), Octopus in garlic, etc.

Obviously one also finds a wide variety of restaurants specialising mainly in the Mediterranean cuisine whilst other restaurants specialise in other traditional cuisine including Italian, French, Greek, Chinese, Malasian, Indian, Turkish, etc.

One may also make use of the large variety of fast food restaurants where one may have the typical hamburgers and fish & chips.

Both Maltese beer and Maltese wine are of an excellent quality and extremely good value for money. However foreign beers and wines are also available in most places.

Entertainment

Casinos

There are various excellent casinos in Malta. One may choose from a restored 17th century palace, an elegant colonial-style villa or an ultra modern hotel complex. They are open most days from around 12.00 hrs till early morning. They all offer slots machines and various table games with the traditional roulette and black jack. Entry requirements are that Foreign Nationals must be over 18 years of age and must present some sort of identification on their first visit. The dress code is smart casual.

Night Life

The Maltese Islands have a large variety of nightlife entertainment ranging from cultural events, exhibitions, theatres and open-air venues offering plays, musicals, operas of both classical, jazz and modern music.

Very unique to the Maltese Islands are the lively summer village festas (at least one every week during summer) where one can mingle with the locals and enjoy the village band marches, procession of the Saint being celebrated together with the creative and colourful fireworks.

The Maltese Islands have also become a hub for the clubbing scene. Internationally renowned DJs, top singers and perfomers like Andrea Boccelli, Carreras, Joseph Calleja, Sting, Elton John, Claudio Baglioni, Pupo, Toto Cutugnio, Bob Geldof and others have all performed in major music concerts here in Malta. The MTV official concert is also held in Malta every year in Floriana during summer.

Other alternatives are pubs, clubs and discos which Malta is reknown for, where both youngsters and older people alike flock to, especially on weekends.

Alternatively how about a romantic evening in a wine bar or Al Fresco restaurants enjoying either the local, Mediterranean or foreign cuisine.

Whatever your mood might be you are sure to have a great time in Malta.

Activities

Beaches

There are beautiful beaches all around Malta and Gozo. The most popular sandy beaches are Mellieha Bay and Golden Bay in Malta and Ramla l-Hamra in Gozo. Although the beaches are relatively small, they are amongst the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean.

Swimming and Bathing

The Maltese waters are very clean and safe for swimming. Some bays are exposed to north and north-easterly winds which sometimes may produce some strong undercurrents. So if you are new to the Maltese Islands it is best to swim where the Maltese do.

The Maltese Islands lie virtually in the middle of the Mediterranean. You are therefore advised to take precautions to avoid overexposure to the sun. Children and especially babies need that extra protection from the sun. If you are sunbathing, it is advisable to avoid the strongest sunlight between 11.00 hrs and 15.00 in the summer months.

Diving

The Maltese Islands clear blue Mediterranean sea with reefs, caves and wrecks is a real paradise for divers. The calmness of the sea gives an excellent underwater visibility to admire the large variety of wildlife, flora and fauna. There are many licensed diving schools offering several types of diving courses for first time divers, beginners or experienced divers. The leasing of equipment is available at very favorable rates.

Divers need to complete a medical statement form prior to any diving indicating their fitness to dive.

We highly recommend that any diving, even the very experienced divers, is done through a licensed diving school in order to ensure that all the administrative and safety procedures are all adhered to.

Yachts and Marinas

It is not surprising that Malta, an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea has excellent marinas and a number of very modern yachting facilities offering quays at very reasonable rates.

Wellness, Spa and Fitness

Wellness, spa and fitness facilities abound in Malta and may be found in most of the five star hotels as well as well as in other private outlets. Most wellness centres offer a variety of amenities and services like gymnasiums, indoor heated pools, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, body massage and treatments, beauty and slimming salons, dance studios, aerobics etc. They may also arrange tailor-made programmes to suit your individual needs. Many hotels offer packages, which include specialist treatments along with unlimited use of the fitness facilities on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly membership.

Useful Numbers

The following is a list of useful telephone numbers when you are visiting the Maltese Islands:

Ambulance 196
Direct Dialling Code (Malta) +356
Directory Enquiries 1182
Directory Enquiries (Go Mobile) 1187
Directory Enquiries (Vodafone) 1189
Emergency 112
Emergency Rescue by Helicopter 21244371
Emergency Rescue by Patrol Boat 21238797
Fire Brigade 199
Flight Enquiries 50043333
Government Information Service 153
Gozo Channel Cirkewwa, Malta Office 21580435
Gozo Channel Mgarr, Gozo Office 21556114
Hospital – Gozo 21561600
Hospital – Malta 21241251
International Code 00
Lost Property 21224781
Overseas Operator 1152
Passport Office – Gozo 21560770
Passport Office – Malta 21222286
Police 191
Time Check 195
Weather Forecast 500438