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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

country

MaltaMalta

First trip: one base on the main island (Valletta or Sliema) for 4–5 nights with buses and ferries for day-trips, plus 2 nights on Gozo if you have a week; do not move hotels every night on islands this small.

Not field-verified

Malta is a small archipelago south of Sicily: Malta, Gozo and tiny Comino. Distances are short but roads are congested, so a well-placed base and the ferries across Valletta's harbours matter more than a car. English and Maltese are both official languages, traffic drives on the left and sockets are the UK three-pin type. The traps are July–August heat, summer crowds on Comino's Blue Lagoon, and the village festa season, which is a highlight but blocks streets and fills buses.

All regions, cities and parks in Malta (Atlas) →

Regions

Valletta and the Grand Harbourplanned

The capital, the Three Cities and Sliema across the harbour by ferry

3–5 nights

Mdina and Central Maltaplanned

The walled old capital, Rabat and the south coast cliffs as day-trips

0–2 nights

Gozo and Cominoplanned

Quieter island by ferry: Victoria's citadel, coast walks and diving

2–3 nights

Arrive

MLA

Malta International (Luqa)

The only airport; bus, taxi or ride-hailing to Valletta and Sliema

Time math

3 days
Valletta 3 (the Three Cities by ferry, Mdina one afternoon)
5 days
Valletta or Sliema 4 + a Gozo day-trip
7 days
Valletta or Sliema 5 + Gozo 2

Country rules

Inherited by every page below
  • Malta is in the EU and the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border.
  • Traffic drives on the left; if you hire a car, expect narrow roads, heavy traffic and limited parking in the towns.
  • Sockets are the UK three-pin type (Type G); bring the right adapter.

Etiquette

  • Cover shoulders and knees in churches, including St John's Co-Cathedral.
  • Malta is strongly Catholic; festas and Holy Week processions are religious events first.
  • English is an official language; locals also speak Maltese.
Holy Week and Easter
Processions in towns and villages; some sites close.
June–September (village festas)
Weekend feasts with fireworks and band marches; streets close and buses divert.
Aug 15 (Santa Marija)
Public holiday at the summer peak; ferries and beaches are full.

Money & passes

Cash necessity: 2/5

  • Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Cards work in most restaurants and shops; carry cash for kiosks, village bars and some boat trips.
  • Tipping of 5–10% is usual in restaurants when service is not included.

Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · Visas and entry

Safety

  • Summer heat and strong sun: swim early, carry water and use shade in the afternoon.
  • Sea conditions change quickly around rocky coasts; swim at marked spots and watch the flags.
  • Traffic comes from the right when you cross the road; look both ways.
  • Emergency: 112 (the EU number) works everywhere.

Malta is a short flight from Sicily, Rome and most European hubs, and there is a ferry to Sicily (planned).

Open Europe

Sources