Malta
Cards, ATMs and cash in Malta: what to expect
Yes — cards are widely accepted in Malta, so most visitors need only €30–50 in cash for small village shops, buses and tips. Carry a Visa or Mastercard, withdraw from bank-branded ATMs in euros, and always choose to pay in euros rather than your home currency when the terminal offers a choice.
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- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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GuideMalta
Key facts
- Currency
- Euro (EUR); Malta uses the euro, so no exchange maths from other euro countries
- Card acceptance
- Visa and Mastercard work in hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, hire cars, ride-hailing and most shops; small village shops and some market stalls are cash-only
- Cards that work bestcheck
- Visa and Mastercard; American Express and Discover less widely taken
- Cash you actually need
- €30–50 for a few days: small shops, bus top-ups, tips, church donations
- ATM feescheck
- Bank-branded ATMs usually charge a local fee per withdrawal; your own bank may add more — check
- Dynamic currency conversion
- Decline it; pay in EUR and let your bank convert
- Contactless
- Common on terminals; phone wallets work in most places
- Tipping
- 5–10% in restaurants if service is not included; round up taxis; small change in cafés
Details
Malta has used the euro since 2008, so if you are arriving from another euro country you can skip exchange entirely. If you are coming from the UK, US or elsewhere, budget in euros and treat the card as your main tool: hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, hire cars, ride-hailing and most shops take Visa and Mastercard without comment, and contactless is normal.
The exceptions are small and predictable. Village groceries and hardware shops, some market stalls, a few family-run guesthouses and the occasional taxi still prefer cash. Public buses take cards on board in most cases, but having a couple of euros in coins makes life easier at kiosks and for the ferry ticket machines. Churches and some small museums appreciate cash for donations or entry boxes.
ATMs are everywhere in Valletta, Sliema, St Julian's, Bugibba and Victoria on Gozo. Use machines attached to a bank branch or inside a bank lobby rather than standalone machines in bars or souvenir shops: the standalone ones often run on a different fee model and can push you into their own conversion rate. Withdraw in euros, in one larger amount rather than several small ones, to reduce per-withdrawal fees.
When a terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency — 'pay in USD', 'pay in GBP' — decline and choose euros. That is dynamic currency conversion, and the rate is almost always worse than what your own bank gives you. The same rule applies at the airport and in tourist-area shops.
Keep a card separate from your cash and phone. Pickpocketing is not a major problem in Malta, but Paceville at night and crowded summer buses are the places where a bag left open can disappear. Tell your bank you are travelling if it still requires it, and save your bank's lost-card number somewhere offline.
| Situation | Card or cash | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel, restaurant, supermarket | Card | Contactless normal |
| Small village shop, market stall | Cash | Keep €20–50 on you |
| Bus, ferry ticket machine | Card or coins | Coins help at kiosks |
| Taxi and ride-hailing | Card in app | Round up for cash taxis |
| ATM withdrawal | Card | Bank-branded machines, in EUR |
| Tipping | Cash | 5–10% restaurants |
| Church, small museum | Cash | Donation boxes |
Tips
- Choose euros, never your home currency, when a terminal or ATM offers a choice.
- Use ATMs at bank branches or in bank lobbies; avoid standalone machines in bars and souvenir shops.
- Withdraw one larger amount rather than several small ones to cut per-withdrawal fees.
- Carry €30–50 in mixed notes and coins for small shops, buses and tips.
- Keep one card in a different bag from your wallet and phone.
- Check whether your bank charges a foreign transaction fee before you rely on the card for everything.
- If a shop says its card machine is broken, it usually means cash only — have some.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Are credit cards widely accepted in Malta?
Yes. Visa and Mastercard work in hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, hire cars, ride-hailing and most shops, and contactless is common. American Express and Discover are less widely taken. Small village shops, some market stalls and a few family-run places are cash-only, so carry €30–50.
Which ATMs have the lowest fees in Malta?
Bank-branded ATMs at branches or inside bank lobbies are usually the cheapest and clearest. Standalone machines in bars, souvenir shops and some tourist areas often add their own fee or push a worse conversion rate. Your own bank may charge a separate foreign withdrawal fee — check before you travel.
Should I pay in local currency or my own?
Always pay in euros. If a terminal or ATM offers to charge you in USD, GBP or another home currency, that is dynamic currency conversion and the rate is almost always worse. Choose EUR and let your own bank do the conversion.
Do I need cash in Malta?
Not much. Cards cover most spending, but €30–50 in euros is useful for small village shops, market stalls, bus and ferry kiosks, tips and church donations. Top up from a bank ATM when you run low.
Can I use my phone to pay in Malta?
Usually yes. Contactless terminals are common and Apple Pay and Google Pay work in most places that accept contactless cards. Keep a physical card as backup for older terminals and for ATMs.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialEuropean Central Bank – Euro
- officialVisit Malta – Official tourism site
- officialCentral Bank of Malta
- secondaryWikivoyage – Malta