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Malta

Sun-drenched islands of history in the heart of the Med

UNESCO-listed ancient capital VallettaCrystal-clear Blue Lagoon watersPrehistoric temple complexesLively nightlife and waterfront diningEasy island-hopping to Gozo and Comino

eSIM Plans for Malta

From $11.50

Prices updated live. Purchase in the Hello app.

Daily Budget Guide

CategoryBudgetMid-RangeLuxury
Stay€40€90€220
Food€15€30€50
Transport€10€15€20
Activities€5€15€30
Daily Total€70€150€320

Tipping: Service charges are sometimes included; if not, rounding up the bill or adding 5–10% in restaurants and for taxis is appreciated but not strictly mandatory.

Stay Connected in Malta

Coverage

5G Available

Yes

Airport WiFi

Malta International Airport offers free WiFi throughout the terminal, generally stable and fast enough for streaming and calls.

Recommended Data

5-10 GB

eSIM tip: Most travellers can use eSIMs for instant connectivity; download the Hello app and purchase a Malta or Europe eSIM before departure, then activate on arrival with a quick QR scan.

Quick Reference

Visa
Malta is part of the Schengen Area; many nationalities, including most of Europe, the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and Japan, can enter visa-free for short stays, while others require a Schengen visa obtained in advance. There is no visa-on-arrival; limited e-visa options apply only via standard Schengen procedures.
Language
Maltese and English are official; Italian is also widely understood.
Best Time
April to June, September to October
Timezone
CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2 in summer)
Power
Type G, 230V
Emergency
112 (Police, Ambulance, Fire)

Top Cities to Visit

Valletta

Fortified baroque capital overlooking grand harbours

Valletta is Malta’s UNESCO-listed capital, known for its grand bastions, baroque architecture, and historic sites like St John’s Co-Cathedral. It offers museums, theatres, and waterfront promenades, all within a compact, walkable city.

Sliema & St Julian's

Seafront promenades, shopping and nightlife hub

Sliema and nearby St Julian's form Malta’s main coastal urban strip, with long promenades, shopping streets, and plenty of seafront cafés and restaurants. St Julian's and Paceville are also the island’s nightlife centre, with bars and clubs close to hotels and bus links.

Mdina & Rabat

Silent City and historic countryside twin town

Mdina, the 'Silent City', is a walled hilltop town with medieval and baroque streets, panoramic island views, and noble palaces. Next-door Rabat adds catacombs, churches, and traditional houses, making the area ideal for a half-day of history and quiet charm.

Victoria (Rabat, Gozo)

Laid-back Gozo capital with citadel views

Victoria, also known locally as Rabat, is Gozo’s main town, centred on the historic Cittadella fortress. It is a good base for exploring Gozo’s rural landscapes, bays, and coastal cliffs while enjoying cafés, markets, and local restaurants.

Marsaxlokk

Colourful fishing village and Sunday market

Marsaxlokk is a traditional fishing village famed for its brightly painted luzzu boats and waterfront seafood restaurants. Travellers visit for the picturesque bay, fresh fish markets, and a slower-paced glimpse of local life.

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What to Eat in Malta

Expect to spend $15–$50 per day on food, depending on your style.

Planning Your Malta Adventure

Malta may be small, but it’s packed with experiences: honey-coloured cities, quiet bays, cliff walks, and island-hopping between Gozo and Comino. Start by deciding your base. Valletta and Sliema work well if you want easy transport, restaurants, and harbour views, while Gozo is ideal if you’re craving slower, rural days and beaches like Ramla Bay.

Use Hello’s trip planning tools to sketch your route: a couple of days in Valletta and the Three Cities, a day in Mdina and Rabat, then time for Gozo and the Blue Lagoon. In high season, book ferries, boat trips, and popular spots like Blue Lagoon and Mdina restaurants in advance.

Distances are short, but travel times can stretch, especially in summer. Plan one main area per day rather than trying to cover the entire island. Consider seasonal differences: July and August are hot and busy, while shoulder months offer warm water with fewer crowds.

Save key places in the Hello app – Upper Barrakka Gardens, Marsaxlokk fishing village, Dingli Cliffs, and Golden Bay – and group them into day itineraries. With your plans organised in one place, it’s easier to stay flexible for spontaneous swims, sunset drinks, or a last-minute detour to a viewpoint you spot along the way.

Getting Around Malta’s Islands

Malta’s compact size makes getting around fairly straightforward, but a bit of planning helps. Public buses connect most towns, including Valletta, Sliema, Mdina, and Mellieha; they’re affordable but can get crowded at peak times and may run slightly behind schedule. Build in buffer time, especially when heading to Gozo or to the Comino ferries.

Driving gives more freedom to explore spots like Dingli Cliffs, tucked-away bays, and rural villages. Roads can be narrow and local driving assertive, so stay patient and cautious, especially on village streets and coastal roads. Parking is generally free, but spaces near popular beaches and Valletta fill up quickly.

For scenic travel, ferries are a highlight. Hop the harbour ferries between Valletta and Sliema for skyline views, or take the Gozo ferry for a breezy ride past cliffs and small coves. Boat tours from Sliema, Bugibba, or Cirkewwa are popular for reaching the Blue Lagoon.

Stay connected on the move with a Hello eSIM – buy and activate before you land to use maps, bus timetables, and ferry schedules without worrying about roaming charges. Pin your accommodation and key stops in your Hello trip planning view so you can navigate easily, even when bus stops are unmarked or streets feel like a stone maze.

Food, Drinking & Socialising in Malta

Malta’s food scene blends Mediterranean comfort with local character. Look for pastizzi (flaky pastries stuffed with ricotta or peas) at neighbourhood bakeries, and try rabbit stew (fenek) and lampuki when in season at traditional restaurants in Valletta, Mdina, or the Three Cities. In seaside towns like Marsaxlokk, pick spots along the harbour for grilled fish and seafood platters.

Budget around €15–25 (about US$16–27) for a main course at a mid-range restaurant in areas like Sliema or St Julian’s, and more at scenic, high-demand spots. Use Hello’s budget tracking to log meals in euro so you can see how those long dinners and Aperol spritzes add up over a week.

For sunset drinks, try the waterfront promenades in Sliema and Spinola Bay, or terraces overlooking Valletta’s Grand Harbour. Malta’s nightlife clusters around St Julian’s, with bars and clubs packed into a small area, while Gozo offers more relaxed evenings in Victoria or Xlendi.

If you’re travelling with others, Hello’s expense splitting helps when sharing seafood platters, bottles of wine, or boat trip costs – just snap the bill and divide it without mental maths. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water in summer and keep an eye on service charges; tipping is appreciated but not mandatory, and small cash tips go a long way.

Money, Connectivity & Everyday Practicalities

Malta uses the euro (€), and card payments are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas. Still, it’s wise to carry some cash for small bakeries, kiosks near beaches, and bus tickets where contactless isn’t available. ATMs are easy to find in Valletta, Sliema, and St Julian’s, slightly less so in remote coastal spots.

To avoid bill surprises, track your daily spending with Hello’s budget tracking, setting a euro limit for categories like food, transport, and activities. You’ll quickly see how much that extra harbour cruise or beach bar visit impacts your total.

For connectivity, an eSIM from Hello is a simple way to stay online without roaming charges. Buy and activate it before landing so you can use ride-hailing apps, check bus routes, and message your accommodation as soon as you arrive. Coverage is generally strong across Malta and Gozo, including most coastal areas.

Tap water is officially safe to drink, though some visitors find the taste a bit mineral-heavy and prefer bottled water. Sun can be strong even outside peak summer, so pack and reapply sunscreen. Many streets are cobbled or uneven, especially in Mdina, Birgu, and older parts of Valletta, so comfortable walking shoes are more useful than fashion-forward ones. With money and connectivity sorted, you can focus on enjoying warm limestone streets, harbour views, and impromptu swims.

Frequently Asked Questions About Malta

Is it safe to travel to Malta?
Malta is generally considered a safe destination, with low violent crime and a strong police presence in tourist areas. Petty crime such as pickpocketing can occur in busy zones and on buses, so standard precautions like keeping valuables secure are recommended, especially at night and during festivals.
Do I need a visa to visit Malta?
Malta follows Schengen Area rules: citizens of the EU/EEA and many countries including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and Japan can enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Travellers from countries that require a Schengen visa must apply in advance through a Malta embassy or consulate or via the Schengen state responsible for their trip; visa-on-arrival is not available.
How expensive is Malta for travellers?
Malta is mid-range by European standards: budget travellers can get by on around 70 EUR per day with hostel rooms and public buses, while mid-range visitors typically spend about 150 EUR per day for comfortable hotels and dining. Resort stays, private tours, and peak-summer travel can push daily costs above 300 EUR, especially in popular coastal areas.
When is the best time to visit Malta?
The best time to visit is usually the shoulder seasons of April to June and September to October, when temperatures are warm but not extreme and crowds are lighter compared with July–August, as noted by recent Malta travel guides. Winter is milder than much of Europe and suitable for sightseeing, but swimming and beach days are less reliable.
What languages are spoken in Malta, and will I get by with English?
Maltese and English are both official languages, and English is widely spoken in tourism, transport, shops, and restaurants. Italian is also commonly understood, so most visitors find communication straightforward without needing to learn Maltese.
How good is mobile coverage and internet in Malta?
Mobile coverage is strong across the main island and Gozo, with 4G and expanding 5G networks serving cities, resorts, and most rural areas. To stay connected on arrival, you can download the Hello app before you travel, buy a Malta or Europe eSIM, and activate it via QR code when you land instead of searching for local SIM shops.
What are the options for getting online and using an eSIM in Malta?
Most modern phones support eSIMs, which work well in Malta thanks to reliable roaming agreements and high-speed networks. For a simple setup, purchase a Hello eSIM through the Hello app before departure, then turn on data roaming and follow the in-app instructions on arrival; 5–10 GB is usually enough for a week of maps, messaging, and light streaming.
How do I get around Malta and Gozo without a car?
Malta has an extensive public bus network connecting the airport, Valletta, coastal resorts, and major sights, with regular services and contactless payment options. Ferries link Malta to Gozo and Comino, and taxis or app-based cabs fill gaps at night or for direct connections, so many visitors manage comfortably without renting a car.

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