8 best practices (and 5 mistakes to avoid) for a great trip to Malta

When should you visit Malta?

If your dates are already set, feel free to skip to the next point. Otherwise, bear in mind that Malta’s seasonality is very pronounced, both in terms of weather and pricing.

High season runs from early June to late September: accommodation prices and temperatures alike peak in July and August. If you’re flexible, go for the low or shoulder season instead. October, April and May offer the ideal compromise, with pleasant temperatures (still hovering around 30 degrees in October) and noticeably more affordable rates. For the full picture, take a look at our guide to the weather in Malta.

Temperatures rarely drop below 10 to 15 degrees, even in December or January. If your interest is mainly cultural, winter is perfect for sightseeing; if you’re more into nightlife and the beach, opt for summer.

What do you need to enter the islands?

Malta is a member of the European Union and the Schengen Area, and its currency is the euro. If you’re an EU or Swiss citizen, a valid national identity card or passport is all you need to get in.

Another formality, free of charge yet all too often overlooked, is to travel with your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which you should request at least 14 days before departure from your health insurance provider. Available to nationals of the European Economic Area and Switzerland, it guarantees you access to healthcare on the same terms as a local, and often means you can do without additional travel insurance.

In the event of a serious medical problem, head to the accident and emergency department at Mater Dei Hospital in L-Imsida. This public hospital is renowned for the quality of its care, and treatment is free if you have your EHIC.

How do you find a flight to Malta?

Malta has an international airport, small with its two terminals, yet it handles close to 8.9 million passengers a year. More than twenty airlines serve the archipelago from over 30 countries; the national carrier, KM Malta Airlines, applies fares close to low-cost levels.

To find a flight, don’t overthink it: use Skyscanner to compare every flight combination to Malta at a glance.

One last detail: don’t go looking for Malta Airport in Valletta. The capital is a fortified city; the airport sits in Luqa, in the centre of the island.

How do you find and choose accommodation in Malta?

For a holiday

Accommodation is usually the largest slice of the budget for a trip to Malta. For a stay of a few days or weeks, don’t take unnecessary risks and book through an online reservation platform: Trip, Booking or Expedia for a hotel, Abritel or VRBO for an apartment.

Conseil up to −20% To book your hotel in Malta at the best price, use Trip. The platform offers prices 10 to 25% cheaper on hotels in Malta than sites like Booking or Expedia. Book a hotel

Our tip to avoid any disappointment: always check the hotel’s rating on Booking. Below 7, the place is often run-down, damp, poorly soundproofed or party-oriented, so give it a miss. Also absolutely avoid any accommodation within 100 metres of Paceville’s nightlife street (Triq Santa Rita), where the club bass carries into every hotel around it.

For a long stay

For a stay of more than a month, a rental will probably work out better value. Be careful, though, if you book directly with a landlord off-platform, as scams are common.

Our tip: first book an affordable hotel or a hostel for a few nights, then line up apartment viewings once you’re there. Most listings are found on the Facebook Marketplace dedicated to Malta.

Two tips for finding your dream home

Tip 1: avoid staying in Valletta. Contrary to popular belief, the capital isn’t the liveliest spot. Valletta is stunning and an absolute must-see, but it’s mainly pedestrianised, with few shops, no supermarket, and most of the buzz dies down after dark.

Tip 2: move a little away from St Julian’s to save money. The Sliema-St Julian’s area is the most sought-after, and therefore the priciest. But Malta is only 27 km by 14: getting around is easy. By choosing St Paul’s Bay or Mellieħa, rates drop by almost 50% for equivalent standards.

How do you get around the islands?

Small and well served, the island of Malta is easy to explore. Gozo a little less so: it’s often best to use a ride-hailing service there. To compare everything, take a look at our guides to transport in Malta and ride-hailing and PHVs in Malta.

A bus ticket costs 2 euros for most of the year and 2.50 euros in summer, and stays valid for 2 hours; buy it from the driver or via a prepaid card at one of the island’s card machines. Buses are free for residents and long-term students: remember to order your card as soon as you arrive.

If the bus isn’t your cup of tea, download one of the ride-hailing apps (Uber, Bolt or eCabs). If we had to pick just one, we’d recommend the Bolt app: the driver fleet is slightly larger, and the app also lets you rent electric scooters available all over the island.

Planning your activities and sightseeing in Malta

There really are plenty of things to do in Malta, enough to satisfy every taste.

The standout activities to discover

• Valletta (St John’s Co-Cathedral, Grandmaster’s Palace, the auberges)
• Mdina and Rabat
• Archaeological sites: the megalithic temples of Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra
• The fishing village of Marsaxlokk
• Blue Lagoon, famous for its turquoise waters
• Għadira Bay, Golden Bay and Riviera Beach
• Scuba diving and hiking (Mellieħa, Gozo, Dingli, the Victoria Lines)
• Popeye Village, Playmobil FunPark, Splash & Fun Water Park
• St Peter’s Pool
• the aquarium in St Paul’s Bay
• Parasailing
• Blue Grotto
• The Paceville nightlife district and boat parties

Planning ahead and booking your activities

Our tip: pick out and book your activities in advance, especially in high season. Most popular activities can be booked directly on Viator or GetYourGuide.

The activities you really shouldn’t miss

For a weekend or a few days, you’ll have to make some choices. If you only keep the essentials:

• A guided tour of Valletta with a local guide (some in French): to truly grasp the history of the Knights of the Order and the Great Siege.
• The Blue Lagoon by boat: a must, ideally via a cruise that takes in the neighbouring coves.
• Discovering Gozo: set aside a full day, catch the ferry at Ċirkewwa, then explore the smaller island by Tuk Tuk tour or quad bike tour so you don’t miss a thing.

Option	Departure point	Price
Valletta guided tour	Valletta	23 €
Blue Lagoon catamaran cruise from St Paul's Bay (Buġibba)	St Paul's Bay (Buġibba)	55 €
Gozo quad tour	Malte	98 €
Valletta: Maltese food & drink walking tour	Valletta	50 €

What should I pack for Malta?

In Malta, you travel light: the climate is hot from June to October, mild from March to May and gentle from November to February. There’s no need to overpack. Major retailers (Decathlon, Zara, Intersport and others) have a presence on the island, so if you forget something, you’ll easily kit yourself out locally.

A few items are still worth planning for, though:

• A 3 flat-pin adapter: most sockets are the British type.
• SPF 50+ sun cream, which tends to be sold at fairly high prices on the islands.
• A pair of sunglasses and a hat, in every season.
• A pair of water shoes (barefoot style), especially with children: many spots reach the sea over sharp rocks or down ladders.

What should you keep in mind once you’re there?

Rule 1: respect local customs

Anything that’s forbidden or frowned upon in France, Belgium or Switzerland is just as much so in Malta. Be courteous and patient, don’t drop litter and avoid making noise. Malta is a deeply religious and heavily politicised country (red camp or blue camp): steer clear of topics linked to religion, politics and, the biggest taboo of all, corruption.

Rule 2: respect the swimming flags

A fully red flag signals dangerous swimming conditions (rough sea); a purple flag, the presence of jellyfish with a nasty sting. In both cases, put your swim off for later. A yellow and red flag, on the other hand, indicates a supervised area: you can swim without worry.

Jellyfish can ruin a trip: some species (the mauve stinger, the Portuguese man o’ war, the moon jellyfish) leave marks that stay visible for a long time. Stay alert on every swim, especially in remote spots.

Rule 3: avoid drinking the tap water

Malta’s tap water is drinkable and its quality has improved markedly, but it retains a strong smell and taste of chlorine, and the pipes aren’t always in good condition: in large quantities, it can cause stomach upsets. Go for bottled water instead (“Still Water” or “Table Water” for flat water, “Natural Water” for mineral water).

Rule 4: always keep a little cash on you

Every business is fitted with a card terminal, but a little cash still comes in handy for small purchases and the odd unexpected moment.

The 5 most common mistakes on a trip to Malta

1. Taking a white taxi

The best way to get your trip off to a bad start: the local white taxis, whose drivers are often gruff and where overcharging is rife. Avoid them as much as possible; if you have no choice, agree the fare before setting off. Go for the bus or a ride-hailing service instead.

2. Not protecting yourself from the sun

UV levels in Malta are very high, even in the shoulder season: protect yourself, all the more so with children. Remember to check the UV index and never go out without a hat in summer.

3. Withdrawing cash from an ATM

ATMs are everywhere, but only use them as a last resort: poorly secured, they charge a 3 to 5% fee per withdrawal. Go for BOV or HSBC machines instead, which are fee-free.

4. Booking an excursion at a street stall

The seafront stalls sell boat trips to Gozo or the Blue Lagoon: a few are reputable, but many are tourist traps. Go through Viator instead: it’s no more expensive and the reviews are a good indicator of quality.

5. Letting your guard down in Paceville

Paceville, Malta’s nightlife district, is the playground of the 17-to-30 crowd: a street sloping downhill and lined with clubs where the drinks are cheap and the music deafening. A few common-sense rules will save you some grief:

• don’t bring anything valuable with you (and definitely no ID documents);
• always check the amounts shown on the card terminals;
• never accept a drink that wasn’t prepared in front of you.

Finally, the Maltese are rather fond of “name and shame”: if you’d rather not end up among the “Human Interest” nominees on Lovin Malta, stay alert and keep it in check on the most notorious street on the island.