Malta

Malta is an archipelago in the Mediterranean below Sicily. It combines a wealth of history with a warm climate, and offers a great standard of food, drink, water sports all year round.

Useful Info

• Driving is on the left.
• Electrical plugs are 240 volt UK fittings
• The main language is Maltese but most people speak excellent English. Many locals also speak some Italian.
• Malta is in the EU.
• The currency of Malta is the Euro. It replaced the local Maltese Lira currency in 2008.
• Tap water is safe to drink throughout the islands.
• The international dialling code for Malta is +356
• Roman Catholicism is by far the predominant religion in the country. There are over 350 churches across Malta and Gozo.
• The population of Malta is around 440,000. The capital is the UNESCO World Heritage site of Valletta.

Things to Do

Whatever your interests there are a vast number of things to do in Malta, samples of which include;

• Beaches - There are sandy beaches in the North of the island of Malta; Mellieħa Bay being the largest, with the picturesque Golden Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa beaches also being popular. There are also a couple of beaches in the South, and also in Gozo, as well as many more places to swim off the rocks and lidos around the country.
• Boating - You can get boat trips around Comino, or hire self-drive boats to explore the coast at your leisure. Most popular beaches rent out kayaks and offer waterskiing, parascending and rides on inflatables.
• Water Sports - Most popular beaches rent out kayaks and offer waterskiing, parascending and rides on inflatables. You can also find windsurfing and paddle boarding in some of the bigger locations.
• Diving - Malta is one of the best spots for diving in the Mediterranean, with dozens of dive centres offering courses and recreational dives.
• Sports - Malta's warm weather allows for a variety of outdoor sports, including rock climbing, playing at the Marsa Golf course, horse riding and karting.
• Entertainment - Visit the national aquarium, Playmobil Fun Park, Popeye Village, or Splash & Fun / Mediterraneo Marine Park in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq. If visiting in the summer months check for a local village festa nearby. Various other events are going on throughout the year.
• Architecture - The country is full of beautiful old houses, villas and churches. The cities of Mdina and Valletta are walled World Heritage sites that remain almost unspoiled from their construction hundreds of years ago.
• Natural Attractions - Scattered around the country are numerous caves, cliffs, lagoons and other unspoiled natural attractions.
• Archaeology - Malta is home to some of the world's oldest remaining structures and has a wealth of history and heritage dating back over 7000 years. Visit the Museum of Archaeology, the Hypogeum (for which you will need to book well in advance), the temples in Ħaġar Qim & Mnajdra, the catacombs in Rabat.
• Museums - Visit some of the museums in Malta that cover a wide range of topics and historical periods. The history of Malta includes an interesting collection of invasions and wars. Combine a walk through Valletta with a trip to Fort St Elmo which houses the National War Museum.
• Art - Malta was home to Caravaggio while he was on the run from the papal authority in Rome, and his largest work - the Beheading of St John the Baptist - is on display in the co-cathedral in Valletta. Works commissioned by the Knights of St John by Mattia Preti, amongst others, can also be found in various sites.
• Food - There are a huge number of restaurants and night spots in Malta. Towns like Mellieħa have high quality restaurants, such as 180 Kitchen & Lounge, Munchies down in the bay, and The Arches in the village, as well as a variety of good restaurants for the whole family. Other locations, such as the Valletta Waterfront and St. Julians are popular dining areas.
• Wine - There are a variety of Maltese wines available and they can be both high quality and affordable. The two main vineyards - Delicata and Marsovin - host annual wine festivals [2] where you can try the different wines they offer. These are definitely worth a visit should you be lucky enough to be visiting at the right time.
• Nightlife - Most nightclubs for late night dancing and drinking are located in Paceville near St Julians. This is a loud and busy area frequented by the young people in Malta most nights of the week, but particularly summer weekends. Bugibba is also a busy nightlife area, though perhaps more popular with tourists than locals. Valletta is also becoming a more popular place to visit in the evenings with quality bars popping up all the way down Strait Street (well known during the Second World War for establishments that entertained the visiting servicemen).

For a more comprehensive insight into what you can find on your visit to Malta, see the VisitMalta website.