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Latest update: 11 May 2023
Yay! You are going to Malta. Super fun, obviously. To be well prepared for your trip, I have gathered a few practical tips for you. So that you will not be faced with unwanted surprises in beautiful Malta.
Language in Malta
In Malta, people speak Maltese and English. About 90% of the Maltese speak good English. It is the official language of the island after all! Maltese is inimitable to me. It has elements of Arabic and Italian language. Both languages are used in most public places, such as road and street signs.
Money in Malta
You simply pay with the euro in Malta! In most places, you can use (contactless) pins. However, to be safe, you might want to bring a Revolut card, just in case your bank card doesn’t work (or you lose it). That is a prepaid credit card. Very handy for traveling!
Drive on the left
Malta was a British colony until 1964. After that, Queen Elizabeth was the head of state for another ten years, but since 1984 Malta has been entirely independent. They just kept driving on the left. That takes some getting used to when you rent a car!
If you want to rent a car, I advise you to check both Sunny Cars and EasyTerra. These are my favorite car rental companies because I can arrange everything immediately. So that when I pick up the car, I am not persuaded in (read: scared into) buying extra insurance by overactive sellers.
Tip! Make a to-do list with these tips for Malta.
Taxis in Malta
Taxis in Malta are incredibly cheap. Especially online taxis are highly recommended, with Bolt usually being the most affordable. Cheaper than Uber too. For example, I paid €13 from the airport to Sliema and €15 from Sliema to Riviera Beach (2023 prices). Also fun: they have different transport options. So that’s how I was in an electric tricycle that took me from Sliema to Valletta for less than € 6.
So don’t let your hotel arrange a transfer, but arrange it yourself. They pick you up right next to the airport. If you don’t have the Bolt app yet, you will receive a discount on your first ride via my discount code!
Electricity plugs in Malta
Warning! Your European or American plug will not work in Malta. They use English plugs. So you can either bring an English or a world plug adapter. In some places, you can charge via your USB, but not everywhere. So take one with you. Shop yours at Amazon or one of these below:
To the beach in Malta
Maybe you already knew, but Malta has sandy beaches and rocky beaches. Both are nice, but figure out which one you’re going to before you’re surprised by hard, sharp rocks. You will only find rocky beaches in Sliema, and in St. Julian’s, you have St. George’s Bay as a sandy beach option. St. Julian’s heb je St. George’s Bay als zandstrand-optie. Very busy and not so idyllic! For a beautiful sandy beach, for example, go to Riviera Beach (here), where you will also find the fun and pretty beach club Singita Miracle Beach.
Food delivery in Malta
Don’t feel like going out for dinner, cooking, or grocery shopping? Then install the Wolt app in Malta. Wolt delivers from restaurants and shops. With the Wolt discount code XAAUCXT you get € 3 discount on your first two orders.
If you can’t choose, I found the sushi from Zen To Go Sushi and More very tasty and creative.
More Malta inspiration?
Useful links for your Malta trip
- Accommodation. Still favorite: Booking.com. Would you rather stay in a hostel? Check Hostelworld.
- Activities. You book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide and Viator. For ‘free’ walking tours, try Freetour.com or GuruWalk and for bike tours, Baja Bikes offers excellent service.
- Attractions and museums. Interested in a 5% discount on museums and other attractions? Use this discount code at Tiqets: KIMOPREIS22
- Boat. For ferries in Malta, check Direct Ferries.
- Car rental. My go-to car rental companies are EasyTerra and Sunny Cars as they have all-inclusive / worry-free offers. You could also check Discover Cars for good deals.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Be sure to check out Momondo, Transavia, Skyscanner, and Kiwi.
- Money. Your debit and credit cards may not get accepted everywhere. You could opt for a Revolut card as an additional card when you travel.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip to Malta? There is plenty of choice all over. For the Dutch: ANWB vakanties, Tui or Vakantie Discounter. Or maybe D-Reizen or Sunweb.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high calling and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo.
- Travel gear. Buy your gear at Bever or Decathlon, or simply at Bol.com.
- Travel guides. I like paper travel guides to browse through, for sale at Bol.com and Amazon, among others.
- Yoga retreat. Or treat yourself to a yoga retreat in Malta!
Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy something through these links, I might receive a small commission.
