MALTA TRAVEL GUIDES

AN ISLAND WITH 300 DAYS OF SUN

Malta is a small archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea and unfortunately it’s one of those islands that usually gets passed over by travelers.

The country is getting more and more popular as a Summer holiday by the Europeans but otherwise it usually gets pushed aside by heavy hitters such as Italy and Greece.

Due to its unique position between the European and African continent the island of Malta offers its visitors a very interesting cultural blend. It used to be a British Colony and gained independence in 1964.

Malta has been visited by (and ruled over) by just about everyone over the centuries, including the Romans and Byzantines.

Did you know that Malta is both the name of the country, as of the largest island in the country? There’s also Gozo and Comino and there are actually 21 islands that make up the Maltese archipelago.

There are a ton of beautiful places to explore in Malta and if you only plan on visiting the main island you’ll have plenty of things to do with a 3 day Malta itinerary.

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT MALTA

So Malta is pretty much a wonderful travel destination year round. Due to its position in the Mediterranean Sea you can expect around 300 days of sun per year. I can tell you that’s a lot if you’re from Belgium like me.

The best time to visit Malta is in the off-season months of May, September, and October, when the temperatures are warm and crowds are low. Another plus is that hotels don’t need to be booked months in advance and prices are also lower compared to high season.

And yes, even if you want to go swimming in the sea these months are still ideal since the swimming season in Malta lasts from May to October.

In July and August the temperatures can get very hot during the day which can make busy exploring days more tiring and less fun.

And while there isn’t a lot of rain on Malta the highest precipitation is measured from November to February

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN TRAVELING TO MALTA

Language – Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English but Maltese is the national language. The Maltese speak a unique language, Malti, the only Semitic language written in Latin characters. The influence of the Arabs who made the Islands home from the 9th to 13th centuries is clear in the Maltese language whose roots are closely akin to Arabic. Italian is also widely spoken, especially among the older generation.

Currency – The only currency used in the Maltese islands is the Euro.

Credit Cards & ATM’s – Credit cards are widely accepted in restaurants and shops. But make sure to keep at least €20 cash on hand if you need to pay for public transport or you want to buy something at a local market or from a small vendor.

Safety – Malta is generally a very safe place to visit, but like anywhere with visitors, bag-snatching, pickpocketing and other petty crime can occur particularly in nightclubs, on the beach and at markets and transport hubs.

Plugs – Malta uses plugs of type G (a British influence) and operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST VISIT TO MALTA

Driving – Malta is the ideal place for a self-drive holiday but be aware that they drive on the left! Traffic however is an issue and you’re bound to run into it while on your holiday. Getting from one point to another will take longer than it should, and you should just be aware of it.

Everybody knows everybody – There’s a tight-knit community in each village so if you have a questions it’s always best to ask one of the locals.

The tap water is safe – Contrary to common belief, the tap water is safe to drink. It does however have a rather strange taste, but it won’t do you any harm.

Local delicacies – You absolutely have to try a pastizzi! These phyllo-like pastries are usually filled with ricotta cheese or peas, but there are a few other fillings you can try, and some places even serve sweet pastizzi.

Festas – Malta is a predominantly Roman Catholic Island. Every village and city has a church at its heart and every church is named after a saint. So when it is the saint’s day the village or town or city go crazy with parties and celebrations. The entire town will also be beautifully decorated with flags.

Explore the fishing village of Marsaxlokk

🚘 ROAD TRIPPING THROUGH MALTA

When it comes to choosing a rental car company things can get a little confusing cause there’s a lot of companies out there ready to rip you off.

Horror Story: In South Africa the rental car company that I booked with actually copied my credit card details and 1 day later my card was blocked. So there I was, in the middle of South Africa and without a credit card. Luckily we would switch to a different company the next day for the further duration of our trip but you really don’t want this to happen on your holiday.

You also don’t want any hidden costs added to your bill.

A good rental car company should include the following in your rental price: unlimited mileage and a fair fuel arrangement, third-party insurance of at least €7.5 million, damage insurance, theft insurance, towing cost if your car breaks down and cancel or change your reservation without any hassle.

For my road trips I always prefer booking with SunnyCars. Here you can already rent a car for as little as €27 per day and every single cost is included upon check out. Oh, and all of the things that I mentioned above that should be included are also included with them!

💡 TIP – Sometimes the local rental company will try to make you pay for additional insurance. This is in no way necessary cause SunnyCars offers you full coverage.

CHECK OUT THE RATES AT SUNNY CARS