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Malta travel guide
Golden-stone cities, ancient temples and turquoise bays.
Malta is a small island nation in the middle of the Mediterranean, made up of Malta, Gozo and Comino. It is known for the baroque capital Valletta, prehistoric temples, clear waters for diving and sunny weather.
Travel tools
Getting there
Malta International Airport at Luqa has direct flights from many European cities. High-speed ferries connect Valletta with Sicily, and the islands are a popular cruise stop.
Best time to visit: Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct – warm sea and sunshine without peak heat.
Tougher months: No bad time – July and August are hot and crowded, while winter is mild but windier with some rain.
Weather by month in Valletta
- 16°J●
- 16°F●
- 18°M●
- 20°A●
- 24°M
- 28°J
- 31°J
- 32°A
- 28°S●
- 25°O●
- 21°N●
- 17°D●●
Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).
Time zone: Europe/Malta. Compare with your local time.
Visas: in our passport dataset, 93 of 198 other passports can enter Malta without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 105 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.
Background: Visa policy of the Schengen Area (Wikipedia).
Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-07-09). Read the advisory.
Source and more: Malta travel facts on RoamSun
Stay
Most trips to Malta are based around Valletta, Mdina or The Three Cities. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.
Typical daily budget: about US$50–75 for a backpacker and US$120–200 mid-range, per person.
Source: RoamSun Malta page · Browse hotel guides
Connect
Plug types: G. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +356.
Mobile data: read the eSIM for Europe before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.
Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun
Do
- Valletta (Capital · baroque city): A UNESCO-listed fortress capital overlooking the Grand Harbour.
- Mdina (Central Malta · walled city): The atmospheric 'Silent City', a medieval walled town on a hilltop.
- The Three Cities (Grand Harbour · history): Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua, the Knights' original base, with quiet streets and marinas.
- Gozo (Sister island · rural & diving): Greener and slower-paced, with the Citadel, temples and great diving sites.
- Comino (Island · lagoons): A tiny island famous for the Blue Lagoon and crystal-clear swimming.
- Marsaxlokk (South · fishing village): A fishing harbour filled with colourful luzzu boats and a Sunday fish market.
- Blue Grotto (South coast · sea caves): Boat trips into sea caves that glow with brilliant blue light in the morning.
- Dingli Cliffs (West coast · viewpoint): Malta's highest cliffs, perfect for sunset walks over the sea.
Things to do
- Explore Valletta. Wander the grid of honey-coloured streets in Europe's smallest capital, packed with baroque churches and palaces.
- See Caravaggio in St John's. Admire the gilded interior of St John's Co-Cathedral and Caravaggio's dramatic Beheading of St John.
- Stroll silent Mdina. Walk the quiet, walled streets of Malta's former capital, especially magical at night.
- Swim in the Blue Lagoon. Float in startlingly turquoise water off the tiny island of Comino, ideally early or late in the day.
- Visit the megalithic temples. Step back over five thousand years at Ħaġar Qim, Mnajdra and Ġgantija.
- Descend into the Hypogeum. Book well ahead to visit the underground prehistoric burial complex, limited to small groups.
- Dive famous wrecks and caves. Explore clear waters, shipwrecks and underwater arches, among the best diving in the Mediterranean.
- Watch the Saluting Battery. Hear the cannon fire at noon from Valletta's Upper Barrakka Gardens over the Grand Harbour.
Source: full Malta guide on RoamSun
Eat and drink
- Pastizzi – flaky pastries filled with ricotta or peas
- Stuffat tal-fenek – rabbit stewed in wine and tomato
- Ftira – Maltese bread filled with tuna, olives and tomato
- Lampuki pie – fish pie made with dorado in autumn
Source: RoamSun Malta guide
Money and safety
Currency: Euro (EUR). Currency and plug checker.
Tipping: 5–10% in restaurants.
Emergency numbers: 112 police, fire & ambulance.
- Malta uses the euro (EUR), and ATMs are widely available across Malta and Gozo.
- Cards are accepted in most places, though small cafés, kiosks and pastizzi shops may prefer cash.
- Malta is very safe; just watch your belongings in busy nightlife areas such as Paceville.
- Traffic drives on the left and roads can be congested, so take care crossing streets and driving.
Source: RoamSun Malta facts
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Malta?
Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct – warm sea and sunshine without peak heat. Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild winters.
What time zone is Malta in?
Malta uses Europe/Malta.
Do I need a visa for Malta?
It depends on your passport. In our dataset 93 of 198 other passports can enter without a prior visa, 0 need an e-visa or eTA and 105 need a visa in advance. Use the visa checker and confirm with the official government source.
What plug and voltage does Malta use?
Malta uses plug type G at 230 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Malta?
The international calling code for Malta is +356.
Do you tip in Malta?
5–10% in restaurants.
What is the emergency number in Malta?
112 police, fire & ambulance.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Malta?
Traffic drives on the left.