Malta

Maltese and English are both official languages, and nearly everyone in tourist areas speaks fluent English. Maltese uses the Latin alphabet. Road signs, menus, and museum plaques are usually bilingual or English-only.

Travelers with an EU/EEA SIM plan can use their normal data allowance at no extra cost under EU roaming rules. Visitors from outside the EU can buy a prepaid SIM or eSIM at the airport or in any town for a modest weekly rate; a passport or photo ID is required to register the SIM, even for an eSIM. Mobile coverage is reliable across all three islands, including Gozo and Comino.

Tap water in Malta meets EU safety standards. It comes from a mix of desalination and groundwater, which gives it a distinct taste, so many locals and visitors prefer bottled or filtered water. Pharmacies, marked with a green cross, are widely available and can advise on minor ailments, with a rota system keeping at least one open late in every district. No special vaccinations are required for Malta.

Malta is part of the Schengen Area and the European Union. EU/EEA citizens can enter with a valid ID card or passport and stay without restriction. Citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and many other countries can enter visa-free for short tourist stays, typically up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Longer stays or other nationalities may need a Schengen visa arranged in advance.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Modest dress is expected inside churches and cathedrals, including St. John's Co-Cathedral - cover shoulders and knees before entering. Malta is a Catholic country with an otherwise relaxed, informal culture: greetings are friendly, and a handshake is standard for a first meeting. Photography is usually allowed in churches but sometimes restricted or paid inside chapels with valuable artwork, so check signage. Bargaining is not common outside markets like the one in Marsaxlokk, where light haggling on souvenirs is acceptable.

Malta observes numerous religious feast days on top of national holidays, and many shops, banks, and offices close on these dates. Village feast days (festa) throughout summer can also close streets for processions and fireworks, even though they are not official public holidays.

Most shops open Monday to Saturday and close for a few hours around lunch in smaller towns; Sunday trading is limited outside malls and tourist areas.

• By bus: Malta's public bus network connects nearly every town and village, including routes to the airport and ferry terminals. Pay by contactless card on board or buy a rechargeable transit card for lower fares. See the Malta Public Transport journey planner for routes.
• By ferry: A passenger ferry connects Sliema and Valletta across the harbor, and a separate car/passenger ferry runs between Ċirkewwa (Malta) and Mġarr (Gozo) every 30 to 45 minutes depending on the time of day. A small water taxi service also links Comino to both islands in summer.
• By taxi and ride-hailing: Metered taxis and ride-hailing apps operate across the main island; agree on a fare or confirm the meter before starting a trip with an unmetered taxi.

Malta drives on the left, so buses and traffic flow accordingly - keep this in mind when crossing streets.

Maltese food blends Sicilian, North African, and British influences built up over centuries of foreign rule. Breakfast is usually light - pastries or bread with cheese - while lunch and dinner both lean toward hearty, home-style cooking: slow-braised meats, fresh fish, and vegetable stews served with crusty local bread.

The most-loved national dish is fenkata, a rabbit stew traditionally eaten on Sundays and at village feasts, alongside bragioli, thin beef slices rolled around a savory filling. For a quick bite, pastizzi - flaky pastry parcels filled with ricotta or mushy peas - are sold at small bakeries all day. Ftira, a dense, chewy flatbread stuffed with tuna, capers, and tomatoes, is another everyday staple.

Locals often eat at family-run trattorias or simple bars rather than formal restaurants, especially outside Valletta and Sliema. Kinnie, a bitter-orange soft drink unique to Malta, is worth trying alongside the local Cisk lager or a glass of Maltese wine, which has grown in quality in recent decades.

Valletta and the harbor towns Valletta, the fortress capital, packs Baroque palaces and a UNESCO-listed old town into a small grid of streets. Across the harbor, Birgu and its neighboring Three Cities offer a quieter, equally historic alternative with fewer crowds. Sliema and St. Julian's are the main seaside towns for promenade walks, swimming spots, and nightlife.

Inland and the south Mdina, the medieval walled "silent city," sits on a hilltop above Rabat, with its Roman-era ruins and catacombs. In the south, the fishing village of Marsaxlokk is known for its Sunday market and colorful luzzu boats.

The other islands Gozo is Malta's slower-paced sister island, with rolling countryside, a hilltop citadel, and quieter beaches. Tiny Comino, between Malta and Gozo, is a popular day trip for its turquoise Blue Lagoon.