Malta is straightforward to visit but full of small traps that catch people who haven't done their homework: the wrong plug adaptor, a taxi fare that could have been avoided, a Hypogeum ticket that sold out months ago. This page covers the practical layer — what you need before you arrive, what things actually cost, what to do if something goes wrong, and a few things that are simply not worth bothering with.
For a broader look at what you'll spend across a trip, see our trip costs guide. For buses, ferries and taxis, the getting around guide goes into more detail than we can fit here.
Malta is a full EU member and part of the Schengen Area. If you hold an EU or EEA passport, you walk straight through. British passport holders — since Brexit — are third-country nationals and are subject to the 90-in-180-day Schengen rule. You don't need a visa, but you do need to count your days if you travel frequently in Europe.
ETIAS is the EU's forthcoming travel authorisation system for visa-exempt nationalities, similar in concept to the US ESTA. It has been delayed repeatedly. As of mid-2025, it has not yet launched. When it does go live, it will apply to British, American, Canadian and other visa-exempt travellers, and will cost €20. Check visitmalta.com for the latest, or the official EU ETIAS site before you travel. Do not pay any third-party site claiming to process ETIAS early — they are not official.
On arrival at Malta Airport, non-EU passengers go through passport control. Queues can be long on summer Saturday mornings when charter flights stack up. Allow extra time if you have a connection or a tight transfer to a ferry.
Malta uses the euro. Contactless and card payments are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops, but smaller village bars, market stalls and the odd pastizzeria still prefer cash. It's worth keeping a small amount on you.
To give you a feel for prices: a pastizz (the flaky savoury pastry that is the closest thing Malta has to a national snack) costs around €0.35–0.50 at a local pastizzeria, or up to €0.75 in tourist-area cafés. A coffee at a local bar runs €1.50–2.50; at a tourist café on the Valletta waterfront, expect €3.00 or more. A ftira sandwich — proper Maltese bread, not a baguette — is around €3.50–5.50. A lunch main at a local restaurant is typically €10–20 including a basic soft drink; dinner mains at a mid-range restaurant run €14–22. Harbour-front tourist restaurants in Valletta or Sliema are a different world: you can easily pay €30–40 per person for a dinner main alone, before wine.
A pint of Cisk (the local lager, and perfectly decent) costs €2.50–5.00 depending on the bar; tourist areas are reliably at the top of that range. A bottle of wine at a mid-range restaurant is typically €15–25.
ATMs are plentiful in Valletta, Sliema, St Julian's and resort areas. In rural Gozo, particularly outside Victoria, they thin out — take cash before you head to a village. Dynamic Currency Conversion (the machine asking if you'd like to pay in your home currency) is a trap. Always choose to pay in euros.
For a fuller breakdown of what a trip costs from accommodation to attractions, the trip costs guide has the detail.
Plugs: Malta uses the British-style three-pin plug (Type G), the same as the UK. Voltage is 230V/50Hz. If you're coming from the UK, you need nothing. If you're coming from continental Europe, the US or anywhere else, bring a Type G adaptor. Hotel rooms sometimes have a shaver socket or a universal slot, but don't rely on it.
Driving: Malta drives on the left, inherited from British rule. The road network is small but often chaotic — narrow lanes, aggressive merging, minimal road markings in older villages, and an absolute abundance of roundabouts. International driving licences are accepted; EU licences are fine. An economy car in shoulder season runs roughly €18–28 per day. In high summer, book further ahead and expect higher rates. One practical note: parking in Valletta is a serious problem. Don't drive into Valletta; bus or walk from a park-and-ride.
Language: Maltese is the national language — a Semitic language with heavy Romance and English influence, written in Latin script. English is a co-official language and is spoken fluently almost everywhere. You will have no language barrier as an English speaker. Road signs are bilingual. Menus are almost always in English. In rural Gozo, older residents may prefer Maltese or Italian, but English will still get you through.
For bus routes, ferry times and accessible transport options, see our getting around guide and our accessibility guide.
Tipping in Malta is appreciated but not mandatory or expected in the way it is in the US. The culture sits closer to southern Europe: if the service was good, you leave something; if it wasn't, you don't.
In restaurants, rounding up the bill or leaving 10% for table service is the norm. Some tourist-facing restaurants now add a service charge to the bill — check before you tip on top. In local bars, rounding up small change is fine; nobody expects a formal tip on a coffee. Taxi drivers — particularly the official white airport taxis with fixed fares — don't expect a tip, but rounding up is common. For hotel housekeeping, €1–2 per night is reasonable if you're staying several days.
Malta is a safe destination by any reasonable measure. Violent crime against tourists is rare. The risks that do exist are more mundane: petty theft in busy areas (particularly Paceville at night and the Valletta bus terminus), road accidents given the standard of driving, and heat-related illness in summer when temperatures regularly exceed 35°C.
Paceville — the nightlife district in St Julian's — is worth a brief note. It is lively and mostly harmless, but it is also where most tourist-related incidents in Malta occur, overwhelmingly drink-related. If you're there late, be aware of your surroundings and keep your valuables secure.
Swimming safety: the sea looks inviting and mostly is, but Malta's rocky coastlines have no lifeguards outside of a handful of sandy beaches and lidos. Rip currents are uncommon but not unknown. Check conditions locally before you swim anywhere unfamiliar.
Malta's emergency number is 112, as across the EU. It works from any phone including mobiles with no SIM credit, and operators speak English.
Malta has a reasonable public healthcare system. Mater Dei Hospital in Msida is the main acute hospital and handles emergency cases competently. Gozo General in Victoria handles the sister island. EU nationals with a valid EHIC, and UK nationals with a GHIC, are entitled to emergency treatment at the same terms as Maltese residents. That said, Mater Dei's A&E is often busy, and for anything non-life-threatening, a private clinic will be faster.
Pharmacies — spiżeriji in Maltese — are everywhere. In most towns you'll find at least one within a short walk. They are marked with the standard green cross. Opening hours follow shop hours roughly: typically Monday to Saturday, 9am–1pm and 4pm–7pm, though this varies. On Sundays and public holidays, a duty pharmacy rota operates — the nearest open pharmacy is posted on the door of any closed one, or searchable via visitmalta.com.
Pharmacists in Malta are well-trained and can dispense advice and a range of medications over the counter that would require a prescription elsewhere. If you're not sure whether you need a doctor, start at a pharmacy — they will tell you honestly.
Sun protection and after-sun products are widely available, but bring your own supply if you plan to be outdoors extensively in summer. Prices in tourist pharmacies and hotel shops are high. Tap water in Malta is technically safe to drink but is heavily desalinated and tastes poor — most locals and long-term visitors use filtered or bottled water.
Overpriced harbour-front restaurants: The views are the same as from the waterfront promenade, which is free. Paying €35 for a pasta dish because it overlooks the Grand Harbour is a choice, not a necessity. Walk two streets back and eat better for half the price.
Unofficial taxi touts at the airport: The official white taxi to Valletta has a fixed fare of around €17. Touts offering a "special deal" in the arrivals hall are typically charging more, not less. Use the official rank, or take the TD4 Airport Direct bus to Valletta for €3.00 in around 12–25 minutes — it's the same journey. See maltairport.com for official transport options.
The Mdina Dungeons: At around €10 per adult, it is a purely commercial attraction with wax figures and recorded screaming. It has no historical substance worth the price. Mdina itself — the Silent City — is remarkable and free to walk. Spend the time there instead.
Generic "Malta Experience" multimedia shows: Several towns have theatre-style historical presentations aimed at tourists. They are not terrible, but they are not good value for independent travellers who read a little before they arrive. The same hour is better spent in the streets.
Car hire if you're staying only in Valletta and Sliema: You don't need it. Buses cover the main routes well. The public transport network runs frequent services: route 15 connects Valletta to Sliema, the TD4 serves the airport, route 41 goes up to Ċirkewwa for the Gozo ferry. A 7-day Explore Card costs €25. Car hire only makes sense if you're exploring rural areas or Gozo independently.
No, but you are subject to the 90-in-180-day Schengen rule and ETIAS will apply once it launches — currently delayed past mid-2025.
Type G, the British three-pin plug. UK visitors need no adaptor; everyone else does.
The TD4 Airport Direct bus costs €3.00 and takes roughly 12–25 minutes. The official fixed-fare white taxi costs around €17.
Not mandatory. Around 10% for good restaurant service is appreciated. Check your bill first — some tourist restaurants add a service charge automatically.
A duty rota operates. The address of the nearest open pharmacy is posted on the door of any closed one.
Yes. The card covers emergency hospital treatment on the same terms as locals, but not repatriation, cancelled flights or lost luggage. Get insurance regardless.