Entry requirements | Organizing your trip | Visiting | Eating | Paying | Speaking |

Entry requirements

Passport and visa service

Visa information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Visa HQ

Diplomatic representations

List of Maltese diplomatic representations

For more information

Embassy of Malta in Tunisia
5, rue Achtart
Nord Hilton 1082 - Cité Mahrajène
Phone: 71 847 048
Fax: 71 841 066

Organizing your trip

Means of transport recommended in town

Recommendation

Buses are the primary method of public transport for the island ; they offer a cheap and frequent service to many parts of Malta and Gozo. The vast majority of buses in Malta depart from a large circular terminus in Valletta.

Taxis are also widely used and are quite cheap as well.

Although there was a railway line in Malta, its use has been abandoned now.

Maps of urban networks

Visitmalta.com
Maporama
Maps Live
UT Library on line

Means of transport recommended in the rest of the country

Recommendation

Malta being a small territory, buses are a convenient way to move from one city to another. To reach the Maltese islands, the maritime route can be chosen as well. 

For connections with other countries, Malta offers excellent air transportation system.

Rail companies

No railways in Malta

Flight from Tunisia

Distance between capital cities in km: 401
Flight duration between capital cities: n.c.

Traveling by yourself

Recommendation

The rate of development of the road-network in Malta is low as compared to the European average. Despite a high urbanisation level, Malta has less than 100 km of highways. Public transport in Malta is controlled by the Malta Transport Authority, an organisation working under the Ministry of Transport. The main mode of public transport in Malta is buses. The Public Transport association ensures road links through buses in the entire island, thanks to the fleet of more than 500 buses belonging to private owners. On the website of the Public Transport association a detailed map of existing itineraries, details of bus plying timings and information on ticket costs are all available. Travelling in buses in Malta to reach for business meetings is not advisable mainly due to delay in timings.

Another mode of transport in Malta is taxi. Taxis are easily identifiable thanks to their white colour. It is necessary to settle the price before traveling in a taxi in order to avoid any unpleasant experiences later on (one could refer to the official tariff card of the Malta Transport Authority). On arrival at the airport, you will have to go to the "Taxi" ticket office which gives tickets according to the desired destination. A taxi network run by private garages also exists (these taxis are black in colour), which is particularly reliable.

Car renting is also possible in Malta. It is a left-hand drive in Malta and sign post are on the right-hand side. Car renting rates are particularly attractive in Malta, especially at the airport. Principal international companies (Hertz, Avis, etc.) exist inside the international airport.

Road maps

Public transport association

Find an itinerary

Mappy website (itineraries, maps)

Visiting

Different forms of tourism

Historical

The Maltese archipelago consists of five islands, Malta being the largest one. The 2nd largest is the island of Gozo and consists of around 30,000 inhabitants.
Malta is particularly known for its linguistic and cultural heritage. The island offers the richness of its historical inheritance and captivating colours of omnipresent stone colour of honey.
The city of Valette is listed as the World Heritage city in UNESCO. The fortress city has a rich historical past.
The festivities and religious processions have an important place in the lives of Maltese people.
Amongst the other key tourist sites of the island, we can cite the city of Mdina, the temples of Hagiar Kim, the neighbouring islands of Gozo and Comino, the Cottonera and the church of Mosta.

Cultural

Malta offers great cultural sites to visit. These sites are linked to the Islands' prehistoric period as well as to the Phoenician and Roman periods. We can site among them Skorba temples, St Paul Catacombs, St Paul Milqui. For more information about these cultural aspects of maltese tourism, please visit: http//www.heritagemalta.org.

Among museums that one must see, the National Museum of Fine Arts exhibits splendid masterpieces.

Nature

The Maltese islands offer various natural sites to be explored. Gozo is among the best natural site to see with a walk along Dingli cliffs.

Religious

The islands are rich in religious sites. There are around 365 churches and chapels throughout the islands

The Mdina cathedral, St George's basilica, Gozo's cathedral should be cites as religious places to visit.

Thermal

Spa and fitness facilities can be found at most 5-stars hotels.

Beach

Malta being an island surrounded by the Mediterranean sea, beaches and all related activities are to be found. The main costal resorts and larger sandy beaches are to be found in Northern Malta. Most popular beaches are Mellieha bay, Ghajn Tuffieha and Golden bay.

Winter sports

Because of the climate, there is no real winter sport in Malta.

Outdoor activities

The island of Comino offers great possibilities for hiking and walking. Parks and gardens (Argotti garden, hastings in Valletta etc) allow also for outdoor activities.

Horseback riding, diving are also well enjoyed activities in Malta.

Shopping

Valletta, Sliema, St Julians and St George Bay are the best places for shopping.

Shopping in malta is characterized by two opposite aspects - modernity and traditions. Indeed, near fashion boutiques, more traditional maltese products can be found.

Open air market are also a tradition in Malta and interesting items can be found.

Tourism organizations

Tourism Board of Malta
Malta Tourism Authority

Eating

Food specialties

The Maltese cuisine is mediterranean, strongly based on Italian influences and enriched with Arabic spices. Garlic, olive oil and aromatic herbs play an important role in the culinary preparations.

Rice and pasta play a dominant role in the Maltese cuisine as well as meat (light preferably like rabbit).

Of course, due to the proximity with sea, seafoods and fishes are also found in the Maltese specialties.

Main specialties are: "aljota" (fish soup), "Mqarrun il-forn" (baked macaroni), "fenkata" (with rabbit meat), "imquaret" (date-filled deep fried pastry).

Drinks

Maltese wine and beers are quite famous as well as Maltese liqueurs (limuncell and kinnie).

Paying

Domestic currency

Euro

ISO Code

EUR

To obtain domestic currency

The currency of Malta is the Euro (EUR) since January 1st, 2008. The foreign exchange offices at the International Airport of Malta are open round the clock. One can withdraw cash from the ATM's installed in almost all big tourist centres in the country. Various hotels as well as the big restaurants and boutiques provide currency exchange facilities but the rates offered at these places are generally lesser than those provided by the banks.

Possible means of payment

Many international banks can be found in Malta and international credit cards can be used in the country as well as travellers' cheques.

Money can be received at ATMs thanks to an international credit card.

Exchange rate on

Automatic Teller Machines (ATM)

To find out the locations of ATMs in in Malta, click on the link to your credit card: Visa, Mastercard or American Express

Speaking

Official language

Maltese and English

Other languages spoken

 English is the second official language. A majority of the Maltese people know a third language which can be Italian, German or French.

Business language

English

Getting some knowledge

The following websites offer some knowledge on Maltese language: http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/Learn/Maltese.asp, http://www.word2word.com, http://www.digitaldialects.com/Maltese.htm

Free translation tools

Eurodicautom - The European Union Dictionary (12 languages avalaible)
Lexilogo - Free dictionary arabic-english-arabic
Translated - Free translation arabic-english-arabic
TV5 - Free translation arabic-english-arabic

We can translate your foreign-language documents.

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Last updates: May 2012