Tourist Information
Whether you’re just passing through or here for a longer stay, the islands will no longer hold any secrets for you! To be acquainted with the habits and customs of Maltese life, to get to know the must-have addresses and handy numbers, to have an idea of the cost of living or the climate… this section puts simple and practical information at your fingertips.

Language
The official languages are Maltese and English.  Italian is also widely spoken.

Getting Here – Airplane, Ferry, Seaport
Airplane
Malta is just a few hours’ flying time from most mainland European cities and has excellent intercontinental connections. Choose from scheduled services or charter flights, many of which offer a convenient departure point from European regional cities. The national airline, Air Malta, operates flights to and from all the major airports in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Click here for Air Malta arrivals and departures timetables

Ferry
A regular ferry and catamaran service links several Italian and Sicilian ports to Valletta, Malta's capital city. Several shipping lines serve some Mediterranean ports as well.

Seaport
Cruise ships call at the Grand Harbour in Valletta.  The harbour’s Lascaris Wharf (known as the Valletta Waterfront), located in the Grand Harbour has been enlarged and is being upgraded as a dedicated cruise ship terminal with duty-free facilities. The Valletta Waterfront is minutes away from the Capital City, Valletta and offers check-in and baggage facilities, porterage, tax-free shopping, a tourist information service on site, food and beverage facilities, retail facilities, taxi services as well as a public bus service.

Money – Euros, Banks, Exchange, Tipping

Euros 
On 1st January 2008 Malta adopted the euro as its currency. On 1st February 2008 the euro became the only legal tender currency in Malta and Gozo.

Banks
Banks are normally open until early afternoon from Monday to Friday, and until midday on Saturday.  Some banks/branches work longer hours.  Summer and winter opening hours may differ.

Exchange Bureaux
Exchange bureaux at Malta International Airport are open 24 hours a day. International bankcards are accepted and foreign currency is easily exchanged.  Banks, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and exchange bureaux can be found all over the Islands.  The majority of hotels, larger shops and restaurants also accept payment in the main international currencies.  Conversion charges may be applied where outlets opt to accept payment in currencies other than the euro.

Tipping
A gratuity of 10% is expected in hotels and 10% in restaurants, if service charge is not included in the bill. Most services are tipped about 5-10% (including taxi drivers).

Transport – Driving, Taxis, Public Transport, Ferry, Seaplane

Driving
In Malta, driving is on the left.  There are speed limits of 80 km/h on the open road and 50 km/h in built- up areas. Comprehensive insurance is advisable. National or international driving licenses are accepted.

Taxis
The white taxi service has the privilege of picking up passengers from anywhere, except bus-stops.  Taxi services from the Malta International Airport to all localities in Malta are based on a fixed tariff. 

Public Transport
Public transport is efficient and reasonably priced.  The main bus terminus in Malta is in Valletta, just outside the City Gate. Malta buses are orange and show the route number on the front. Malta bus routes leave from and go to Valletta.  A few do operate circular routes, but this is not the norm – an express bus service links the principal resorts with Sliema, Marsaxlokk, Mdina, the Three Cities and the main sandy beaches.  All buses to Valletta pass through its suburb town, Floriana.  In towns and villages, the bus terminus is generally found on or near the main square.

In Gozo, the bus terminus is in Main Gate Street, Victoria.  Buses in Gozo are grey with a central red band and show the route number on the front.  Unlike in Malta, Gozo buses operate along circular routes, leaving from and returning to Victoria without scheduled stops at termini.  A regular service runs to and from Mgarr, route 25, and is timed to coincide with the ferry timetable.

Ferry
A regular ro-ro ferry service carries passengers and cars between Malta and Gozo.  The trip takes about 30 minutes. Click here for Gozo Channel Ferry time-tables

Malta-Gozo Seaplane Service
Harbour Air operates daily Scheduled Seaplane service between the islands of Malta and Gozo. Flights take approximately 20 minutes and depart from the Valletta Sea Passenger Terminal to Gozo’s Mgarr Harbour and vice versa.

Maltese Cuisine
Maltese cuisine and food is the result of various influences from the many civilizations Malta came in contact with during its history. The neighbouring island of Sicily had an especially strong influence over Maltese culinary tradition. Maltese cuisine is rich in fresh fruit, vegetables and a lot of fish. Also, very popular is rabbit meat and the local cheese is made of goat or sheep milk. Worth trying is Maltese bread, made from sour dough from the previous day’s batch and cooked in stone ovens. Maltese desserts are rather sweet and a lot of dried fruit and almonds are used. Only a few examples of typical dishes are: Rabbit Stew, Lampuki Pie (fish pie), Bragioli (beef olives) and widow’s soup, which includes a small round of Gbejniet (sheep or goat’s cheese). Even though Malta is not renowned for its wine as other bigger Mediterranean countries, it produces some good varieties of wine; the local varieties of grapes are called Gellewza and Ghirghentina.

Health – Hospitals, Pharmacies, Smoking/No Smoking

There are no health risks attached with travel to Malta, and water and food is safe for consumption. Travellers do not normally require certificates of vaccination or immunisation to enter the Maltese Islands. Malta has reciprocal health agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom. Visitors from EU member states should make sure that they have a European Health Insurance card. It is advisable that all visitors should, however, take out adequate medical and travel insurance in case medical evacuation or further treatment is required. Nationals of these countries, visiting the Islands for no longer than one month, are entitled to free medical and hospital care in both Malta and Gozo. Travellers coming from a recognized infected area require a yellow fever vaccination certificate. Visitors receiving special medical treatment should bring a medical prescription or a letter of introduction from their family doctor, in case they need to purchase particular medicines.

Pharmacies
Pharmacies are found throughout the Islands and are open during normal shopping hours.  On Sundays, chemists open on a roster from 09.00 until 12.30 in Malta and from 07.30 until 11.00 in Gozo. 

Smoking/No Smoking
Smoking is banned in all enclosed and covered public places, workplaces, health centres, schools, and/or institutions, hotels, restaurants, bars, casinos, shops, nightclubs, as well as in all public transport. However, smoking is allowed on café, restaurant and pub terraces, as long as they are not covered, or enclosed.

Safety

To spend a quite calm and safe stay don’t tempt fate or pickpockets! Have your wits about you in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises: don’t keep wallets in your back trouser pocket, keep bags safely closed, and make sure you don’t leave your mobile phones lying around. Be wary if you are approached by individuals offering their services, choose instead to visit the official sales point.

Communications

You can keep in touch with family and friends either by traditional methods or by using the latest technology.

Making a phone call is as easy as pie: local and international telephone calls can be made from telephone booths (either coin or card operated which you’ll find in most places) or from hotel rooms, and most hotels also offer fax and Internet access. The country code for Malta is +356, and the outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom).City/area codes are not required. Remember to send postcards, they are always much appreciated by those you’ve left behind. For speed: an e-mail, internet cafés and Wi-Fi hot spots can be found in all main towns and tourist resorts.

For mobile phone users, the islands are covered by two comprehensive GSM 900 and 1800 mobile phone networks. Contact your mobile phone operator who will confirm whether or not your mobile is compatible with the Maltese networks and also explain how you will be charged for calls received from your own country or that you make while abroad (local and international calls).

Electricity

The electrical supply is 230 volts +/- 10%.  The frequency of the supply is 50 hertz. The three-pin rectangular plug system is used, as in Britain. Adapters are very easy to find.

Climate

Summers are hot, dry and very sunny. Day-time temperatures in summer are often mitigated by cooling sea breezes, but in spring and autumn a very hot wind from Africa occasionally brings unseasonally high temperatures and humidity. Winters are mild, with the occasional short chilly period brought about by the north and north-easterly winds from central Europe.

Holidays
In general, low season is considered to run from 1 November to 31 March and high season from 1 April to 31 October. Many major events and celebrations take place in Malta throughout the year and the increase in the number of visitors has a knock-on effect on availability: Easter, The Assumption (15 August), Christmas and New Year, and also international fairs and conventions… So don’t forget to reserve well in advance if you wish to visit Malta at these times.

Worship
The Majority of the Maltese are Roman Catholic, but other religious denominations are also represented. There are small Anglican, Church of Scotland, Greek Orthodox, Jewish, Methodists and Muslim communities.

Visa

It is advisable that you check about visa and entry requirements before making your travel arrangements.

Useful Numbers
The following is a list of useful telephone numbers when you are visiting the Maltese Islands:

• Ambulance  196

• Consumer Protection  21250221

• Direct Dialling Code (Malta)  356

• Directory Enquiries   1182

• Directory Enquiries (Go Mobile)  1187

• Directory Enquiries (Vodafone)  1189

• Emergency   112

• Emergency Rescue by Helicopter  21244371

• Emergency Rescue by Patrol Boat  21238797

• Emergency Vet Services 50043888

• Fire Brigade  199

• Flight Enquiries  21249600

• Government Information Service  153

• Gozo Channel Co. Ltd  21556114

• Hospital – Gozo  21561600

• Hospital – Malta  25450000

• International Code  00

• Lost Property  21224781

• Overseas Operator  1152

• Passport Office – Gozo  21560770

• Passport Office – Malta  21222286

• Police  191

• Time Check  195

• Weather Forecast  50043848