Malta is the largest of the inhabited islands of the Maltese archipelago. Located between Sicily and the North African coast, it is a culturally rich nation with a history of Biblical proportions. In the 1800s, Great Britain acquired Malta until independence in 1964. In recent years, Malta has grown in the shipping and financial industry.
A small and friendly island, Malta enjoys sunshine nearly all year round. Its coastline winds around bays, harbors, and rocky coves, with sandy beaches creating a welcoming haven for vacationers. The water temperature surrounding Malta only dips to 60 in winter and reaches up to 78 in summer, enticing divers and windsurfers to enjoy their sport year-round.
Windsurfing is well established here, and equipment is available for rent at nearly every major beach. The island hosts two international competitions: May’s Sicily-Malta Windsurfing Race and September’s International Open Class Boardsailing Championship. Popular windsurfing beaches include Mellieha Bay, Bahar ic-Caghaq and St Paul’s Bay.
Several scheduled carriers serve passengers flying into Malta International Airport (MLA). The country’s national airline is Air Malta. Other airlines include Aeroflot, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, Libyan Arab Airlines, Lufthansa and Transavia.
Departure tax
None
Malta has a rather warm, sunny climate most of the year; with July, August, and September representing the hottest months. Sea breezes temper the heat a bit. Rainfall may be expected in short periods during the cooler wintertime.
Country code: 356. Outgoing international code: 00. IDD is available, and there are no area codes. Network providers of mobile telephones include GoMobile and Vodafone Malta; GSM 900 and 1800 networks exist. Fax facilities are available at most hotels, and Maltacom PLC provides both fax and telegram service though its offices. Some Internet cafes are available.
Standard currency: Maltese Lira divided into 100 cents, 1000 mils.
Major credit cards are accepted, but travelers are advised to check with their credit card companies. Travelers? checks may be exchanged at financial institutions.
Passport and Visa
Passports are required by all except:
- Nationals of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland?these nationals must possess a valid national ID card and visit as tourists for up to three months
- Nationals of Germany who possess a passport that expired within the last year
- Nationals of Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland who possess a passport that expired within the last five years
Visas are required by all except the following for stays of 3 months or less
- Nationals of Britain, Australia, Canada, US, Japan, and members of the EU
- Nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Korea (Rep), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela
Nationals of UK Overseas Territories:
- Nationals of Macau, possessing passports bearing ?Regio Administrativa Especial de Macao?
- Transit passengers continuing their travel within 24 hours and holding a valid onward or return ticket and not leaving the airport.
Malta operates on a 240V/50Hz cycle electric current. UK-style 3 pin plugs are in use.
Tap water is usually chlorinated and rather safe, but bottled water is readily available and advised. Milk is pasteurized; dairy products are safe for consumption. Meat, seafood, poultry, fruit, and vegetables are generally safe to eat.
Official languages: Maltese and English. Italian is widely spoken.
Malta?s crime rate is rather low; pick-pocketing and purse-snatching incidents are rare. However, caution is advised in nightclub areas due to drunkenness and poor crowd control.
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October)
10% of the bill is customary for waiters, bartenders, and taxi drivers.
