Local tips for Malta
Money, tipping, language, driving, plugs, tap water and etiquette for Malta, Gozo and Comino, with the source named wherever a rule or a figure is involved. Checked in November 2026.
Money & Currency
Malta uses the euro (EUR, €): the European Commission records that it joined the EU in 2004 and adopted the euro on 1 January 2008. Cards are widely used in hotels, restaurants and shops in the main towns, but keep some cash for kiosks, pastizzi counters, village bars and small Gozo businesses. If you are planning a tight budget, the Malta on a budget guide goes into costs.
Do
- Carry small notes and coins for snack counters, buses paid in cash and market stalls
- When a card terminal or ATM offers a choice, pay in euros and let your own bank do the conversion
- Use ATMs inside or beside a bank where you can, and cover the keypad
- Bring a backup card in case one is declined
Avoid
- Don't assume every small business takes cards
- Don't carry large amounts of cash or keep all your valuables in one place, as the UK Foreign Office advises
- Don't leave bags on show in a parked car: the same advice lists theft from parked cars
- Don't forget to check your bank's foreign transaction fees before you fly
Tipping Culture
The Malta Tourism Authority says tipping is the norm in restaurants, with 5 to 10% if you are happy with the service, and not necessary when a service charge is already on the bill. Elsewhere, treat a tip as a thank-you rather than an obligation.
| Service | Suggested Tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurants | Check the bill for a service charge first. If there is none, 5 to 10% for good service is the norm the tourism authority describes. |
| Cafes and bars | Optional; leaving the small change is a courtesy |
| Taxi and ride-hail drivers | Rounding up is at your discretion |
| Tour guides | At your discretion after a good tour |
| Hotel staff | Small change for a porter or housekeeping is a courtesy, not a rule |
| Boat and dive crew | At your discretion after a good trip |
Language
Malta has two official languages, Maltese and English. The Malta Tourism Authority says English is understood wherever you go and that many Maltese also speak Italian. Maltese is a Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet, so signs and place names look unfamiliar (Mellieħa, Ħaġar Qim, Għajn Tuffieħa), and English is useful when asking for directions or reading visitor information.
Maltese Words You May Hear
Driving on the Left
Malta drives on the left. The Malta Tourism Authority gives a general speed limit of 50 km/h in built-up areas and 80 km/h on open roads, with local limits signposted. The UK Foreign Office says a UK photocard licence is valid, and warns that some roads are in poor condition and local driving standards are poor. Buses and the Gozo ferry are often easier than a hire car: see getting around Malta and the Gozo ferry guide.
Internet & Connectivity
Malta is in the EU, so visitors on an EU mobile plan can normally use it under EU roaming rules. UK and US networks set their own roaming charges, so check yours before you travel.
Local SIM Card
GO, Epic and Melita are the mobile networks in Malta and sell prepaid SIMs. Take your passport to the shop in case ID is asked for, and compare the data bundles before you buy.
eSIM
If you choose a travel eSIM for Malta, check the provider's installation instructions before you fly. Compare the cost per gigabyte with your own network's roaming rate.
WiFi
Common in hotels, cafes and restaurants, though not guaranteed. Ask your accommodation about speed if you need to work.
Can You Drink the Tap Water?
The two official answers differ in emphasis. The Water Services Corporation, which supplies the islands, says its tap water conforms to the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), and that over 70% of the supply now comes from reverse osmosis, with chloride and chlorine levels cut by 30% to improve the taste. The Malta Tourism Authority, answering visitors, recommends bottled, filtered or reverse osmosis water. If you prefer to follow the tourism authority, bring a refillable bottle and fill it from filtered water where your accommodation provides it.
Food & Dining
Dishes to Know
- Pastizzi (flaky pastries filled with ricotta or mushy peas)
- Stuffat tal-fenek (rabbit stewed in wine and tomato)
- Ftira and ħobż biż-żejt (Maltese bread with tomato, olive oil, capers and tuna)
- Timpana (baked pasta in a pastry case)
- Imqaret (fried date-filled pastries)
Dining Tips
- Look for the fish of the day in Marsaxlokk and the Gozo harbours, and try lampuki pie when lampuki are in season
- Try ġbejniet, the small sheep's cheeses from Gozo
- The legal drinking age is 17, according to the Malta Tourism Authority, which suggests carrying ID in bars and clubs
- Check the bill for a service charge before you tip
Weather & What to Pack
The Malta Tourism Authority gives typical daytime highs of 12 to 20°C in January and 28 to 34°C in August, and names April, May and June as warm without being too hot. The weather page and the guide to the best time to visit Malta have the month-by-month detail.
Plugs & Packing
Malta uses Type G sockets, the UK-style plug with three rectangular pins, on a 230 V, 50 Hz supply, according to the Malta Tourism Authority. UK visitors need no adapter; travellers from the US and mainland Europe should bring one, and US visitors should check that each appliance is rated for 230 V. Pack light clothing, swimwear, a hat, high-factor sunscreen, shoes with grip for rocky swimming spots and limestone paths, and a layer that covers shoulders and knees for church visits.
Sun & Sea Safety
The UK Foreign Office notes that people drown in the sea and in pools in Malta every year. In summer, lifeguards patrol most beaches and use a flag system: a red flag means dangerous conditions. Do not assume a swimming spot has a lifeguard, including St Peter's Pool, so check the sea state before you get in. For sandy, patrolled bays, start with the best beaches in Malta.
- Do not dive into water you do not know: hidden rocks and shallow depths cause serious injuries
- Swim within marked zones, and keep small children within arm's reach
- Follow local advice if jellyfish are present
- Shade, water and sunscreen matter most in the middle of summer days, when there is little natural shade on the rocks
- In an emergency at sea, dial 112: see the emergency numbers page
Culture & Etiquette
Church visits (Malta has a strong Catholic heritage; cover shoulders and knees, keep voices down and avoid visiting during Mass unless you are attending)
Festa season (in summer, towns and villages celebrate their patron saint with band marches, a procession and fireworks; step aside for the procession and expect road closures and loud petards. The Feast of Santa Marija on 15 August is part of this tradition)
Shop hours (as of November 2026, the Malta Tourism Authority says shops normally open 09:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 19:00, Monday to Saturday, while many in tourist areas stay open all day and many supermarkets open on Sundays)
Smoking (not allowed in enclosed public areas; the Office of the Superintendence of Public Health identifies exceptions for designated smoking rooms in casinos and individual hotel guestrooms, where hotel policies still apply)
Cannabis (the UK Foreign Office says smoking it in public is illegal and fined, and legal personal possession applies to residents only)
Hunting seasons (in spring and autumn, hunting with firearms is common in the countryside, the UK Foreign Office notes; stay aware on rural walks)
Dress in town (swimwear belongs on the beach; cover up in Valletta, Mdina and other town centres)
Celebrations (see the events calendar for Carnival, Holy Week and the festas)
Next: choose a base and a beach
Compare Valletta, Sliema, St Julian's, Mellieha and Gozo as bases, then browse the beaches and swimming spots.