Top 10 Things to Know Before Visiting Malta
#1 - Malta is a Small Micro-Country
For those who don’t know, Malta is a small island in the Mediterranean just south of Italy. The whole country itself is only comprised of about 500,000 people. The land is just 122 square miles, making the area very crowded and congested, especially during tourism season (summer). When we arrived, it didn’t feel too crowded, but it was January and there weren’t many tourists yet (great time to go!). It doesn’t take long to get to all of the main areas/cities within Malta. Some are as close as a 10-mile hike.
#2 - Beware of the Wind
Because Malta is a small island within the Mediterranean, it’s bound to be windy. There were some moments that we actually got pushed by the wind. Even though it was 65 degrees F and sunny, it still felt cold at times because of the wind. Also be aware that it might be a bit bumpy as you land into Malta for this reason. There’s nothing wrong with the plane - just some heavy winds in the area!
#3 - You’ll See Lots of Unique Culture
Not going to go through the hundreds of years of Maltese history - that’s for you to learn about when you get here. But, you will notice some eclectic things about the country, like them driving on the left side of the road, there are English telephone boxes, the language sounds Arabic, the cuisine feels Italian, and there’s French things around. What? It’s a hodge-podge of different cultures all wrapped up into one!
#4 - Malta is Affordable
We went to Malta in January and found the country VERY affordable. For 4 nights, we stayed at a luxurious spa house with breakfast for about $300 total (they even gave us 2 California king beds, just because). We ended up taking Ubers around the island. The average cost was about $15 for about 10 miles. We spent between $5 - $20 per meal and souvenirs were quite reasonable. The average cost of a museum entrance ticket was $15. Checking the summer months, it does increase a little bit. For the same hotel in the summer, it would cost $680. Food tends to increase a little, too. But it’s not expensive… quite affordable compared to other European countries.
#5 - It is Difficult to Get to Malta During the Off-Season
Depending on where you’re coming from, Malta can be tricky to get to. In January out of London Stansted (our airport), there was a single flight to Malta every other day of the week. We noticed that is true for most of Europe. If you are travelling from the United States, I don’t think there are direct flights to Malta (at least we haven’t seen one). Come summer, there seems to be more flights available from European airports, so you’ll have better luck getting there versus the winter months.
#6 - The Knights Symbol is Everywhere
Another point in Malta’s unique history is the influence of the Crusades who reigned in Malta for 268 years. You can see their mark everywhere, from tops of buildings, fortresses, artwork, to even manholes and fences. There are lots of fascinating places in Malta to visit and explore more about this unique history (check out the other blog “Top 10 Things to Do in Malta”). Don’t be surprised when you see it on everything here.
#7 - Malta’s Currency is the Euro
Malta became part of the European Union in 2004 and changed their currency over from Maltese lira to the euro in 2008. Although cash is usually encouraged in souvenir shops and cafes, most of the places we visited had cashless options for payment. There’s no need to worry if you don’t have enough cash or didn’t bring any - they have all options for payment.
#8 - The National Languages are English and Maltese
The national languages for Malta are English and Maltese, so don’t worry if you don’t speak Maltese. The language sounds like a combination of English, Arabic, and Italian, which is definitely interesting to hear. Most of the time, you can just speak English and it’s fine. Nobody will get upset or frustrated. However, like all other countries, it’s always a good idea to learn a few words. Hello is “bongu” and goodbye is “addio.” If you want to say thank you, you would say “grazzi.”
#9 - Malta, Particularly Valletta, is Very Hilly
In addition to being very windy, Malta is also quite hilly. It’s very nice to take in the gorgeous hilly landscape from up high somewhere, but it can be less fun if you’re climbing those hilly spots in cities like Valletta. Keep in mind that the roads can also be slick after a rain, so be prepared and bring a nice pair of walking shoes while on your visit. Maybe train a little in advance too!
#10 - Malta Was the First European Country to Become Christianized
You will begin to notice that Malta is a very Christian nation. There are about 359 churches in Malta with very devout Christians. One influence are the Knights who ruled this land for hundreds of years. Another is the fact that Malta is technically the first European nation to be Christianized. This is because the Apostle Paul accidently made a trip here when he was en route to Rome to be tried for being a rebel. There was a shipwreck and he landed here, spreading Christianity before being found again and eventually brought to Rome. He was in Malta for roughly 3 months.
