Climate |
The climate in Malta is warm and healthy. There are no biting winds, fog, snow, or frost. Rain falls for only short periods and averages about 578 mm in a whole year. The temperature averages 14.1° C in winter (Nov-April) and 32° C in summer (May-Oct). The sun shines for an average of 6.46 hrs each day in winter and 10.11 hrs in summer. The hottest period is from mid-July to mid-September. The following table gives the monthly averages taken over a 30-year period for hours of bright sunshine, temperatures and rainfall: |
Month |
Sunshine hrs |
Rainfall (mm) |
Air Temp º C Min |
Air Temp º C Max |
Sea Temp º C |
January |
5.46 |
90.1 |
15.1 |
9.5 |
14.5 |
February |
6.36 |
60.8 |
15.3 |
9.3 |
14.5 |
March |
7.33 |
44.7 |
16.5 |
10.2 |
14.5 |
April |
8.46 |
24.0 |
18.8 |
11.9 |
16.1 |
May |
9.99 |
8.9 |
23.1 |
15.1 |
18.4 |
June |
11.23 |
3.8 |
27.4 |
18.6 |
21.1 |
July |
11.15 |
0.9 |
30.2 |
21.2 |
24.5 |
August |
11.36 |
8.8 |
30.6 |
21.8 |
25.6 |
September |
9.00 |
40.4 |
27.8 |
20.4 |
25.0 |
October |
7.22 |
123.6 |
23.8 |
17.2 |
22.2 |
November |
6.50 |
76.8 |
20.0 |
13.9 |
19.5 |
December |
5.22 |
100.2 |
16.6 |
11.1 |
16.7 |
Language |
The local language known as il-Malti is Semitic, inherited most probably by the local population from the Phoenicians. The two official languages are Maltese and English.
English pervades Maltese society as a result of the British rule between 1802 and 1964 and became an official language in 1933. English is spoken widely and fluently and many Maltese families use English as their first language. |
Religion |
Catholicism is very strong in Malta, and has been ever since St. Paul’s arrival in A.D. 60. There are over 300 churches on the Island. Other denominations include Anglican, Church of Scotland, Greek Orthodox, Jewish, Methodist. |
Industries |
Tourism is the Island’s biggest industry followed by ship building and repairing, manufacturing, textile, fishing and agriculture. The freeport and offshore industries are currently being developed. |
Banks |
There are banks and ATM machines is most towns and villages. You can cash both traveler and foreign cheques with either your passport, Eurocard or bank card. Most hotels, offer a currency exchange service but their rate is slightly lower than the banks.
Major credit cards are widely accepted by hotels, shops and restaurants in Malta and Gozo. |
Currency |
Major credit cards are widely accepted by hotels, shops and restaurants in Malta and Gozo.
The currency which is based on the Maltese Lira (Lm) is divided in 100 cents. For current rates of exchange please check at the nearest bank or at your hotel or apartments. |
Driving |
In Malta driving is on the left and speed limits are 65 kph out of built-up areas and 40 kph in built-up areas. Hiring a car is a great way to discover Malta, where car hire is probably the cheapest in the world. Petrol cost 30c a litre and all petrol stations are open from 7.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. (7.00 p.m. Apr - Oct) from Monday to Friday, while on Saturday the petrol stations close around 3.00pm. Most petrol stations offer self-service after opening hours including on Sunday. |
Public Holidays |
The following is a list of public holidays in Malta.
1 Jan New Year’s Day
10 Feb St. Paul
19 Mar St. Joseph
Mar/Apr Good Friday
1 May Worker’ s Day
7 Jun Sette Giungo
29 Jun St. Peter & St. Paul
15 Aug St Mary
21 Sep Independence Day
8 Dec Immaculate Conception of St Mary
13 Dec Republic Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
Language schools are invariably closed on public holidays, but some may offer you an alternative timetable for the week in question.
There are over 50 festsa held each year in villages around the Islands of Malta and Gozo between May and September; it is well worth visiting a village feast (Festa in Maltese) if there is one during your stay. |
Shopping |
Shops are usually open from 9.00 a.m. to 12.30 or 1.00 p.m. and again from 4.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. every day from Monday to Saturday and some shops are also open till 10.00pm including Sunday.
There are some very good souvenirs to be found in Malta, including:
Malta Glass
Silver and Gold filigree
Wrought iron ornaments
Maltese dolls
Hand-made lace
Woven cloth
Pottery and ceramics |
Chemists |
Chemists are quite numerous in Malta and they generally stock all medicines available on the international market. Chemists, like all other retail outlets in Malta, are closed on Sundays and public holidays, but one chemist in every district opens every Sunday morning on a roster basis. Should you find it necessary to call a doctor, your hotel or apartment reception can arrange for a doctor to visit you. Your school or host family should also be able to assist you in contacting a local doctor. |
Phoning home |
Hotels and most apartments offer international direct dialing telephone service, but please remember that these will charge higher rates to cover service costs. There are several card-operated telephones available in the main towns and villages in Malta and telephone cards are on sale from Maltacom branches, newsagents and souvenirs shops. Mobile connections are also available from these outlets. |
Water |
Tap water is perfectly safe to drink, although the mineral content is different to what you are probably used to and some people may find that it upsets their stomach. Many people buy the bottled variety which is available in most shops. Water is a very precious commodity in Malta owing to a shortage of rain. A good 60%of all tap water is desalinated seawater, produced by means of a reverse osmosis operated on electricity. So please use water carefully and with due restraint. Your care helps protect our environment as well. |
Electricity |
Electricity is 240 volt - 50 cycle A.C. and three square-pin plugs and sockets are used. If in doubt regarding any appliance, contact your hotel or apartment reception, or your host family. |
Post Office |
Post office branches are found all over Malta, and the main mailing post office is in Marsa. The postage rates are: internal 8 cents; to European countries: post-cards and letters - 16 cents. Most hotels and apartments have letter boxes with daily (except Sunday) collection. |
Restaurants |
There are various types of restaurants in Malta from the little snack bar to the exclusive gourmet restaurant. There are many excellent pizza and hamburger places, as well as other fast food outlets including pasta specialties.
Restaurants serving gourmet food at higher prices are particularly good with their main emphasis being Italian, French and oriental cuisine, apart from the local specialties which include:
Minestra - vegetable soup
Bragioli - beef olives
Timpana - baked macaroni in pastry with minced meat, egg, cheese and aubergine
Ravjul - ravioli
Qaqocc - stuffed globe artichokes
Fish is particularly delicious in Malta and depending on the season the main varieties are:
pixxispad (swordfish), acciola (amberjack), sargu (silverbream), dentici and lampuki.
The main local cheese is gbejna (cheeselet) - made from goat’s milk. Several excellent beers are produced locally - the most popular local beers are Hop Leaf and Cisk Lager.
Local wines are relatively very good and inexpensive. |
Night life |
There are several bars, restaurants, night-clubs, cinemas and other entertainment establishments in St Julians and the neighbouring Paceville. In fact this area is so concentrated with these establishments that traffic becomes very busy during weekends and the peak months of summer. The minimum age limit to enter night entertainment establishments licensed to sell alcohol and to consume alcohol and smoke cigarettes is 16 years. Persons under 16 years of age are forbidden entry and heavy fines are applied by the Police in their efforts to curb abuse. |
Soft & hard drugs |
All types of drugs are forbidden in Malta and anyone caught possessing any amount , no matter how little and whether for one's own use or not, will be severely dealt with. Punishment may include imprisonment. Anyone carrying drugs into Malta is advised to declare possession upon arrival at Customs. |
Public transport |
Public transport is very reasonable and quite reliable. There are regular services connecting towns and villages with Valletta, where the main bus terminus is located.
Buses from Sliema and other central towns and villages run frequently, while to the north and south they are less often. All public transport stops at 11.00 p.m., but some routes stop running earlier. A limited night service from the night life site of Paceville to various towns and villages throughout Malta.
Public transport in Gozo connects capital Victoria to the outlying villages and the harbour of Mgarr at schedule times of the day from early morning till evening. |
