Contrary to what you might think, Malta isn’t just one island but an archipelago of seven. Only three are easily accessible: Malta (the largest and best known), Gozo, and Comino. This small Mediterranean archipelago enjoys sunshine for most of the year (more than 300 days). It’s well worth visiting for its charming towns, turquoise-water coves, and rich history. Ready to discover everything this beautiful archipelago has to offer?
The archipelago has two official languages: Maltese and English. Maltese has Semitic roots and has also been influenced by Italian and English. It is widely used in everyday life, while English is also common in government, shops, and restaurants, making communication easy. Thanks to Malta’s location and media ties, many locals also understand Italian, and some speak French as well.
Traveling to Malta is straightforward. EU citizens can enter with a valid national ID card or passport. No visa is required for short stays. Travelers from Quebec should check the official government travel advice for the latest entry requirements.
Direct flights from France usually take around 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on the departure city. Malta has a single airport near Valletta (Luqa) with direct connections from cities including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Brussels, and Geneva, depending on the season.
Travel tip: once your dates are set, book your tickets, as prices vary considerably by season. Check flight‑comparison sites like Skyscanner for deals.
As mentioned, the archipelago includes other islands such as Gozo and Comino. They are close to Malta and generally easy to reach. To get to Gozo from Malta you have two options:
Besides organized excursions, you can reach Comino by:
You might think Malta is an hour ahead of France, but that isn’t the case. There’s no time difference between Malta and France, Switzerland or Belgium. Malta and these countries switch between standard time and daylight saving time on the same dates. For travelers from Quebec, the time difference is usually six hours, although it can briefly be five hours during the weeks when European and North American clock changes do not line up.
Thanks to its Mediterranean climate, Malta can be visited year-round, with more than 300 sunny days in a typical year. Choose the season that best suits your plans:
No specific vaccinations are generally required for travel to Malta. Make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, etc.). Depending on your circumstances and medical advice, additional vaccinations such as hepatitis A may be recommended. Check current health guidance before traveling.
Malta can be relatively affordable compared with some other Mediterranean destinations. Of course, it depends on your travel style; here are some rough estimates:
Accommodation (per night)
Food
Transport
Activities
Note: Malta’s tap water is treated, but many visitors prefer bottled, filtered, or reverse-osmosis water because of the taste. Many hotels provide filtered-water dispensers, which I found very convenient.
Here’s a ballpark budget by trip length, with broad ranges covering budget to higher-end travel:
Because Malta is in the EU, you can use your European mobile plan under EU roaming rules, subject to your provider’s fair-use policy—check your plan before traveling. Coverage is generally good across Malta and Gozo, although it may be less consistent in remote parts of Comino.
You can also pick up local prepaid SIM cards for about 10 – 20 €.
One quirk: although Malta is in the EU, its plugs are British. Grab an adapter (or two) before you go, or buy one locally for less—I paid just 3 € at my hotel versus 12 € in France. I travel with a universal power strip, so I just dug that out, haha.
Like the plugs, driving follows the British system: cars drive on the left, most steering wheels are on the right, and roundabouts run clockwise. It feels upside‑down at first! Surprisingly, multi‑lane traffic is trickier than the roundabouts; we kept wanting to drive on the wrong side but soon adapted.
Maltese drivers have their own habits: indicators rarely used (or left blinking), STOP signs treated like give‑way… You’ve been warned, haha. The highest general speed limit is 80 km/h—sounds slow, but on narrow island roads it feels quicker, especially in traffic.
Tip: traveling between the north and Valletta, stick to the coastal eastern road—it’s the easiest, almost motorway‑style. Western and central roads are much narrower and winding; GPS may claim they’re faster but you’ll often end up stopping to let oncoming cars pass.
Parking rules depend on the markings and signs. White bays are generally available to the public, while yellow, green, and blue markings may indicate restrictions or reserved use, so always check the signs.
I rented through Discover Cars and found some good deals.
Malta is generally considered a safe destination. Just keep an eye on your belongings in tourist areas and on the beach, where petty theft and pickpocketing can occur, and use the same precautions you would elsewhere.
Step outside the towns and Malta still holds surprises. Birdwatchers can spot many migratory species, especially in spring and autumn. Keep your eyes peeled and you might glimpse chameleons—masters of disguise! In wilder spots you’ll likely see wild rabbits; we mostly encountered lizards with bright green backs.
Underwater is another world entirely: with clear seas, snorkelers and divers often see colorful fish, moray eels, the odd ray and, with luck, dolphins.
As for plants, Malta’s dry climate (especially in summer) means arid landscapes with sparse vegetation. Spring brings wildflowers and herbs such as thyme, plus Mediterranean‑hardy trees like olives and prickly pears. Gozo is greener, with tomato fields and vineyards—a contrast to Malta.
Food lovers, take note: while Malta isn’t famous for haute cuisine, there are plenty of hearty dishes with Italian, British and other influences. Here are a few specialties to try:
Seafood lovers will enjoy fresh fish in coastal eateries (especially Marsaxlokk). Prices depend on market rate—some places quote 7 € per 100 g, so costs add up fast.
Have a sweet tooth? Try these:
There is plenty to suit different tastes. Note: Italian restaurants outnumber Maltese ones, and breakfasts often lean toward a full English. On Gozo, dishes are seasoned with coarse sea salt harvested locally at Marsalforn—it adds plenty of flavor, though it can be quite salty, haha.
You’ll quickly notice the importance of Catholicism here: Catholicism remains deeply rooted in Maltese culture, and the islands are home to hundreds of churches—huge for such a small archipelago. Religious symbols adorn terraces, facades and windows. Opening hours vary, and many churches are closed outside services or visiting hours, while Gozo can feel even more visibly devout. One Friday evening in Nadur, we found roads closed and locals smartly dressed en masse for the 6 p.m. service—quite the contrast to its usual calm. Summer brings festas, local religious festivals, with each village celebrating its own.
Despite strong Catholic roots, Malta remains open to other faiths, with Muslim, Orthodox, Protestant and Jewish communities.
