⚠️ Timetables, opening hours, prices and access conditions may change without notice, for reasons beyond our control (season, weather, decisions by operators, venues or local authorities). Before every trip, check the information with the relevant authorities and service providers. Entry requirements and local rules (reserves, quotas) are subject to the same caveat.
Malta, a 316 km² archipelago 93 km south of Sicily, has three inhabited islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino. Visitors come for Valletta, the fortified capital of the Knights, for UNESCO-listed prehistoric temples and for very clear water that is ideal for diving.
Three islands, seven thousand years of history
Valletta, built by the Knights of the Order of St John after the Great Siege of 1565, is listed in its entirety as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its St John's Co-Cathedral, completed in 1577, holds two paintings by Caravaggio.
The archipelago is also a major prehistoric site: the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum, a necropolis carved into the rock (4000–1500 BC), and the Ġgantija temples on Gozo are UNESCO-listed. The Hypogeum admits only ten visitors at a time, so book well in advance.
Three more stops complete the picture: Mdina, the old fortified capital in the centre of the island, Marsaxlokk and its colourful fishing boats, the luzzu, and Comino's Blue Lagoon, best seen early in the morning or out of season to avoid the crowds.
Spring and autumn
The climate is Mediterranean: hot, dry summers (29–32 °C from June to August) and mild winters (15–17 °C). Spring (March to May) is the most pleasant time to visit, and swimming is possible until late October. November and December are the wettest months.
Getting there and between the islands
Malta International Airport (MLA) in Luqa is about twenty minutes by bus from Valletta (Airport Direct lines). For Gozo, the Gozo Channel ferry links Ċirkewwa and Mġarr in about 25 minutes, and a fast ferry leaves from Valletta (45 minutes). Virtu Ferries also sails to Sicily (Pozzallo, 1 h 45).
Traffic drives on the left. Buses cover Malta and Gozo, but journeys are slow in summer: a hire car is useful for Gozo and the northern coves. English is an official language, so getting by is easy everywhere.
Essentials & your questions
| Capital | Valletta |
|---|---|
| Area | 316 km² (archipelago) |
| Languages | Maltese / English |
| Currency | Euro |
| Visa | Not required (EU) |
| Plugs | Type G (British) |
Do I need a visa?
No: Malta is a member of the European Union and of the Schengen Area. EU citizens only need a valid identity card or passport.
How do I get there?
By air, to Malta International Airport (MLA), which is linked to many European cities: compare flights on our Flights page. From Sicily, Virtu Ferries sails from Pozzallo.
Do I need a plug adapter?
Yes: sockets are British-style (type G, three rectangular pins), 230 V.