Malta Travel Guide for Americans
Everything you need to plan your trip to Malta: when to go, how much it costs, and where to fly from.
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About Malta
Malta is a tiny Mediterranean archipelago between Sicily and North Africa that punches way above its weight as a travel destination. You get 7,000 years of history layered on top of each other—Phoenician temples, Roman villas, medieval fortifications, and British colonial architecture—all compressed into 122 square miles. The three main islands (Malta, Gozo, and Comino) are connected by ferries and feel like stepping stones across turquoise water. What makes Malta special for Americans is that English is an official language, the infrastructure is solid, and you can island-hop without needing a rental car. The food scene has exploded in the last decade with serious restaurants mixing Italian, Sicilian, and North African influences. Winter weather stays mild while summer gets brutally hot and crowded, making shoulder seasons the sweet spot.
At a Glance
Trip Cost: What to Expect
Getting Around
Malta has zero trains and minimal point-to-point domestic flights. You'll rely on buses, ferries, or rental cars. Buses are cheap ($2 for a single journey, $26 for a weekly pass) but slow and crowded during peak hours—use them for local trips within Valletta or Sliema. Ferry to Gozo runs hourly ($5 each way, 25 minutes) and is scenic and reliable. Ferry to Comino is tourist-oriented but worth it for the Blue Lagoon. Rent a car if you want flexibility exploring rural villages and hiking trails—expect $25-40/day from Budget or Hertz at the airport, though traffic in Valletta is brutal. Taxis (Bolt or local white cabs) are metered and relatively expensive ($15-20 for most city trips). The island is small enough that most beaches and attractions are 20-40 minutes apart by car.
Practical Tips
Buy a GO Mobile or Vodafone SIM card at the airport (post-security shops in baggage claim) for €10-15 including starter credit. GO Mobile is marginally more reliable. A 10GB monthly plan runs €20-25 with unlimited calls. Activation is instant. Alternatively, get an eSIM from Airalo before you leave the US for similar pricing and zero hassle. If you're staying under 14 days, just use your US phone plan—T-Mobile and Verizon have decent roaming rates in Malta (around $12/day) compared to other European countries.
Tipping in Malta is not obligatory but increasingly expected. Restaurants: 5-10% for good service (round up the bill or add a few euros), not standard for quick service. Taxis: round to nearest euro or add 5-10%. Hotel staff and porters: €1-2 per bag. Tour guides and boat captains: €5-10 per person if service was good. High-end restaurants with white tablecloths often add a service charge automatically—check your bill. Cash tips are preferred over card.
Malta is genuinely safe for tourists. Petty theft (bag snatching, phone pickpocketing) happens in crowded Valletta and Paceville nightlife areas but is rare compared to other Mediterranean destinations. Avoid walking alone at night in Paceville (the nightlife zone) after midnight. Cars get broken into in remote coastal parking lots—don't leave valuables in your rental. The main hazard is tourist scams like overpriced boat tours or rigged taxis, not violent crime. Women travelers report feeling comfortable moving around solo. Tap water is drinkable but heavily chlorinated.
Book your ferry to Gozo for early morning (7-8am departure) instead of midday. You'll beat tour groups, explore Gozo's interior villages in cool morning hours, and catch the afternoon ferry back when crowds are heaviest. This flips the typical tourist schedule and gives you better photos, better restaurant availability, and far fewer people at Xlendi Cliffs and Ta' Ċenċ. Also: skip the Blue Lagoon (Comino)—it's Instagram-famous, absurdly crowded, and mediocre. Instead, rent a car and drive 20 minutes to Għar Ħasan or Mtaħleb's beach coves for cleaner water, better snorkeling, and actual solitude. You'll pay the same money (€0) and have a dramatically better experience.
Destinations in Malta
Frequently Asked Questions
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