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I just came back from Malta so wanted to share some experience while it's still fresh in my mind. Enjoy! 
1. DO visit Malta in spring and autumn. Spring temperatures are usually around 20'C already, rain is rare and the so-called "summer season" on Malta ends in November. Yes, I said *November*. And the difference between day and night temperatures is usually only a few degrees Celsius!
DON'T visit Malta in the summer. The most popular destinations are already swarmed with tourists in late April - and it gets worse with every day. Summer temperatures often exceed 30'C, which is way too hot for travel and sightseeing.
2. DO buy the 7-day public transport card (called Talinja) and use the buses (if you’re staying for a week). There are many of them and you can reach every major location by bus and the bus stops are frequent.
DON’T rely on the bus timetables. The only bus stops where the timetable will be *more or less* precise are the starting ones. Note that bus drivers ignore bus stops with no people waiting – wave energetically, otherwise the bus will not stop! Once you’re in, press the red button in advance if you want the bus to stop.
3. DO learn how to pronounce the names of towns and places you want to visit or things you want to buy. If you’re asking for something but your pronunciation is wrong you may not get the desired advice or product.
DON’T (no need to) learn Maltese – unless that’s something you enjoy. It’s a hard language to learn for Europeans (due to its Arabic base) and 90% of the population speaks fluent British English (Malta is a former British colony).
4. DO rent a comfortable apartment (especially if you cook) – there are many private flat offers available for tourists. Visit local farmers markets or find out where and when farmers sell their produce (usually on town squares in the mornings). Buy the local vegetables and fruit which are in season – they are delicious. Butcheries also sell meat at reasonable prices. Instead of ordering the local Maltese sausage (“Zalzett tal-Malti”) in a restaurant, just buy a few raw ones and pan-fry them at home! Have some Gbejniet (sheep milk cheeselets) too. They come in a variety of forms: fresh, sundried, salt cured or peppered.
DON’T get an all-inclusive vacation in a fancy hotel. Hotels are very expensive and I’ve personally heard complaints about the “meals included” deals – breakfasts are either English or Continental (which is boring) and dinners are often the same thing every day (which is even more boring). Why would you want that over fresh stuff that you can pick on your own?
5. DO be polite, patient and friendly. The Maltese people are very polite, patient and friendly themselves, so it’s only fair to repay them with the same. Shopkeepers say “hello” to every customer with a sincere wide smile. If you have questions they will gladly stop whatever they are doing and answer with extensive detail. And no other client is going to complain that they’re not being served (unless it’s a grumpy tourist). People are generally not in a hurry and love to chat during shopping – so slow down, relax and be patient. You will also hear “please” and “thank you” everywhere you go. It’s even considered good manners to say “hello” and “goodbye” to bus drivers!
DON’T expect the same on the road. Mysteriously, all that patience and politeness disappears without a trace when the Maltese get into their cars. Despite adopting the British driving system (left-hand side) the driving culture itself is much more “Italian” (sorry, amici) – fast, aggressive and with little regard for rules, signs and lines. They streets are very narrow, which doesn’t help at all. We were once on a bus that got stuck because a coach was going in the opposite direction and the street was not wide enough for both. Our bus driver scolded and threatened (!) the coach driver until the poor fellow gave up and backed away to a spot where the street was wide enough for both. Crazy stuff.
6. DO check out the old fortified medieval capital – Mdina. Out of all the most typical tourist destinations this one is one of the few actually worth the hassle. After you’re done, visit the nearby Ta' Qali Park and Crafts Village if you want to get some hand-made souvenirs. Malta is famous for silver filigree jewelry and stained glass. The Cittadella on Gozo is another fantastic medieval fortress. It is surprisingly large and you can buy one 5 Euro ticket for all 5 museums on the site (if you like that kind of thing).
DON’T waste your time on megalithic temples in the rural areas. To be honest we have not seen them ourselves but the general consensus is that it’s “an old pile of rocks that you can see for 10 Euro”. They’re hard to get to and not worth the time and money which can be spent elsewhere.
7. DO go on long nature walks. The nature in Malta is beautiful and full of surprises. The sparse pine or olive tree groves provide shade and shelter for a number of rare or endemic animals – birds, bats, shrews, geckos and chameleons. Fish, crabs and medusae are abundant in the shore waters. Getting to most beaches requires a long and (sometimes) challenging walk as well but the breathtaking view is worth it in the end.
DON’T underestimate the wind and the sun. Winds in Malta are incessant and very strong. Having a jacket with you at all times is a good idea (especially the soft shell kind). Carry a bottle of water as well and drink often – the sun is always shining but the wind cools you down so you don’t notice the heat. Sadly, there are occurrences of tourists collapsing or even dying while hiking due to dehydration. Don’t let this happen to you!
8. DO visit the beaches but remember that most of them are NOT SANDY. The most popular sandy beaches on Malta are in the north: Golden Bay, Mellieha Bay and Ramla Beach (on Gozo) and The Blue Lagoon (on Comino). There’s still not much sand to share though. Also, be wary of jellyfish in the water, they sting.
DON’T collect sea shells and take them home. Almost all these beautiful shells are occupied by Hermit Crabs! Some of them will show themselves after a while but others may hide inside for days… until they die. Observe them in their natural habitat, take pictures and leave them where you found them please.
9. DO eat the local street food (Pastizzi) and bread from bakeries – it’s cheap, delicious and varied. There is an island-wide pastizzeria chain called Sphinx but it’s best to buy from smaller local ones. The one closest to us was called CHAMP! (in large bold letters) and our favorite snack was Qassatat (with peas or cheese). Italian Arancini (rice balls) are also present, but unlike Sicily, the Maltese ones come with tuna inside (and they’re not as good). There’s also pizza and Ftira sandwiches (Ftira is a large Maltese bun).
DON’T go to restaurants (too often) – it’s very expensive. Restaurants are counting on wealthy British and German tourists so the prices are accordingly high. We paid 50 Euro every time we went dining – just for the food! (no drinks)
10. DO try the local beer. Cisk is the most popular Maltese lager – it’s light and refreshing on a hot sunny day. I personally prefer Hopleaf, which is a smooth and very light (3,8%) pale ale. You can also try Kinnie. It’s a local soda with a bittersweet orange flavor that you’re unlikely to have tasted before. Not everyone likes it though.
DON’T drink water straight from the tap. Malta has NO natural rivers or lakes so most of the water comes from desalination plants and tap water reeks of chlorine. There are two ways of dealing with this issue. You can boil the tap water and let it stand for some time in a jug – this will allow the chlorine to escape. Or you can buy bottled water in large amounts.
That’s it, you are now ready for Malta! Thanks for reading.
1. DO visit Malta in spring and autumn. Spring temperatures are usually around 20'C already, rain is rare and the so-called "summer season" on Malta ends in November. Yes, I said *November*. And the difference between day and night temperatures is usually only a few degrees Celsius!
DON'T visit Malta in the summer. The most popular destinations are already swarmed with tourists in late April - and it gets worse with every day. Summer temperatures often exceed 30'C, which is way too hot for travel and sightseeing.
2. DO buy the 7-day public transport card (called Talinja) and use the buses (if you’re staying for a week). There are many of them and you can reach every major location by bus and the bus stops are frequent.
DON’T rely on the bus timetables. The only bus stops where the timetable will be *more or less* precise are the starting ones. Note that bus drivers ignore bus stops with no people waiting – wave energetically, otherwise the bus will not stop! Once you’re in, press the red button in advance if you want the bus to stop.
3. DO learn how to pronounce the names of towns and places you want to visit or things you want to buy. If you’re asking for something but your pronunciation is wrong you may not get the desired advice or product.
DON’T (no need to) learn Maltese – unless that’s something you enjoy. It’s a hard language to learn for Europeans (due to its Arabic base) and 90% of the population speaks fluent British English (Malta is a former British colony).
4. DO rent a comfortable apartment (especially if you cook) – there are many private flat offers available for tourists. Visit local farmers markets or find out where and when farmers sell their produce (usually on town squares in the mornings). Buy the local vegetables and fruit which are in season – they are delicious. Butcheries also sell meat at reasonable prices. Instead of ordering the local Maltese sausage (“Zalzett tal-Malti”) in a restaurant, just buy a few raw ones and pan-fry them at home! Have some Gbejniet (sheep milk cheeselets) too. They come in a variety of forms: fresh, sundried, salt cured or peppered.
DON’T get an all-inclusive vacation in a fancy hotel. Hotels are very expensive and I’ve personally heard complaints about the “meals included” deals – breakfasts are either English or Continental (which is boring) and dinners are often the same thing every day (which is even more boring). Why would you want that over fresh stuff that you can pick on your own?
5. DO be polite, patient and friendly. The Maltese people are very polite, patient and friendly themselves, so it’s only fair to repay them with the same. Shopkeepers say “hello” to every customer with a sincere wide smile. If you have questions they will gladly stop whatever they are doing and answer with extensive detail. And no other client is going to complain that they’re not being served (unless it’s a grumpy tourist). People are generally not in a hurry and love to chat during shopping – so slow down, relax and be patient. You will also hear “please” and “thank you” everywhere you go. It’s even considered good manners to say “hello” and “goodbye” to bus drivers!
DON’T expect the same on the road. Mysteriously, all that patience and politeness disappears without a trace when the Maltese get into their cars. Despite adopting the British driving system (left-hand side) the driving culture itself is much more “Italian” (sorry, amici) – fast, aggressive and with little regard for rules, signs and lines. They streets are very narrow, which doesn’t help at all. We were once on a bus that got stuck because a coach was going in the opposite direction and the street was not wide enough for both. Our bus driver scolded and threatened (!) the coach driver until the poor fellow gave up and backed away to a spot where the street was wide enough for both. Crazy stuff.
6. DO check out the old fortified medieval capital – Mdina. Out of all the most typical tourist destinations this one is one of the few actually worth the hassle. After you’re done, visit the nearby Ta' Qali Park and Crafts Village if you want to get some hand-made souvenirs. Malta is famous for silver filigree jewelry and stained glass. The Cittadella on Gozo is another fantastic medieval fortress. It is surprisingly large and you can buy one 5 Euro ticket for all 5 museums on the site (if you like that kind of thing).
DON’T waste your time on megalithic temples in the rural areas. To be honest we have not seen them ourselves but the general consensus is that it’s “an old pile of rocks that you can see for 10 Euro”. They’re hard to get to and not worth the time and money which can be spent elsewhere.
7. DO go on long nature walks. The nature in Malta is beautiful and full of surprises. The sparse pine or olive tree groves provide shade and shelter for a number of rare or endemic animals – birds, bats, shrews, geckos and chameleons. Fish, crabs and medusae are abundant in the shore waters. Getting to most beaches requires a long and (sometimes) challenging walk as well but the breathtaking view is worth it in the end.
DON’T underestimate the wind and the sun. Winds in Malta are incessant and very strong. Having a jacket with you at all times is a good idea (especially the soft shell kind). Carry a bottle of water as well and drink often – the sun is always shining but the wind cools you down so you don’t notice the heat. Sadly, there are occurrences of tourists collapsing or even dying while hiking due to dehydration. Don’t let this happen to you!
8. DO visit the beaches but remember that most of them are NOT SANDY. The most popular sandy beaches on Malta are in the north: Golden Bay, Mellieha Bay and Ramla Beach (on Gozo) and The Blue Lagoon (on Comino). There’s still not much sand to share though. Also, be wary of jellyfish in the water, they sting.
DON’T collect sea shells and take them home. Almost all these beautiful shells are occupied by Hermit Crabs! Some of them will show themselves after a while but others may hide inside for days… until they die.
Observe them in their natural habitat, take pictures and leave them where you found them please.9. DO eat the local street food (Pastizzi) and bread from bakeries – it’s cheap, delicious and varied. There is an island-wide pastizzeria chain called Sphinx but it’s best to buy from smaller local ones. The one closest to us was called CHAMP! (in large bold letters) and our favorite snack was Qassatat (with peas or cheese). Italian Arancini (rice balls) are also present, but unlike Sicily, the Maltese ones come with tuna inside (and they’re not as good). There’s also pizza and Ftira sandwiches (Ftira is a large Maltese bun).
DON’T go to restaurants (too often) – it’s very expensive. Restaurants are counting on wealthy British and German tourists so the prices are accordingly high. We paid 50 Euro every time we went dining – just for the food! (no drinks)
10. DO try the local beer. Cisk is the most popular Maltese lager – it’s light and refreshing on a hot sunny day. I personally prefer Hopleaf, which is a smooth and very light (3,8%) pale ale. You can also try Kinnie. It’s a local soda with a bittersweet orange flavor that you’re unlikely to have tasted before. Not everyone likes it though.
DON’T drink water straight from the tap. Malta has NO natural rivers or lakes so most of the water comes from desalination plants and tap water reeks of chlorine. There are two ways of dealing with this issue. You can boil the tap water and let it stand for some time in a jug – this will allow the chlorine to escape. Or you can buy bottled water in large amounts.
That’s it, you are now ready for Malta!
Thanks for reading.
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