The Magnificent Maltese Archipelago

My trip to Malta

At the beginning of March, I flew to Malta, a European destination that has always intrigued me! Located in southern Sicily, Malta is a small archipelago that has much to offer... Between its British heritage, Italian influences, Mediterranean style, rich cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes. Come on, I'll take you in!

Preparing for your trip to Malta

➔ Getting there: about 2-3 hours flight from Toulouse and Paris direct flights all year round.
➔ Document for a trip to Malta: identity card or passport.
➔ Good parking plan at the airport: 10€ offered at BlueValet with the QCAS6 code.
➔ Currency: Euro.
➔ Time difference: none compared to Metropolitan France.
➔ Official languages: Maltese and English.
➔ Area: 316 km² in total for the 3 main islands (3 times Paris).
➔ Rental car: best option to travel on site. 
➔ Direction of travel: left-hand drive.

The #BisonFuté traffic point

Malta is the least populated country in the European Union with about 447,000 inhabitants! But be careful, its population density is the 4th highest in the world with more than 1,400 inhabitants per km2 (after Monaco, Singapore and the Vatican).

A lot of people = a lot of traffic. Travel on the main island of Malta can be quite tedious, especially around the capital Valletta. To give you a small example, to drive 10-15km we used to take more than 30-45 minutes by car, so I recommend scooters or public transport which are air-conditioned!

Left hand driving is not insurmountable for alert drivers. I advise you to opt for a small size rental car in order to better appreciate the distances to the right and left. And if you do not wish to rent a car, the bus network is very well developed in Malta. Although it can be constraining to depend on the bus.

On the island of Gozo, it is much more pleasant to travel and less time is wasted on transport.

When to go to Malta?

As the island is very small and very populated, I do not recommend the high season (July and August in particular) for your trip to Malta. Not only can it be very hot (over 40°C), but this European destination is also very touristy...

The good news is that Malta enjoys a sunny, mild and temperate Mediterranean climate. With more than 300 days of sunshine per year, Malta can be visited all year round! If you choose to go there in summer, you will enjoy incredible swimming spots. The advantage of a small island is that the sea is always nearby.

For my part, I left at the beginning of March for a 6-month internship. My internship allowed me not only to make beautiful encounters but also to appreciate this magnificent archipelago. From March the sun was shining. Goodbye jeans and hello and shorts. I advise you to leave out of season, indeed from March it is 26 to 30° on the islands. 

Housing advice

I stayed in Sliema but I invite you to discover other cities. Sliema is a city on the east coast of the city (the most touristic side), very close to St. Julians the St. Tropez Maltese but also to Valletta the Maltese capital which is easily accessible by bus or public holidays (much more pleasant). 

Concerning accommodation, I strongly advise you not to book remotely for a period longer than 1 month.  Indeed, photos are sometimes misleading but this also helps to avoid scams. As for me, I booked an Airbnb for a period of 7 days and then I did my research on the spot. The archipelago being cosmopolitan, I strongly advise you to let people know that you are looking for accommodation.  Indeed many expatriates are settled on the island and it will be a pleasure to help you. Be careful, some of them are real estate agents and will push you to turn to them to make your life easier. I advise you not to, the agency fees are sometimes high, moreover it is very easy to find a home without a real estate agency. 

For my part, I have chosen a 300 m2 house in the heart of Sliema with a sea view. I paid the modest sums of 450 euros per month excluding charge. For this sum I occupied a 30 m2 room with Maltese balcony air conditioner and a separate private shower.

For the localization, everything will depend on your desires! You may very well decide to stay in Valletta to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city and all the amenities to go out in the evening. 

Or you might want more calm by avoiding the capital. In any case, I find that there are no good or bad places to stay in Malta because the island is very small and needs to be explored in length, breadth and depth!

Note that if you come on holiday I recommend the East Coast which is much more lively. 

Not to be forgotten in your suitcase!

➔ A travel adapter for English type electrical outlets.

➔ A canteen to avoid plastic bottles because the water doesn't taste very pleasant and it's very hot! 

➔ Sunscreen (Malta is 300 days of sunshine per year!)