Key facts
- Languages
- Maltese and English
- Currency
- Euro
- Drives on
- The left
- Emergency number
- 112
- Getting to Gozo
- Ferry from Ċirkewwa or Valletta
- Membership
- EU and Schengen
People move to Malta for the sun and the sea and stay for something harder to define: the pace, the community and the sense of living inside history. Here is an honest picture from the people who live here.
The rhythm of the year
Spring is green and fresh — the countryside is at its best, and it is the perfect time for walks along the cliffs at Dingli or the valleys of Gozo.
Summer is long, hot and social. Life moves outdoors and to the sea, and the villages celebrate their festa — fireworks, brass bands and illuminated churches, one parish after another through the summer weekends.
Autumn brings warm seas, the first rains and the return of the working year.
Winter is mild and short, with bright days between the rains. Maltese homes are built to stay cool, so good heating — usually via air conditioning — makes winter comfortable.
Language and people
Maltese and English are both official languages, and English is used everywhere — from government to the corner shop. The Maltese are known for their warmth and hospitality; neighbours, parishes and local clubs are the fabric of community life. The international community is large and welcoming.
Food
Malta’s food reflects its history — Sicilian, North African, British and Arab influences. Try pastizzi from a village bakery, ftira bread, fresh fish from the Sunday market at Marsaxlokk, and a rabbit stew in the countryside. Wine from Maltese and Gozitan vineyards is worth discovering.
Harbour town or village?
| Harbour towns | Villages | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | Sliema, St Julian’s, Valletta | The Three Villages, Naxxar, Mellieħa |
| Pace | Busy, cosmopolitan | Calmer, community-centred |
| Homes | Apartments and penthouses | Townhouses, houses of character, villas |
| Car | Optional | Usually needed |
The honest trade-offs
- Density and construction. Malta is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe; building work is common. Ask what could be built next to any home you buy — see due diligence.
- Traffic. Roads are busy at peak times. Living near work or school changes everything.
- Summer heat. Air conditioning is essential, and some people spend part of the summer abroad.
- Island logistics. Some goods cost more or take longer to arrive.
Gozo — a different pace
Many residents escape to Gozo for weekends; some live there full time. The ferry from Ċirkewwa, or the fast ferry from Valletta, makes it a short trip — and a different world.
Ready to explore? Start with our area guides and the moving-to-Malta guide.
