Visiting Malta
Depending on where you come from, a trip to Malta can feel like travelling back in time. Due to its diverse history, the Maltese archipelago showcases influence from various periods in time. Many small towns and cities maintained their original charm. On top of that, they are also surrounded by a picturesque scenery. Malta is one of the few truly bilingual countries in the world: Here you will learn English not only in your classroom but also in your free time, which gives you plenty of opportunities to practise the living language.
You can meet other learners of English from all over the world in the school, as well as friendly locals and British expats. English language newspapers, books and magazines are sold everywhere and most TV and radio stations are in English as well. At the same time you can experience a truly wonderful Mediterranean lifestyle with its great weather, delicious food, relaxed atmosphere and genuine, fun-loving people. The Maltese archipelago is famous for its southern hospitality and British legacy. Escape the cold northern climate and combine your English studies with a fun holiday - this is what makes Malta so popular among learners of all ages, nations and levels. While studying English in Malta you will enjoy year-round pleasant weather, great nightlife, small, picturesque towns and villages with cosy cafés and shops, sandy and rocky beaches with beautiful, blue seas and a wealth of history and culture.
What to do in Malta?
When you visit Malta for the first time its not uncommon to feel as though you have been there before. This may sound mysterious, but there is a reason for why your surroundings might feel really familiar. Malta is the set of countless modern movies that many of us have seen and there is a high chance that you will recognize many locations due to their appearance in world famous features, movies and series. The well known fantasy series "Game of Thrones" is just one of many.
Malta is currently home to three UNESCO world heritage sites. The old town center of Valletta is one of these sites. The European Union has also nominated Valletta to be the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2018! Gain new experiences at the wonderful beaches and breathtaking landscapes. You should definitely visit Malta's "Blue Grotto" or "St. Peter's Pool", which are famous for their turquoise waters. You can also experience summer-like temperatures all the way up to September.
The Maltese republic consists of multiple islands. Malta is the longest one of these islands, with a lenght of 27 kilometers. The island state is made up of the three inhabited islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino. Comino and Gozo are beautiful islands and worth visiting. You can find the famous Blue Lagoon on Comino. You can find the spot where the "Azure Window" used to stand on Gozo. Unfortunately the famous rock arch collapsed into the sea in 2017.
The site has already been a very popular spot for scuba diving, but is even more appealing now because in addition to shallow pools and tunnels with access to the open ocean you can find a few tons of limestone under water. The Silent City of Mdina, which is the old capital of Malta, The Three Cities, St. John's Co-Cathedral and Popeye Village are just a few of the very popular attractions and must-visit places in Malta. Another must-go place is the habour Marsaxlokk. There is a market every day and you might find a few interesting Maltese snacks, sweets and the best fish on Malta.
Our island is also well-known for its vibrant nightlife. The clubs, bars, pubs and restaurants are concentrated in the small area of St. Julian's called Paceville and there are also large open-air clubs with famous international DJs visiting regularly. Going out in Malta is cheap and safe compared to most places in Europe and some bars and many clubs stay open all night.
Outdoor activities in Malta
Malta is the perfect spot to travel to if you enjoy adventurous activities in the nature.
General Information
The official languages are Maltese and English. English is the joint official language of Malta and is spoken by almost the whole population. It was introduced to the island in 1800, when the British ousted the French garrison, which had taken control of Malta in 1798. Due to Malta's strategic position in the middle of the Mediterranean, it became the headquarters of the British navy. Some attempts were made in the 1950's to integrate the island as a full part of the United Kingdom. Despite this, Malta became independent in 1964 as a Dominion within the British Commonwealth, with Elisabeth II as head of state. Finally, in 1974, the island became a Republic and the last British troops left in 1979.
English is very important in Malta as it is the language in which the majority of affairs are conducted. A good example is the University of Malta, which offers most of its courses in English. The most important daily newspapers and media are in English. It is therefore easy for Anglophones to get by in Malta, as the language is used in every aspect of life on a daily basis. English is taught in schools from an early age and parents encourage their children to communicate in English.
Maltese, the other official language, a Semitic language which descended from Maghrebi Arabic, with many borrowings from Italian and, in particular, Sicilian. The Maltese alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet, but uses the diacritically altered letters ż, also found in Polish, as well as the letters ċ, ġ, għ, ħ and ie, which are unique to Maltese.
Italian was an official language until the 1930s and is widely spoken as a third language. French, German and Spanish, amongst other languages, are taught as foreign languages in secondary schools.
Climate and best travel seasons
The average yearly temperature in Malta is around 18.7 degrees Celsius. This is because temperatures are evenly distributed across the entire year. Summer can however become very hot and temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius are to be expected throughout the summer period. Sun worshipers will love this time of year and water sports are of course also in season! You will therefore want to pack light clothing and swimwear! Temperatures rarely sink in the evenings either, but it is recommendable to take a light jacket or jumper with you. There can however be short and heavy rain showers in any season as it is located right next to the Mediterranean sea. More noticeable temperature changes can occur during Spring and Fall, but it will always stay relatively warm as long as the sun is shining. At the break of dawn the breeze from the ocean can lower the temperatures quite noticeably. If you enjoy swimming in the ocean, you will usually still be able to do so up until the end of November, because it will still be warm and sunny enough at the Mediterranean sea.
- Capital city: Valletta
- Form of government: Republic
- Citizen count: 520.700
- General emergency calls: 112
- Emergency police calls: 191
- Emergency ambulance calls: 196
- Malta country code for calls: +356
- Circuitry voltage: 240 Volts
- In Malta the power plugs and sockets are of type G
- As Great Britain, Malta drives at the left side of the road.
Malta enjoys a well-earned reputation for its health standards. Medical facilities are available through the regional health centres and a general hospital. EU nationals should bring their E-111 card to access emergency medical attention for free. We suggest you to buy bottled water instead of drinking the tap water in Malta. Milk is pasteurised and available daily in cartons and bottles. All dairy products are safe for consumption.
The Maltese republic consists of multiple islands it is an archipelago located in the Mediterranean Sea, just south of Sicily. It consists of three islands - Malta, Gozo and Comino. Malta is the largest and most populated of the three islands, with a total area of just over 316 square kilometers. Malta is the longest one of these islands, with a lenght of 27 kilometers. The island state is made up of the three inhabited islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino as well as the unihabited islands of Cominotto, Filfla, St. Paul's Island and Fungus Rock. The capital city of Malta, Valletta, is located on the island of Malta.
The topography of Malta is mostly low-lying, with the highest point being Ta' Dmejrek at 253 meters. The islands are mostly limestone, with many rocky coves and cliffs along the coast. The climate is typically Mediterranean, with hot and dry summers and mild winters. One of the most iconic is the Azure Window, a natural limestone arch located on Gozo, it collapsed on 8th March 2017. Other notable landmarks include the Ġgantija Temples, the Megalithic Temples of Malta, and the Blue Grotto, a series of caves with crystal-clear waters. In addition, Malta is home to several historic fortresses and churches, including the Grand Harbour and the Basilica of Saint Paul.
Malta gets its water from a variety of sources. The main source is desalination, which is the process of converting sea water into fresh water. Desalination plants are located on the island and produce around 450,000 cubic meters of fresh water every day. Other sources of water include groundwater and rainwater collected in tanks.
Visa to Malta - Requirements for entering Malta
European citizens do not need a VISA in order to enter Malta as it is a member of the EU itself. Non-EU-citizens need to apply for a VISA at their local Maltese embassy.
Please also visit the Maltese embassy to discuss any requirements you might need to fulfill, if you are planning on staying in Malta for longer than 90 days. The visa procedure is very simple and straight-forward. More information can be found here or in the Maltese Embassy in your country.
Make sure to take your passport or personal ID with you when you visit the embassy and when you begin your travels. Please note that your ID and Passport must be valid for until at least half a year onward from the date of your return from Malta. Minors under the age of 16 need to have a children's ID that contains an up to date picture of them or alternatively have an entry of their own within their parents' passport. Travel and safety information can be found on the appropriate ministry of foreign affairs or federal foreign office.
Malta has been a member of the Schengen Agreement since 2007, which is why border controls are inactive at Malta's international airport. This is why travelers who have a Schengen VISA do not need another Maltese VISA in order to be allowed into the country.
10 facts about Malta
This is the main reason why English is the second official language of the country and is widely spoken by the population. Malta is considered to be one of the best places to study English because it combines interactive teaching, a large native-speaking population, great weather, sea, sun and fun, competitive prices and good accessibility.
The sun shines more than 3,000 hours each year, one of the highest rates in Europe. Malta enjoys warm, sunny weather most of the year which attracts a lot of tourists. The temperature never goes below zero and is 26°C on average in summer and 15°C in winter during the day.
According to a United Nations report Malta is listed in second place in terms of safety after Qatar. The index is based on 4 factors: exposure to natural hazards such as earthquakes, hurricanes and floods, level of infrastructure, governance and adaptive capacities to future climate change. Malta also has a very low crime rate for both violent and petty crime. The fatal road accidents rate is also extremely low. Tourists are usually advised to be careful with their belongings and when crossing streets as driving is on the left like in the UK.
Maltese history, culture and architecture owe a lot to the famous Knights of St. John (also known as the Order of Hospitallers and Maltese Knights). The Order came to Malta in 1530 and over the centuries invested vast amounts of effort and resources into the island's military power, education and health care. They also built the fortifications of Valletta - at the time it was the most advanced fortress in the world.
Malta consistently ranks in the top positions for the cleanest bathing waters in the EU and has been given a star by the European Commission. Every single one of its 87 bathing sites reach EU standards and most of them have been given top marks and rated "excellent". Maltese waters are incredibly beautiful, featuring memorable shades of deep blue and turquoise.
Maybe not officially but Maltese summer - the time when you enjoy swimming and sunbathing - starts in early May and ends in late October. Seawater reaches comfortable temperatures in June and gets gradually warmer up to October. Visiting Malta in summer is a must for anyone who wishes to escape the dreaded cold of the Northern countries.
Students of all nations, ages and levels are welcome in Malta. The top nationalities are Italy, French and Germany and the largest proportion of language students fell within the 18 to 25 age group. Studying English in Malta is becoming more and more popular every year and the number of students is steadily growing.
And the fifth smallest in Europe at only 316 km2. It is also one of the most densely populated countries with more than 452,000 residents. Malta is a Parliamentary Republic. It is an archipelago consisting of three islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino.
Older than Stonehenge. There are eleven prehistoric monuments of which seven are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These temples were the result of several phases of construction from around 3000 to 2200 BC.
During 2018, Valletta organised a number of events that served as inspiration to other cities based on different cultural elements.
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