Capital
The capital of Malta is Valletta
Time
It is 2 hours behind Moscow.
Language
The official language in the country is Maltese. English, Italian, German, Spanish and French are also spoken in the country.
Currency
Malta ‘s currency is the euro (EUR).
You can exchange currency at all banks in major cities of the country, as well as exchange offices, hotels, at the seaport and airport of Valletta. Only the main currency of the world can be exchanged in the country.
Traveler’s checks and credit cards in Malta are accepted everywhere and without restrictions. When exchanging, it is worth clarifying the presence of a commission fee.
Banks work on weekdays from 8:30 to 12:30, on Saturdays from 8:00 to 12:00 – from 1.10 to 14.06. During the summer season, from June 15 to September 30, banks are open on weekdays from 8:00 to 12:00, on Saturdays from 8:00 to 11:30.
1 EUR = 100 euro cents, 100 RUB = 2.48 EUR, 10 USD – 7.06 EUR
Connection
Internet
Almost all large hotels, as well as one of the elite bars, have paid Wi-Fi connection points. GPRS roaming is available to Megafon subscribers.
Also in all major cities of Malta there are numerous Internet cafes where you can access the network.
Telephone communications
Payment for telephone conversations is made only by telephone plastic cards. Payphones in cities are installed everywhere. One minute of conversation with Russia will cost 0.8-0.9 EUR (8:00-21:00), in the evening after 21:00 – 0.7 EUR.
Telephone calls within the country, between neighboring cities, are paid at the rate of long-distance calls.
Malta ‘s dialing code is 356
In order to call from Moscow to Malta, you need to dial: 8 – 10 – 356 – the number of the called subscriber.
Transport
Ferry crossings in Malta are one of the most convenient modes of transport. Ferry service links Malta with Comino and Gozo. Ferries run regularly from 06:00 to 23:00, the interval is 20 minutes, round trip from Malta to Gozo is 2 EUR for a child and 4 EUR for an adult.
Also, each coastal town of the island can be reached by sightseeing or regular boat.
The bus service of Malta covers almost the entire island. However, buses here are a rather inconvenient mode of transport, since all buses go to Valletta and only stop at those cities that they meet along the way. There are also several bus routes connecting the resort areas, however they operate only during the summer seasons. Tickets can be purchased at the final bus stations in specialized machines or from the driver.
There are also two types of taxis in the country – white and black. In white taxis, the fare is assigned by the driver, while black taxis produce work only to order. It is recommended to choose a car only with a meter; if it is not available, the price should be negotiated in advance.
Rent a Car
A car is one of the most convenient means of getting around Malta. When renting a car, the renter must provide a valid international or national driving license, which must be approved by the Police Department in Floriana.
According to Maltese law, it is allowed to drive a car from the age of 18, however, most rental companies only rent to persons who have reached the age of 21. Car rental in Malta is much cheaper than in other European cities.
On average, the cost of car rental is from 15 to 20 EUR in winter and up to 30 EUR in summer, taking into account insurance and mileage. Mostly cash is accepted for payment.
Road rules
Traffic on the roads is left-handed, to which you must adapt as soon as possible and exercise extreme caution. The main roads of Malta are in good condition, the same cannot be said about secondary roads.
You should also be especially vigilant in relation to pedestrians walking along the road. The speed limit in the city is up to 40 km/h, on the highway up to 60 km/h.
Pedestrian crossings in cities, in addition to stripes on the pavement, are indicated by two orange lights on both sides of the streets, as well as backlighting.
In the major cities of Malta, there are free parking lots, which are usually distinguished by special markings, as well as paid multi-level parking lots. Parking in the wrong place is punishable by a fine of 10 lira or the evacuation of the car.
Driving in the historical center of the capital by car is prohibited.
Tips
In Malta, tips are 10% of the total bill. Tipping is customary to encourage taxi drivers, waiters and porters (from 10 to 15 cents for each piece of luggage). See liuxers for Malta customs and traditions.
Tourist safety
The crime rate in Malta is quite low. It is worth being afraid of pickpocketing in public crowded places and public transport.
There are also cases of robbery of parked cars, so you should not leave things in the cabin.
All valuable documents and large sums of money are recommended to be kept in a hotel or hotel safe.
The country also bans smoking in public places. An exception is establishments that provide places with special exhaust equipment for smoking visitors.
