NotNapoleon's Tourism Bureau - Malta

What is Malta?

Malta is a small island nation in the Mediterranean Sea, located between the much larger island of Sicily (part of Italy) and North Africa. The country is made up of 3 main islands - the main one (just called Malta), Gozo (the second one), and Comino (the smallest one, which has a permanent population of 2, but is very popular with tourists).

Must knows for travelling

• Malta is a part of the EU and the Schengen Area. Check the entry requirements based on your country of origin.
• During the summer, Malta can be very hot. Stay hydrated and wear sun cream to avoid getting sunburnt!
• Unlike Mainland Europe, Malta drives on the left.
• Unlike Mainland Europe, Malta uses the Type G plug outlet (the same used in the UK and Ireland).
• The currency is the Euro (€).

Getting to Malta

The primary way to get to Malta is by plane. Airlines like KM, EasyJet, and RyanAir operate regular flights to and from the country. Though since Malta is a very small country, it only has one airport (Malta International Airport).

If you're travelling from Italy, you can also travel to Malta by ferry from Sicily.

Languages

Malta is the only English-speaking country in Europe outside the British Isles (I guess there's also Gibraltar, but it's not a country). Most street signs are in English and around 90% of Maltese people speak English, so you should have no problem getting around. This also means a lot of people move to Malta to work and study.

However, the primary language of Malta is Maltese. It's a very interesting language, it's a semitic language and very similar to Tunisian Arabic. However, it's not just another dialect of Arabic and a big chunk of its vocabulary comes from Romance languages (mostly Italian & French) and English. It's also the only Semitic language written in the Latin Alphabet.

Maltese Culture

I would best describe Malta as a hybrid of British, Italian/Sicilian, and North African cultures. And this is primarily because Malta has been part of many different empires. In 1964, Malta gained independence from the United Kingdom, though there were discussions of Malta becoming a constituent country of the UK (like Scotland or Wales) rather than just a British colony.

British Influence

• Left-hand traffic, right-hand drive vehicles
• Red Telephone Boxes
• British Shops (like M&S, Matalan, and WHSmith)
• A few place names (Pembroke, Victoria, and St Lawrence)
• Type G plug sockets

Romance (e.g., Italian/Sicilian, French) Influence

• Police Uniforms
• Food (e.g., spaghetti, pastries, snails)
• Architecture
• Predominantly Roman Catholic

Arabic Influence

• Primarily the Maltese Language
• Most place names

Interesting things about Malta

• Air Sirens - some sources say this is a daily occurance, but I can't verify it
• I visited Malta during the Feast of St. Mary - you'll notice a lot of fireworks at night
• Public Toilets - most of them cost money, even if you go into somewhere like Starbucks, you typically have to buy something in order to get the code for the toilet.
• It has some very interesting abandoned buildings
• There's a lot to do.

McDonald's in Malta

I'm not saying you should go to Malta to just eat at McDonald's, but oh my days, McDonald's in the UK is a complete joke when compared to Malta. Here are some things you can buy at McDonald's in Malta that you can't get in the UK:

• Hot Wings
• Steakhouse Fries
• Cisk (pronounced Chisk) - a popular Maltese beer
• Bacon & Jalapeño Coins
• Scrambled Eggs
• Much wider range of desserts (e.g., Passion Fruit McFlurry, Sundaes, Cakes)
• Unusual Breakfast Options (e.g., Chicken McMuffin)

Verdict

You should visit Malta. Thanks for reading!