Malta language. Level of safety and culture of behavior in society. Climate, when is the best time to go?

When to Malta in the 9th century BC. The Phoenicians arrived, they were interested in the advantageous location of this island, which was useful for trade. Now in Malta only scientists and museum staff remember the Phoenicians - tourists in the Maltese archipelago are primarily interested in the excellent beaches - Golden Bay, Blue Lagoon, St. Peter's Pool…

Malta is in the very center Mediterranean Sea, halfway between continental Europe and North Africa. The Maltese archipelago consists of 6 islands that are washed by the Mediterranean Sea. The largest of them are Malta (about 370 thousand inhabitants) and Gozo (about 30 thousand inhabitants). Only a few people live on the island of Comino. But the islands of Cominotto, Filfla and St. Paul are generally uninhabited. The total area of ​​Malta is 316 square meters. km.

The capital of Malta is Valletta, which is currently home to about 7 thousand people. Valletta was founded by the Knights of Malta in 1566. However, there is archaeological evidence that in the territory of modern Valletta in the 9th century BC. there was a Phoenician settlement.

There are two official languages ​​in Malta – Maltese and English. In addition, Italian is widely spoken in Malta.

About 98% of Malta's population is Catholic, belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. There is one church for every 1,000 people in Malta.

Malta is a parliamentary republic in which the head of state, according to the Constitution, is the President.

The President of Malta is elected by the House of Representatives (the local unicameral Parliament), consisting of 69 people.

The climate in Malta is typically Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and mild, not very cold winters.

In the coldest month - January - the air temperature in Malta ranges from +12 to +20C during the day and from +7 to +12C at night. In the warmest month - August - the air temperature ranges from +28 to +34C during the day and from +19 to +24C at night.

Malta is washed on all sides by the Mediterranean Sea.

Average sea temperature in Malta:

January – +17C
- February - +16C
- March - +16C
- April - +17C
- May - +19C
- June - +22C
- July - +26C
- August – +27С
- September - +26C
- October - +24C
- November - +22C
- December - +19C

There is not a single river or lake in Malta. This is the only European country that has no rivers or lakes.

People appeared in Malta back in the Neolithic era. In the 9th century BC. The Phoenicians sailed to Malta and actively engaged in maritime trade. Around 700 B.C. The ancient Greeks settled here.

In 400 BC. Malta was captured by Carthage. In 264 BC. During the first Punic War, a rebellion broke out in Malta against Carthage. As a result, Malta came under the influence of Ancient Rome, and became integral part this empire.

It is believed that Christianity was brought to Malta by the Apostle Paul, who suffered in 60 AD. e. shipwreck near the Maltese archipelago.

In 395 AD Malta, after the collapse of the Roman Empire, came under the rule of the Eastern Roman Empire. In 870 AD. Malta was captured by the Arabs, however, in the end, the Christians drove them out of there, but this happened after a couple of hundred years.

In 1560, Emperor Charles V bequeathed Malta to the Military Order of St. John of Jerusalem, known to historians as the Order of Malta. The rule of the Order of Malta in Malta lasted until 1798, when the French troops of Napoleon Bonaparte landed there.

After Napoleon's defeat, which happened in 1815, Malta came under British rule. It was not until 1964 that Malta gained independence. In 1974, a constitution was adopted and Malta became a republic. In May 2004, Malta joined the European Union.

Every year in Malta (in Valletta) at the end of the second week of May, a carnival is held, which is dedicated to the victory of the Knights of Malta in 1565 over the troops of the Ottoman Empire.

Malta also hosts a large number of folk music and dance festivals every year.

Maltese cuisine was formed under the influence of several peoples (Arabs, British, Italians and Turks). Basic daily products are vegetables, cheese, fish, meat, rice, pasta. By the way, in Maltese families the main everyday dish is pasta (the influence of neighboring Sicily is felt).

Be sure to try the following dishes in Malta:

Lampuki Pie – fish pie;
- Rabbit Stew – rabbit stew;
- Bigilla - broad bean paste with garlic;
- Kapunata – vegetable stew;
- Bragioli – meatloaf;
- Hobz biz-zejt – bread with onions, fish, garlic and tomatoes;
- Aljotta – fish soup;
- Pastizzi - puff pastries;
- Kannoli – a sweet tube with cottage cheese.

Traditional Kinney lemonade is very popular in Malta among locals and tourists.

As for alcoholic beverages in Malta, the residents of this republic make good wine.

Phoenicians, ancient Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Knights of Malta, the French and the British lived in Malta. All of them left there a large number of historical monuments of their existence. Therefore, we advise tourists in Malta not only to relax on the beaches, but also to attend excursions. The top ten best attractions in Malta, in our opinion, include the following:

Palace of the Grand Master in Valletta

Cathedral of St. John in Valletta

Grand Harbor Harbor

Fort St. Elma

Palace Auberge de Castille

National Archaeological Museum

National Museum of Fine Arts

Manoel Theater in Valletta

Casa Rossa Piccola Palace

Prehistoric underground Temple of Hypogeum

Even very small settlements are called cities in Malta. Thus, about 300 people now live in Mdina, and about 7 thousand people live in Valletta. By the way, Mdina is considered the most ancient Maltese city. Archaeologists claim that human settlement on the territory of modern Mdina appeared almost 4 thousand years ago.

The most populous Maltese city is Birkirkara on the island of Malta. At the moment its population is more than 25 thousand people.

Almost every Maltese city is a wonderful beach resort. However, beach resorts such as St. Julian's, Sliema and Golden Bay deserve special mention. In Malta, some beaches are better than others. Do not forget, while relaxing in Malta, to visit the following 10 best local beaches:

1. Golden Bay - northwestern coast of the island of Malta
2. Blue Lagoon on Comino Island
3. St. Peter's Pool - in the southeast of the island of Malta
4. Ghajn Tuffieha – in the west of the island of Malta
5. Mellieha Bay - in the north of the island of Malta
6. Ramla l-Hamra – Gozo Island
7. Mgarr ix-Xini – Gozo Island
8. Paradise Bay - in the north of the island of Malta
9. Hondoq ir-Rummien - Gozo Island
10. San Blas Bay - Gozo Island

As souvenirs from Malta, we recommend bringing various lace products, dishes, art glass, towels, silver jewelry, miniature ships and boats, fresh white sheep cheese (but it does not last very long), and, of course, local Kinney lemonade "

Banks are open:
Mon-Fri: 08:30-12:30 Some banks are also open on Saturdays.

Store opening hours:
Mon-Sat: from 09:30 to 12.30 and from 16:30 to 19:00.

Ukrainians need to obtain a visa to enter Malta.

Among all the resorts in the Mediterranean Sea, the small island state of Malta stands out for me.

The idea to visit the Maltese archipelago came to me after a holiday in Greek, which in the 14th-16th centuries was the headquarters and naval base of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller.

What does Malta have to do with it, you ask? At least despite the fact that the famous Order of Knights of Malta are the same Hospitallers who managed to take part in the Crusades, and shortly before settling in Malta, they successfully fought against the North African pirates who hunted in the Mediterranean Sea. This is how the journey “in the footsteps of the knights” turned out.

In fact, Malta is not only about knightly fortifications. The territory of this dwarf state preserves traces of a number of different cultures, the oldest of which existed even when Egyptian pyramids there was a bare desert. At the same time, thanks to dwarfism, all attractions are located very compactly.

And the Republic of Malta is a full-fledged seaside resort with good service, developed infrastructure and great weather in season. However, holidays on this island have their own characteristics, which I will try to highlight below.

History of Malta

The Maltese archipelago owes its appearance to the continuous movement of lithospheric plates, as a result of which the islands were literally pushed to the surface of the sea. Before this, present-day Malta was part of the bottom on which chitinous skeletons settled for thousands of years sea ​​creatures, forming limestone rock. It is this that is the basis of the islands today, which explains the lack of sources in Malta fresh water, as well as natural sandy beaches, and an abundance of limestone buildings that arose when people settled the archipelago.

Moreover, in the period between the Neolithic culture and the era of the knights, the islands were ruled first by the Phoenicians, then by the Romans, and after the collapse of the empire into Western and Eastern they found themselves under the rule of Byzantium. For some time the archipelago was under the rule of the Arabs and then the Spaniards.

After the Hospitallers surrendered Malta to Napoleon's troops in 1798, the French stayed there for only two years, and from 1800 the English period began, ending only in 1964, when the islands gained independence.

As a result, the Republic of Malta, whose attractions are concentrated mainly on the two largest islands of the archipelago, retains traces of many cultures. The temples, fortresses and palaces of Malta are of interest to tourists from all over the world.

Visa and border crossing

Since 2007, Malta has been part of the Schengen area. List necessary documents you can find, for example, on the website visa center in Russia, and, in my opinion, there is nothing unusual about it in comparison with other Schengen members. By the way, you will also find a form there, which must be filled out in English.

Another thing is that the Maltese are not as willing to give multiple visas for a period of six months as the Greeks, Italians, French or our closest neighbors from Finland and the Baltic states, and there is a possibility of unexpected refusal. In general, if you decide to visit Malta, in my opinion, it is better to do so on a visa issued by another state. In general, it is a little strange that Malta, for which tourism is one of the main sources of income, is so disloyal when issuing visas - at least in relation to citizens of the Russian Federation.

There are no specific requirements when applying for a Maltese visa that stand out sharply compared to other Schengen states. The process of crossing the border is extremely simple and includes passport control, during which they may ask for what purpose you are traveling, especially if your visa is about to expire. In any case, it is best to have a printout of your hotel reservation and electronic tickets for the return flight.

As for restrictions on the carriage of baggage and items subject to declaration, their list. In general, compared to other European countries, I didn’t notice much of a difference.

How to get there

Tourist regions

The first thing to consider before flying to Malta in the summer is that there are almost no sandy beaches there. Personally, I was quite surprised that the coast of the islands is almost entirely stone.

The answer lies in the fact that the Maltese archipelago was originally part of the seabed, on which limestone rock was formed over millions of years. The islands appeared above the surface of the sea as a result of the movement of lithospheric plates.

The second is compactness. The total length of the coastline of the largest of the islands, after which the Maltese state is named, is 137 kilometers. This means that no matter where your hotel is located, Malta will be completely accessible to you. In addition, for the same reason, when talking about some regions, I will name several settlements at once, since cities literally flow into one another.

And at the same time, the resorts of Malta differ from each other, sometimes significantly.

Malta Island

Here, the main resort life is concentrated on the northern coast, and the tourist cities of Malta are located, as a rule, next to the bays.

• Aura, Bugibba- a relatively inexpensive, fairly crowded resort located in the western part of the northern coast. It is characterized by a great distance from the capital and from the main mass of cultural objects. Most food outlets resemble English pubs, the main dishes of which are steaks and fish&chips or, more simply, grilled fish + French fries. The cost of living is on average 20-30 percent lower than in the Sliema and St. Julian area. In Qawra, it is worth visiting the vintage car museum and the Maltese Oceanarium. There is a small artificial sandy beach. It is in this region that you should look for the most budget hotels in Malta. I usually look for hotels on, before that I can check if there are better prices somewhere.

• (Sliema), St. Julian's- a more expensive region due to its proximity to the capital. Sliema has its own port, from where you can sail to other islands if you wish, although, looking ahead, it is wiser and more economical to do this from Chirkeva. There are practically no attractions of its own, but the vast majority of the island’s noteworthy sites can be reached without transfers. Italian restaurants predominate among the restaurants, and there are also many establishments where you can try Maltese cuisine.

• (Valletta), Floriana- metropolitan region. Malta's main bus station is also located there, from where most buses depart. Despite the fact that both of these cities are surrounded by stone bastions, people also swim and sunbathe at their feet. However, going to Valletta for a beach holiday, in my opinion, is not very reasonable, and the cost of living there is higher than anywhere else.

• (Mdina), (Rabat)- this option is suitable for those who want to get acquainted with the sights of Malta. These cities are not located on the coast, but also at a sufficient distance from the airport. It lacks the bustle of Malta's beach resorts, but is a superbly preserved medieval town with many museums. And thanks to the developed bus network, from there you can easily get to the rest of the island’s attractions.

• Golden bay- this bay, located on west coast, is notable for the fact that it is there that one of the largest sandy beaches of the island is located. The main disadvantage is the poorly developed tourism infrastructure, so many tourists, and even local residents, prefer to come there for the weekend as savages and spend the night in tents or their own cars.

• Mellieha- a city located near the bay of the same name in the western part of the island. Among other things, it is famous for its sandy beach with a gentle entrance to the sea, making this place perfect for families with small children. Among the attractions, it is worth highlighting the red mini-fortress of St. Agatha.

Gozo Island

This second largest island of the archipelago is also inhabited and in many ways similar to its “big brother” named Malta. Holidays, the prices of which are comparable to the prices that take place on the main island of the archipelago, are comparable in terms of the quality of the services provided. Interesting places however, less:

• the Citadel fortress in the main city of Victoria,
• neolithic temple of Ggantija,
• The Azure Window is the main natural attraction of the island, which is a natural limestone arch.

Comino Island

The third and smallest of the inhabited islands is suitable for those who love solitude and peace. There is only one hotel on Comino, run by a family of four. Only these people have permanent residence on the island. Among the man-made attractions, one can only highlight the watchtower of the knightly period. The island is famous for its picturesque Blue Lagoon, where there is a small sandy beach.

See how much tours cost in different regions Malta is available by .

Top cities

Despite the fact that Malta is a dwarf state, its cities, which are inferior in scale to other Moscow districts, are sometimes very different from each other. Below I will give the top 5 most colorful of them.

• . An excellently preserved medieval city, the first capital of the archipelago and also the smallest city in Malta - a rare opportunity to see traces of the Spanish presence on the islands. Among other things, the city is famous for its torture museum. I have visited a lot of establishments of this kind and I confirm: the exhibition of the Mdina Dungeons Museum is many orders of magnitude more spectacular than anything I have seen before.

• . The capital of Malta, a fortified city, while walking around which I involuntarily remembered that it was once located within the Kremlin. Despite the small size of the city, modern administrative buildings literally disappear into the historical buildings.

• Paola. The city, which is represented by the Hibernians football team, has won the national championship more often than others (11 times). This is a typical example of non-tourist Malta with its measured pace of life, and also an opportunity to see the unique Neolithic temple-burial site of Hal Saflieni, entirely carved out of limestone.

• . I remember this larger suburb of Mdina for its abundance of early Christian catacombs. In addition, the Villa Romana Museum contains monuments from the Roman period of Malta's history.

• Birgu (also common Italian name Vittoriosa). This city seemed to me like a smaller copy of Valletta. This is the first capital of the island of the Hospitaller era. Like Valletta, it is surrounded by limestone bastions, and the Palace of the Inquisitor deserves attention.

Islands

To be honest, when I studied the political map of the world as a child, it seemed to me that Malta was one island. When I learned a few years ago that in fact we were talking about a full-fledged archipelago, I was quite surprised.

About three inhabited islands- Malta, and Comino - I already mentioned above. All the others are significantly smaller in size and are not inhabited. Accordingly regular transport communication They do not have contact with the inhabited part of the archipelago, and to get to them, you will have to negotiate privately with the owners of water transport.

• Cominotto. Together with Comino, it forms the Blue Lagoon, which is the main attraction of the third largest island of the Maltese archipelago.

• Filfla. This picturesque island is home to the common storm petrel, Mediterranean petrel and Mediterranean gull, and has been a protected area since 1988. For this reason, fishing in nearby waters is prohibited.

• St. Paul's Islands. Two islands located in St. Paul's Bay. This place is especially attractive to divers because it is in this area right on seabed A statue of Jesus Christ has been installed.

Top attractions

Despite the fact that the Maltese archipelago is located in the very heart of the Mediterranean Sea, in my opinion, it is more suitable for excursion and educational rather than beach holiday. The rocky shores are noticeably inferior to the sandy and even pebble beaches of other Mediterranean resorts, but the concentration of attractions per square kilometer in this dwarf state literally going off scale. Moreover, some of them are truly unique.

• Valletta city- founded by the Knights Hospitaller in the 16th century, it still does not go beyond the boundaries of powerful fortress walls made of local limestone. Despite the fact that the city is fully included in the list world heritage UNESCO as a monument medieval architecture, he is still today administrative center Republic of Malta. The houses, whose history goes back several centuries, house numerous museums, restaurants and shops.

• Khal-Saflieni Temple- a unique Neolithic sanctuary, the history of which began 4 thousand years BC. It is a system of three levels in height, each of which contains several rooms. I had never seen anything before that could compare to this limestone-carved temple. Malta is no stranger to changing owners, but this majestic structure has survived almost all of them. The sanctuary is located on the territory of the city of Paola.

• Mdina Dungeons Museum- a torture museum in the city. It would seem that there are similar attractions in almost every city where tourists often go, but this museum is special. Within its walls, instruments of torture are not just displayed, but you can see in detail how they work on mannequins, and it looks very realistic and natural. The museum is located in the city. Of course, this place is not for everyone, and I would not recommend it to the faint of heart.

• Rotunda of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary- this cathedral is famous for its dome, which is the largest in Malta and claims to be the third in Europe (to be fair, it is not alone). The rotunda really amazed me with its size.

• Coastal cliffs of Malta and- these are already natural attractions of the archipelago. Perhaps, nowhere else have I seen nature create masterpieces from limestone, which, if not capable of being on a par with the creations of human hands in terms of finesse of execution, are then very close to this.

Weather

Like most Mediterranean resorts, the climate in Malta is subtropical. Moreover, although it is believed that the swimming season there lasts from May to October, even in the spring and winter months the water temperature rarely drops below 15 °C.

The most warm water in the sea from July to September, when its temperature is not lower than 25 °C.

As for the air temperature, even in winter it is around 15-20 °C. The hottest months are July and August, when the thermometer exceeds 30 °C.

Rainfall in Malta generally occurs during the winter months. During the season it is sunny on the islands, but I also experienced a period of summer bad weather. It looks like this: in the morning the sky is overcast with clouds, then in the middle of the day it is quite cloudy for 10-30 minutes. heavy rain, after which there was not a cloud in the sky until evening.

In general, the climate in Malta is typical for island resort, that is, hot sunny summers and mild winters.

Money

Since May 1, 2004, Malta has been a member of the European Union, and since January 2008 official currency is the euro. At the same time, Maltese euros will certainly be of interest to collectors.

If you are going to pay in cash, it is best to purchase euros in Russian exchange offices, because if in Malta you can exchange somewhere Russian rubles, you will have to spend a lot of time searching and the course is unlikely to please you.

Concerning bank cards, then they are accepted almost everywhere, with the exception of some souvenir shops and street fruit vendors.

Moving around the country

Before I talk about transport in Malta, I’ll note that, despite the fact that there are taxis there, of course, I personally don’t see any point in using them. You'll soon understand why. For the same reasons, by the way, there is no point in renting a car, especially since traffic on the islands is organized according to the English left-hand traffic pattern.

If you do decide to rent a car, you will need driver license, a credit card on which about 100 euros will be blocked as a deposit, as well as a foreign passport. There are rental points at the airport, at many hotels and simply in areas where the bulk of tourists are. The cost of renting a car can be viewed.

As for taxi prices, to get from the airport to Valletta you will have to pay about 15 euros. Whether this is a lot or a little, decide for yourself, but it is worth taking into account that the distance is about 8 km. You can call a taxi at almost any hotel or restaurant, and there is also a counter at the airport.

In general, there are two types of public transport in Malta: buses and ferries. Let's start with the first ones.

Buses in Malta

Some outdated guidebooks list Maltese buses as one of the local attractions, as 50-year-old models are still in use there.

In fact, this has not been the case for a long time, and I personally saw that same retro bus only once: on the Sliema embankment it was converted into a souvenir kiosk.

To transport passengers, modern models with air conditioning, electronic displays with the names of stops and the ability to give an electronic signal to the driver if you want to get off are used.

As for the routes, they are built in such a way that there is a maximum of one transfer between any two settlements. More often than not, they don’t happen at all.

Buses with numbers like X1, X2, X3, etc. deserve special attention. They depart from the airport, and their routes are designed in such a way that if you decide to stay at a hotel on the first or second line, there will almost certainly be a bus station in the immediate vicinity .

You can find the current schedule and routes on the official website of Malta Public Transport.

The cost of one trip is 2 euros, but if you plan to travel often, I recommend choosing one of the two alternative options:

• a card worth 21 euros, giving the right to an unlimited number of trips for 7 days,
• card worth 15 euros for 12 trips with no expiration date.

You can purchase them at the Malta Public Transport counter in the arrivals hall of Malta Airport, as well as at the bus stations in Valletta or Victoria if you are staying on the island. Moreover, if you need a transfer, and less than two hours have passed since the last time you boarded the bus, this will be counted as one trip.

Ferries in Malta

As for ferry services, there are four domestic routes in the Maltese archipelago.

• Malta - .
• Malta - Comino.
• - Comino.

Ferries to Gozo and Comino depart from the port of Cirkewa, located on the west coast of the island of Malta. The ticket price starts from 3-4 euros and depends on the season, so it is best to find out specific numbers on the spot.

The ferry from Sliema to Valletta and back runs 2 times an hour and costs €1.50 per person one way, or if you plan to return by boat, the price for a return ticket is €2.80.

Connection

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, but, as is often the case in beach hotels, it is paid for almost everywhere in the rooms, and the cost can reach several tens of euros per week. If you need internet but don't want to pay for it, I recommend looking for a hotel that has a free public Wi-Fi area.

Wireless Internet is also available in almost all restaurants.

As for mobile communications, there are no problems with it in Malta, however, before you go straight to the counter of one of the local operators at the airport to purchase a tourist SIM card, think about how often you plan to use it. The fact is that the cost of a SIM card alone is about 10 euros.

In the end, I got by just fine with the Auchan Teletie tourist card, a minute of conversation on which costs around 45 American cents. As for the card itself, in Moscow Auchan it cost me about 200 rubles, despite the fact that I already had $5 in my account. This was before the sad events of the fall of 2014, that is, the dollar cost 30-33 rubles.

Language and communication

State languages in Malta there are two: Maltese proper, as well as English. This is due to the fact that from 1800 to 1964 the islands were under the rule of the British Crown, and it is for this reason that teaching English in Malta is so popular. If you want to learn a language in a native country, it will be much cheaper here than in Foggy Albion.

I communicated in English, because in principle I see no point in trying to speak with the natives in their language, no matter what country we are talking about.

At the same time, the Maltese language is notable for being very similar to Arabic. The fact is that at the end of the 1st millennium AD the island was under the rule of the Moors. To date, no alcazars or mosques have survived from those times, and the only monument of that historical period is the native language of the Maltese. For example, "hello" would sound like "merhba".

If things are really bad with foreign languages ​​(my level of English is Pre-Intermediate), you can hardly hope that you will be understood in Russian in a country like Malta. You will also not find descriptions of most attractions in your native language, nor will you find menus in restaurants.

But here I have something for you too good news: excursions in Malta for Russian tourists during the season are held with enviable regularity. You can purchase them either through your tour operator or directly.

For example, immediately upon arrival, I picked up a booklet at the airport with a contact phone number. As a result, a representative of the excursion bureau came directly to my hotel to issue vouchers, and even managed to negotiate a 10% discount, since I took five excursions at once. By the way, they were built in such a way as to cover several significant objects at once in one trip.

Features of mentality

Like most residents of the Mediterranean region, the Maltese seemed to me to be leisurely and slightly inattentive people. Don’t be surprised if food in a restaurant is brought to you more than an hour after ordering, even if it’s just grilled fish, or if the bus driver doesn’t respond to pressing the “Stop” button.

In addition, the population of Malta for the most part seemed to me not to be very clean. This is reflected in the huge amount of garbage on the streets, among which there is an abundance of cat excrement, since cats are loved here, as in other Mediterranean countries.

With all this, the Maltese are generally positive and sympathetic people. They were always happy to help and give directions, even if I didn’t ask them for it.

Food and drink

Well, now is the time to go through the restaurants, because if you type “Malta all inclusive” into a search engine, you will see that only a few hotels operate on this system. Most hotels offer guests BB (breakfast only) and HB (breakfast + dinner) meal options.

As for Maltese cuisine, it combines typically English and Mediterranean traditions, mostly with a minus sign. From the British, the Maltese borrowed an unhealthy craving for fried potatoes as a side dish, and the Mediterranean culinary school manifests itself in their abuse of olive oil. As a result, Malta is fighting with Ireland for the right to be called the second country in Europe after the UK in terms of the proportion of people suffering from obesity.

On the positive side, I note that fish and seafood are popular in Malta, and when I asked to replace French fries with boiled ones, my request was almost always granted, even if they were not stated on the menu.

As for drinks, local wine is very similar in taste to the products of Italian winemakers. Without going into details, which are of interest exclusively to professional tasters and sommeliers, Maltese dry wines are distinguished by a soft, refreshing taste with a minimum of astringency.

If you prefer an amber drink, try the local “Cisk”, which began to be brewed on the island of Malta back in 1928. The best beer, in my opinion, is, of course, brewed in the Czech Republic, but Cisk is what is called a strong middle beer, and I drank it with pleasure as an accompaniment to fish and seafood.

As for beer, besides Cisk, Irish Guinness is also popular.

Concerning drinking water, then due to the lack of freshwater reservoirs in Malta, it is sold either imported or specially desalinated. However, the prices for it are not off the charts: a block of 6 one and a half liter bottles in a supermarket will cost about 2 euros.

I roughly divide Maltese restaurants into three groups.

• English type restaurants. The cheapest and at the same time the most harmful option. Main courses - "fish & chips" (grilled fish with chips) or steaks with the same fries on the side. The cost of the second one with a side dish is 8-12 euros. Mostly such establishments are concentrated in the area of ​​Qawra and Bugibba.

• Italian trattorias. Oddly enough, they are most often kept by Italians. In addition to traditional pasta and pizza, the choice of dishes there is quite large, but the portions are usually small, and the cost of the second one can be 20-30 euros. At the same time, when I was walking around Mdina one day, I had to have lunch in a trattoria, since all other food outlets were closed.
• Actually Maltese restaurants. In relation to other groups, this is the golden mean. On the one hand, the assortment of dishes is quite rich, but the cost of the second one will be from 12 to 25 euros. Moreover, in such establishments, the price of the main course often includes bonuses such as a bottle of wine (or water, if you do not drink alcohol) or unlimited access to the salad bar. And it is in such restaurants that you can try dishes national cuisine, about which we'll talk below.

Shopping

The largest shopping center in the archipelago is the "The Point" complex, located in the city. Since the peak tourist season (July-August) coincides with the sales period, lovers of quality clothing and accessories have a chance to make profitable purchases. Among the brands represented at The Point are Lacoste, Tommy Hilfiger, Gant and others.

In addition, you can find clothing stores of famous brands at central streets Sliema, as well as on Republic Street in Valletta.

Well, if you are interested in souvenirs, you can easily find them in numerous shops in any of the more or less tourist cities.

Vacation with children

Unfortunately, Malta is not very suitable for holidays with children. The cramped beaches of Malta, where rental of sunbeds and umbrellas are not always available, the steep descent into the sea when you go down a vertical staircase straight to the depths, and the predominance of fatty, heavy food - all this can be easily tolerated by adults, but children are unlikely to be comfortable.

In addition, the only attraction I can highlight is a 5D show like “Throne of Helios”, which takes place in the capital Greek island. Otherwise, there are no large zoos or, especially, amusement parks in Malta.

Safety

In general, the Maltese are a law-abiding people, so petty theft on the islands is a rare occurrence, and this can only be expected from a few emigrants from third world countries.

But swimming and sunbathing topless in Malta is strictly prohibited.

In general, in terms of the strength of Catholic morality among European states, this island republic is second only to the Vatican.

In addition, all churches in Malta are active, so the fair sex, who prefer shorts or minis during the season, must take special skirts that cover the knees at the entrance. However, I have repeatedly seen that not everyone follows this rule, but I don’t remember any serious scandals on this basis. Still, the islanders are good-natured and non-conflict people.

5 things you must do in this country

Attend one of the local festivals

The Maltese are devout Catholics and love to organize lavish celebrations on the occasion of the birthdays of saints. Moreover, each town has its own patrons, who are regularly honored there.

A few days before the holiday, colorful pedestals are installed in the city, on which statues of biblical heroes are later erected.

A day before the main celebration, a divine service is held in the main cathedral of the city, and the next day a colorful procession passes through the streets, at the head of which a statue of the hero of the occasion is carried, mounted on a special pedestal. Anyone can join the procession and help carry the sculpture, but it is worth remembering that the weight of the statue and pedestal is up to several tons. Musicians also take part in the procession and are responsible for the sound during stops in the squares.

The holiday usually ends with fireworks, and the next day the city's pavements are completely covered with confetti and colored ribbons.

Try our signature stewed rabbit

This is the hallmark of Maltese cuisine. Of course, you don’t have to travel to this country to enjoy rabbit meat, but thanks to the unique combination of spices, the Maltese rabbit really differs from similar dishes served in restaurants in other countries.

Scuba dive in St. Paul's Bay

It is there that a statue of Jesus Christ is installed right on the seabed. It looks, I tell you, mysterious and slightly creepy.

Take a selfie against the backdrop of the Azure Window

This is a unique natural attraction of Malta, located in the western part of the island. It is a limestone rock in the shape of an arch, and tourists love to take pictures in such a way that in the photo they appear to be inside the Azure Window.

Visit at least one of the megalithic temples

These unique monuments Stone Age architecture, which are complex structures made of limestone slabs held together only by their own weight. Sacrifices were performed in the temples; in addition, it is believed that they, like the famous Stonehenge, were used for calendar and astronomical purposes.

The most famous megalithic temples are Mnajdra, Hadjar-Im, Tarshien on the island of Malta and Ggantija on.

Nearby countries

The closest place to the Maltese archipelago is the island. In addition to the opportunity to sail there on their own by ferry, Russian tourists can purchase an excursion “In the Footsteps of the Godfather,” during which they will be taken to the places where the cult film was filmed.

Anything to add?

Basic moments

Malta is very popular among tourists. Travelers are attracted by Malta's clean beaches, picturesque nature, colorful festivals and many architectural monuments. The archipelago has centuries-old history, and on it you can see buildings from different eras: the ruins of megalithic temples, medieval fortresses, ancient palaces, cathedrals and squares. The most visited attractions are concentrated in the country's capital, Valletta.

Many foreigners come to the island to study in schools in English. In Malta the cost is 30-40% lower than in other European countries. Language courses on the island are open to preschoolers, schoolchildren, students and pensioners, so anyone who wants to improve their English has every opportunity to do so.

Some people rush to Malta to play in the casino, others are interested in exciting underwater diving. Lovers of natural attractions love to visit natural caves and natural parks. Far beyond the country's borders, the Mediterranean Marine Park is famous, where you can see exotic reptiles, birds and amphibians, as well as attend spectacular shows with dolphins and sea lions.

A special category of tourists comes to Malta for thalassotherapy. The mild sunny climate, warm sea and air saturated with iodine salts make it possible to cure many diseases and perfectly relieve stress. There are many well-equipped clinics on the islands, where they use hydromassage, healing wraps, rejuvenating masks, peelings, lymphatic drainage and other modern wellness procedures.

History of Malta

The island archipelago lies at the intersection of ancient trade routes, which connected Europe, Asia and Africa. In the 8th century BC, the Mediterranean islands were settled by the Phoenicians and Greeks. In the ancient period and in the Early Middle Ages, Malta passed from one state to another many times and belonged to Carthage, Ancient Rome, Byzantine Empire, Arabs, Normans and Spaniards.

In 1530, the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles V, granted the main island to the Knights of St. John, who from that time began to be called the Order of Malta. At the end of the 18th century, Napoleon's troops, heading for Egypt, invaded Malta, and the power of the Catholic Order ceased.

In the fall of 1800, the situation changed; the British landed in the capital of the island state. They raised the British flag over Valletta, Malta became a British colony and until 1979 served as a British naval base.

In 1964, the island archipelago gained independence, and 10 years later a republic was formed here. Since 2004, the island state has become a full member of the European Union.

Climate

Malta is in the zone Mediterranean climate, and its weather is in many ways similar to Sicilian. From June to September the air temperature is +28...+34 °C. In winter, the average thermometer stays at +14...+16 °C. During the year, the islands receive 530-570 mm of precipitation, most of which occurs in the winter months.

Almost all the time, warm sea breezes and the north-west wind “mistral” blow over Malta. At the end of summer, the Mediterranean island feels the influence of the strong south and south-west wind "sirocco", which comes to Malta from the North African and Arabian deserts. During Sirocco, the air temperature rises to +35 °C and above, and dusty, dry weather sets in on the islands.

Beaches of Malta

It is believed that the beach season in Malta starts in May. However, at the end of spring the sea water temperature is +19 °C, and for most vacationers the sea seems still cool. Mass swims begin in June and last until September and even October, when the velvet season, beloved by all tourists, reigns on the islands.

There are no multi-kilometer beach areas here, but Malta is rich in cozy small beaches. Most of them are surrounded by picturesque bays. Almost all Maltese beaches are free. Those who come to Malta are advised to swim in places patrolled by lifeguards, because it is dangerous to joke with sea waves and local currents. To avoid injuring your feet, it is better to go into the sea in bathing slippers.

Sandy beaches are the most popular among tourists. On the Maltese islands you can find beaches with white, pink, golden and red sand. These are places where there are almost always crowds. It is convenient to relax on the sandy beaches. The entrance to the water is gentle. Such beaches have all the necessary infrastructure - sun loungers and parasols, toilets, showers, places for changing clothes, as well as rental of sports equipment. Many of Malta's beaches are awarded the Blue Flag. This means that they are distinguished not only by the purity of sea water, but also by their careful attitude towards the natural environment.

Most of the pebble and rocky beaches in Malta are “wild” and are not visited by many tourists. Those who like a secluded holiday prefer to enjoy the silence when leaving for small islands Maltese archipelago. These are rock formations in the middle of the sea where you can spend time completely alone. You need to know that there are no official nudist beaches in this country, in addition, topless sunbathing is prohibited in all bathing areas.

One of the best sandy beaches is Golden Bay, which is located on the northwestern coast of the island of Malta. Golden sand and crystal clear sea attract many travelers here. On Golden Bay you can sunbathe, swim, play sports, and have picnics in the evening. Next door, next to small village Manikata, there is another popular beach - Ain Tuffiha. The sand on it is reddish, and to get to the shore you need to climb a staircase of 100 steps.

The longest Maltese beach, Adira Bay, is 800 m long. It is located in the north of the main island, in the Mellieha resort area. This sandy beach is ideal for family vacation. The entry into the water is very gentle throughout, and the shallow water warms up greatly. IN high season there are many presented on Adira Bay water activities– windsurfing, water skiing, banana boat rides and kayaking.

Armier Beach is famous for its noisy youth crowd, while Jneina Bay, on the contrary, is famous for its silence and small number of vacationers. Fans of windsurfing go to the beach of St. Thomas Bay, in the south of Malta, and the steep shores of St. Peters Pula and Ghar Lapsi are in demand among those who like to jump into the sea from a height.

Several artificial sandy beaches have been created on the main island: Pretty Bay in the port city of Birzebbuja, Paradise Bay in the north-west of the island, St. George's Bay in the east of Malta, as well as Bugibba, which is located near the city promenade of the resort of the same name.

On the island of Gozo, Vid il-Isri is a popular beach, which is located 6 km north of Victoria. In the north of the island is Ramla Bay Beach. The wide coastal strip is surrounded by hills with beautiful gardens and is famous for its golden-red sand. In the vicinity of Ala, it is worth visiting the Khondok-i-Rumin beach. It is believed that in this part of the Gozo coast the water warms up more slowly, and therefore the sea here is cooler.

Valletta

The capital of Malta is named after the leader of the Knights of St. John, Jean Parisot de la Valletta. The city, which today has a population of just over 5.7 thousand people, is located in the northeast of the main island. It has so many architectural monuments and attractions that it is one of the World Cultural Heritage Cities.

Valletta's main street bisects the city and ends at the medieval Fort St. Elmo, which once served as Malta's main fortress. Nowadays, the ancient fort houses the collections of the national military museum, and costumed knightly festivals are held.

Most travelers visit the Grand Master's Palace, which used to be the seat of the Order of Malta and is today used by parliament and the country's president. During a tour of the building, tourists are shown several halls and a large armory.

Another popular tourist attraction in Valletta is the medieval Puthiryal City Gate. The routes of all excursions around the Maltese capital also include acquaintance with the three most famous churches - St. John's Cathedral, St. Paul's Cathedral and St. Paul's Shipwreck Church, where several Christian shrines are kept.

Sights of Malta

All sights of Malta

There are many diving centers and schools open in Malta, where you can make one-time dives, undergo training of any level of complexity and rent necessary equipment and equipment. Diving enthusiasts appreciate the Mediterranean archipelago for its warm sea, which makes diving possible all year round. In summer, sea water warms up to +23...+25 °C, and in winter its temperature does not drop below +14 °C. Coastal waters are very transparent - visibility at depths reaches 30-50 m.

While diving in Malta, you can see a variety of inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea and admire the beautiful underwater landscapes - picturesque grottoes, long tunnels, caves and intricate arches. At depth, encounters with moray eels, groupers, mullet, parrotfish, flounder, stingrays, octopuses, crabs, squid and seahorses are common.

Sunken ships have found shelter in the coastal waters, the most famous of which are the British submarine X7 and the French liner Carnac. Particularly popular among divers all over the world is the Blue Grotto underwater cave complex, which is located in the south of the main island, not far from the settlement of Krendi.

Restaurants and cuisine

Malta lies at the crossroads of trade routes, and the cuisine of this island nation combines the culinary traditions of the Italians, Moors, Greeks and Spaniards. Local chefs prefer seasonal vegetables and fruits, fresh fish, seafood, grains, delicate goat cheese and olive oil.

The Maltese used to cook on stone hearths, so baked and stewed dishes predominate in modern cuisine. Tourists who come to Malta are advised to try the aromatic fish soup “aglotta”, which is cooked from different types of fish with the addition of aromatic spices, as well as the dorado dish “lampuka”.

Meat lovers will surely enjoy the tender Malti spaghetti or Maltese rabbit, stewed in ripe tomato sauce and red wine. Vegetarians will appreciate the salad with soft goat cheese, brigilla pickled vegetables, Maltese salad sandwiches and caponata vegetable stew.

Malta has many delicious desserts, so those with a sweet tooth will have a lot of fun here. The Maltese do not prepare desserts with chocolate, but often use ricotta cheese and candied fruits for them. Locals They make delicious pastizzi puff pastries filled with fresh fruit, nuts and honey. The islanders are very fond of cannoli rolls with ricotta and candied fruits, imkaret pastries filled with date puree and halva made from sweet ground almonds. All tourists love Maltese ice cream. It is made with the addition large quantity condensed milk.

Residents of the islands value liqueurs - strong alcoholic drinks that can be added to coffee in the cold season. Several types are produced in Malta and local fruits are used for this. The most popular among Maltese and tourists is Limuncell lemon liqueur. Ghasel made with honey, pomegranate Rummiena, tangerine Mangolin and orange Laring have pleasant tastes.

Where to stay

There are many hotels and tourist complexes. As throughout the world, the best level of service is provided by five-star hotels, but among budget hotels you can also choose quite decent options. Some hotels have own beaches. An all-inclusive system is rare here. Often hotels offer two meals a day, that is, guests can count on continental breakfasts and à la carte dinners.

During the low season, which lasts from November to March, housing prices decrease. However, most budget hotels close at this time for renovations to prepare rooms for the summer, so during the winter months in Malta the choice of affordable accommodation can be limited.

It should be noted that there is no centralized heating in the archipelago. IN winter time For heating, hotels use air conditioners, electric and gas heaters. Those who want to come to Malta during the cold season should find out in advance how heating works in the hotel and whether they need to pay extra for this service.

Transport

Driving in Malta is on the left. Main Island It is small in size, so trips along it rarely exceed one hour. The average transfer time from the hotel to the attraction is usually 20-30 minutes. Railway there is no. From ground transport, you can travel around the islands by comfortable buses, minibuses and sedans. For 20 euros, travelers are transported around the main island on double-decker buses.

Regular buses are owned by the local carrier Malta Public Transport. Most routes pass through the capital of Malta, so you often have to travel an extra distance to get to the right place. If a bus has numbers from 1 to 99, then it goes through Valletta. Buses running with numbers from 200 to 300 do not call at the island capital. Cars with the letter “N” added to their license plates operate at night, and buses with numbers starting from 300 travel around the island of Gozo.

All Maltese buses are air-conditioned, have soft seats and electronic displays. Tickets are sold by drivers. Night bus fares are twice the price of a day trip. To save some money, you should use travel tickets.

Taxis can be taken on the street, in parking lots. Taxi cars can also be ordered by phone, on the Internet and at Taxi Booth kiosks. Getting into a taxi costs 3.5 euros. The first 8 km of the trip are paid at a rate of 1.4 euros per kilometer, and the next - 1 euro. To take a taxi from the airport to the capital of Malta, you need to pay 17 euros.

Those who want to move around the island by rented car or scooter receive certain advantages. About 80% of Maltese roads have a good asphalt surface. The tracks here are free, traffic jams are rare, and the distances from city to city are short. However, when arriving in Valletta, it is better to change your personal transport to public transport. The reason is that for entry into historical Center In cities you have to pay, and most of the streets in the capital are pedestrian.

Along the coast, tourists travel by cruise ships, yachts and motor boats. Some travelers use seaplanes and helicopters, but this pleasure is not cheap.

Souvenirs

Shopping centers and supermarkets can only be found in the capital of Malta or in major cities. In other places, purchases are made in small kiosks and shops. Most shops are open from 9.00 to 19.00 and have a break for a daytime siesta from 13.00 to 16.00 - after all, in the heat it’s customary to relax, not work! In resort areas, retail outlets may not close until 22.00, but on Sundays they declare a day off everywhere.

As a souvenir of their visit to the Mediterranean archipelago, tourists bring linen lace made by local craftsmen. Its quality is so high that the British Queen Victoria herself loved to wear outfits trimmed with elegant Maltese lace. Also popular as souvenirs are small models of yellow retro buses and luzzu boats, products made from goat down from the island of Gozo and jewelry with images of the Maltese cross.

Edible souvenirs from Malta include sea salt, aromatic honey, delicious jbeinite cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, liqueurs, capers, syrup from ceratonia pods and olive oil. Wines made at the local wineries “Marsovin” and “Delikata” are very popular. Maltese wines are sold in large shopping centers, grocery and souvenir shops. You can also buy light beer Cick and dark varieties Lacto and Blue Label (Ale) there. If you want to buy lighter drinks, you should pay attention to Shandy and Kinnie beer mixed with lemonade - a non-alcoholic drink that has a subtle taste of Maltese herbs and bitter oranges.

Tourist information

• To stay on the island, Russians and residents of CIS countries need to obtain a Schengen visa.
• Without a declaration, you are allowed to import up to 10 thousand euros into Malta.
• Currency is changed at the airport, as well as in banks and exchange offices throughout the island. They are easy to find near large hotels, in shopping centers and tourist areas. Bank cash departments are open on weekdays from 8.30 to 12.30, and on Saturdays they close at 12.00.
• Credit card payments are accepted only in some restaurants, large hotels and shopping centers. On public transport pay in cash.
• Locals speak Maltese, but tourists have no problems as most Maltese speak fluent English.
• It is customary to leave a tip in restaurants and cafes. They amount to 5-10% of the order amount and are included in the bill in some places. Tipping is also used to thank porters and maids in hotels. If you wish, you can leave a reward of up to 10% to the taxi driver.
• Thanks to the system Tax free, tourists can return up to 15% of the cost of goods purchased in Malta. To get your money back, you need to keep your receipts and not use the goods until the end of your trip. Tax free is issued at the airport if the total cost of purchases exceeds 315 euros. It should be borne in mind that the money is not issued immediately, but is sent to the specified address.

Safety

Malta is a civilized and safe country. It has a low crime rate, and tourists can walk the streets with complete peace of mind. As in the rest of the world, the only thing you have to watch out for is pickpocketing. To avoid troubles, it is recommended to store large sums of money, documents and valuables in safes. There are cases of car theft on the island, so you need to park cars and scooters in crowded places.

Malta has a lot of sun all year round, so vacationers are advised to use good creams and gels with a protection level of 30 SPF. We must also remember that any sunscreen works well only in the first two hours after application. When this period has passed, the degree of protection drops sharply.

There are poisonous scorpions in Malta. In cities and tourist centers there are none, but in rural areas, in crevices between stones, the likelihood of meeting a scorpion increases. If the bite cannot be avoided, it is better to immediately seek medical help, as scorpion venom can cause a severe allergic reaction.

When swimming, you need to beware of poisonous jellyfish. It is not difficult to notice them, since dangerous jellyfish stay in schools in the surface layer of water and are active until noon. In case of a burn, it is necessary to rinse the affected area with sea water and lubricate the skin with sunscreen.

Travel from other Russian cities to the island state requires a transfer. From Vienna you can fly to Malta in 2 hours 10 minutes, and from Istanbul in 2 hours 30 minutes. In addition to these two cities, transfers are made in Paris, Rome, Frankfurt, Berlin, Marseille, Stockholm, London and some other European cities. Malta Airlines connects the islands with Italy.

The international airport is located 5 km southwest of the capital. You can get from it to Valletta by express buses marked with the letter “X” or by taxi.

Some travelers prefer to sail to the islands by sea. As a rule, this option is more suitable for those who plan to spend 1-2 days in Malta. Regular ferries sail to Malta from Salerno, Calabria, Genoa, Civitavecchia and Tunis, as well as from the Sicilian ports of Pozzallo, Siracusa and Catania. Ferries depart several times a day and travel time is 2-4.5 hours. If you buy return tickets on the same day, you can get a discount of up to 50%. Comfortable ferries have three decks. The lower one is intended for vehicles. The top one accommodates first class passengers, and the middle one is occupied by economy class passengers. On sea ​​vessel there are small shops, bars and even a casino.

Republic of Malta- a state located on the islands of the Maltese archipelago, which includes the island of Malta, Filfla, St. Paul's and other small islands. The place where Malta is located has been the intersection of trade routes to Europe, Asia and Africa since ancient times, it has always attracted settlers, so historians cannot even determine exactly how many millennia ago people first appeared here: some date back to the 4th millennium BC!

Currency of Malta– euro, since it is a member of the EU (Malta joined it on May 1, 2004).

Official language. There are two official languages ​​in Malta: Maltese (it belongs to the Semitic family of languages ​​and is close to Arabic) and English. The Maltese language is used not only in the state - it is spoken, for example, by people from the archipelago living in Australia. Maltese is the national language of the country, which means that legal proceedings are conducted in it. In addition, it is one of the official languages ​​of the European Union - all official EU documents are necessarily translated into it. Another widely spoken language on these islands is Italian.

Population of Malta consists of Maltese (more than 95%), British (a little more than 2%); all other national groups combined make up just over 2%. The population density is very high - the country ranks 4th in the world according to this indicator. The majority of Maltese citizens live on the island of Malta - about 87%; the rest live on the island of Gozo - only a few families live on Comino, several islands are deserted. Most of About 94% of the population lives in cities. Malta is a Catholic country: this religion is professed by about 97% of the population. Another 1.2% are Anglicans, the rest belong predominantly to other Christian denominations.

You should definitely see the local temples - they all have beautiful architectural designs and a rich and harmonious interior. There are a lot of churches here; almost every village, even a small one, has its own temple, and, in fact, each of them deserves attention - if you are a fan of architecture.

Worth a visit is The Limestone Heritage, a former quarry that is now a museum about the history of limestone mining in Malta. By the way, gardens are planted in processed quarries in Malta. We also recommend taking a tour of the Maltese glass workshops.

Another famous attraction is, installed underwater at a depth of 38 meters, two kilometers from the coast. The sculpture was made and installed in 1990; At first it was located near St. Pauls, but was later moved due to problems with water quality. The weight of the statue is 13 tons, next to it is the sunken Malta Gozo ferry and the first scientific vessel of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, which sank nearby.

While vacationing in the resorts of Bugibba, Qawra and St. Paul's Bay, you can visit the unique Simar bird sanctuary in Shemshiya or walk the “Trail of History” to get acquainted with lesser-known but very interesting sights, such as Punic burials or an ancient apiary.

Cuisine of Malta

Transport Malta

The public sector is developed quite well: Shuttle Buses provide communication between the cities and towns of the islands of Malta and Gozo; as for Comino, you can walk around it in about 5 hours.

Malta previously had both tram and rail services, but gradually buses replaced other modes of transport (with the exception of the ferry between Valletta and Sliema).

Until mid-2011 bus service operated private flights that attracted tourists with their unique design. Today they are all combined into a new transport system. All buses are very comfortable, each is equipped with air conditioning, the system of routes and stops is optimized. Information screens are updated in real time.

Buses on the island of Gozo also have a convenient schedule - they arrive once an hour, except for route 301 Victoria-Mgarr - it has an interval of half an hour due to the fact that the ferry from Malta arrives at the port of Mgarr at exactly this interval.

You can get to Comino Island from Malta from the town of Marfa by ferry (in summer they depart hourly from 9-00 to 17-00, in April, May, September and October they run from 10-00 to 16-00, it is better to check departure times with captain). From the island of Gozo to Comino you will have to take a boat.

Useful information for tourists about Malta, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Malta, cuisine, visa and customs restrictions Malta.

Geography of Malta

The Maltese archipelago is located in the Mediterranean Sea south of the island of Sicily. The territory of the state consists of five islands: Malta, Gozo, Comino, Kemunet and Filfla. The last two are uninhabited.

The coastline is heavily indented and abounds in coves, bays and rocks. The relief of the islands is elevated, rocky limestone rocks protrude to the surface everywhere and completely form the landscape of the islands.

State

State structure

The form of government is a parliamentary republic. Member of the Commonwealth. The head of state is the president. The executive branch is the government headed by the Prime Minister. The legislative body is the House of Representatives.

Language

Official language: English, Maltese

Many Maltese also speak French and Italian.

Religion

Predominantly Roman Catholic (98% of Maltese). The Church has a great influence on the daily life of the country.

Currency

International name: EUR

Currency can be exchanged at most banks, as well as in hotels (the rate is usually less favorable), specialized exchange offices at the airport (24 hours a day) and seaport. Credit cards and traveler's checks are accepted without restrictions in most hotels, restaurants and shops, and there is a wide network of ATMs.

Popular attractions

Tourism in Malta

Where to stay

Malta has been an ideal country for a holiday by the sea for centuries. Hotels are located according to the size and popularity of the resort. At the same time, division into tourist areas does not exist here, and all hotels are located mainly within the city limits. There are many hotels in the country, and they are all quite different both in the level of service and in the number of vacationers.

As Malta is a center for educational tourism, most of its four and five star hotels are equipped with high-end meeting facilities. The service in such hotels is highly professional - polite and efficient, which is often lacking in hotels of a lower class. In addition, four- and five-star hotels usually have outdoor and indoor swimming pools, saunas and gyms.

Only some five-star hotels operate on an all-inclusive basis. In Malta, such a system only includes Three meals a day.
In most three-star hotels, dinners are à la carte and not "a la carte" Buffet" Breakfast is mainly continental: rolls, jam, butter, snacks, juice, coffee and tea. All-inclusive meals are available only in a few hotels.

Among the simpler hotels in the country, guesthouses predominate. Here they come in two types: comfort (bath in each room) and standard (bath in several rooms). Accommodation in such guesthouses is inexpensive.

Another inexpensive option for accommodation in Malta is hostels. There are a lot of them in the country, which is understandable - the island is considered one of the main European centers for learning English. The majority of rental housing in the country is provided by Maltese apart-hotels, offering studio apartments that are equipped with everything that is necessary for living in an ordinary apartment, from a kitchen with all the necessary appliances to a TV and exercise machine in the living room.

Office hours

Banking hours: Monday to Thursday - from 8.30 to 12 hours; on Friday and Saturday - from 8.30 to 11.30.

Shops are open from 9 am to 1 pm and from 4 pm to 7 pm. On Sundays and public holidays, most shops are closed, but in the busiest tourist areas some shops are open until 10 pm on weekdays, and until 12 pm on Sundays.

Souvenirs

From Malta you can bring weaving and pottery, handmade lace, Maltese wines, original Maltese chess, door handles, various glass products - vases, glasses, ashtrays, dishes and decorations; Beitar liqueur made from the fruits of local cactus.

Malta is a recognized gold and silver center of the Mediterranean and is famous for its filigree. It’s hard to make a choice, because the range is huge, and each product is a real work of art. Jewelry with the symbols of the island is popular - the eight-pointed Maltese cross, the Maltese falcon and dolphins.

Safety

Malta has a traditionally low crime rate. Pickpocketing and bag snatching are relatively rare. However, thefts and thefts from parked cars are on the rise.