21 Secrets About Living In Malta To Know Before Moving

Sun, sea, and suspiciously cheap living.

We’re going to go through everything you need, which isn’t just a valid passport, before relocating to this beautiful country, with a few tips and tricks along the way.

Sections

1. You’ll need A LOT of sunblock

Okay, who loves them some sunshine? If you’re thinking ‘me, me, me,’ then you will have no problem moving to Malta. 12 hours of sunshine a day can last well into the autumn months. The climate is strongly determined by the Mediterranean Sea.

Even in January, you can sunbathe. You might not get a golden, bronze tan, but you can certainly ditch the heavy winter coats.

2. Unforgettable days out

You will NEVER get bored here. For such a tiny island state, there’s so much to do! There are plenty of villages, each with its unique charm.

There’s Popeye Village, where the movie was filmed, the beautiful architecture of the Mosta Dome, the cute fishing village of Marsaxlokk, and much, much more. The President, who lives in the San Anton Gardens, allows it to be a public park for people to explore the scenic nature and fountains.

3. Soaked in history and rich culture

You’ll find the rich history of Malta hiding around every corner. There are the Ggantija Temples of Gozo that pre-date the Pyramids of Egypt. You can take a guided tour around Fort St. Elmo, where many knights lost their lives in 1565. And have a wander around the Lascaris War Rooms, which are buried 45 meters underground, and used in World War Two.

Admire the Tarxien Temples, which date back to 3,300 BC, and the Ghar Dalam Cave, which contains fossils of extinct animals from the Ice Age, including giant mice and tiny elephants!

4. Stunning sunsets and breathtaking views

Malta is known for its unbelievable sunsets. The perfect spot for this is the Dingli Cliffs, where you can sit and watch the endless Mediterranean Sea as the sky changes color.

At night time, it’s worth visiting the Silent City of Mdina, where you’ll find the tallest of buildings, doors built for giants, and little, eerie alleyways. They call it the Silent City because you could hear a pin drop, even when surrounded by tourists.

You continue until you reach the top, where you can overlook Mdina, the lights of buildings twinkling, the stars glistening; it’s almost like you’re on top of the world.

5. Plenty of nightlife

Malta has a strip of nightlife, consistently ranked as the best nightlife in Malta, in a place known as Paceville, St Julians. You’ll find bars, clubs, pubs, and deals for 2-for-1 cocktails. Paceville is the place to dance, let loose and, for some people, stay out until 8 am!

6. Delicious meals

A typical Maltese dish is rabbit soup, which can be found in nearly all of your traditional Maltese restaurants.

But if you want your classic, feels-like-home American grub, then you’re in luck, because Malta does some of the best, juiciest, high-stacked burgers. One stand-out place, in particular, is a burger shack called Nom-Nom.

7. Gorgeous sandy beaches

Malta has a handful of rocky beaches that are pretty but don’t compare to beaches in other countries.

But their sandy beaches are like something from another world! The golden beaches make a perfect day out for the family, and it’ll be like a holiday when you’re at home in the summer.

Some of the best beaches in Malta are Golden Bay, Ghajn Tuffieha Bay, and Mellieha Bay.

8. The locals are friendly

So, in reality, the locals in most places you go in Europe find tourists annoying, and as a tourist, you’re usually greeted with grumpy, disinterested locals.

But not in Malta.

Maltese people are so friendly, accomodating, and welcoming. The majority of Malta speaks English, so it’s an easy country to settle into!

9. You can drive pretty much anywhere in under an hour

Usually, when you go to live in a hot country in Europe, the nicest places are in the middle of nowhere. Then you have that ‘0h-I-have-to-travel-30-minutes-to-get-food-shopping’ feeling in your stomach.

Well, would you believe it if you heard that you could get from one side of Malta to the other in around one hour?

Yup, it’s true, folks.

The tiny size of Malta means that its many cities are in close proximity to each other. This is mainly by driving, though, because public transport can be a bit of a drag.

11. The capital city of Valletta

Valletta is a beautiful, beautiful city. Home to cultural events like the Malta Arts Festival, Valletta is the heart and soul of Malta.

The city is on its throne of higher ground, surrounded by fortresses that date back to the 16th century. It’s impossible not to take in all its natural beauty.

You’ll typically find tourists snapping selfies by the large Triton Fountain before heading off into the grid-like maze of shops, market stalls, art, music, and restaurants.

11. Travel freely to the rest of Europe

Did you know that you could get a flight from Malta to London for as little as €5, depending on the month you go?

Did you know that you could get a boat to Sicily, Italy, straight from the Malta capital?

If booked in advance, Malta can be a great home destination for visiting any EU country. Firstly, there’s only one airport in Malta, so it’s highly unlikely you’ll end up at the wrong one (like Ross in Friends.) Secondly, the flights are usually really cheap, and if not cheap, completely reasonable.

12. They love their public holidays

You’ll be glad to know that Malta loves public holidays. So, you’ll be rewarded with extra days off to enjoy the year-round sunshine and the Mediterranean climate. Who doesn’t love more days off work?

13. The island of Gozo

Gozo is a little island next to Malta. It’s a quieter place, with less wild entertainment. However, Gozo has some of the most beautiful places to visit. There’s the red sand beach, correctly known as Ramla Bay. Stunning cliffs can take you to secret caves where you will witness a view like no other.

Nearby, there’s a plethora of rocks and a scenic landscape, which is the set in the show Game of Thrones. Victoria, Gozo’s capital, is home to the Citadel, a medieval hilltop city.

14. The island of Comino

This is the number one destination that anyone visiting or living in Malta needs to see. It’s a crime if you’ve been living in Malta without visiting Comino! Comino is home to the blue lagoon (shown above), a stunning patch of clear, ice blue sea that you can spot from your plane window; it stands out like a sore thumb!

There are day trips to Comino, with all-inclusive drinks and lunch on the boat, before spending the day sunbathing and splashing in the waves. The views are spectacular, and the memories immortal.

15. They have great healthcare services

Malta has a high-quality European healthcare system. The services are free for Maltese citizens and residents with a European health insurance card. It’s a top-ranked healthcare system, which non-EU citizens can take pleasure in.

As an American citizen, you would have to purchase private insurance.

Also, some people prefer basic hospitalization coverage because of how cheap medicine is in Malta. For example, asthma medication in Malta costs €3.50, but it’ll be close to $100 in America.

16. They have low taxes

A lot of businesses like to move to Malta thanks to their great tax system. Companies that are managed in Malta have a corporate tax rate of 35%, but it can be reduced to a rate of 5%.

Also, you won’t need to pay social security rates when you become a permanent resident in Malta.

The Maltese Government goes into more detail on their official website.

17. You’ll feel safe

Moving to Malta will be as easy as pie. Especially knowing the crime rates are low and that the people are friendly, consisting mostly of sun-starved northern Europeans on holiday. Malta has pleasantly low crime rates involving women, which is just a breath of fresh air on its own.

The crimes that happen in Malta are usually minor, such as small theft, and the Maltese police are praised for their fast turnaround in catching criminals. (Maybe it’s because the country is so small that they can’t run away that far!)

18. You can find accommodation at low prices

The small island nation of Malta is a great place for permanent residency. With rental prices at the lowest costs for value. A mid-range apartment right by the sea, consisting of two bedrooms, can be found for as little as €600 a month. And these are gorgeous, quaint apartments. Could you just imagine what a place costing over €1000 would look like?

The majority of apartments in Malta are spacious, bright, and airy. The only downside is that most Maltese homes don’t have central heating, which can make a colder winter.

19. It floods easily if it rains

Luckily, there will be no Pennywise hiding under gutters asking if you like popcorn. This is because Malta doesn’t have drains. Not many, at least. Without a good amount of gutters to wash away the rain, local citizens must surf their way around town. Kidding! But they could if they wanted to.

It doesn’t rain often, but when it rains, it can flood many of the roads, from ankle-deep to knee-deep, to a car’s window-deep, depending on how heavy the rain and the duration it pours.

20. There are some crazy drivers!

Maltese drivers, in the nicest way possible, drive like they’re playing a video game. They don’t stop for you to cross the road, right of way doesn’t exist, and, apparently, you can just park anywhere.

Of course, like in any country, there are well-behaved drivers. So this isn’t to say they can’t drive, but they have their way of doing it. They have a system that works for them, you’ll just have to get used to it. Plus, they drive on the opposite side to US citizens, with the steering wheel on the other side too.

21. There’s only one university

This won’t matter if you’re not interested in college or if you’ve well and truly graduated. But if you do have kids, and you’re taking them with you to Malta, there is only one university that they can go to. Malta University is a great college; it teaches lessons in its official languages, Maltese and English.

FAQ

Is Malta safe?

Moving to Malta will be a breeze. You have nothing to worry about; it’s a very safe country.

What’s the difference between Malta and Gozo?

Gozo isn’t in Malta. It’s an enclave next to Malta that you can get to by ferry.

Is Malta a good place to raise a family?

Malta is a beautiful place to raise a family; not only is there plenty for children to do, but there are so many schools that teach in English.

What language do they speak in Malta?

The official language is Maltese, but the majority of residents speak English.

Where is the best place to live in Malta?

This depends on the lifestyle you’re after. To retire, you may want to live in Gozo. For an active lifestyle, Sliema or St Julians is great. For a working lifestyle, Valletta is brilliant. But remember, you can get anywhere fast, so it doesn’t really matter!

Final Thoughts

All in all, Malta is a great place to live.

Hopefully, the island of Comino has sold it to you already.

Maybe you’re not even reading this.

Maybe you didn’t read this far because you’re packing your bags! I hope so.