Malta
A small Mediterranean archipelago south of Sicily, Malta packs Baroque cities, honey-coloured limestone cliffs, and a layered history stretching back seven thousand years into roughly 316 km² of sun-bleached terrain.
Overview
Malta sits at the centre of the Mediterranean, 93 km south of Sicily and 288 km north of Libya, comprising three inhabited islands — Malta, Gozo, and Comino. Valletta, the capital, is one of the smallest capitals in the European Union. Maltese and English are both official languages; the euro is the currency. Shaped by Phoenician, Arab, Norman, and British rule, Maltese culture is a distinctive layering of Southern European and North African influences.
Visa Requirements
Malta is a member of the EU Schengen Area, so travellers from Schengen-member states move freely. Citizens of many countries — including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom — may enter visa-free for short stays. Those who require authorisation should consult Malta's official immigration portal and, from late 2025, the EU-wide ETIAS system for eligible nationalities.
Airports in Malta
1 airportAirlines based in Malta
12 airlines
Famous Attractions in Malta
The walled capital Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains St John's Co-Cathedral with its Caravaggio paintings. The megalithic Ħaġar Qim temples on Malta's southern coast predate Stonehenge. The fortified medieval city of Mdina, known as the Silent City, occupies a hilltop overlooking the island. The Blue Lagoon on Comino draws visitors to its shallow turquoise inlet. In Gozo, the Victoria Citadel offers commanding views across the smaller island's interior.
Weather & Climate
Malta has a classic Mediterranean climate — hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. Summer temperatures typically run between 28 °C and 35 °C from June through August, while winter rarely drops below 10 °C at night. Spring and autumn — April to June and September to October — offer comfortable temperatures and thinner crowds, making them the most practical periods to visit. Pack sunscreen year-round; the limestone reflects considerable glare even in winter.
Interesting Facts About Malta
- Home to the world's oldest freestanding stone structures.
- Maltese is the only Semitic language written in Latin script.
- The Knights of St John ruled Malta from 1530 to 1798.
- Malta was awarded the George Cross collectively in 1942.
- Valletta is the EU's smallest capital city by area.
Official Resources
- visitmalta.com — national tourism authority for Malta and Gozo
- identitymalta.com — Identity Malta Agency, visa and residency information
- maltairport.com — Malta International Airport official site
- maltaweather.gov.mt — Meteorological Office of Malta