malta travel from uk

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Safety and security

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times. 

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on  staying safe abroad  and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out  how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad .

Terrorism in Malta

Terrorist attacks in Malta cannot be ruled out.

You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public places, including those visited by foreigners.

Protecting yourself and your belongings

Crime against tourists is rare, but there have been incidents of:

• handbag snatching
• pickpocketing
• theft from parked cars

To reduce your risk:

• be cautious when exchanging money and using ATMs
• avoid carrying large amounts of cash if possible
• do not keep all your valuables in one place
• keep a copy of your passport somewhere safe

Pickpocketing has happened on bus routes between Valletta and St Julian’s. Thieves target crowded buses during the summer season. Always keep sight of valuables.

Drink and food spiking

Criminals have drugged people in some bars and gentlemen’s clubs in the Paceville district. They’ve forced them to spend large amounts of money or assaulted them. You should:

• be careful who you buy drinks from
• keep drinks in sight to make sure they are not spiked
• check your bill to make sure you are not being overcharged

There have been assaults, including rape and sexual assault. Avoid splitting up from your friends and do not go off with people you do not know. If you drink, take sensible precautions including buying your own drinks and always keeping sight of them.

Scams targeting British nationals are increasing. These come in many forms (romance and friendship, business ventures, work and employment opportunities) and can pose financial risk to victims.

Be cautious about any requests for money, a job offer, a business venture or a face-to-face meeting from someone you met over the internet.

For more information, see guidance from  ActionFraud .

Laws and cultural differences

Bird hunting seasons.

Bird hunting takes place in the spring and autumn. The Maltese government decides the dates at the start of each season. See local print and online media for the dates and times when hunting is allowed.

Hunting with firearms is common. It is normally allowed from 2 hours before sunrise until 2 hours after sunset. Hunting areas are rarely marked and can overlap with camping areas, country walkways and other public areas. Although not common, there have been incidents between members of the public and locals. Be aware of your surroundings when visiting rural areas and nature spots during the hunting seasons.  

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

Penalties for illegal drugs possession, use or trafficking are strict. Convicted offenders can expect prison sentences and heavy fines.

Outdoor activities and adventure tourism

Swimming safety.

During the summer, lifeguards patrol most beaches and use a flag safety system. Make sure you understand the system and follow any warnings. Red flags indicate dangerous or hazardous conditions. Swim within designated zones and take extra care if there are no lifeguards, flags or signs.

Follow local advice if there are jellyfish.

• water safety on holiday from the Royal Life Saving Society
• watersports safety advice from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
• the code of conduct for beaches from the Malta Tourism Authority

Transport risks

Road travel.

If you are planning to drive in Malta, see information on driving abroad  and check the  rules of the road in the RAC’s Malta guide . The guide lists driving regulations and other legal requirements you need to be aware of.

You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Malta. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well.

There is also guidance on driving if you’re living in Malta .

Check if you need a UK sticker to drive your car outside the UK . 

You can use your  Blue Badge in Malta . 

Take care while driving as some roads are in poor condition. Keep to the speed limit. Local standards of driving are poor.

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Visiting Malta? Here’s what to know, how to drive, where to eat and more

Sep 2, 2024 • 6 min read

Remember to cover up in largely conservative Malta, especially in churches like the magnificent St John’s in Valletta. Matthew Mirabelli for Lonely Planet

Compact, easy to get around and with a friendly English-speaking population, Malta is a relaxed and convenient destination filled with pleasures.

Taking note of a few pre-departure tips will make a trip to the Mediterranean’s smallest island nation even more enjoyable. Here’s all you need to know before your trip to Malta.

1. Pack a good pair of walking shoes

Malta is a great place to explore on two legs , especially around Valletta and in the hilltop walled city of Mdina . Note that both places involve plenty of steps and centuries-old cobblestones, and wearing a comfortable pair of walking shoes is recommended, even essential. If there’s a bit of rain, lanes and plazas can also become slippery, and are probably not best negotiated in a pair of sandals or flip-flops.

Good walking shoes will also serve you well when exploring clifftop hiking routes like Malta’s Dingli Cliffs or the Xlendi Walk on Gozo. An effective sun hat and sunglasses are also essential to combat the heat of a Mediterranean summer. Gozo in particular is becoming a popular walking destination, with marked trails linking villages, clifftops and beaches. See the Visit Gozo website for 10 recommended trails.

2. Book well ahead for Malta’s most amazing sight

A 5000-year-old subterranean necropolis only rediscovered in 1902, Malta’s Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum is one of the country’s essential sights. As such, it’s extremely popular – and to protect the fragile, centuries-old interior, entry is limited to 80 people per day. Booking ahead online – far ahead, ideally as long as three months before arriving in Malta – is highly recommended. Also, if you miss your timed entry, it’s not possible to join the next guided tour. Last-minute entry tickets, which also sell out quickly, are available the day prior for an additional charge of €15.

3. Hit the ground running when exploring Malta’s fascinating food scene

As an island country in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, Malta has a cuisine that’s been influenced by various cultures throughout the centuries. French, British, Italian – especially Sicilian – and Arabic flavors all overlap in the diverse food traditions here. Before leaving home, book a private walking tour with Offbeat Malta Food Trails for early in your trip. That way, you’ll be up to speed and armed with cultural and historical culinary insights as you explore local restaurants, island vineyards and food markets across Malta and its smaller sister island of Gozo.

It’s also worth booking well ahead for popular Michelin-starred restaurants like Valletta’s Noni , especially during Malta’s busiest travel months, July and August .

Held in early August near Valletta, the annual Malta International Food Festival is an essential event for traveling foodies. Around one month earlier in July, Gozo’s version of the same festival enlivens the traditional village of Xewkija.

4. Sign up for an International Driving Permit

Malta is an excellent destination to explore independently in a rental car, especially on the quieter roads of Gozo. Car-rental prices are some of the lowest in Europe, and having your own ride offers more convenience and efficiency than relying on Malta’s extensive but sometimes slow bus service . As in the UK and most Commonwealth countries, drivers need to stick to the left-hand side of the road. Booking ahead for rental cars is recommended for visits in July and August.

Travelers from the UK and European Union countries can use their home driving licenses – but if you’re coming from a non-EU country you’ll also need an International Driving Permit (IDP). These are issued for a one-year period by local automobile associations in travelers’ home countries.

5. Bring your driving A-game

Especially when driving around Malta’s main urban conurbation (incorporating Valletta, Sliema and St Julian’s ), it’s worth channeling a confident approach to getting behind the wheel. The roads are usually very busy, and local drivers can regard indicators for signaling a turn as optional. Yielding (giving way) at roundabouts is also routinely ignored.

If you remember to drive with confidence, plus an added level of awareness, you’ll be fine. Many Maltese roads, especially through villages, can be narrow, so be patient and courteous to oncoming traffic if you need to yield (give way). As a pedestrian, also never assume that local drivers will stop for you at pedestrian crossings.

Outside of Malta’s most built-up areas, driving is much less stressful, and having a car makes getting around Gozo and to Malta’s more remote beaches and destinations much easier.

6. Practice in-car safety

Malta has a low rate of violent crime, though there are occasional reports of rental cars being broken into at beach car parks, especially if they’re adjacent to a more remote stretch of sand. Take care to always lock your car and never leave anything of value inside. Also be aware of your belongings when swimming and sunbathing on all beaches, as occasional opportunistic thefts do occur.

7. A few words of Maltese will get you far

Everyone speaks English in Malta, but it’s still worth learning a few key phrases in the country’s national language (also known as Malti). Most closely related to the Arabic dialects of western North Africa, Maltese is Europe’s only Semitic language (a grouping that also includes Arabic, Hebrew and Amharic), as well as a language with a few loan words easily traced to their country of provenance.

Here are a few key Malti words to assist you during a trip:

merħba (hello)

bonju (good morning)

bonswa (good evening)

grazzi (thank you)

8. Remember that Malta is a largely conservative country

With a strong Roman Catholic heritage, Maltese society remains largely conservative. Dress respectfully when entering a church – having a shawl to cover shoulders is a good idea – and hats and sunglasses should be removed. Away from the beach, cover up with a sarong and t-shirt, and note that topless and nude sunbathing is illegal. When meeting someone for the first time, a handshake is appropriate.

9. Expect a high level of health care

High-standard health and dental care is readily available, and Maltese pharmacists can give advice and sell a wide range of over-the-counter medications. Holders of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) – available to citizens of the EU and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – receive free or reduced-cost health care while in Malta, and the country has reciprocal health-care agreements with Australia and the UK. Visitors from other countries should definitely have travel insurance.

10. Look to the locals for safe swimming

The Maltese have a well-known phrase: “ Il-baħar żaqqu ratba u rasu iebsa ,” meaning “The sea has a soft belly, but a hard head.” While beaches are largely safe in calm weather, storms, windy weather and strong undercurrents can present danger, and locals advise never to swim in rough seas. Major beaches operate a flag system and have lifeguards on patrol from June to September. If there’s no flag system operating, or if you’re in doubt, ask a local about whether and where it’s safe to swim. When diving into popular swimming locations such as St Peter’s Pool and Il-Kalanka in southern Malta, take extra care.

11. Be vigilant in nightlife areas

Fueled by alcohol, fights and drunken violence have been known to occur in nightlife zones, especially around the late-night clubs of the Paceville area of Valletta. Keep your wits about you, even (or especially) after a cocktail or two.

Malta and COVID-19

No documentation showing either a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test is required to enter Malta.

As of mid-August 2024, the country was experiencing its highest number of COVID-19 cases in the prior 18 months. As public buses can be very crowded, especially around rush hour, wearing a mask is a sensible and prudent way to minimize spread and potential infection.

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Malta Travel Restrictions

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Travelling from the United Kingdom to Malta

Open for vaccinated visitors

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Not required for vaccinated visitors

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Not required in enclosed environments.

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Can I travel to Malta from the United Kingdom?

Most visitors from the United Kingdom, regardless of vaccination status, can enter Malta.

Can I travel to Malta if I am vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated visitors from the United Kingdom can enter Malta without restrictions.

Can I travel to Malta without being vaccinated?

Unvaccinated visitors from the United Kingdom can enter Malta without restrictions.

Do I need a COVID test to enter Malta?

Visitors from the United Kingdom are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result upon entering Malta.

Can I travel to Malta without quarantine?

Travellers from the United Kingdom are not required to quarantine.

Do I need to wear a mask in Malta?

Mask usage in Malta is not required in enclosed environments.

Are the restaurants and bars open in Malta?

Restaurants in Malta are open. Bars in Malta are .