Practical Matters

In the section you will find information about tourist offices, money, time, telephones, mobile, international dialling codes, internet, post offices, health and drugs.

Tourist Information Offices

Malta International Airport:
Arrivals Lounge
Luqa
Tel: ( 356) 23696073/4
Fax: ( 356) 21822072

Opening Hours: 
Mondays to Sundays (including public holidays except on Christmas Day, New Year, Good Friday & Easter Sunday) – 10:00 to 21:00 hrs

In Malta:
1 City Arcades
City Gate
Valletta
Tel: ( 356) 22915440 – 2
Fax: ( 356) 21255844

Opening Hours: 
Mondays to Saturdays – 09:00 to 17:30 hrs
Sundays and public holidays except on Christmas Day, New Year, Good Friday & Easter Sunday– 09:00 to 13:00 hrs

In Gozo:
Tigrija Palazz, Level 1
Republic Street,300
Victoria
Tel: ( 356) 21561419
Fax: ( 356) 21550254

Opening Hours:
Mondays to Saturdays – 09:00 to 17:30 hrs
Sundays and public holidays except on Christmas Day, New Year, Good Friday & Easter Sunday – 09:00 to 13:00 hrs

Customer Care:
Email: info@visitmalta.com
Tel: ( 356) 22915444 - 5
Freephone: 8007 2230 (local calls only)
The service is available from Monday to Saturday: 09:00hrs to 17:30 hrs.
Sundays and Public Holiday:  09:00 to 13:00 hrs

Money
The Euro € is the official currency of Malta. Euro banknotes and coins were introduced in January 2008, even though many locals still mentally convert to the old Malta Lira (€1 = LM 0.4293). Major credit cards are widely accepted although cash is usually expected in less touristy locations, in smaller retail outlets or for inexpensive purchases. Remember to keep some loose change if you intend to use public transport. Credit and debit cards can be used for withdrawing euro notes from 24-hr automatic teller machines (ATMs). Pound sterling, US dollar and Euro denominated travellers cheques can be easily exchanged at hotels and banks. Banks can be found in most towns and are normally open until early afternoon.

In line with EU legislation on controls, any person entering or leaving Malta carrying cash in excess of €10,000 is obliged to fill in the appropriate declaration form available from Customs.

Time
Malta observes Central European Time (GMT +1 in winter months and GMT +2 in summer months). This means that Malta is one hour ahead of the U.K.

Telephones
Public card telephone boxes are silver and widely available while the less common coin telephone boxes are yellow. Both types are located in most public places and there are around 1,500 installed around the island. Phone cards can be purchased from many kiosks, post offices, souvenir shops and stationeries. Dial 1152 for an international operator or 1182 for local directory assistance.

Mobiles
The large majority of Maltese own a mobile phone. Malta uses the GSM900 mobile phone network which is compatible with the rest of Europe but not with the US and Canada. There are currently three mobile phone service providers, Vodafone, and local providers Go and Melita. Local SIM cards and prepaid vouchers are widely available from stores.

International Dialling Codes
The international dialing code to dial a number in Malta is +356 followed by the relevant number. The outgoing international code is 00 followed by the international dialing code and the number. For example, calls to the UK start with 0044, to Germany 0049, to the U.S. 001, etc…

Internet
Malta is a very well wired destination. There are a good number of internet cafés especially around St. Julian’s and Bugibba and the majority of hotels offer at least one computer for internet use. Apart from the obvious high-end hotels, various tourist-related businesses are increasingly offering wi-fi hotspots.

Post Offices
Malta has a good postal service. Post-offices are available in all regions of the island (some shops serve as branch agents) and all towns and villages have a wide network of mailboxes. The postal service in Malta is inexpensive and efficient with reliable next morning delivery. Stamps can be obtained from post offices, hotels, newsagents and certain souvenir shops. All the leading international courier-delivery services are also available on the Maltese islands.

Laundry
Most hotels offer a laundry service at a premium, and a few independent laundrettes operate around the island. One Stop Wash in St Julian's (Spinola Street / tel. +356 9903 7814) offers a convenient location and good value self-service for people staying in the Sliema and St Julian's area.

Drinking Water

Tap water is safe to drink but heavily chlorinated and so might not be to everyone’s taste. It is best not to drink water from a stream or spring in the countryside.

Health Care
Malta has an excellent health service. Hospitals are modern and supported by a regional network of health centres. Travellers do not normally require certificates of vaccination or immunisation to enter the Maltese Islands. Visitors from EU member states should make sure that they have a European Health Insurance card for free or reduced-cost state-provided health care. It is advisable that all visitors, irrespective of their nationality, take out a personal medical insurance policy. Malta has reciprocal health agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom. Nationals of these countries, visiting the islands for no longer than one month, are entitled to free medical and hospital care in both Malta and Gozo.

Public Hospitals
Malta
Mater Dei Hospital
B'Kara By-pass
B'Kara MSD 2090
Tel: ( 356) 25450000
Email:  mdh@gov.mt

Gozo
Gozo General Hospital,
Victoria.
Tel: ( 356) 21561600
Fax: ( 356) 21560881

Pharmacies
Pharmacies (drug stores) are widely available and open from 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 7pm on weekdays. They all open in the mornings on Saturdays and a limited number (published weekly on local newspapers) open on Sunday mornings. Visitors receiving special medical treatment should bring a medical prescription or a letter of introduction from their family doctor, in case they need to purchase particular medicinal drugs.