Malta Travel Tips

Social Conventions
The usual European courtesies are expected, but the visitor should also bear in mind the tremendous importance of Roman Catholicism; if visiting a church, for instance, modest dress covering the shoulders and legs will be expected. Smoking is prohibited on public transport and in some public buildings, including cinemas.

International Travel:

Getting There by Air
The national airline is Air Malta (KM) (website: www.airmalta.com).

Departure Tax
None.

Main Airports
Malta International (MLA) (Luqa) (website: www.maltairport.com), 5km (3 miles) south of Valletta (journey time – 15 minutes). To/from the airport: Buses depart regularly to and from Valletta City Gate. There is a regular service to the main bus terminal in Valletta. There is a full, 24-hour, taxi service to all parts of Malta, fares are charged at a fixed rate. Facilities: Incoming and outgoing duty-free shops, car hire, bank, bureau de change, left luggage and restaurant/bar.

Getting There by Water
Main ports: Valletta, Marsaxlokk and Mgarr/Gozo.

Services operate to the Sicilian ports of Catania and Pozzallo. These routes are served by high-speed hydrofoils and catamarans (journey time – 1 hour 30 minutes) and car ferries (journey time – 3 hours).

There are also sailings to Italy (to Reggio Calabria, Genoa and Salerno). For information on the ports in Malta, contact the Malta Maritime Authority (tel: 2122 2203; website: www.mma.gov.mt).

Overview
The following items may be imported into Malta without incurring customs duty from non-EU countries:
200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 1l of spirits and 1l of wine; 60ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette; gifts to a value not exceeding Lm50.

The following items may be imported into Malta without incurring customs duty from EU countries:
800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos (cigars not weighing more than 4g each), 200 cigars, 1kg of tobacco; 10l of spirits, 20l of fortified wine, 90l of wine (including a maximum 60l of sparkling wine), 10l of beer; gifts to a value not exceeding Lm50.

Note: It is advisable to declare any larger or unusual items of electrical equipment brought into the islands (such as video cameras, portable televisions or video recorders), as this will prevent duty being levied on these items when leaving the country. Those under 17 cannot bring in alcohol or tobacco.

Abolition of duty-free goods within the EU
On 30 June 1999, the sale of duty-free alcohol and tobacco at airports and at sea was abolished in all of the original 15 EU member states. Of the 10 new member states that joined the EU on 1 May 2004 and the two states that joined on 1 January 2007, these rules already apply to Cyprus and Malta. There are transitional rules in place for visitors returning to one of the original 15 EU countries from one of the other new EU countries. But for the original 15, plus Cyprus and Malta, there are no limits imposed on importing tobacco and alcohol products from one EU country to another. Travelers should note that they may be required to prove at customs that the goods purchased are for personal use only. Member states may follow the EU’s guide levels of: 10l of spirits; 20l of fortified wine; 90l of wine; 110l of beer; 800 cigarettes; 400 cigarillos; 200 cigars and 1kg of tobacco.

Prohibited Imports
Firearms and ammunition; counterfeit goods; unlicensed drugs; obscene literature and other media; animals and birds (dead or alive); transmitting apparatus; plants and meat products (without import license).

Internal Travel:

Getting Around By Air
There is a helicopter service operating all year round between Malta International Airport and Xewkija, Gozo. A quick alternative to the ferry service, it takes only 10 to 15 minutes.

Getting Around by Water
A passenger car ferry operates several times daily between Cirkewwa in Malta and Mgarr in Gozo. Crossing time is about 30 minutes. Services to Comino operate from mid-March to mid-November. For further information, contact the Gozo Channel Company, Hay Wharf, Sa Maison, Malta (tel: 2124 3964-6; website: www.gozochannel.com). The Comino Hotel runs a ferry service to the island which stops at Mgarr, Gozo and Cirtewwa. The service is free to residents of the hotel and there is a small charge for non-residents. Paradise Diving, in Cirkewwa, offers a daily service to Blue Lagoon from May to October.

Getting Around by Road
Driving is on the left. Speed limit is 80kph (50mph) on highways and 50kph (30mph) in residential areas. Bus: Good local services operate from Valletta and Victoria (Gozo) to all towns. Taxi: Identifiable by their all-white livery. Although taxis are under meter charge at government-controlled prices, it is best to agree prices before departure. Car hire: A number of car hire firms offer self-drive cars. Both Avis and Hertz have desks at the airport. Rates on Malta are among the cheapest in Europe. Documentation: Valid international driving license required.


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