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New in Malta: your first weeks

Where people live, how to get around, what to see first and where to meet people.

Your first week

  1. Get a personalised Tallinja card

    Buses are free for residents with one. The routes fan out from Valletta's terminus, and the ferry links Sliema and the Three Cities to Valletta.

  2. Walk Valletta

    Upper Barrakka at noon for the gun salute, St John's Co-Cathedral, then a drink on Strait Street.

  3. Eat like a local

    Pastizzi at Crystal Palace in Rabat, a ftira, and rabbit at a fenkata in Mġarr.

  4. Spend a Sunday in Marsaxlokk

    The fish market before 10, lunch by the boats, then the walk to St Peter's Pool.

  5. Go to one weekly thing

    A language exchange, a quiz, padel or a run club. Go back the next week.

  6. Cross to Gozo

    25 minutes on the Gozo Channel ferry from Ċirkewwa, or the fast ferry from Valletta.

Where people live

Sliema and Gżira
The seafront promenade, most of the flats people rent when they arrive, cafes, craft beer bars and the ferry across to Valletta.
St Julian's
Paceville's clubs and bars, Spinola Bay's restaurants, and the hotels. Loud at night, close to everything.
Valletta and Floriana
The capital: theatres, Strait Street's bars, the markets and the bus terminus, with the Upper Barrakka over the Grand Harbour.
Msida, Swatar and San Ġwann
Around the University of Malta and Mater Dei hospital. Quieter, cheaper and on the main bus routes.
The north
Mellieħa, Buġibba and Qawra: the sandy beaches, Golden Bay and Għadira, and the ferry to Gozo at Ċirkewwa.
Gozo
Slower and greener, 25 minutes on the ferry from Ċirkewwa. Plenty of people commute across.

Meet people

How to make friends in Malta
  • St. Julian's, Triq San Gorg 14

    Language exchange evening

    St Julian's

    Tuesday Talk Time at Follow the Sun hostel in St Julian's and Tandem meetups mix Maltese learners with locals swapping languages. Free or a drink, just turn up.

  • Merchants Street Valletta

    Board game night at Gugar, Valletta

    Valletta

    Gugar Hangout at 89A Republic Street has shelves of board games and a no phones vibe. Pick a game, order drinks and settle in.

  • Pembroke, Triq il-Fortizza (Pembroke, Malta)

    Book a padel court in Pembroke

    Pembroke

    Padel Malta runs floodlit courts in Pembroke and Birkirkara, bookable on Playtomic with open matches for singles. Around 10 euro a head for 90 minutes.

  • Valletta, Triq il-Merkanti 16

    Street food walk through Valletta

    Valletta

    A guided tasting walk through the capital: pastizzi, ħobż biż-żejt, bigilla, Kinnie and a Cisk, with stories of the Knights between stops. Several operators, book ahead.

  • Dingli 2009

    Cook pastizzi and ftira in a Maltese kitchen

    Dingli

    Half day classes in a home or farmhouse kitchen: pastizzi, rabbit, ftira, ravjul, then eat it all with wine. Around 65 to 90 euro. Gozo versions add a market visit.

  • Church Our Lady of Mount Carmel Balluta Bay

    Weekly pub quiz night

    St Julian's

    The Crafty Cat in Paceville runs trivia on Tuesdays, the Hatter and Coach and Horses have their own nights. A euro or two entry, teams of up to six, easy way to meet people.

  • St. Julian's, St. George's Bay

    Karaoke room night at The Eden

    St Julian's

    Private karaoke rooms at the Eden entertainment centre in Paceville, plus the bowling bar downstairs. Book a room for the group, bring your own playlist.

  • Pembroke, Triq Alamein, Pembroke Local Council & Pembroke Clock Tower

    5-a-side football at Luxol

    Pembroke

    Luxol Sports Club in Pembroke rents artificial 5-a-side pitches by the hour, about 40 euro split between ten. A clubhouse bar afterwards. Lots of pickup groups online.

See the island

Things to do
  • Saluting battery from Upper Barrakka gardens

    Noon gun at the Upper Barrakka

    Valletta

    The Saluting Battery fires a cannon at noon and 4pm below the Upper Barrakka Gardens. Free to watch from the terrace, with the Grand Harbour laid out beneath you.

  • Ghajnsielem, Comino, Large Blue Lagoon Rock, Small Blue Lagoon Rock, Cominotto, Blue Lagoon 02

    Swim at the Blue Lagoon, Comino

    Comino

    The famous turquoise shallows between Comino and Cominotto. Since 2025 you need a free timed pass from blcomino.com to land; boats leave from Ċirkewwa and Mġarr, Gozo. Go early or for the 6pm slot.

  • Birgu waterfront & marina

    Ferry to the Three Cities and wander

    Birgu

    Take the two euro ferry from Valletta to Birgu, wander the Collachio lanes, walk the marina round to Senglea's Gardjola gazebo and come back at golden hour.

  • Marsaxlokk, Sqaq St. Peter's Pool, St. Peter's Pool 15

    Cliff jump at St Peter's Pool

    Marsaxlokk

    A natural rock pool on the Delimara peninsula with flat slabs for sunbathing and ledges for jumping. No facilities, so bring water. A 20 minute walk from Marsaxlokk or a bumpy drive.

  • Ghajn Tuffieha Bay (80472p)2

    Beach day at Għajn Tuffieħa (Riviera)

    Mġarr

    A red sand bay reached by a long staircase, quieter than neighbouring Golden Bay. Great sunsets and a kiosk at the bottom. Watch the currents when the red flag is up.

  • Sunset in Dingli

    Sunset at Dingli Cliffs

    Dingli

    Malta's highest point, with a clifftop road and the tiny Madalena chapel. Bring a drink and sit on the wall for the sunset. Bus 52 from Valletta, or park by the chapel.

  • Complejo de Ħaġar Qim, isla de Malta, Malta, 2021-08-25, DD

    Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra temples

    Qrendi

    Two megalithic temple complexes older than Stonehenge on a headland above the sea. A visitor centre, then a walk between the two. Mnajdra aligns with the equinox sunrise.

  • Interior of St. John's Co-Cathedral 2025

    St John's Co-Cathedral and the Caravaggio

    Valletta

    Plain outside, jaw dropping inside: gilded walls, a marble floor of 400 knights' tombs and Caravaggio's Beheading of St John. Audio guide included. Shoulders covered.

Live like a local

Festa calendar
  • Crystal Palace in Rabat

    Pastizzi at Crystal Palace, Rabat

    Rabat

    The island's most famous pastizzi hole in the wall, opposite Mdina's gate, open nearly all night. Ricotta or pea, under a euro each, eaten on the kerb.

  • Street market in Marsaxlokk

    Marsaxlokk Sunday fish market

    Marsaxlokk

    The harbour fills with fish stalls, produce and souvenirs every Sunday morning. Go before 10am for the fish, then lunch. Bus 81 from Valletta.

  • Festa San Lawrenz Birgu 2024

    Village festa with fireworks

    Lija

    Every village has a summer feast: brass bands, statues carried through the streets, nougat stalls and huge fireworks. Lija, Żejtun, Naxxar and Mqabba are famous for the pyrotechnics.

  • Buskett Gardens in 2025

    Wander Buskett Gardens

    Siġġiewi

    Malta's only real woodland, planted by the Knights below Verdala Palace. Shady paths, orange groves and picnic spots. Lovely after rain, and the Mnarja folk festival is here in June.

  • Luzzu in Marsaxlokk

    Fresh fish lunch in Marsaxlokk

    Marsaxlokk

    Painted luzzu boats, a waterfront of fish restaurants and lampuki in autumn. Tartarun and Ir-Rizzu are safe bets. Sunday is market day so book or go on a weekday.

  • The national dish of Malta, Stuffat tal-Fenek (rabbit stew)

    Fenkata rabbit feast in Mġarr

    Mġarr

    Malta's national dish done properly: spaghetti in rabbit sauce, then fried rabbit with chips and local wine, at a village restaurant. Ta' Kris in Sliema does it too.

  • Ftira mit Thunfisch in Marsaxlokk Nov 2014

    Wood-fired ftira at Ta' Nenu

    Valletta

    Maltese ftira baked in a wood oven in a Valletta cellar bakery, topped with potato, olives, tuna or ġbejniet. Order a table, it fills up. Bread also sold to take away.

  • Fontanella Tea Garden Mdina Malta

    Cake and views at Fontanella, Mdina

    Mdina

    The Fontanella Tea Garden sits on Mdina's bastions with enormous slices of chocolate cake and a view across half the island. Touristy, still worth it.

On this week

All events

  • Captured Moments

    art..e Gallery, Library Street, VictoriaTue 6 Oct, 9:30am, and 10 more dates to Fri 16 OctFree entry

    Josanne Mifsud Pikutzki shows her oil and acrylic seascapes at the art..e Gallery in Victoria. The gallery opens in the mornings and entry is free.

  • Lunchtime Concerts at Our Lady of Victory Church

    Our Lady of Victory Church, South Street, VallettaTue 6 Oct, 12:30pm, and 3 more dates to Tue 27 Oct

    Barocco Foundation's Tuesday recitals in Our Lady of Victory Church start at 12:30 and last about an hour. October brings French song, Édith Piaf, Ave Maria settings and classical guitar. The suggested donation is €13.

  • Outdoors: paintings by Debbie Bonello

    Palm Court Lounge, The Phoenicia Malta, FlorianaOn now, until Fri 30 OctFree entry

    Debbie Bonello's fourth solo exhibition shows landscapes painted on site in Malta and Sicily over the past two years. It hangs in the Palm Court Lounge at The Phoenicia until 30 October.

  • Sailors in the City: The Strait Street Experience

    Sailors' Paradise, Strait Street, VallettaTue 6 Oct, 2:30pm, and 20 more dates to Tue 15 Dec

    An immersive show set in wartime Strait Street, with live music and the stories that drew sailors into Valletta's most notorious lane.

  • Spanish Film Days: El Desencanto

    Spazju Kreattiv, St James Cavalier, VallettaTue 6 Oct, 7:30pm

    Jaime Chávarri's 1976 documentary about the Panero family screens in the cinema at Spazju Kreattiv as part of Spanish Film Days.

  • Talk Time: make friends and speak English

    Follow The Sun Boutique Hostel, St Julian'sTue 6 Oct, 7:30pm, and 10 more dates to Tue 15 Dec

    A relaxed weekly conversation meetup for practising English and meeting people from all over. Every Tuesday.

  • The Cinemates Film Club: The Odyssey

    Eddie's Cafe, Republic Square, VallettaTue 6 Oct, 7pm

    The Cinemates film club meets at Eddie's Cafe in Valletta to talk about The Odyssey.

  • Exhibition on Screen: James McNeill Whistler

    Spazju Kreattiv, St James Cavalier, VallettaWed 7 Oct, 7:30pm, and 1 more date to Fri 16 Oct

    A feature-length art documentary on the painter James McNeill Whistler, screening twice in the cinema at St James Cavalier.

  • Folk Underground: Echoes of Maltese Songs Beneath the City

    Sala San Duminku, VallettaWed 7 Oct, 7pm, and 4 more dates to Wed 28 Oct

    Traditional Maltese song, storytelling and guitar in an intimate setting at Sala San Duminku in Valletta. Two sittings on most evenings.

  • Valletta Resounds: The Caravaggio Experience

    St John's Co-Cathedral, VallettaWed 7 Oct, 6:30pm, and 18 more dates to Fri 11 Dec

    Theatre and live classical music in the Oratory of St John's Co-Cathedral, in front of Caravaggio's masterpiece.

  • 1732: A Tour of Teatru Manoel

    Teatru Manoel, VallettaThu 8 Oct, 3pm, and 8 more dates to Thu 17 Dec

    A guided tour of Malta's national theatre, open since 1732. Tours run on Thursdays at 15:00 and cost €15.

  • Piano at the Opera

    Aula Mgr G. Farrugia, St George's Basilica, VictoriaThu 8 Oct, 8pmFree entry

    A one-hour recital of piano transcriptions from Verdi, Wagner and other opera composers, with a guest singer for the arias. Entry is free.

Questions

Where do expats live in Malta?

Most start in Sliema, Gżira or St Julian's, by the sea and close to work and nightlife. Valletta, Msida and San Ġwann are the next most common, and some move to Gozo for space.

Is public transport free in Malta?

For residents, yes: buses are free with a personalised Tallinja card. The Valletta ferries and the Gozo ferry are paid.

How do I meet people when I move to Malta?

Go to the same weekly thing a few weeks running: a language exchange, a quiz, a run club, padel or a Sunday hike. On Imxi you can post a plan for any of them and people ask to join.

Meet people in your first week

Post a plan, or say what you are up for, and people into the same thing ask to join.

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