Mediterranean splendour and historical charm on the ancient streets of Malta. Megaliths, medieval dungeons and Calypso's Cave - Malta is positively mythic. The narrow cobblestone streets of its towns are crowded with Renaissance cathedrals and Baroque palaces, while its countryside is dotted with the oldest-known human structures in the world.
Capital: Valletta
President: Edward Fenech Adami
Prime Minister: Lawrence Gonzi
Government: Republic
Time zone: GMT +1
Area: 316
Population: 404346
Languages: Member of the Semitic language group, which also includes Arabic, Hebrew and Amharic.
Roman Catholic (98%)
Currency: Euro (€)
Country Dialing Code: 356
Mainland Europe has the best access to the Maltese archipelago. Malta International Airport is located about 8km (5mi) southwest of Valletta on the island of Malta. Air Malta has flights from Malta to a host of European cities as well as to Cairo, Tripoli and Tunis. Other carriers with services to Malta include Alitalia, British Airways, Emirates, KLM, Lufthansa, Swissair and Tuninter. You can travel by bus from most parts of Europe to a port in Italy and catch a ferry to Malta. Eurolines operates buses across Europe with offices in all major European cities. With your own vehicle, you can drive to southern Italy and take a car ferry from Salerno, Pozzallo or Catania (Sicily) to Malta. Drivers and motorbike riders will need the vehicle's registration papers, a Green Card, a nationality plate and their domestic licence. Contact your local automobile association for further details. Rail travel from major European cities to southern Italy is easy and comfortable. If you're touring Europe on a Eurail or Inter Rail Pass, you can take the train to Reggio di Calabria or Catania then catch a ferry to Malta. A year-round, high-speed ferry service is available between the island of Malta and Sicily. The run to Pozzallo takes 90min; there are less frequent services to/from Catania (3hr). There are also weekly ferry services to Genoa, Reggio di Calabria and Salerno. All passengers departing by sea must pay a departure tax. Malta's popularity with the yachting fraternity means that it is possible to make your way there as unpaid crew. Yachts tend to leave Gibraltar, southern Spain and the Balearics in April and May to head towards the Greek Islands and the Turkish coast. It's possible to just turn up at a marina and ask if there are any yachts looking for crew, but there are also agencies that bring together yacht owners and prospective crew (for a fee).
The public bus service is a good way to get around Malta and Gozo. Buses serve major tourist areas and go just about everywhere. Pay the driver for your ticket when you get on, and hold on to it - you may need to present it to an inspector. Buses display their route numbers, not their destinations, in the windscreen. Although Valletta and the Cottonera are easily explored on foot, a car is a good option if you want to see more remote areas. Major and local rental agencies are located on the island of Malta. Driving is on the left. You can also rent bicycles, although rough roads and erratic drivers can make cycling an unpleasant experience. A regular ferry service links Ċ irkewwa on Malta and M ġ arr on Gozo, taking about 20min each way. There are also regular boat services between each island and Comino. Check locally for schedules. If you'd like to tour the islands in class, consider chartering a yacht. Official Maltese taxis are white (usually a Mercedes with a taxi sign on top). As of mid-2006, taxi drivers have been using meters to determine the fare (except from the airport and port, where there are set fares).
Malta's hot, dry summer can sometimes be uncomfortable, owing to the winds, but is otherwise a sunny Mediterranean treat. July daytime temperatures hover around 36 ° C (97 ° F). Conditions are also pleasant during winter with January averaging a mild range of 10-14 ° C (50-58 ° F). The rain is heaviest in winter, but is still only moderate, with most days dry. In November and December, expect daytime temperatures of 12-18 º C (54-64 º F) and a fair amount of sunshine between showers (the total annual rainfall is low, around 580mm/23in, and falls mainly between October and February). January and February are the coldest months. Winds are a feature of Malta's weather. The stiff sea breeze is cooling in summer. In winter, however, the northeasterly griga can whip up the waves, occasionally disrupting the ferry service from the island of Malta to Gozo. In spring and autumn, the southeasterly xlokk (sirocco) sometimes blows in from North Africa, bringing humid and occasionally foggy conditions.
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