Malta

The Maltese archipelago is situated near the centre of the Mediterranean only 93km south of Sicily and 288km north of Africa.

The archipelago consists of three islands from the ultra-modern marina facilities in the beautiful old harbour in Malta, to the pristine beaches and caves of Gozo and Comino.

Malta is the largest island and the cultural, commercial and administrative centre. With prehistoric temples, Renaissance cathedrals and Baroque palaces this enchanting island is a captivating place to be.

Gozo is the second largest island and is more rural, characterised by fishing villages, local crafts and agriculture while Comino is largely uninhabited. Gozo and Comino have some of the Mediterranean’s best dive spots and Comino is excellent for swimming in the famous blue lagoon.

Malta is a great choice for sailing enthusiasts; the climate and location at the centre of the Mediterranean Sea make the islands an excellent base for a sailing holiday. It offers the perfect location to charter a boat and explore beautiful scenery, stunning architecture, turquoise waters and towns that will transport you back in time with their narrow streets and magnificent churches and domes.

Influences that have captured the finest parts of all the cultures that have made it their home throughout history are evident in everything from the buildings to the cuisine. With superbly sunny weather, expansive beaches, a thriving nightlife and excellent sailing conditions Malta is a great yacht charter destination.

Weather Conditions

Climate

General weather for Malta

The island of Malta experiences a Mediterranean climate, characterised by hot dry summers and mild wet winters. The climate is heavily influenced by the sea.

Average temperature across the year is a very pleasant 18°C, varying from 12°C in January to 30°C in July and August. Yearly rainfall is low, at around 600mm and most of this falls during thunderstorms in late autumn and winter.

You are never far away from a safe haven and the way that the Islands are situated is normally safe to sail on one side or the other. The climate is ideal for sailing with a NW prevailing wind which during Spring, Summer and early Autumn is easily manageable.

Average Conditions - Malta:

	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
High Temperature ( C )	16	16	18	20	24	29	32	32	29	26	21	18
Low Temperature ( C )	10	10	11	13	17	20	23	24	22	19	15	12
Precipitation (mm)	96	62	37	27	10	6	0	7	69	69	116	109
Average Sunshine Hours	5	6	7	8	10	11	12	11	9	7	7	5

Current Forecast:

General Information

Flights to Malta:

The national airline is Air Malta (KM) (www.airmalta.com).

Flight Times:

From London to Luqa is 3 hours 10 minutes.

Departure Tax:

None.

Car hire:

A number of car hire firms offer self-drive cars. International firms are represented at the airport. Rates on Malta are among the cheapest in Europe.

Passports:

Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.

Visas:

Not required for stays of up to three months.

ATM:

ATMs are available.

Banking hours:

Mon-Fri 0830-1330; Sat 0830-1230.

Credit cards:

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. ATMs are available.

Currency information:

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Traveller’s cheques:

Exchanged in the normal authorised institutions.

Language:

Maltese (a Semitic language) and English are the official languages. Italian is also widely spoken.

Internet:

There are a few Internet cafes. Most hotels offer wireless connection.

Mobile telephone:

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Telephone:

There are no area codes. Public telephone booths are widely available.