Swimming The Maltese coastal waters are generally clean and safe for swimming as there are no tides. Some bays are exposed to north and north-easterly winds that produce some strong undercurrents at times. Ghajn Tuffieha Bay and Golden Bay areas can be potentially dangerous – a red flag flies to indicate when bathing should be restricted to only the innermost, shallow waters. sunbathing The Maltese archipelago lies virtually at the centre of the Mediterranean and has a latitude more southern than that of northern Tunisia. You are therefore advised to take precautions to ensure you avoid over-exposure to the sun. Children and especially babies need extra protection from the sun. If you are sunbathing, it is advisable to avoid the strongest sunlight between 11am and 4pm in peak summer months.
Telephones and internet
Resources
Telecommunications operator GO provides residential and business telecommunications across the Maltese islands. Outlets are located in St Julian’s – Bay Street Shopping Complex, Birkirkara – Salvu Psaila Street, Naxxar – St Paul Street, Paola – A De Paule Square, Qormi – PAVI, Valletta – South Street, Gozo – Republic Street, Rabat. GO offers international calls starting from €0.25 per min. To benefit from these rates dial 1021 before the country code complete with the international number (e.g. UK 1021 0044 xxxxxxxx) from your GO SIM (go.com.mt/international). You may get a GO starter SIM Pack for just €15 and get 1GB or local data €5 in credit (go.com.mt/startersim).
Torre dello Standardo, St Publius Square, Mdina (2145 4480). Open 9am-5.30pm Mon-Sat; 9am-1pm Sun. Inquisitor’s Palace, Main Gate Street, Vittoriosa (2180 0145). Open 9am5pm Mon-Sat; 9am-1pm Sun. 17 Independence Square, Rabat, Gozo (2291 5452). Open 8am-6pm daily. For further information go to www.mta.com.mt/tio
Useful addresses Ministry of Foreign Affairs Palazzo Parisio, Merchants Street, Valletta (2124 2191). Air Malta Head Office Level 2, Sky Parks Business Centre, Malta International Airport, Luqa (2299 9000). Malta Tourism Authority Auberge d’Italie, Merchants Street, Valletta (2291 5000). Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority Mizzi House, National Road, Blata l-Bajda (2395 2000).
Useful and emergency numbers 00356 International code 112 Emergency services 1182 Directory enquiries 1152 Overseas operator 195 Time check 112 Ambulance 112 Fire brigade 2122 4001 Police 2125 0221 Consumer protection 2122 4781 Lost property 5230 2021 Weather information (rate per call €1) For further information go to www. visitmalta.com/en/useful-numbers
Internet cafés are scattered across the islands.
Websites
Time difference
www.airmalta.com Timetable, passenger information and online booking and checkin of Air Malta flights.
Malta is on Central European Time (CET), which is one hour ahead of GMT in winter and two hours ahead between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October. Malta is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST) in winter and seven hours ahead between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October.
Tipping Gratuities are usually in the region of 10-15 per cent as in most European countries. As a rule of thumb: taxi drivers – not expected, but up to 10 per cent; porters – €0.25-€0.35 per piece of luggage; restaurants, unless a service charge is added to the bill, 10 per cent.
Tourist information Malta Tourism Authority-run offices may be found at: 229 Auberge d’Italie, Merchants Street, Valletta (2291 5440). Open 9am5.30pm Mon-Sat; 9am-1pm Sun. Pinto Wharf, Valletta Waterfront, Valletta (2122 0633). Open only when cruise liners are in port. Malta International Airport, Arrivals Lounge, Luqa (2369 6073). Open 10am-9pm daily. Iz-Zjara tal-Papa Gwanni Pawlu II – 26 ta’ Mejju 1990 Square, Mellieha (2152 4666). Open 9am-1pm Mon-Sat.
www.gozochannel.com Timetable and information on the Malta-Gozo ferry. www.heritagemalta.org Information about Malta and Gozo’s heritage sites and museums entrusted to the government’s national heritage agency. www.maltairport.com Arrivals, departures, passenger services and weather conditions. www.go.com.mt Online telephone directory. www.transport.gov.mt Official website of the local transport authority, providing information on the islands’ transport system. www.timeout.com Online city and country guides. www.timesofmalta.com The Times of Malta online. www.visitmalta.com General information on Malta and an updated calendar of events compiled by the Malta Tourism Authority. www.maltaweather.com Up to five-day accurate weather forecasts.
166 Time Out Malta & Gozo for Visitors 2015/16
Getting around Arriving and leaving by air All flights arrive at Malta International Airport (2124 9600, www.maltairport.com). The Maltese islands are only a few hours away from major European cities by air. The national airline, Air Malta, operates flights to and from many of the major airports in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Other international low-cost carriers operate regular scheduled flights to and from Malta. Airline contacts Aegean www.aegeanair.com airberlin www.airberlin.com Air France www.airfrance.com Air Malta 2166 2211, www.airmalta.com Alitalia 2132 2992, www.alitalia.com British Airways www.britishairways.com easyJet www.easyjet.com Emirates 2557 7255, www.emirates.com Lufthansa 2125 2020, www.lufthansa.com Ryanair www.ryanair.com Scandinavian SAS www.flysas.com Swiss International Airlines www.swiss.com Transavia www.transavia.com Vueling www.vueling.com Wizz Air www.wizzair.com by sea
5.30am and 11pm, while night buses operate in some areas after this time. 80 routes travel to various hubs, offering connections to places of interest, beaches, hotels and nightlife spots. Timetable leaflets are available for all routes, as well as a free holiday bus map highlighting tourist-specific services. The service runs six express routes (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X7) to various localities from the airport, serving also the Gozo ferry terminal. Different types of tickets are available from several points of sale: ticket machines at bus stations; ticket offices and/or street ticket sellers at the airport, Valletta, Bugibba, Sliema and Rabat (Gozo) bus stations, as well as other localities; on board; authorised resellers including hotels and online. Visitors can apply for a personalised ‘tallinja’ bus card online, giving them access to reduced bus fares. The card needs to be booked at least two weeks in advance and a Maltese address, which could also be that of the hotel, needs to be provided. The card will then be delivered directly to an indicated address outside Malta. Other products are also available for immediate use, including the 12 Single Day Journey card and the Explore 7 Day card. The former allows users to travel for 12 journeys on day services or six journeys on night services or a combination of both for €15. This card can be used immediately and may be shared and used more than once on the same bus trip. The Explore 7 Day card offers unlimited travel by bus throughout Malta and Gozo, on all day and night services. It can be used immediately upon purchase and is valid for seven consecutive days from the first validation. The card is valid for one person only and it cannot be shared. The Explore card for adults costs €21 and the one for children costs €15. These cards can be purchased from the ticket booths and from other leading outlets.
A regular ferry and catamaran service links several Italian ports to Valletta. A number of shipping lines serve some Mediterranean ports as well.
An online journey planner is available at www.publictransport.com.mt.
Shipping line contacts SMS Travel and Tourism www.sms.com.mt Sullivan Maritime 2299 5110, www.sullivanmaritime.com.mt Virtu Ferries 2206 9022, www.virtuferries.com
Most international car hire companies have a branch in Malta. Local companies, too, offer this service, with or without a chauffeur. Car hire rates are very reasonable compared to those in other European countries.
Flight enquiries and schedules The Malta International Airport has a 24hr flight enquiry service (5004 3333, www.maltairport.com). The online schedules are updated every 5mins.
Internal transport The public transport network of buses covers nearly all the islands. Car hire rates in Malta are good value. You can also enjoy a relaxing boat trip by taking a harbour cruise or cross between Valletta and Sliema at half hourly intervals. buses Malta’s bus service is operated by Malta Public Transport. The service runs daily between approximately
car hire
taxis A number of taxi companies offer 24hr taxi services and are fitted with meters. If you opt to take a taxi from Malta International Airport, pay the fare at the taxi ticket booth in the arrivals lounge and you will receive a ticket showing the destination and fare paid. Hand the ticket to the driver at the end of your journey. Any complaints should be addressed to Transport Malta (2122 2203). For an alternative, quick and economic taxi service, take to the sea. Malta Water Taxis operate within various zones around the islands (9993 9443, www.maltawatertaxis.com.mt). travelling to gozo A regular ro-ro ferry service carries passengers and cars between Malta and Gozo. The trip takes about 30mins. For information and timetables contact The Gozo Channel Company Ltd (2210 9000, www.gozochannel.com).