designated smoking area. Smoking in public places is illegal and carries hefty fines. Smoking is allowed at outdoor venues.
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.
Resources Resources
Telephones and internet Telecommunications operator Go provides international telecommunication, telex, fax and internet access at its offices in St George’s Bay, St Julian’s. Its office in South Street, Valletta provides these services during office hours from Monday to Friday. The same services, as well as the sale of telecards, are available from 8am to 10pm at Go’s offices in Sliema, St Paul’s Bay, B’Kara, Balzan and Malta International Airport. Go offers a cheap international voice service for calls made to the UK, USA, Australia, Germany and other countries. Rates start from €0.35 per minute. To make use of this service dial 1021 before the country code and telephone number, from Go lines and payphones. Internet cafés are scattered across the islands.
Time difference 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. 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 9am5.30pm Mon-Sat; 9am-1pm Sun. 17 Independence Square, Rabat, Gozo (2291 5452). Open 9am-5.30pm MonSat; 9am-1pm Sun.
Getting around
For further information go to www. visitmalta.com/en/info-offices
Useful addresses Ministry of Foreign Affairs Palazzo Parisio, Merchants Street, Valletta (2124 2191). Air Malta Head Office Air Malta plc, Head Office, Luqa (2169 0890/2122 9990). 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 forecast (Rate per call ¤1) For further information go to www.new. visitmalta.com/en/useful-numbers
Websites www.airmalta.com Timetable, passenger information and online booking and check-in of Air Malta flights. www.gozochannel.com Timetable and information on the Malta-Gozo ferry. www.heritagemalta.org All you need to know 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 fiveday accurate weather forecasts.
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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 all 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 Air Malta 2166 2211, www.airmalta.com British Airways www.britishairways.com Alitalia 2132 2992, www.alitalia.com Emirates 2557 7255, www.emirates.com Lufthansa 2125 2020, www.lufthansa.com Ryanair www.ryanair.com Vueling www.vueling.com easyJet www.easyjet.com Scandinavian SAS www.flysas.com Swiss International Airlines www.swiss. com Egypt Air www.egyptair.com
by sea A regular ferry and catamaran service links several Italian ports to Valletta. A number of shipping lines serve some Mediterranean ports as well. Shipping line contacts SMS Travel and Tourism www.sms. com.mt Sullivan Maritime 2125 1564, www.sullivanmaritime.com.mt Virtu Ferries 2123 2522, www.virtuferries.com
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. For island hopping to Gozo,
you can choose between taking the Gozo ferry or water taxi. buses Malta’s bus service is operated by the European bus and train operator, Arriva. The service runs daily between approximately 5.30am and 11pm, while night buses operate in some areas after this time. The hub is Valletta, with all routes numbered between 1 and 91 serving the capital, and other services offering connections to places of interest, beaches, hotels and nightlife. 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. An online journey planner is available at www.arriva.com.mt (2122 2000). car hire 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. 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 (7999
0001, 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).