Geographical location:

Malta is an archipelago in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African coast.

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Size:
Malta, the largest of the islands is 246 km2, whilst Gozo is 67 km2 and Comino 2.7 km2. Malta’s length is approximately 27km from the southeast to the northwest point, whilst the greatest length from east to west is 14.5km.

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Landscape:
Malta has no rivers or mountains but it characterised by low sloping hills, with ploughed terraces separated from each other by stone walls. Malta’s feature is its deeply indented and sculpted coastline, consisting of numerous harbours, coves, and sandy and rocky beaches.

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Population:
Approx. 400,000

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Capital City:
Valletta

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Port:
Grand Harbour, Valletta

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Airport:
6 km from Valletta

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Transport:
Vehicles drive on the right in Malta the same as in the UK. There is a national speed limit of 80km/h on the highway and 50 km/h in urban areas. The island has a regular bus service between all the towns, villages and the capital city of Valletta.

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Language:
The official languages of Malta are Maltese and English.

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Time Zone:
Malta is 2 hours behind Moscow time – Central European Time.

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Climate:
In Malta, there are no cold winds, snow and frost. In winter (November to April) there are spells of wind and rain with relatively mild air. The hottest period is from mid-July to mid-September. All throughout the year the islands experience a pleasant sea breeze even during the highest summer temperatures.

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Visa:
Malta is part of the Schengen area, so a Schengen visa is required to enter the country.

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Currency:
The local currency of Malta is the Euro.

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Importation of animals:
The importation of dogs and cats in Malta is strictly prohibited.

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Electricity:
AC voltage 240V. Use rectangular outlet (13A) for the triple fork - you can buy an adapter in Malta.

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Shops:
Usually shops are open from 9am to 1pm and again from 4pm to 7pm and on Saturdays until 8pm. In touristic areas and shopping centres shops may remain open all day until 10pm. Some shops and all banks are closed on Sundays, however ATM machines are available throughout the islands.

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Religion:
In Malta, the majority of the population of Roman Catholic

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Swimming:
There are very little tides in Malta. Between May and October, the sea temperature averages 23C. Public beaches do not permit nudity or topless bathing at any time.

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Sports & Outdoors:
Malta hosts annual yacht regattas, international and national triathlons, bowling and other championships. Sports enthusiasts can enjoy sailing and yachting all year round.

Surfboards can be rented from most beaches, and Malta offers numerous diving centres offering all courses from basic training to advanced instructor courses. All diving schools are fully licensed, and certificates and international registration are given by qualified instructors.

Outdoor enthusiasts attracted by the opportunity to play golf (especially in the winter when the pleasant weather conditions) can enjoy numerous mini golf greens. There are also several tennis courts and horse riding schools.

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Security:
Malta does not have an active military base and experiences virtually no crime.