Travel Tips - Malta

Area
316 sq km (122 sq miles).

Population
399,867 (2003).

Population density
1224 sq km.

Capital
Valletta.
Population: 7173 (2002).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1964.
Head of State: President Fenech Adami since 2004.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi since 2004.

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

Religion
91 per cent Roman Catholic.

Time
GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity
240 volts AC, 50Hz. UK-style three-pin plug are in use.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 356. There are no area codes. Outgoing international code: 00. Public telephone booths are widely available.

Mobile telephone
GSM 900 and 1800 networks exist, with extensive coverage of land and sea. Network providers include GoMobile (website: www.go.com.mt) and Vodafone Malta.

Fax
Maltacom PLC provides an international service through its offices and branches. Also available at hotels.

Internet
ISPs include Maltanet (website: www.maltanet.net). There are a few Internet cafes.

Telegram
Can be sent from Maltacom PLC, St Georges Road, St Julian’s.

Post
Good postal services exist within the island.

Press
Maltese dailies include In-Nazzjon Taghna and L’Orizzont. The daily English-language newspapers published on the island are The Malta Independent and The Times. The Malta Business Weekly, The Malta Independent on Sunday and the Sunday Times are also available.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

Public Holidays

Jan 1 2005:    New Year’s Day.
Feb 10:    Feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck.
Mar 19:    St Joseph’s Day.
Mar 25:    Good Friday.
Mar 31:    Freedom Day.
May 1:    Labor Day.
Jun 7:    Sette Giugno (Commemoration of 1919 Riot).
Jun 29:    Feast of St Peter and St Paul.
Aug 15:    Assumption.
Sep 8:    Feast of Our Lady of Victories.
Sep 21:    Independence Day.
Dec 8:    Immaculate Conception.
Dec 13:    Republic Day.
Dec 25:    Christmas Day.
Jan 1 2006:    New Year’s Day.
Feb 10:    Feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck.
Mar 19:    St Joseph’s Day.
Mar 31:    Freedom Day.
Apr 14:    Good Friday.
May 1:    Labor Day.
Jun 7:    Sette Giugno (Commemoration of 1919 Riot).
Jun 29:    Feast of St Peter and St Paul.
Aug 15:    Assumption.
Sep 8:    Feast of Our Lady of Victories.
Sep 21:    Independence Day.
Dec 8:    Immaculate Conception.
Dec 13:    Republic Day.
Dec 25:    Christmas Day.

Special Events
The Malta Tourism Authority can supply full details of events, including a complete list of the various Saint’s Days celebrated throughout Malta (see General Info section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Malta in 2005:

Feb 3-8:   Carnival (featuring masks, floats and dancing), Valletta.
Feb 27:    Malta Marathon, Mdina.
Mar 10-13:   Mediterranean Food Festival, Valetta.
Mar 21-27:   Easter Week.
Apr-Sep:    Festa Season (commemoration to the various saints with church services, outdoor festivities and fireworks), various locations.
May 6-7:   Fireworks Festival, Valletta.
May 21-22:    Maltese Folk Singing Festival, Floriana.
Jun-Jul:    Victoria International Arts Festival (classical concerts, vocal ensembles, ballet, jazz and lectures), Gozo.
Jul 5-17:   Malta International Jazz Festival, Valletta.
Sep 25-26:    Malta International Air Show, Luqa Airfield.
Oct:    Rolex Middle Sea Race, Valletta.
Oct 6-16:   Historic Cities Festival, various locations.
Nov 8-11:    Malta International Choir Festival, Valletta.
Dec 24-31:    Christmas Entertainment Program (carol singing, ethnic dance groups and Santa fun run), Valletta.

Contact Information:

Location
Mediterranean, south of Sicily.

Country dialing code
356.

Malta Tourism Authority
229 Merchants Street, CMR 02, Auberge d’Italie, Malta
Tel: 2291 5000 or 2122 4444. Fax: 2291 5893.
E-mail: info@visitmalta.com
Website: www.visitmalta.com

Malta High Commission
Malta House, 36-38 Piccadilly, London W1J 0LE, UK
Tel: (020) 7292 4800. Fax: (020) 7734 1831/2.
E-mail: maltahighcommission.london@gov.mt
Website: www.gov.mt
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1230 and 1400-1600.

Malta Tourist Office
Unit C, Parkhouse, 14 Northfields, London SW18 1DD, UK
Tel: (020) 8877 6990. Fax: (020) 8874 9416.
E-mail: office.uk@visitmalta.com
Website: www.visitmalta.com

British High Commission
Whitehall Mansions, Ta’Xbiex Seafront, Ta’Xbiex, MSD 11, Malta
Tel: 2323 0000. Fax: 2323 2234.
E-mail: bhc@vol.net.mt
Website: www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk/malta

Embassy of Malta
2017 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 462 3611. Fax: (202) 387 5470.
E-mail: maltaembassy.washington@gov.mt
Website: www.gov.mt
Consulates in: Dallas, Detroit, Florida, Houston, Los Angeles, Minnesota, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Tennessee.

Embassy of the United States of America
Street address: 3rd Floor, Development House, St Anne Street, Floriana, Valletta VLT 01, Malta
Postal address: PO Box 535, Valletta CMR 01, Malta
Tel: 2561 4000. Fax: 2124 3229.
E-mail: usembmalta@state.gov
Website: http://usembassy.state.gov/malta

Consulate General of Malta
10th Floor, Suite 3020, Center Tower, Toronto, Ontario M8X 2X2, Canada
Tel: (416) 207 0922. Fax: (416) 207 0986.

Consulate of Canada
Demajo House, 103 Archbishop Street, Valletta VLT 09, Malta
Tel/Fax: 2552 3233.
E-mail: maltaconsulate.toronto@gov.mt

Travel TipsMalta

Here you will find the most important informations about Malta