Location
Situated in the heart of the Mediterranean, the Maltese archipelago of Malta, Gozo and Comino lies about 60 miles (97kms) south of Sicily and 300Km north of Africa.  The island of Malta is just 27km long and 14km wide, with a long coastline, enjoying many natural harbours, flat rocky coves and sandy beaches.

Travelling around Malta, whether to the beach, shopping in the city or a night at the theatre is simple. Wherever you are it shouldn't take you more than 20 minutes by car.

The Maltese Islands are easy to get to from most major European airports, with flight times of 3 hours from London or Amsterdam, and 2 ½ hours from Paris, Frankfurt and Cairo.  Flights are very regular and transport from the airport is easy and straightforward.

Flights
All flights arrive and depart from Malta International Airport,  which is located 5km south of Valletta.  There is a helicopter transfer from here to the heliport in Gozo.

Malta has several weekly flights to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.  The national airline of Malta is Air Malta. Ryan Air flies from Luton, Dublin, Pisa, Bremen, Stokholm and Barcelona. British Jet also has some great connections from London and other major UK cities including Scotland and Wales.
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ryan air
british jet

Climate:
One of the reasons that many people are attracted to purchasing holiday property or retiring in Malta is the climate. The climate in Malta is predominantly warm and sunny, with the hot summer season stretching from May to September.  Temperatures at this time can go up to 30 Celsius, with the sea temperature an extremely comfortable 27 Celsius and warm dry evenings. A mild autumn and spring, averaging between 22 and 25 Celsius means that warm sunny days last late into the year and start early in spring.  The little rainfall that there is during this time lasts for short periods of time, and frost and snow is unheard of.

Cost and standard of living
The Maltese people are characteristically a peace loving people, with a strong sense of hospitality.   The national language is Maltese, however English is also an official language and is widely spoken. The country enjoys political stability and is a full member of the European Union.  The current population stands at 378,000.
The cost of living in Malta is extremely reasonable with groceries, textiles and toiletries competitively priced and freely available.  Most retailers stock both local and international products, and there are branches of well known international retailers in the major shopping areas.

Services such as hairdressers, housekeepers, cleaners and gardeners are also extremely reasonable and of a high standard compared with many other countries.  Property related services such as house builders and renovators, carpenters and other tradesmen are especially noted for their craftsmanship and work ethic.

There is a fantastic range of bars, cafes and restaurants all over the Islands and eating out is both excellent value for money and very much a part of the social life.

The currency of Malta is the Maltese Lira, which is made up of 100 Maltese cents. Banks have seasonal opening hours but can always be found open between 8.30am and 12.30pm.

The transport links in Malta are good with frequent bus services, some ferry links, car hire services and easily available taxis.  The roads are in fairly good condition and well signposted, and a confident driver can easily find their way around Malta with their Malta A-Z guide. The Maltese drive on the left.

Religion
The majority of Maltese people are practising Catholics, with most of the major festivals or festas centring around religious festivals.  There is an extremely high level of tolerance to other religions however, and places of worship for other denominations are available.

It does not take a very keen observer to notice that any village in Malta or Gozo has a church that dominates the village square.  In some cases a larger village will have two village squares with two churches each dedicated to two different patron saint's worship. What might be less obvious to the newcomer is that the houses built in close proximity to the churches tend to be the grandest as these enjoy a place of prominence since the church itself was, and still is to a lesser degree today, the heart and social soul of the village.

Freedom of worship however, is guaranteed by the constitution and various other religious denominations are represented on the Maltese islands.  Anglican, Church of Scotland, Greek Orthodox, Jewish, Methodists and Muslims all have small but thriving communities within these shores.  
visit malta

History
MALTA once known as the island of MELITA derives its name from 'honey' (MEL) for which the islands were once famous for.  This small island has had a long and turbulent history, often as a central point for trade routes between Europe and Africa.

Since early in the first millennium BC, Malta has been occupied by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, the Knights of St John, the French and the British before finally gaining independence in 1964.  Despite this chequered history, Malta and its people has retained a strong sense of identity and culture, present in many of the customs still practised today.

In recent years, Malta has long been regarded as a popular holiday destination for Europeans, as well as an attractive place to retire or buy a second home.  Malta's recent entry into the EU has cemented its place as an international destination for tourists, as well as business.

Getting there
Malta is situated within easy reach of most European countries, with good regular services from most destinations.

Hotel Accommodation
Malta is well served by hotels, self catering accommodation and guest houses, as well as rental accommodation for short term lets.  From luxury 5 star to cosy and welcoming local guest houses, we can recommend a place to stay while you are looking to buy in Malta.

Car Rental
Car rental is a cost effective way of getting around Malta.  There are the usual international car rental companies at the airport such as Avis, or you can arrange locally with some of the less well known Maltese companies.  Car hire prices are generally reasonable for a compact small car to get you around.
avis
car hire

Taxis
Taxis can be expensive in Malta, and it is always best to negotiate the price before you get in (although those used to London prices may disagree!).  You often get a better deal if you arrange your transport before you arrive in Malta  we can also arrange transfers for you. It is advisable to pre-book the black taxi service which is often better value than hailing one from the street.
taxis
transport info
more transport info