Essentials
- City
- Valletta, South Eastern Region, Malta
- Population
- 5,827 (City Proper), approx. 450,000 (Metropolitan area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 100-250 Mbps; widely available Fiber-to-the-home
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: BOV, HSBC Malta
- Tap Water
- Safe but brackish taste; most locals and expats use reverse osmosis filters or buy 2L bottles (€0.40)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G sockets (UK standard)
- SIM Card
- Epic, GO, and Melita. Prepaid 10GB data approx. €15-€20
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut (widely used), MeDirect, and Western Union for transfers
- Accommodation
- Boutique hotels, Airbnb, and renovated palazzos; prices high in city center
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, contactless payment accepted in 95% of establishments
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and ZEST (local management); €1,200-€2,200/month for 1-bed
- Budget Accommodation
- Valletta Merisi Suites or nearby hostels in Sliema like Two Pillows (€30-€50/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Republic Street or near the Upper Barrakka Gardens for views
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Valletta (History/Vibe) or Sliema/St. Julian's (Modern/Social) accessible by ferry
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- SOHO Office Space (The Strand/Sliema nearby) or Grand Central (Valletta) - €25 day pass
- Best Cafe for Work
- Lot 61 Coffee Roasters (Old Theatre St) or 67 Kapitali (Old Bakery St)
- Networking Events
- Silicon Malta meetups and 'Digital Nomads Malta' Facebook group events
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Malta monthly mixers, usually held in Valletta or St. Julian's
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt, Uber, and eCabs (eCabs is locally owned/reliable)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Tallinja Bike (electric bike sharing) or Whizascoot (electric mopeds)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Riviera Bay (Ghajn Tuffieha) - 35 mins by car/bolt; Valletta has rocky swimming at 'The Jews Sally Port'
- Top Regional Airline
- KM Malta Airlines (the successor to Air Malta)
- Top International Airline
- Ryanair, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines
- Highway Access
- Route 1 connects Valletta to the rest of the island north/south
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Valletta City Gate Bus Terminus (Hub for all island bus routes)
- Public Transport Passes
- Tallinja Card - €21 for 7 days unlimited or 'Explore' cards
- Regional Travel
- Valletta Ferry Services to Sliema or The Three Cities (€2.80 return)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Mater Dei Hospital (Public) or St James Hospital (Private, Sliema)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Lotus Yoga & Mindfulness (triq San Mark) or Yoga Hub Malta
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Challenger Gym (Valletta branch) - €10 day pass, €50 monthly
- Laundry Services
- Self-Service Laundry 'The Laundry Room' in Gzira or valet service at 24/7 Laundry
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Wolt and Bolt Food
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Pastizzi (cheese/pea cakes) at Jeff’s or Rabbit Stew (Fenek) at Nenu the Artisan Baker
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Grassy Hopper (Gzira) or Soul Food (Merchants Street, Valletta)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Caffe Cordina (est. 1837) for honey rings (Qagħaq tal-Għasel)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Valletta Indoor Market (Is-Suq tal-Belt) for quality/variety
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.it (best shipping to Malta) or local site Maltashopper
- Grocery Delivery
- Wolt Market or Greens Supermarket online delivery
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Strait Street (Valletta) for jazz/cocktails; Paceville for clubs
- Local Brewery
- Farsons (Cisk lager) or Lord Chambray (Craft beer from Gozo)
- Wine Bars
- Trabuxu Wine Bar (South Street) or Bridge Bar (live jazz Fridays)
- Street Food Stalls
- The pastizzi kiosks at Valletta City Gate - €0.50 each
- Popular International Cuisine
- Sotto Pizzeria (Italian/Roman style) - approx €15 per pizza
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- St. John's Co-Cathedral, Upper Barrakka Gardens
- Museums & Art Venues
- MUZA (National Community Art Museum), MUZA, Merchants St
- Historical Sites
- Fort St. Elmo, Lascaris War Rooms
- Religious Sites
- St. John’s Co-Cathedral (Caravaggio paintings inside)
- Annual Events
- Isle of MTV (June), Malta Jazz Festival (July), Carnival (February)
- Cultural Districts
- The Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua) across the harbor
- Theater Venues
- Teatru Manoel (one of the oldest working theaters in Europe)
- Local Markets
- Merchants Street Sunday Market (Valletta)
- Music Scene
- Live jazz at The Bridge Bar; classical concerts at Teatru Manoel
- Street Art
- The MSA (Malta Society of Arts) hosting local street artists in Valletta
- Cooking Classes
- Mediterranean Cooking Classes at Diar il-Bniet (Dingli)
- Art Galleries
- Blitz (independent contemporary art space on St Lucia St)
- Historic Buildings
- Grandmaster's Palace, Auberge de Castille
- Local Heritage
- The Knights of St. John history and the George Cross on the flag
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Wied iż-Żurrieq (Blue Grotto) for coastal walks and boat trips
- National Parks Nearby
- Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park (Northwest Malta)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Victoria Lines (Great Wall of Malta) - hiking trail across the island
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Upper Barrakka Gardens overlooking the Grand Harbour
- Birdwatching Locations
- Simar Nature Reserve or Ghadira Nature Reserve
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Permit required; common at Golden Bay during summer (designated areas only)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- MaltaPost (main office Valletta), DHL, UPS
- Tech Repair Services
- iCentre (Apple Authorized) or various shops in Hamrun
- Table Tennis Spots
- Malta Table Tennis Association training centers (various locations)
- Language Classes
- Easy School of Languages (St Ursula St, Valletta)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National Library of Malta (Bibliotheca) - stunning historical interior
- Community Centers
- Valletta Design Cluster (working space and community hub)
- Gaming Lounges
- The Gamers Lounge (Msida/Gzira area)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Dragonara Casino (St. Julian's)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €11,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €440,000 in Valletta center)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €180,000 in Birkirkara)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €9,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €570,000 in Valletta)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €4,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €240,000 in Mosta)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €8,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €680,000 in Valletta)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €3,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €280,000 in Qormi)
- Corporate Tax
- 35% (effective rate can be as low as 5% for non-resident shareholders via refund system)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for non-residents
- Tax System
- Remittance-basis for non-domiciled residents; worldwide for citizens
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% (on income over €60,000)
- VAT
- 18% standard rate
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, in line with EU ATAD (Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive)
- Property Tax
- No annual property tax (Ground rent/cens applies in some cases)
- Property Transaction Tax
- 5% Stamp Duty on purchase; 8% Final Withholding Tax on sale
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Malta Nomad Residence Permit: Income tax cap (usually 10%) on nomadic income or potentially 0% under certain structures