Malta Travel Safety
Travel Safety in Malta
General travel safety in Malta on a scale of 1 to 4 — where 1 is safe and 4 is dangerous. Data compiled on the basis of Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs.
Country
Malta
Updates
Updated: 7 Aug 2024 • Still current at: 13 Oct 2024
Status
LEVEL 1 - Exercise normal safety precautions
Use common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour. Monitor the media and other sources for changes to local travelling conditions, safety and security concerns. Laws and social customs could differ significantly. You could face terrorist attacks, civil unrest, violent crime, or unique health threats - but overall, the risks are not great.
Safety and Security Tips
Road safety
Traffic drives on the left. Drivers generally have little regard for traffic regulations and do not follow safe driving practices. Narrow, winding, congested and sometimes poorly maintained roads may pose hazards.
Taxis
Travel by taxi is safe. The use of a taxi meter is regulated and mandatory, unless a fare has been negotiated and confirmed before leaving.
Women's safety
You should be careful in the Paceville nightclub area, where excessive drinking, large crowds, and interaction with heavy-handed bouncers can lead to violence, including some that appears to be racially-motivated. Criminals have drugged some travelers at bars and robbed and assaulted them. Based on the crime situation of the Malta, women should be vigilant all the time and aware of the surroundings. Avoid dark or non-tourist areas at night. Instead try to be around larger crowds, whether they are fellow tourists or local citizens. Females should be cautious while dealing with strangers and acquaintances. Women may be subject to unpleasant male attention, sexual harassment and verbal abuse. Avoid flash of money or valuables in public. Exercise a high degree of caution during travel.
Crime
Violent crime is rare, although petty crime, such as purse snatching and pickpocketing, does occur. Thieves particularly target public transportation and areas frequented by tourists, such as stores and markets in Valletta and Marsaxlokk, beaches, and the nightclub areas of Paceville in St. Julian's (San Giljan) and Sliema.
Update 1 November 2020Emergency Calls
- Police112
- Fire112
- Ambulance112
Embassy of us
American Embassy in Valletta
AddressTa’ Qali National Park
Local Law and Culture
LGBT
Malta has been recognised for providing a high degree of liberty to its LGBT citizens. Malta is the tenth safest country in the world for LGBT people and has an active LGBT community, with well attended annual gay pride parades in Valletta.
Illegal drugs
Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and heavy fines.
Driving
An International Driving Permit is recommended. However, you can drive on a valid driver's licence when travelling as a tourist for short stays. The use of a cellular telephone while driving is prohibited, unless the phone is fitted with a hands-free device.
Update 1 November 2020Vaccinations and Medications
A doctor's consultation is required prior to any vaccinations being administered. This section is for informational purposes and does not exhaust all issues related to vaccination. Please contact your doctor for complete information on this subject.
Stay Healthy and Safe
Act in advance of to prevent. Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least 4-8 weeks before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need.
All travelers
You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Some vaccinations may also be required in Malta.
Before each trip, it is worth making sure that we are up to date with the routine vaccinations. These include vaccinations against measles, mumps and rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, chickenpox, polio and flu.
Prevention
- Get vaccinated
- Reduce your exposure to germs
Some travelers
Vaccinations and medications that may be recommended under certain conditions, depending on where you will be, the length of your stay and the nature of your stay.
Hepatitis A is a digestive disease caused by the hepatitis A virus and is closely related to a lack of good hygiene.
It can be asymptomatic, moderate, or very severe.
Prevention
- Get vaccinated
- Eat and drink safely
Hepatitis B is a disease caused by the hepatitis B virus.
Infection occurs through contact of injured skin or mucous membranes with virus-infected blood or other secretions (e.g. during sexual contact, through contaminated needles or as a result of medical procedures).
Prevention
- Get vaccinated
- Avoid sharing body fluids
- Avoid non-sterile medical or cosmetic equipment
Rabies is an acute infectious disease caused by neurotrophic viruses from the rhabdovirus family.
The infection is most often caused by biting a sick animal or other contact of its saliva with mucous membranes, conjunctiva or damaged skin.
Prevention
- Get vaccinated
- Keep away from animals
Yellow fever is an acute viral disease which is transmitted by virus-infected mosquitoes.
Prevention
- Get vaccinated
- Prevent bug bites
Vaccination requirements
Required if traveling from a country with risk of YFV transmission and ≥9 months of age, including transit >12 hours in an airport located in a country with risk of YFV transmission. If indicated on epidemiologic grounds, infants <9 months of age are subject to isolation or surveillance if coming from an area with risk of YFV transmission.
We have made every effort to ensure that the information presented reliably reflects the general safety situation in a given place. However, the data is provided for informational purposes only and we do not take responsibility for any damages or losses resulting from incorrect risk assessment. Before each trip, we recommend checking the current situation in the country of destination on the websites of the relevant Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
