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{{pagebanner|Malta WV banner.jpg|caption=Malta|unesco=yes}}
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Thanks to its strategic position, Malta has been continuously inhabited since [[Prehistoric Europe|prehistoric]] times,
There are also a number of [[water sports|aquatic activities]] to enjoy. Northern Malta is home to the country's [[beach]] resorts and holiday areas. [[Gozo]] and [[Comino]], the country's two smaller islands, are also popular beach spots, although these tend to be quieter, rockier and better for [[snorkelling]]. The Mediterranean Sea surrounding Malta is popular for [[diving]], and experienced divers may be able to find historical artefacts from [[World War II]] or earlier.
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*{{marker|type=vicinity|name=Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni|url=|wikidata=Q755514}} – a subterranean structure dating from 3000-2500 BC. Advanced booking is required.
*{{marker|type=vicinity|name=Ghar Dalam|url=|wikidata=Q742598}} – a prehistoric cave containing remains from the Pleistocene era.
*{{marker|type=vicinity|name=Clapham Junction|url=|wikidata=Q1760477}} (''Misraħ Għar il-Kbir'') – is an area of western central Malta (not far from Buskett woods) where deep ruts in the bedrock appear to have been formed in the remote past by wagons or carts. Some of these ruts cross rock-cut punic tombs, proving that the ruts existed before the tombs. In the vicinity, there are large caves which used to be inhabited by troglodytes.
*{{marker|type=vicinity|name=St.Thomas Bay|url=|wikidata=Q66535312}} – a quaint inlet, 1 km beyond Marsaskala, with a sloping, built-up area on one side, and barren Munxar white cliffs on the other. There are 2 small sandy beaches ideal for swimming in summer. Beneath Munxar there is now a 'window' at the cliffside. Beyond Munxar Point there are amazing, very high, white cliffs, with 2 large and deep caves in them. Many amateur fishermen own boathouses in the vicinity and go fishing whenever the sea is calm.
*{{marker|type=vicinity|name=St.Peter's Pool|url=|wikidata=Q108749320}} – a natural inlet in the south of Malta, Delimara area. It looks like a natural swimming pool carved into the rocks.
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==Understand==
{{quickbar|location=LocationMalta.png}}
Malta is the smallest member of the [[European Union]] by population, with only half a million people, but also by area, making it the fourth-most densely populated country in the world while being the tenth-smallest. Despite its diminutive size, Malta is an important freight trans-shipment point, financial centre and tourist destination.
===History===
[[File:Malta - Birgu - Fort Saint Angelo (Upper Barrakka Gardens) 01 ies.jpg|thumb|Fort St. Angelo in Birgu, rebuilt by the Knights Hospitaller, who still enjoy limited extraterritoriality there]]
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The Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, also known as the Knights Hospitallers and Knights of Malta, took over sovereign control of Malta in 1530, and by 1533 the Order had built a hospital at Birgu (one of the Three Cities) to care for the sick. In 1565, Suleiman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, mounted a great siege of Malta with a fleet of 180 ships and a landing force of 30,000 men. In response the Order, with only 8,000 defenders, drove the Ottoman Turks away after a hard siege of several months. After this siege, the Order founded the city of Valletta on a peninsula, and fortified it with massive stone walls, which even withstood heavy bombing during the Second World War. By 1575 the Order had built a new large hospital known as the Grand Hospital or Sacred Infirmary in order to continue with its primary mission of caring for the sick.
In 1798, the French under Napoleon
Great Britain annexed Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars. Malta became an important coaling station with the construction of the Suez canal but somewhat lost that role with the advent of ships with greater range.
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The island was awarded the George Cross for its heroic resistance during the Second World War. An image of the cross is displayed on the flag. Malta has remained in the Commonwealth of Nations when it became independent from in 1964, despite becoming a republic a decade later, and became a member of the [[European Union]] in May 2004.
=== National
* Freedom Day, 31 March (1979)
* Sette Giugno, 7 June (1919)
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===Terrain===
Mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains, with a coastline that has many coastal cliffs and numerous bays that provide good harbours. The highest point is Ta' Dmejrek (near Dingli) which has an elevation of {{meter|253}} above sea level.
===Visitor information ===
* [https://www.visitmalta.com/ Visit Malta]
==Talk==
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Maltese is a Semitic language, though it has borrowed a substantial amount of vocabulary from the Romance languages (particularly [[Italian phrasebook|Italian]] and [[Sicily#Talk|Sicilian]]). The closest living relative of Maltese is [[Arabic phrasebook|Arabic]], particularly the dialect spoken in North Africa known as Maghrebi Arabic (spoken in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria) though Maltese is written in the Latin alphabet instead of the Arabic script. Maltese is also more distantly related to [[Hebrew phrasebook|Hebrew]] and [[Amharic phrasebook|Amharic]], so if you speak any of these three languages, you'll recognise some similarities. It also has substantial English elements in it. Knowing a few phrases in Maltese may be useful.
[[Italian phrasebook|Italian]] is widely understood and spoken. Some people
==Get in==
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===By boat===
There are frequent fast [http://www.virtuferries.com/ ferries]{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} to the [[Sicily|Sicilian]] port of [[Catania]] (3 hours) and [[Pozzallo]], [[Italy]] (90 minutes), but the seas can be turbulent with a heavy swell if it's windy. Usually the trip takes around twice as long on large passenger ships, but fares are lot cheaper, which makes it ideal for drivers of cars, trucks, or campers. Other destinations include [[Livorno]], [[Salerno]], [[Rome]] ([[Civitavecchia]]), [[Palermo]], [[Genoa]] and [[Tunis]]. However, discount airlines like Ryanair, Wizzair, Windjet and Efly can be more convenient and the prices of their flights are often comparable to the cost of a boat trip.
==Get around==
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The [http://www.publictransport.com.mt Malta Public Transport] is the operator of the bus network across Malta. The bus system is notoriously slow, with bus lines doing many detours and buses often stuck in traffic jams, especially around 6PM. There are many bus routes that overlap around Valletta, however these may be sparse the further out one goes.
There exists a national public transport route planner at [https://www.publictransport.com.mt/ Malta Public Transport]. The website also will point to the related “Tallinja” app. It is worth planning your journeys using the website or the app, especially as sometimes buses can be cancelled at the last minute and you need to consider another way of getting around.
A single ride fare is €2.00 in the summer (June through October), €1.50 in winter, and €3.00 at night, and you can buy the ticket directly from the driver. It allows you to travel within a two-hour period including changing lines (but doesn't allow returns) until you reach your destination.
Since 2021, it
If you plan to travel around Malta by bus extensively, you may want to purchase the [https://www.publictransport.com.mt/en/explore-flex Explore card]. These allow the addition of [https://www.publictransport.com.mt/en/explore-flex various add on passes] e.g. 4-day unlimited travel, 7-day unlimited travel, or a tourist orientated “Plus” add on. Do note that you have to enable these add-ons via the Tallinja smartphone app: whilst the staff at the Valletta bus station will sell you the physical Explore card and add on the necessary credit, as of August 2023, they will not be able to use the credit to activate the add-ons. Whilst the Tallinja app is available for iOS and Android, and is relatively easy to use, some assistance may be needed for tourists who either do not have a smartphone or are technologically challenged. It may be worthwhile to either activate roaming on your mobile phone, or get a cheap eSIM, to make the most of the app whilst one is out and about.
As of August 2023, the Plus add on is €79 per person. It offers unlimited Malta bus travel for 7 days, unlimited Gozo travel for 4 days (do note the clock on this 4 days travel starts at the same time as the rest of the card is activated!), a return trip on the Valletta to Gozo fast ferry, a Valletta harbour cruise (€20 by itself) from ISeeMalta, and 2 trips on the Valletta harbour ferries.
Do note some of the add-ons may not allow the use of some types of
Many lines depart from Valletta, which makes it almost always necessary to transit there. Buses are often full, especially on weekends, on the lines passing by the tourist spots. Hence, it is almost always impossible to board at another station than the first station - the bus won't even stop. With very low frequencies (most lines pass every 30, 60 or 90 minutes), you need to wait for the next bus, which can be full too. You may thus want to first head to the terminus (e.g. Valletta), even if it is your opposite direction, and then take the line in the direction you wish. For example, to go to [[Gozo]] from [[St. Julian's]], first go back to [[Valletta]] (or Sliema Ferries, if using line 222), and then head towards Gozo.
At an end station, buses often change lines. Don't watch the bus number before it is fully stopped and empty
For tourists, a combination of the Explore Plus and a Heritage Malta pass may serve your needs. An alternative is the ISeeMalta combination tourist pass with access to sites as well as a few days of unlimited travel on their Hop On Hop Off circular route tourist buses. Do note though that the “HOHO” type tourist buses seem particularly poorly reviewed on TripAdvisor.
===By taxi===
Malta's white [[taxi|taxis]] are the ones that can pick you up off the street. Figure on €15 for short hops and not much more than €35 for a trip across the island. There are now government-approved fares for taxis from the airport ranging from €10 to 30.
For cheaper airport transfers and local taxis try using one of the local "black cab" taxi firms such as [https://www.ecabs.com.mt/ eCabs], [http://www.peppintransport.com Peppin Transport] (cheaper online prices), [http://www.maltatransfer.com/ Malta Transfer airport shuttle], [http://www.transfersmalta.com/ Transfers Malta]{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}, [https://any.cab/malta/airport any.cab Malta Airport Transfers] or [http://www.mayjocarhire.com/airportransfers.php Malta airport transfers] with a high quality of service and online booking available. Their rates are normally lower than white taxis but their services must be prebooked (at least 15 minutes notice).
The [[ride hailing services|ride-share company]] Bolt also operates in Malta. Airport to Sliema cost aprox {{EUR|19}}.
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Malta Carnival national activities will be held in Valletta and Floriana. Dance and costume competitions will take place in the capital and Floriana followed by defiles which include triumphal floats, bands, grotesque masks and lots of dance. Malta Carnival is an unforgettable experience of fun, colour, art and merriment.
'''[http://għanafest.com/ Għanafest - Malta Mediterranean Folk Music Festival]{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}''' - June
The Malta Mediterranean Folk Music Festival is a fabulous 3-day event of Mediterranean folk music, including Maltese folksongs (għana), Maltese songwriters and folk ensembles, together with guest folk musicians from neighbouring Mediterranean countries. Għanafest also hosts a series of workshops on traditional instruments and a special programme for children, and is complemented by traditional Maltese food and the marvelous surroundings of the Argotti Botanical Gardens in Floriana.
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====Transportation====
Transportation costs are cheap by European standards.
A weekly bus pass costs
====Food====
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===Wines===
Malta has two indigenous grape varieties, ''Girgentina'' and ''Ġellewza'', although most Maltese [[wine]] is made from various imported vines. Maltese wines directly derived from grapes are generally of good quality, [http://www.marsovin.com.mt/ Marsovin] and [http://www.delicata.com Delicata] being prominent examples, and inexpensive, as little as €0.
===Soft drinks===
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===Water===
====Tap water====
[[Tap water]] in Malta tastes a bit salty compared to tap water elsewhere
Cooking tap water for tea or coffee does not help with the salty taste, so unless you have a means to distill the water by boiling and then condensing it, you'll have to make do with bottled water.
====Bottled water====
Buy some bottled water if you do not feel comfortable with the slightly salty taste of tap water.
==Sleep==
▲Buy some bottled water if you do not feel comfortable with the slightly salty taste of tap water. Cooking tap water for tea or coffee does not help with the salty taste.
==Learn==
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==Stay safe==
Malta is generally considered safe. However, visitors to Paceville at night should exercise caution.
Due to Malta being a major Mediterranean port, sailors with shore leave tend to become quite rowdy after long voyages. As well, the advent of low cost air travel coming to Malta has brought an influx of teenagers from across Europe enjoying short cheap weekend breaks in the sun.
People of colour have been known to experience racial discrimination on Malta.
===Drugs===
In 2021, Malta became the first country in the EU to legalize the recreational use of '''[[cannabis]]'''. However, while growing your own and social clubs for sharing are permitted, sale and public consumption remain prohibited.
==Stay healthy==
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