In Malta there are no specific dress rules, however it is advised to dress conservatively for business meetings. Men should wear a suit or jacket and tie and women should wear an elegant, but not necessary conventional suit in a dark or subtle colour.
There is no need for for any dress code in most hotels and restaurants anywhere in Malta. Just clean casual wear, and yes sandals are fine. You should be travelling light in terms of clothes. There is not a real dress code but shorts at dinner time and sleevless vests may not be considered acceptable.
Depending on the season, you'll want to pack jeans or shorts for a weekend in Malta. Though I love skirts, Malta is a small country in the middle of the ocean, meaning even if you're inland it's almost always breezy. You might feel more comfortable in skinny jeans or shorts, especially if you're out sightseeing.
Maltese winters are very mild. You wont need a winter coat (although you'll see locals wearing huge down puffer jackets). A leather jacket is great, especially if you can layer a sweater underneath.
Malta is a great place to visit for a week. It's small enough to get around easily, but there are plenty of things to do in Malta for a week so you'll never get bored! If a week is slightly too long, or you're including the 48 hours of travelling, then check out this post on only spending 5 days in Malta.
How much money will you need for your trip to Malta? You should plan to spend around €321 ($352) per day on your vacation in Malta, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, €44 ($49) on meals for one day and €23 ($25) on local transportation.
Top style tips for Malta and Gozo
Jeans are always popular and will serve as a versatile base to your wardrobe, except in the high summer when it is just too hot and humid. Wear them with light layers such as t-shirts or camisoles for the summer, or warmer ones e.g. a long sleeved shirt and jumper in the winter.
Flips flops are a must to navigate to the sandy beaches of Malta. They are basically weightless, which makes them so comfortable to wear. But, they offer enough barrier between the scorching heat of the sizzling beach sand. You can also keep them on while traversing the city on foot.
Is it safe to walk outside in the evening/during the night? Walking outside at night is perfectly safe in most parts of the country, definitely in the more touristy areas. There are a few exceptions, however.
Commercial outlets and shops are normally open between 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. and between 4.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m. In tourist areas, many shops remain open till 10.00 p.m. Shops are normally closed on Sundays and Public Holidays.
Public spaces and services
It is not mandatory to wear a face mask outside or inside, although it is at the discretion of individual establishments to ask customers to present a valid vaccination certificate or to wear a face mask.
For women, this means a business suit or pant suit, or dress and jacket. For men, professional dress means a business suit or a blazer, dress pants and a tie. Remember: it's always better to be over dressed than under dressed.
Suits: Men should wear suits in conservative colors such as navy blue or subtle gray. Dress shirts: A light-colored or white shirt is preferred; avoid overly bold patterns or bright colors when it comes to dress shirts. Ties: Neutral collared ties work best – steer clear from flashy designs or materials.
It is a single, or double-breasted suit cut from the same cloth. Or, by modern parlance, just a normal suit. Generally designed to be worn with a shirt and tie, but not always, the lounge suit can be as exuberant or as pedestrian as you see fit. Lounging is lounging, baby.
One of the main reasons for visiting Malta is to spend time by the sea, of course, but as with any seaside, you will need to respect the power of nature. The majority of Maltese beaches have lifeguards and warning signs as well as a safety flag system to inform swimmers of any potential danger.
Clothes are not that cheap here and prices for the international brands will be on par with what you can get at home. Likewise food is not cheap but eating out can in my view be better value than the UK or Ireland but you need to seek out the right places if budget is a key consideration.
Traditional Maltese food is rustic and based on the seasons. Look out for Lampuki Pie (fish pie), Rabbit Stew, Bragioli (beef olives), Kapunata, (Maltese version of ratatouille), and widow's soup, which includes a small round of Gbejniet (sheep or goat's cheese).
Maltese cuisine is heavily influenced by Italy, particularly Sicily, but with a dash of Arab/North Africa and a hefty pinch of Malta's own. Starters tend to be soups, pasta, risotto, antipasti or dips with bread or biscuits, while mains include pasta and potato bakes at home, but eating out it's generally meat or fish.
A cup of coffee in Malta can typically cost between €1-2.5, depending on where you go.
Large hotels and even tourist attractions in Malta will accept payments in currencies other than the euro. Just beware, you might not receive change and the exchange rates will be poor. If you want to save money, it's probably better to change your money into the local currency on arrival.