When thinking about taking a trip to the island of Malta, it’s natural to cast our mind over to how expensive it will be. There is certainly a minimum cost for travellers staying for a few days who do not wish to rent long-term accommodation and make other arrangements. Costs when staying anywhere for short periods are typically more expensive because you’re paying for convenience.
Let’s look at how expensive a relaxed trip to Malta is likely to be.
Basic Breakdown on Costs
Traveling as a couple is cheaper on a per person basis than traveling solo because the cost of the hotel room is divided between the two of you. A mid-range hotel is going to cost around €100, split between two people. For eating out, lunch will usually cost around €8 per person while a reasonable dinner out might run €30. This puts the cost of accommodation and dining out at €88.
Of course, there are other expenses on holiday such as public transportation, car hire, water sports, tourist spots that charge an entrance fee, etc. However, when only wanting a relaxed time, walking from your accommodation to the beach and eating at moderately-priced restaurants, a couple could easily spend less than one hundred euros per day.
The flight to the island would be extra and cost different amounts depending on where you flew from, the time of year, and seat class.
Dining Out vs Do It Yourself
It depends on how much dining out and enjoying local food dishes matters to you on a holiday. For a certified foodie, the dining experience is half the enjoyment. However, for other people, they might find that restaurants get expensive very quickly and prefer to make their own plans where they can.
Certainly, in Malta, restaurants range in price from a modest €20-32 for two people and rise to as much as €50 for a couple that wants three-courses and to enjoy something more comfortable or classy in the evening. For unfussy tourists who don’t see the point in spending excessively on restaurants, they can choose a local, basic restaurant at lunchtime that is well rated and then head out to explore with their bellies happy and full.
Like most places, lunch tends to be cheaper and less substantial whereas dining out is a more elaborate affair, sometimes with different food dishes on offer, and coming at a more substantial cost. One way to reduce the food-related costs is to pick up small snacks in the morning and perhaps a baguette, sandwich or something from the deli at local shops or a supermarket on the island for lunch. Then dine out only in the evening. Depending on where you are situated on Malta, popular chains like Carrefour and Lidl, along with Scotts and Smart are found dotted about.
One thing to be aware of is that imported food sold in some supermarkets on Malta can be cheaper than local fare, but with a less pleasing taste.
Accommodation
Staying in Malta, many of the better hotels are found between Valletta and St-Julian’s. This makes it easier to get between both destinations without difficulty. Another option is staying in St-Paul’s Bay which has the advantage of being located nearby to the bus station for easy access to transport links across the island. If you’re meeting friends in Malta during your trip, you may find that many live near St-Pauls’ Bay because there are quite a few apartments to rent for long-term visitors.
It’s also worth considering where you will stay in Gozo too. Visting Gozo is a must on your trip to Malta. There are some good places to situate yourself in Gozo to limit your travel time between destinations.
Car Hire
Hiring a car during a stay in Malta is well worth it. Not only does it provide air-conditioned comfort instead of sitting on a busy bus, but you can cover more ground while controlling your itinerary more carefully. It is certainly possible to hop between bus routes to get to where you wish to go each day, but you won’t be able to see as much as when having your own car rental.
In terms of costs, an economy vehicle that can carry 3-4 people comfortably will cost €25 to 30 per day. When compared to buses, it’s more expensive but with a family trip it’s far more convenient. The cost for four people with bus tickets adds up fast, but for couples or solo travellers, the car is certainly a more expensive way to get around.
Other Transport Options
The plentiful transport system on Malta is cheap and relatively easy to use. Tickets cost only €2 per trip in the summertime. A ticket covers a two-hour period, so it depends how far you can get for the cost. Quite often, this is more than sufficient. There are other options for people who plan to travel frequently such as a 12 Single Day Card that covers multiple family members for €15 or the Explore card which offers a week of unlimited journeys for €21 per person.
From the airport, the express buses can take you to various parts of the island quickly for the same €2 per trip. It’s worth bearing in mind that not every bus route runs frequently, and some do not run every day. However, the popular routes are dependable.
To get to Gozo island, you’ll need to take a ferry from Cirkewwa which runs on a regular basis and frequently during the summer months.
Special Sightseeing Trips
There are plenty of special sightseeing trips to go to different places on Malta and elsewhere. There’s a popular Malta sightseeing bus that tours the island and allows passengers to simply hop on when they’re ready and hop off when they wish to disembark again.
A tour excursion like a Jeep tour across the island along with taking to the water in a speed boat is an interesting option for something a bit different. There are walking tours and really tours of all descriptions that are organised locally. It really depends where your interests lie and how you wish to spend your time when relaxing. Island life doesn’t happen at a rapid pace, so whatever you’ll be doing, it won’t usually move too fast for comfort unless you’re doing some water sports where speed is preferred!
Bargain Hunting
It does pay to consider where you wish to stay. For instance, eating out in Qawra or Bugibba is usually better value for money than in St. Julian’s or Sliema. Different parts of the island do vary in cost and getting a little off the beaten path drives expenses down more than eating in a restaurant in the centre of the capital city. The more that you’re willing to walk around exploring and finding smaller venues to try out, the greater saving you can expect. You may also find a little gem when doing that too.
A trip to Malta is one that is going to be highly enjoyable. You can control your expenses reasonably well compared to other expensive Mediterranean destinations. Not only by being a little experimental about when and where you eat, but also what transportation options you use, and how many organised excursions or tourist spots you visit while staying on the island.