Malta is small. About 45 kilometres long and 27 wide, so you can drive its length in under an hour. But don’t let the size fool you. This island has a culture, history and way of life that’s genuinely unlike anywhere else in Europe.
As a student at Maltalingua, you’ll be spending real time here, so it’s worth understanding what makes Malta Maltese before you arrive.
A language you won't hear anywhere else
English is one of Malta’s two official languages. You’ll get by in English everywhere, in shops, on buses, in government offices. Your course will be in English too, so language isn’t a barrier.
But the national language is Maltese, and it’s unlike anything else. Maltese is a Semitic language, derived from Arabic, with influences from Italian, Sicilian and English. It uses a Latin alphabet but has sounds that don’t exist in most European languages. Hearing it spoken is one of those distinctly Maltese experiences, even if you won’t be expected to speak it.
You’ll pick up a few words just from living here. Maltese people love teaching visitors the basics. “Kif inti?” means “How are you?” and “M’hemmx problem” means “No problem”, and you’ll hear both a lot.
Food that reflects the island's history
Maltese food is a product of its geography and its layers of rulers. The Knights of St John, the French and the British all left marks on the cuisine. The result borrows from Mediterranean and British traditions without being either.
Pastizzi are the snack to try first. Flaky pastry filled with ricotta or peas, you’ll find them in every corner shop and bakery, usually for less than a euro. Once you start, they’re hard to stop.
Rabbit stew (fenek) is the traditional Maltese dish, slow-cooked rabbit in a rich wine and garlic sauce. It’s not everyday food, but it’s everywhere on menus and at family gatherings.
Ftira is Maltese bread, round and flat, traditionally topped with tomatoes, olives, capers and either tuna, ham or gbejna (goat’s cheese). It’s excellent and filling.
Lampuki pie is a seasonal dish, a savoury pastry filled with lampuki (dolphinfish), spinach and cauliflower. You’ll only find it in autumn.
One thing to know: Maltese food is comfort food. Portions are generous, and eating is a social event. If you’re invited to a Sunday lunch with a Maltese family, say yes immediately.
The festa: Malta's living tradition
Every Maltese village has a festa, a religious festival celebrating the village’s patron saint. Each one happens on or around that saint’s feast day, and they’re a genuine spectacle.
The streets are decorated with coloured papier-mâché arches, banners and lights. There’s a brass band (many Maltese men learn a brass instrument at school), fireworks, a march through the village, and food in enormous quantities.
In St. Julian’s you might catch the festa season. In the villages, especially in the south and around the centre of the island, the festa is still a real community event. The atmosphere is warm and inclusive, and visitors are welcome. Students often say it was one of the most memorable parts of their time in Malta.
Festas are typically held between May and October, with peaks in July and August.
The Knights of St John: Malta's defining history
The Knights of St John (the Sovereign Military Order of Malta) ruled the island for nearly 270 years, from 1530 to 1798. Their legacy is everywhere. Valletta’s city walls, Fort St. Angelo in Birgu and the Grand Master’s Palace were all built by the Knights. They’re the reason Malta looks the way it does.
The Knights were aristocratic military men from across Europe: French, Italian, Spanish, German, English. They turned Malta into a crossroads of European culture, which gives the island a cosmopolitan quality that goes back centuries, not just decades.
St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, built by the Knights, is extraordinary. Its interior is one of the most ornate in Europe, dripping with gold and marble.
Maltese friendliness is genuine
Maltese people are notably warm and welcoming. They’re proud of their island and happy to share it. Ask someone for directions and they’ll often walk you there. Get talking in a shop and you’ll come away with recommendations.
There’s a concept in Maltese culture called kreatura, which roughly means neighbourliness or community spirit. It’s real, not just a word. Students who arrive expecting a transactional tourist experience are often pleasantly surprised.
That friendliness comes with respect for your privacy, too. Maltese people will chat freely but aren’t intrusive. It’s a comfortable balance.
What to expect in daily life
Sunday is quiet. Many shops close on Sunday mornings, particularly outside the main tourist areas. Families go to mass (still common, even if attendance has declined), then have a long lunch. By afternoon, the pace is slow.
Family matters. Maltese families are close-knit, and Saturday and Sunday lunches are often non-negotiable. If you befriend Maltese people your age, you’ll probably get invited to a family lunch at some point.
Festivals punctuate the year. Beyond the village festas, there are national holidays such as Sette Giugno (June 7) and Maltese Independence Day (September 21). Carnival happens in February or March, with parades in Valletta and Floriana.
The pace of life has changed but the culture hasn’t disappeared. Malta is modernising fast, particularly in tech and finance, yet the food culture, the family gatherings and the village festas all still live on.
Get to know Malta before you arrive
Understanding Maltese culture isn’t essential for your English course. You’ll communicate perfectly well in English. But it enriches the experience enormously. The students who love Malta most are usually the ones who lean in: eat the pastizzi, ask about the festa, talk to your landlord’s family.
You’re not just coming to study English. You’re spending time on a very unusual island with a very long story. Make the most of it.
Ready to start? Request a quotation for your English course in Malta.