Malta

Know before you go

• transport

  Buses are cheap but wind through every village; the Valletta–Sliema ferry crosses the harbour faster than any bus, and the Gozo ferry from Ċirkewwa needs no booking on foot.

• etiquette

  Cover shoulders and knees in churches — at St John's Co-Cathedral the dress code is actually enforced at the door.

• money

  Cards are accepted nearly everywhere, but kiosks, beach vendors, and village band-club bars often want coins and small notes.

• safety

  Tap water is safe but desalinated and tastes flat, which is why locals drink bottled. The real hazard is summer sun — shade out the 1–4pm hours like the Maltese do.